Fall And Stand

Flashback to a month before Belen's Quinceañera

Ernestina is talking to someone on the phone in the kitchen. Meanwhile, Belen is sitting in front of the tv, doing her homework. After a few minutes, her mother hangs up, "great news Belen!"

Belen casually asks, "what?"

"I finished talking to the lady about your Quinceanera and asked if we can have it in the back of her salon, and she said most likely yes. Aren't you glad, baby! We'll be able to start planning how many chairs and seats. Oh! This is great! aren't you excited, baby?"

Belen uninterestingly nods, "yeah…I guess?"

Her mother's mood suddenly shifts upside down, "oh my gosh, you ungrateful bitch! Do you not care about your party? I am doing it for you! Are you really going to act this way with me?! I'm the one throwing this fucking party for you, and this is how you act?"

Belen frightenedly stares at her mother, and shrugs, "I told you I don't care about the party. I permitted you to do me a Quinceanera as you wanted. You know very well. I don't care about the planning process of the party" she stands up, leaving her homework on the sofa.

"Where are you going?!" her mother shouts.

"I'm going to take a shower," she grabs her towel and clothes from her bed. And quietly closes the door turning up the music on her phone, hoping for no one to hear. Out of her towel, she pulls out barbershop scissors. She turns on the water thinking about her mother's constant verbal abuse. Belen sheds tears holding onto the opening of the scissors with her left hand and, without a second thought, runs the edge of the scissors on her arm as if slicing butter.

She opens her eyes, relieved, "yeah, it hurts more inside than on my arm…but this helps a lot." Solemnly staring at her arm, "I don't want to die…yet. The best way is cutting my arm" she enters the shower letting the water flush out her cut to stop the blood. But the water alone is not enough to cover the bleeding pain within her heart as her tears flow down her cheeks, quieting sobbing.

***

Noah remains unfazed from Belen's Quinceañera picture, "was she already sad at this age?"

He feels a light twitch and notices Emma pulling his clothes, "Sorry, Emma, I got distracted, do you want to continue playing?" he genuinely smiles.

Mabel happily stares at them, playing in the distance, "Noah, have you eaten yet?"

"ah, um not yet, I came here straight out of work."

"I'm going to make something."

"You don't have to worry about me. I can always eat on my way home."

Mabel insists, "no, really, it's fine! I bet Emma is hungry too. Right Emma?"

She nods, holding onto Noah's hand, as if indicating, "please stay."

He gives in to her, cuteness, "sure. I don't mind."

After a few minutes, Noah and Emma sit at the table. Mabel sits next to Emma, "I want to sit with uncle Noa" she write on her white erase board.

Mabel chuckles, "you spelled his name wrong, its N-O-A-H," she writes down.

Emma copies her correctly, writing his name down, showing him.

He smiles impressed, "yes! Good job, Emma! You're brilliant!"

While Emma is eating, Mabel asks, "Is there anything you want to know specifically about Belen?"

"hmm…I've meant to ask, what is Belen to you?"

Mabel's eyes widen, feeling distraught by such a simple yet profound question. She hesitates to answer. Seeing her surprised expression only makes Noah curious to hear her answer. This simple question is enough to reveal to him if whether Mabel truly cares about Belen.

***

Later that night, Everest is outside A Star Mall locking the entrance checking his phone, "it's midnight, that's odd. Noah texted me to close A Star." He walks over to his car, thinking aloud, swinging his keys on his finger, "he rushed out, could it be something to do with Belen? Nah, they aren't even talking to each other. This whole time I thought they were secretly dating, but it was just my imagination. Shit, what was I thinking, there's no way Belen would even date. She's too honest and scary. I only spent a few minutes with her ordering food, and even I wanted to break up with her."

He turns on his car and exits A Star, "I don't get home until 3 am, that's only when I'm with Belen. Now that she's on vacation, I'm home at midnight. What kind of person takes a vacation at."

Flashback to a week ago.

"you're taking your vacation at your house?!" He shouts in disbelief at Belen and Noah in her office.

They both glare at Everest to shut his mouth, "is there a problem with that?" she glares.

