Favoritism (II)

07:23 P.M. 

Dela Ia's Abandoned House. 

June 15th, the year 2018. Friday.

"Pairing you with someone who is so popular is ridiculous to hear. You look so little beside Margo," Director Jane accused, soothing her forehead. Katrina's tears fell as she heard Margo say something to the director. 

She bit her lip and wished that she could go back to the time. When she didn't want to agree with the film, they offered her with Margo Monteverde, paired with her. 

"Director Jane, what is the problem with the scene? It's perfect for me," Margo pondered. She wanted to know the mistake. All along the scenes, Katrina's great. 

As an actress for six years now, she knew whether the one she was acting with has prior experience and pure talent. And the way Katrina acted naturally, she was so good at this for Margo. 

Director Jane sighed and faced Margo. She stated the facts, everything, even the tiniest bit of the mistake she had pointed to. Margo nodded at it as Director Jane looked back at Katrina. As she was about to say something, Margo took a step in front of Katrina and defended her.

"Director, I know it is the 10th time already with the mistake you are talking about. But as an actress, I knew where the scene was leading to. I feel Katrina's emotions as her co-actress here. Not to say that you are wrong, Director Jane," Margo explained. That is when Katrina looked up from the floor and saw the backside of Margo's hair. The white blanket still draped over his half-naked body and her bare face were showing her flaws. 

"We can take the scene again, and I know we can do it, Director. Just don't cut it there. We can do some alibis," Margo pleaded, and defended Katrina as much as she could. Director Jane sighed and crossed her arms. She looked at both Margo and Katrina while pursing her lips. 

"If you didn't take this scene right again, I will replace the two of you," Director Jane reprimanded. She turned their back at them. Margo sighed, facing Katrina. She was wiping the tears quickly before Carmela and Mina noticed it.

Director Jane clapped around the wide room of Dela Ia's Abandoned House. She yelled that they all should take a break. 

The cameramen put down their cameras and massaged their shoulders. The writers and production all went out of the room. Margo shifted her eyes towards Katrina. 

"Are you okay, Katrina? We can eat something outside of your tent," Mina said while soothing Katrina's back. Katrina got a personal assistant that was close to her, and the perfect fit would be Mina. Besides, Mina wanted to have a sideline aside from working at Dera Group of Companies. The company that her suitor, Tristan Dera, owned and established alongside his father. 

Also, Zoey and Abbey were working there in a different department. The three of them should stick together. 

Carmela was working as a server and a personal assistant. Katrina with her acting career. Marcus with his lieutenant's responsibility. Matthew, as a newly debuted rookie for the Philippine Basketball Association. 

"Katrina, I am sorry about how Director Jane acted out earlier. She is just like that when she wants a movie to be perfect. Director Jane is a perfectionist in everything," Margo elaborated. She had gone to work with Director Jane on one of her television series. Margo just shook her head many times and sighed.

"Let's take a break. Get something to cool down our temper." Margo tapped a speechless Katrina stared at her for a long time while explaining. Margo nodded at Carmela. 

"Stay here with your friends. I'll talk to Director Jane again for a little," Margo told off and patted her shoulder too. After that, she went outside the living room to the tents. 

They left the three of them alone with the lighting directors and sound production. They were busy talking with each other. 

Carmela approached the two as Mina pursed his lips and rolled his eyes. He was wearing skinny jeans, a long blue sweater, and a scarf around it. Carmela was pocketing her icy hands on her jacket. She seemed to realize how Margo survived the breeze by wearing a torn shirt covering half of her chest. 

She was half-naked, as the scriptwriter commanded, and she had a lot of confidence in her body. It was freezing outside because of the thunderstorm weather. The production team said that it was the perfect time to start the first shooting day.

Katrina was wearing a long, raven gown that seemed to be tailored for her. It fitted her perfectly. Her hair makes her unrecognizable for her character. Carmela knew the production team really underestimated her. Although she forgot the most important line, Katrina was so good at acting. 

She patted Katrina's head and smiled at her. Katrina looked up and smiled sadly. 

"Aish! What is your director's problem, Katrina?" Mina's infuriated voice whispered. 

