Chapter 8: Perspectives
The next morning, Phul had to wake up early to go to Kuroi entertainment for more edits. She woke up, took a shower and got dressed, while Zax was still passed out at the couch. She also made a quick hangover soup for him and left it on the stove, and stuck a sticky note next to him that said, 'Don't forget to eat and feel free to stay as long as you like, I'll be back at around 6 maybe.' Then she left.
Zax woke up maybe an hour later, and although he couldn't comprehend what was happening, when he saw that note, he couldn't help but smile because all he could think was, "Isn't this the kind of note married couples leave each other?"
He tried to brush off his silly smile and got up, his head was still throbbing like crazy, he went to freshen up. As he did so, muffled memories of last night slowly came to him. "Nuh-uh, it's okay. I love you", he had said to Phul. He slapped his head hard.
"Idiot, why would you--?" he covered up his face in embarrassment. He tried to remember what Phul's reaction was, but figured it was best for him to not know, so he gave up. He heated the soup Phul made, and chowed down on it. Phul was definitely not a very bright cook, but it was a handmade meal from a girl he loved, of course he'd leave no trace of it behind. He cleaned up Phul's place a bit too, locked it and left to his apartment.
It's a silly little thing, but the realization that he had a copy of Phul's apartment key made him smile again. He loved Phul, a lot.
He didn't have work today, which was fortunate cause his head was almost as heavy as a ton now, and so he spent the rest of the day lazying around in his house, looking at photography books and listening to music. Zax was a hard worker, and between university and work and worrying about Phul, he barely had time for himself, so it was a good excuse for him to take care of himself today. He deserved it.
As he scrolled through his phone, he realized he had gotten a text from Vega.
He was somewhat nervous, he didn't know why.
He opened it. It said, "Do you think we could meet up with Phul?"
His eyes opened wide. He panicked a bit but regained composure.
"What?!" He thought to himself, "Why would Vega want to meet up with Phul, and now of all times?"
"That's not for me to decide, is it?" he replied, after much thought and consideration.
He let go of his phone and lay on his bed again. A million thoughts ran through his head. "Why does Vega want to meet Phul, right before her debut at that? Did she somehow know about Phul's stage fright? Maybe she wants to apologize for leaving Phul and debuting without her. Maybe the girls at TARA feel bad that they left the previous group with no actual resolve." He could think of a million more.
"Maybe it's because if legal matters? Since they decided to keep the name but Phul was there too?"
"But that acn't be it, TARA was never really official when underground, and the older 'fans' don't seem to mind Phul not being there too. Then what--"
Ding.
As he was thinking all those thoughts, Vega had replied!
"I know, but I have no means of contacting her. She has blocked me on her phone, and she hasn't given me her apartment address."
"She has basically disappeared, from this city, and from the entertainment industry." Vega had sent.
Those words somehow offended Zax. Phul hadn't disappeared. Just yesterday he had held her hand, and she has been credited in Gemini's last song as the writer, so she was still in the entertainment industry. If Vega really wanted to find Phul, it was really not that difficult. Zax knew Vega was just making excuses. Was it that she was busy, or she just didn't actually want to face Phul?
He wanted to tell Vega all this, but refrained, and just sent, "I don't think you should approach her if she doesn't want to see you then." instead.
And immediately after, Vega was typing up a reply, it was almost as if she had been waiting for his answer.
"Why did I even bother asking you. Never mind, see you around at the company!" She said.
"Sure" Zax texted back. He felt like he was forgetting something.
Oh shit.
He still hadn't told Phul about his job at Golden Meteor Entertainment, about how he sees TARA almost everyday. So many things happened these past few days that he had completely forgotten about that.
He had to tell her as soon as he could. It would be a disaster if she found out before he got a chance to tell her about it. It would almost be as if he had been hiding it from her.
In the other part of the city, TARA was in their van, and Vega had been texting somebody. "Why did I even bother asking you. Never mind, see you around at the company!" she had sent to Zax. She put away her phone and sighed. The rest of TARA was in the van, and their manager was driving it. They were going to a television show pre-shoot.
Vega sighed, hard.
"He didn't give you any information, huh?" Nayan asked.
"No, I kinda expected it, but it was still disappointing." Vega responded, and she tilted her head against the van's door.
"God, I never thought Phul would be this petty. I get she's angry, but to just storm out and never even discuss her leaving the group with her groupmates? And completely shutting us off? That's just shitty. She probably doesn't know how to face us now that we're debuting." Rio complained.
"Yeah, she's blocked my number too. I used to feel a little bad that we were chosen without her, but her acting this way somewhat makes me feel like it's probably better this way." Nayan added.
Rio noticed the worried look in Vega's face. She went over to her, and patted her head.
"It's okay even if we can't contact her, Vega. We don't owe her anything. Please don't be sad." she said.
Vega tried to smile, "Yeah, there's nothing we can do if she doesn't want to set things straight. It's just that she was a part of TARA too and-"
"But she isn't anymore, is she? I love the TARA now. I love us three, and everyone at the company and the people too love us, it seems. Let's not worry about the past, and do our best for the debut, and after that too. We're idols now." Nayan said, seriously.
After hearing that, Vega switched her expression. She got a more serious look on her face too. "You're right, we tried to patch things up, we did our part. If she doesn't want that, we shouldn't chase after her.", she turned around to Nayan and Rio, "Thank you girls, let's do our best for today's shoot!"
"Let's go" they shouted together.
Vega felt a little relieved thanks to her teammates. She looked around, and thought to herself, "The CEO made a good decision, I'd expect nothing less from a veteran in the industry. TARA is perfect as 3 member group."
Yes, she felt that way, ever since the offer came up. Vega had a good voice and a strong singing ability. She was well liked by everyone, and had a charismatic personality. She also could understand what the company wanted and what the girls wanted, and vocalize it, so, naturally she was the leader of TARA. Rio was upbeat and cheerful, and was the best dancer among them; she was the fun member of the group. She knew when to let go of things, and how to crack and takes jokes. Nayan was the moral balance of the group. She had this cool and sophisticated aura to her, like an ice queen beauty, she was serious and calm, and said things as they were. She always took an analytical approach to things, and knew when to stand up and lay low. Everyone contributed something that made the current TARA better. Phul wouldn't have contributed anything more than they already had if she was here, and Vega, and the other girls, and the CEO knew that.
That's why they had taken that decision. That's why they had gone through it.
But Vega still thought of Phul as her friend, and wanted to talk it over with her. But she had stormed out after receiving the news and had become uncontactable. TARA was very busy after that, and so they didn't have time to properly search for her too.
Well, Vega knew too, that if she really wanted to, she could've found Phul. She didn't know if she blamed Phul for being unreachable because Vega herself was busy, or because she wasn't really ready to see Phul after all. She didn't know.
All she knew that her dream was coming true, along with Nayan and Rio, as TARA. Phul may have showed her her dream, but it is she who worked hard to make it come true, it is she who has to live it. Maybe she didn't need to feel so guilty after all. Yes, all she could do was work hard to be a successful idol with the rest of TARA, even if Phul was not there.
That's what Phul would've done too.
And so she looked at her schedule for the day, and decided she's give it her all.
Their manager was listening to the entire conversation, and was occasionally giving peeks, but stayed quiet.
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