Noah obediently responds, "none, Madam President. I think it's great to rest before the board meetings."

"I wasn't referring to you, Noah." She tilts her head, "Well, Everest? Does that bother you?"

"With all due respect Madam, a vacation consists of traveling to a faraway place, like staying in a hotel, relaxing, maybe even playing golf?"

She chuckles, "what kind of movies are you watching? Is that what your friends do?"

He stutters, "n-no, but, woman your age, umm, I mean."

Her expression stiffens, "Women my age? Hmm, do you think I deserve to party? Relax, travel, and have fun?" she sighs, rolling her eyes, "not every woman is the same. I don't rely on my parent's money, or think about wasting mines on idle entertainment. Everything I do is for the sake of A Star. I don't need distractions to relax my mind. My vacation is relaxing in my house, that is my comfort. Do you understand now?"

Everest sinks his head feeling bad when Belen approaches him, passing Noah as if he were nonexistent. She gently pulls his chin to meet her bright, beautiful brown eyes, "Don't ever assume you know everything," she leans whispering in his ear, "ask politely if you're that curious." His eyes widen, making Noah feel awkward but curious to know why she's gotten so quiet.

Belen smirks, turning around quickly enough to slap Everest with the scent of her hair, "Noah, make sure everything is running smoothly throughout my absence at A Star."

"Y-Yes Madam President!"

End of flashback.

Everest is parking out in the driveway of his house, "vacationing at your house, huh? Maybe I should try it and see what's so great."

Before opening the door, he leans forward, "are they still awake?" Just then, Leena opens the door, making Everest almost fall, "fuck!"

She bewilderedly stares, "Everest? What are you doing home so early?"

"what are you talking about its late," he walks inside but immediately stops, "dad?"

Reuben gets up from the couch happily, "there he is! The next heir to A Star! Come on in! Why did you come earlier than usual? Did she send you home?" he checks over his shoulders out the door for Belen.

Everest irritably scoffs, realizing that his dad has been watching gossip reports. "Of course, now he talks, just because of Belen," he feels annoyed.

And yells, "what do you want?"

Reuben can't hide his smirk, "tell me, son! Has she fallen for you yet?"

"Stop acting as if this was all part of your plan! I'm working for her. Nothing is going on between us!"

Reuben offers, "come sit, my son! I bet you haven't eaten yet, right? Come! Your mother cooked today!" he shows Everest to the kitchen.

But as he stepped into the kitchen, he cringes, "what the fuck is that smell?"

"your mom cooked food from her hometown back in Russia."

Everest storms out of the kitchen, "I'm not eating that shit!"

"Everest!! Your mother cooked for you and Leena!" his father stomps.

Everest snaps back, "Now she decides to cook for us? Where was she when Leena and I were starving?!"

"Don't speak like that!" Reuben shouts angrily, fuming.

"Stop bothering me, dad! I'm tired! I have to wake up early tomorrow!"

Leena worriedly asks, "are you fine working for her, Everest?"

Reuben interferes, "of course not! He's not working for her! He's just pretending to learn the ropes of managing A Star since it'll soon become his! Right, son!"

Everest loses his patience, "what the fuck is up with you and A Star?! Why are you obsessed with it? Listen to me closely, dad, because it's the last time I'll ever say this! I don't plan on marrying Belen Astares or owning A Star, all I want it my freedom!"

Reuben is unable to control his temper that he slaps Everest across the face following nothing but silence. Everest is at a loss for words when all he can feel is a throbbing pain sensation spreading on his left cheek and stares at his dad with murderous eyes. Leena, on the other hand, gasps.

Reuben's eyes look like that of a madman, "you think just because you pay rent, it gives you the right to be rude to your mother and me?! I blame myself for spoiling you too much! As long as you have Fox in your name, you belong to me. You're my son! And you will marry that Astares bitch the world loves so much!" He points, "and Leena! I want you to stop babying him too! He wants to be independent, let him start by growing some balls and moving out of this fucking house first!" he stomps away, fuming mad.

As he left, Leena carefully approaches Everest, "are you?" he stops her hand from touching his cheek, "don't get close to me" his low voice startles Leena. He dashes out of the house into his car driving away.

