11 Page 11: Ganko

"And if I was? What are you going to do about it?"

My blood boiled when I heard her say that. It just convinced me more how selfish this girl can be. This isn't a matter of her reputation only. She's also troubling the school with her careless antics. I won't let her have her way with the only place where I can be myself. Whoever said she's an angel, must have forgotten that devils often wear an angel's mask. This girl, infuriates me.

"Now, now," said Mr. Kim trying to calm us down, "There's no time to point fingers on what's already been damaged. Right now, we need to work together in diverting their attention."

Cherry sat down angrily and Dave whispered at me to sit down. I get it already, geez.

"Let's try to make this work, okay?" Mr. Kim said smiling at both sides.

"This might even be a good chance to lead them on our big surprise in the next four months." added Mr. Lin, the set producer of Heiress.

Mr. Kim nods cheerfully, "Well then," he claps, "With the plan discussed, let's now discuss about your set up before you two face the press."

The light of the room was turned off by Lily and a screen came flashing at the white board. I was excited to see a floor map thinking it was at Heiress, but then Dave whispered that was our route for the Royal Hotel, my excitement died like a birthday candle.

Mr. Kim then explains explains in detail the path we're going to take in order to avoid any unnecessary people that might block our way towards the venue. The hotel staff had already prepared the VIP cage that was located at the underground parking. Thankfully, only security passes through there so there would be lesser people. Royal hotel is close by but to be extra sure, the staff prepared a tinted black van for our transportation. From there, we use the VIP elevator heading for the third floor where our dressing room was secretly arranged. As everyone would be waiting at the fourth floor for our arrival and people expecting us at the lobby, the team chose the floor least expected for the two models to be at. They don't have enough staff to cover each floor and search after all. They'd be too busy going through areas where we'd openly pass. They'll never expect our dressing room to be at the innermost room of the third floor which has the easiest route for the emergency exit as well. But then....I noticed something with the plan.

"Ah, wait..." I raise my hand.

"What is it Hera?" Mr. Kim looks at me, as well as Mr. Lin.

"As much as I appreciate the elaborate plan," I smile awkwardly, "Why is there only one dressing room?"

"Oh, that's because the hotel is fully-booked right now." Mr. Kim gladly explained.

Mr. Lin nodded, "Also, we'd feel more at ease if the two of you stayed in one room while you prepare since it'll be a very hectic con."

"But wouldn't that be too cramped?" Cherry added. Even I was surprised that she spoke up. I had an impression he was the type who'd go along with the producers' whims but this is a different Cherry then. She looks worried and agitated at the same time. I figured she wouldn't want to be in the same room as I am with everything that happened to us earlier.

"Rest assured," Mr. Lin said firmly, "We made sure the room was big enough even with the make up team in it. We'll just cast a curtain to divide the room for you two." he smiled.

Cherry didn't respond anymore after that. I also did not want to cause a ruckus anymore so I simply nodded and let them continue with their work.

"Now that that's settled," Mr. Kim claps, "Let's go." and everyone stood up walking towards the door.

We had two black vans waiting downstairs, one for my team and one for Cherry. The make up artists were already in the van even before we got down as explained by Mr. Kim in the elevator. The guards made sure all the press were gone before they let us out of the exit. And once out, we moved swiftly with no actions wasted, into the van and drove.

The driver already knew of the secret route we were going to take. Mr. Kim religiously reminded them since last night even before Dave and I were informed of the situation. As expected of Mr. Kim, he may be weird but he's dedicated. All that's left now is to arrive at the venue without a snitch.

Upon arrival at Royal Hotel's basement parking, I see lined up men from afar guarding the entrance of what the call the "VIP Cage". This isn't my first time here and I've taken this route for the past year whenever we held conferences or parties in this hotel. The cage is basically a special path way covered in frosted glass that is bulletproof and fireproof leading to the VIP hatch which leads to whichever floor the client wants to only passing through Royal Hotel's back door. These features are the main reason why most VIPs prefer to be booked in this hotel with it's intricate design and celebrity friendly ammenities.

When we arrived at the third floor, the guards immediately guided us to our suite. I was really glad of how quite the floor is. Mr. Kim's plan is really working. Both of our teams enter the biggest room on the floor and the moment we entered, the curtains were pulled between us and it was a battle of time as we only have 30 minutes til the press con.

Thankfully my team told me I can keep the outfit so they only did my make up since my face was pretty bare earlier. Cherry was the one racing against time this time. Her team wanted a look that could be on par with mine, but I don't know how she's gonna pull that off. I mean look at me, I'm all leather. Besides, she needs to look really feminine as opposed to the rotating "scandal photo" she had.

"You better not stutter on me up there." yelled Cherry from the other side.

"Oh come on, I'm not that stupid." I yelled back.

