"Wait — what?" Slater gasped, staring at Silo in disbelief. "Are you crazy? How can you be given A and suddenly conclude it’s Z?!"
"I should be the one asking you!" Silo yelled. "Why didn’t you clarify it?!"
"How do I clarify sothing I don’t even know I need to?"
"You should’ve said sothing! Also, how could you not tell her about ?!"
"I thought you already told her! Do you think I have nothing else to do? Do you want to show you my schedule?!"
Lola and Slater’s manager, Jas, sat in the back seat and watched this bickering unfold. They shook their heads at the sa ti, sighing heavily. She then arched a brow as she glanced at the man seated in the row behind her.
"Hello," she offered him a smile. "I’m sorry for the late introduction. I’m Lola—Lola Young—but I go by the alias Taz."
Slater’s manager was younger than she expected, but the bags under his eyes were a tell that he truly was a manager of a superstar.
Jas tipped his eyeglasses and took her hand. "I’m Jas, and I’m sorry for whatever he’s been causing you."
"It’s nothing," she replied, withdrawing her hand. "If anything, I should be the one apologizing since it’s my fault he had to drag you into this."
"Actually, I just arrived in Novera not long ago, as I had to settle so matters back ho." His face soured just thinking about what he had to do for Slater to be in Novera. "Besides, it’s not you—it’s his nephew and niece he ca here for."
He paused and thought for a second. Well, Slater was here basically for his entire family. But he kept that to himself and offered Lola a mild smile.
He’s surprisingly kinder than I expected, she thought, returning the smile with the sa gentleness. Slater always said his manager works him to the bone, but it seed it was the other way around.
"So, the two of you are not in a relationship?" Silo clarified, watching Lola, Slater, and even Jas nod at him. "Then why is he living with you?"
"My sis and I are going to work together," Slater explained in a knowing tone. "And I’m not a resident here."
Not that he was lying. After all, that was the excuse they had given Lola for him to stay in the penthouse. Slater working in the series—the sa series she would be working in—made it more practical for them to stay in the sa place. Weird, but they sohow made it logical.
Silo’s face twitched. "So, you guys know each other?"
"We live together." Slater deadpanned. "Why would I stay at her place if I don’t know her?"
"..." Silo rocked his head, trying to make sense of this. But then again, Lola was well-connected. Maybe she t Slater so ti ago and hit it off.
Lola studied Silo’s side profile and shook her head. She would’ve told him about the twins and their father, but Slater’s explanation seed to work.
I’ll just tell him later, she thought, the corner of her lips curling up. I have a really good friend... even though he’s quite crazy and confusing.
Once the misunderstanding was cleared up, Slater had to return to the reading session. His manager ca with him, and Silo tried to make it up by tagging along. Lola stayed in the van, telling them she would follow after making a phone call.
Ring... ring... ring...
Lola listened to the rings patiently, arching a brow when it wasn’t answered. She tried again, but to no avail. gan and Pixy’s phones just rang endlessly until the ringing stopped.
"What in the world are those two doing?" She mumbled, staring at her phone. "Did Manager Kang really give them so projects?"
But what kind of project could those two have that was bigger than Angel’s Revenge?
Lola rubbed her chin before she called sobody else.
***
"Huh? Why isn’t she here?" Slater looked around the hall, but everyone was already inside except Lola.
Cedrick, seated just several seats across from him, glanced at him. He then gazed at the vacant chair next to Slater and furrowed his brows.
Even when the reading session resud, Lola didn’t co back. Fortunately, she had left Jas and Silo a ssage, as if she had foreseen Slater making a huge fuss about her disappearance.
Still, they had one question in mind: "Where did she go?"
*
*
*
Lola stood across from a small studio where an ongoing audition was happening. It was just a minor audition for a short film.
She narrowed her eyes as she caught two figures walking out of the building. There, walking out, were Pixy and gan. The two looked slightly dejected, enough to tell Lola how it had gone for them.
"Schedule conflict, huh?" she scoffed. "It’s just a minor role. Is lissa that threatened they would outshine her as well?"
But then again, lissa was the only one under Manager Kang who didn’t make the cut. Even though Simon didn’t get Ryker, he was still given a relevant role. Lola should’ve seen that lissa would retaliate in so other way.
Dismissing that thought, Lola jogged and crossed the road.
"Is this the schedule conflict you’re saying?" Lola yelled behind them, watching the two ladies slow down.
The second gan and Pixy looked back, their faces twitched slightly. In their minds, they instantly wondered, How could this woman walk around in public dressed like that?
"How did you know we’re here?" gan frowned, clearly not pleased to see Lola. "Never mind that. If you ca here to laugh at us, save it. We’re really not in the mood right now."
Pixy nodded but didn’t say a word.
"Let’s go, Pixy," gan said, reaching for Pixy’s shoulder and resuming their steps.
Lola tilted her head to the side. "So, this is what you guys ant by scheduling conflict, huh?" she humd, rubbing her chin while watching the two stop. "Well, I guess I just ca here for nothing. It seems you had already decided, anyway."
Having said that, Lola turned on her heel to leave. But then gan’s voice stopped her.
"What are you talking about, Lola Young?" gan’s face darkened. "Don’t tell you’re still angry about what happened during that audition?"
"You said you were fair, but—" Pixy bit her tongue, knowing her sentint was nothing but foolish. She clasped her hands into tight fists, already on her last straw before breaking down.
Lola glanced back at them and arched a brow. "What audition? Ahh... that? I already forgot about it. You haven’t moved on?"
"Hah." Pixy scoffed, taking a step forward when gan squeezed her hand.
"Pixy." gan shook her head, knowing both she and Pixy were already on edge after that nightmare of an audition monts ago. She then faced Lola. "No, we already moved on. It’s just too much of a coincidence that you’re here. So let’s not beat around the bush—why are you here?"
"I should be the one asking—why are you here?" Lola corrected, her position still the sa as she didn’t fully face them. "Shouldn’t you be at the reading for Angel’s Revenge?"
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