***

While driving into the night half-empty streets, Everest is unable to identify his mixed emotions other than rage. And doubts himself, "what the fuck was I thinking? I thought that finding a job, working, and paying rent would give me a bit of freedom, but whenever I see him, all I can think about is my past! He was like this when I was with Sun-young too! Shit! Shit!" he hits the wheel.

"Maybe it is hopeless to change" he stares at his rearview mirror when his past self appears wearing his hair down with glasses, plaid, tucked in shirts. He stares, seeing an illusion of his old self, "this is the real me, a nerd, scared of the world. No…scared of freedom."

Suddenly he remembers Leena's smile, Noah, the employee's at A Star, and lastly, Belen's genuine smile calling him so sweetly.

The illusion disappears, revealing his present self in the rearview mirror. A handsome man with his hair up, showing his sharp, good-looking features along with his mesmerizing colored eyes. "This is me? Me now? Huh!" he laughs, hiding his fallen tears, "shit, how can I forget. Belen…you trust me, no!" He comes to a realization, "you believe in me more than I do." He sighs, "but I'm afraid to disappoint you. I…I'm not as strong as you think I am…" his voice quivers.

Belen's voice resounds within his ears, so tenderly, "I chose to give you a chance because you reminded me of myself" and another, "that sounds like an amazing dream."

Remembering her words only spark Everest's confidence, clearing the fog within his mind, "why…am I so motivated by you, Belen? who are you?"

He parks near a convenience store with a strong smell of coffee. It's like heaven. He decides to grab a cup of coffee when his phone continues to vibrate.

He checks, "a message from an unknown number? A link?" he ignores the text putting away his phone to pay at the counter.

After exiting the store, his phone continues to vibrate, "who the fuck is? The same unknown number? Why do they keep sending me links?"

He receives a text after getting in his car, saying, "open the link."

He throws his phone to the side, frightened, glancing side to side "what the fuck?!"

The link opens, "this better not be some porn…what?" his eyes focus reading the article from the link, "Prime Minister's son announces the date of his wedding to South Korean actress Han Sun-Young."

Reading this article only sets Everest's mind into confusion and despair as tears fall to his phone screen. He can't help but scroll through the article seeing Sun-young happily holding hands with another man.

All he can do is hate himself even more, continually asking, "Was I no good? Why are you so happy with him? Sun-young?!"

This night became one of Everest's most lonely nights, just as he thought he was able to get back up on his feet. News of his ex-fiancé's wedding only shatters his heart further enough to squash his self-esteem to the ground.

Just like that, Everest loses himself through the night, trying to find a way to fill the void in his heart, the empty half of his soul. Instead of pleasing himself physically, he decides to drown himself in alcohol while staying in a hotel.

Under the influence of alcohol, he says aloud, "maybe I should marry for money! Who the fuck cares about freedom when I'll be richer than anyone else! I mean, when you look closely, Belen isn't all that bad. She's a real catch. She's scary, strict, beautiful, intelligent, kind…" his face unknowingly forms a dumb smile, "charming, shmells nice, and, and, she has a goooorgeous shmile, her lips." He shakes his head, "no! I shouldn't think that way! She's my boss! My Madam~."

While lying down on the bed, he stares at his phone, "what are you doing, Madam President? Do you ever feel lonely like me, Belen?" his eyelids become heavy with sleep. He mumbles in his sleep swallowing his saliva, "please come back soon, Belen…"

***

A week later, Edilberto is in his house office, staring at his calendar. "Aah, what am I thinking about, the dead are dead. There is no reason for me to visit. It won't change anything."

Knock knock. Iris opens the door, "daddy~ I knew you'd be here."

He sighs, "what is it, Iris?"

She leaps, "daddy, can you let me borrow 20$ for gas? Please!"

"Where are you going?"

"work!" she confidently answers.

"Fine. Where is Azaan?"

"Oh! I'm going to drop him off at my mom's house. She wants to spend time with him."

"Okay, here," he hands her a 20 dollar bill when she begs, "aaand~ can I have a 10 for Azaan?"