She scoffs and the curtain unfolds revealing Cherry in a baby blue chiffon dress and platform mary janes in white.

"And how is that on par with my outfit?" I said dusting off the extra powder on my chin.

"I told them to scratch that idea since I don't want to look like a shiny umbrella."

I pause realizing she just insulted my taste in clothing. "Are you sassing me?"

"If you think I am." she said in a passive tone, fixing her tear drop earrings, "I don't have time to argue with you. We need to be out of here in five."

"I already know that!" I said and my team rushed for the finishing touches.

* * * * * *

Being in the backstage has always been one of my guilty pleasures. Don't you just love the smell of equipment and the thrill you get before coming up on stage? My first backstage experience was when I debuted in one of Queen's fashion shows. The models I were with back then were really nervous, but I was definitely excited to go out. Whenever I'm on stage, I could feel my mother's presence with me as if she was telling me to do my best and enjoy. But this backstage experience right now is different. My shoulders feel a bit stiff compared to usual. Is it because of the suit? I hear the emcee talking on stage trying to do some adlibs just before we come out.

"You okay?" Dave said tapping my back, "Did you just jump?" he said noticing the jolting of my shoulders.

"A little.." I mumbled.

"It's rare for you to be nervous." he chuckles. I'm glad Cherry is on the other side of the stage. I wouldn't want her to see me like this.

"It's not that I'm nervous...I'm extra conscious of this being a Heiress press con."

"Hmm..didn't you always wanted to meddle with their affairs?"

I look down, "I did. But I guess this makes me jumpy after all. I don't understand why I'm trying to save her reputation now if I'm going to end up destroying it."

"Then think of it this way.." he said, turning me to him, "This is your first step in showing how much Heiress needs you after all. Then they'll realize how fallen behind they are." he winks.

"So I'll take this opportunity to prove my wits?"

"Aren't you the queen?" he grins and that's when I remembered, a queen never backs down. She shows them who is the boss. I nod firmly. "I'm sure the subjects will be pleased to see me. Because I am Hera of Queen." I laugh majestically.

Dave pats my head and the emcee finally called for us.

The music entranced the guests as Cherry passes through the left side and I pass through the right, meeting her in the middle. We both smiled cheerfully like two best friends meeting at the park. The perfect view. Cherry and I sat down at the table and chair prepared for us with our names labeled in front. The cameras didn't stop flashing from when we came out and it was visibly crowded with the function hall being 250 capacity max only.

The field host began to announce the ground rules of questioning and the process of asking. Cherry and I were each handed with wireless microphones and goblets of water. We both first introduced ourselves assuming not all guests knew us and the questioning began. At first it was light questions about our current projects and the like. I even answered giving them a hint of our upcoming project together. I gained a thumbs up from Mr. Lin with that. Cherry also answered questions regarding our TeaDiaries incident and we both laughed it off as something we've always wanted to do but work was hindering our friendship. The crowd liked our answers evident of the casual giggles and bright smiles, until the much awaited topic came up―Cherry's misleading photo. We both expected Cherry would be given a chance to clear herself out, but the question was thrown at me. I even glanced at her before grabbing the mic, but her gaze at the crowd was unwavering. This was my call now. It is either I say something completely awful about her, or I save her ass. I quickly search for Dave with my eyes and I see him right across the room. He looks straight at me and nodded.

I took a deep breath and tried to compose my thoughts. The question was "Is Cherry really a boy?"

I wanted to tell everybody that it was her twin brother Niko they saw. I wanted to telk everybody in the room how awful Cherry was as a person. Or I could just tell them that Cherry poses as a male and makes fun of everyone. If I do that, I'll be doing myself a favor by finishing my goal right now. I can make Heiress be at my mercy. And yet...here I am, having second thoughts, my eyes dancing around the room searching for answers as the lights flash on me. Miraculously, I smiled. Not bitterly or cruel, a soft one, enough to fluster everyone. Yes, the Hera that does not smile on her photos is now smiling at them.

I bring my mic closer as I said, "People often misjudge a person based on his or her looks. The way that a person acts and the way that a person speaks. Most of what is seen is not what it seems. If your assumptions are based on how boyish looking this person in the photo is enough for you to conclude that this and her is the same person, I think you guys are forgetting something."

The reporters stared at me, shocked.

I glance at Cherry, smiling sheepishly at her, which surprised her then proceeded to finish my thought.

"I think your question was a good one. But I wish you all to remember, that a model isn't just of how she appears to look like. Does it even matter if she's a boy or a girl? I believe everyone in the room agrees that Cherry is a splendid model and is a splendid young lady thus not to be trampled on by mere accusations that do not have enough evidence. Besides, look at that photo, do you people really think Cherry could act so barbaric and rude while walking? I thought you people said she's an angel. Stop being so hypocritical and stand for your word." and I turned off my mic.