"I don't know. I think because it is the tenth time we are already taking the first scene," Katrina retorted, gazing at them two. She opened her mouth, exhaled in frustration, and scratched her head. She grimaced as she rolled her eyes.

"Calm down a bit. I'm sure you can do the last take for today," Carmela consoled. She calmed Katrina's surging anger from coming. She knew how Katrina got annoyed with even tiny things. Carmela knew she would be in a quarrel again if Mina and she didn't let the storm calm down. 

"Carmela, I've been doing the scene 10 times with all my might already. Director Jane wants to look at Margo, only at her," Katrina hissed. Mina and Carmela looked at each other. 

"They underrate me every time I am paired with big actresses and actors. I'm sick of it!" Katrina raised her voice at the set. The lighting directors and the sound producers followed her. She stomped her feet loudly on the wooden floor. Mina and Carmela widened their eyes for a bit and followed Katrina. 

She went over to her tent in the hallways of the abandoned house. Katrina slumped in her seat as Mina and Carmela entered the dark tent. Mina lit up the switch hanging from the metal rod that supports the tent. The light glowed in the darkness for a little. They squinted from the light in a matter of seconds and Carmela sat down beside Katrina. 

The tent was across from Margo's and Mina closed the curtains. He finally sat down beside Katrina on the right side. Katrina put her head down in her hands, holding her forehead while exhaling. 

"Katrina," Carmela called out to her and peeked through her arms. It was impossible to see her face because her hair was covering it. Mina licked his lips before saying anything. 

"Katrina, we know that Director Jane sided with Margo all throughout. Since the very start, we all know that. But, don't pity yourself because you don't get their attention," Mina whispered. It made Katrina lookup in a second after he finished saying the word 'attention'.

"You think I pity myself, Mina?" Katrina stuttered. Tears were pouring down silently. Her face was full of snow. The glittered foundation they applied on earlier to her because she needed to look like a ghost. The black eyeliner and charcoal eyeshadow around her eyes made her similar to a white lady. 

Mina realized it was Katrina's character in the movie. They made her look like this, a ghost. The people will not praise her, instead, they'll call her a villain. Whereas Margo will get recognition again for her exposure. 

"Kat, I know what you are thinking. The answer is no, I am not siding with her," Mina addressed. Katrina looked into his eyes deeply, as if the answer might pop out of his pupils. Katrina averted her eyes. She looked at her reflection in the mirror with lightbulbs around it. 

Carmela breathed in and out while crossing her arms, reminding, "I am too. Margo might be my master, but I am siding with my best friend." 

Katrina shifted her eyes. Carmela beamed as she placed her right hand on Katrina's arm. 

"Katrina, you are the best actress I have ever met. Margo, well, she is the best actress for her fans, and for the people who support her all throughout her career. But, we are here with you no matter what. We are your best friends. We can't let you down. So now, don't compare yourself to her because Director Jane favors her." Carmela comforted her, then combed Katrina's long hair. 

"Maybe this time, Margo is the one who shines underneath the spotlight. There will come the destiny wherein it will be your limelight," she denoted. Mina and Katrina fondly stare at her. Carmela stood up from her seat as Katrina looked down and grinned.

"I'll go back to Margo's tent now, she's waiting for me." Carmela said to the two while Mina nodded and Katrina tilted her head backward. 

"Carmela... thank you," Katrina breathed. In return, Carmela smiled at her. She said that she will be back later after the taping of the first scene to dine in some fancy restaurant she knew.

Carmela swept the curtains of Katrina's tent out of her way. She walked inside Margo's tent but was startled to see Margo rushing in. She got her designer bag placed in the corner of her tent, fully dressed from head to toe. Margo wiped her cheeks as if she was crying for a certain time now.

"Margo," Carmela called out to her, puzzled about her actions, and looked at her face. Carmela widened her eyes when Margo went straight outside the tent. She smashed her left shoulder with Carmela's right one, and ran over the hallways. Carmela peeped quickly outside and called her. 

"Margo! Margo!" Carmela yelled while chasing Margo. She slammed the wooden door that was about to break due to the crickets living inside it in front of Carmela's face. 

Carmela halted at her place and peeked outside of the window. Margo climbed in on her car hastily and drove off out of the alleyway and onto Bella's Main Highway.