The people were silent. They didn't know who's next. They stared at each other murmuring and room was filled with gushes.

I see Cherry grab her mic and clicked her tongue as she stood up declaring, "If you still think otherwise, then let me tell you this..." her eyes filled with anger, "I don't give a damn what you guys think of me. I AM ME! GOT IT?" and she storms off running to the backstage.

Lily and Dave who were at the crowd immediately signalled me to run after her. They weren't going to let me stand alone and carry on with the press. I give them a nod and run off to the backstage and the men in black immediately tooke over crowd control.

Cherry ran really fast. She rode elevator so I ran down using the emergency stairs. She was going to our dressing room. Thankfully before the door of our suite could lock me out, I was able to come in.

"What is wrong with you?" I yell at her.

Her eyes were blank staring at me, "What? You can't be the only giving a speech." she said plucking out her earrings and throwing them at the dresser.

"YOU stormed out of the venue. And here I was trying to save your reputation, and you blow it off! Are you insane? That is going to be a permanent image!"

"I never wanted your saving grace, your majesty!" she said mockingly and I heard a snap in my head which made me jump into her and we both slammed to the floor. I ram her back to the solid ground over and over. I didn't even care if she was hurting, she needs her ego crushed.

"GET OFF ME!" she yelled pushing my arm that was pinning her down. We both struggled for a while until she caught my arm that was slamming her to the carpet.

"Let go you bitch! I've had it with your pride! This is the first day we met and I am already sick and tired of your arrogance." I keep on pulling my arm to break free, "I wanted to destroy you so badly up there but I didn't. Because I know how it feels to be judged based on whatever the hell they can think of. But the moment you went off and left me alone, it made me feel stupid." I felt her grip started to loosen. "I was so stupid helping you! Forget being friends, I AM CUTTING OFF THE CONTRACT!"

I see Cherry's face turn to worry, and her grip tighten once more, "What? No! You can't just back out after telling everybody about our joint project. They're going to publish it already and you gave your word. It'll make me look like I caused you to back out!"

That's what she was worried of? ME RUINING HER IMAGE? INFURIATING.

With my free hand, I pulled her collar in anger bumping my forehead unto her so hard that it made a loud sound. I heard her yelp in pain but it was worth it.

"If you were so worried of your image...then why did you not think first before you stormed off!?" I grab her dress stronger.

"Hey stop pulling my dress you amazon woman!"

AMAZON?!

I groan loudly, "I really hate you, you know that?" I hit her head again with my forehead, "First you bitch out on me then you won't admit you're at fault of everything making me clean up your stupid mess, and then you won't admit you're siblings with that person in the picture which would have made more sense to begin with!"

"Why would I have to admit all that? I'm not crazy!" she yells at my face which made me angrier. I gather all my strength to make her let me go, but her strength exceeds mine.

Pull.

"Let me go, Cherry!"

"No, you'll run off to your manager and cancel our contract."

Puuull.

"I don't care what happens to you, stupid!"

"But I care about my reputation!"

"Of course you do, you psychopath!"

Puuuuuuuuull!

"Hera, stop pulling! It'll rip!"

"THEN LET. ME. GO!"

On my last pull, I pulled so hard that I failed to notice one of my zippers at the sleeve of my leather top got stuck at around the shoulders of her dress. Being a very thin and light dress, it ripped so hard when I fell down from pulling that I heard it tear by the time my head bumped on the ground.

"Now, you've done it! What if I get injured, huh?" I yell at her as I slowly got up. I was so worried my wig would fall off that my legs sprawled out on the floor when I lost footing and tripped when we lost balance from the pulling. Cherry got silent when normally she'd response yelling back at me. I looked towards her and my eyes wanted to run off the moment I saw what was happening before me. The entire top of the dress ripped out and I even got some of the cloth got stuck on my zipper. But no, I didn't care about her ripped dress. I didn't care about the fact that I destroyed her outfit. I didn't care how dumbfounded she looked at me. What scared me most was the fact of who she truly was. The real Cherry that Heiress was hiding from the world.

As soon as my head caught up with what I'm seeing, I shriek at the top of my lungs panicking and pointing at her furiously, yelling with all my soul, "....you're a boy!?"

［ｂｏｎｕｓ］

*earlier after make up*

Cherry: *pulls Hera to the side*

Hera: Hey, what is wrong with you?

Cherry: *staring intently*

Hera: .......... (Don't tell me she figured me out?!)

Cherry: *pulls out her phone* Let's take a picture. I need to post it on my TeaDiaries. I'll tag you.

Hera: .............what the hell? (person who does not update much)

「Cherry is very attentive to her social media appearances that she takes time to blog for her fans. It maintains a good image for celebrities to be in touch with their fans behind the scenes.」