Edy's eyebrows twist, "here."

"thank you~ daddy!" she walks out of his office happily humming.

Edy has become doubtful of Iris's "working" because she is always asking him for money. So he calls his former secretary, "Iris is going to work. I need you to find out anything you can about where she works."

At that moment, Edilberto gets a message from his former secretary, sending him a link to read, "Rumors claiming Belen Astares is going to marry Everest Fox soon this Fall!"

He clicks his tongue, slamming the phone on his desk, "I don't know, should I let this go on? She hasn't said anything, I was thinking of canceling the engagement, but I was surprised to see Everest working with her. Could she secretly like him? This Everest fellow isn't that bad, but there are suitors that are better off than him. Then again, I did promise Reuben. It's not his fault he ended up with all that debt."

Right then, Reuben calls, "hello?" Edy answers.

"Hey~ buddy! How're you doing?"

"Good good! and yourself?"

"Well you know, great as usual, I wanted to call and give my condolences about your child's death."

"ah, yes, you remembered," his voice lowers.

"Of course, you're my best buddy! I helped you pay the medical bills, remember? She died so young."

"Yes, she did."

"But wasn't it because of her death you were able to file a claim? And you won thousands because of it, right? That's how we were able to open the mall."

Somehow Edilberto's voice turns quiet, "yeah, you're right."

"anyways, how is your daughter?"

Edy twitches, "Iris? She's working right now."

"Not her! I meant your eldest daughter."

Edy's tone shifts, "she is probably traveling as we speak," he chuckles, trying to hide his displeased tone at the mention of her name.

"I-I see, well, I know this month is not the right time, but I was hoping to discuss the kid's engagement rumors that are circling."

"Are they bothering you by any chance?" Edy asks.

"I personally believe it'd be best to either turn down the engagement or confirm it. I'm saying this for the sake of our children. They must be as confused as we are. I've noticed they haven't turned down the engagement in front of others."

"Where have you heard this?"

"My son, Everest, said so. He said that every time they meet clients, your daughter doesn't turn down the rumors. I'm guessing they're waiting for us to make the final decision. You've educated your daughter so well. I think Everest is falling for her every day."

"So, you want to know if whether we should allow Belen and Everest to marry?"

Reuben scoffs, "of course not! Buddy! I just want to know so these fake rumors won't bombard our children. It's probably taking a toll on them, don't you think?"

"…you're probably right. I'll talk to Belen."

"come on, buddy, you are her father, right? I mean, you practically raised her yourself. I think you know what's best for her without having to ask."

"then, give me some time to sort things out. I'm currently busy, but I will let you know soon."

"Alright, buddy, call me when you've decided. Bye."

After Reuben hung up, he shakes startled to see Leena sitting at her desk.

"dad, what are you doing?"

Reuben visited Fox Theater's office waiting for Leena when he decided to call Edy, but while speaking to him, he became unaware of Leena's presence.

"My beautiful daughter!" his voice brighten opening his arms, ready to hug her, but she moves away with suspicious eyes, "What was that phone call about?"

He tries to change the topic, "what phone call? Were you meeting a client just now? How did it go?"

She asks in a severe tone, "I didn't know you cared so much about Belen and Everest?"

Reuben breaks his façade, "not you too, Leena."

She crosses her arms, judging, "you know it's not right for you to get in the middle of them."

"daughter! I just want the best for you and Everest! That way, when my time comes and I leave this world, I'll die happy knowing I don't have to worry about you two financially struggling to get by as we did back then."

She sighs, rubbing her head, "I understand your point, but dad. Don't you feel the least bit of guilt lying to Mr. Astares about Everest and Belen's relationship?"

Reuben makes a grim expression, "not as long as it will provide you two with food and money."

Leena shakes her head, unable to believe her father's words, "but you didn't have to hit Everest that night. Why couldn't you have just talked to him? Tell him everything you tell me instead of yelling at each other's face."

"that boy and I are too alike. He won't listen to words; the only way he'll learn is through action! That is the way I was raised, as well."

"But you didn't raise me that way?" Leena questions.

He smiles, "that's because you were brilliant, obedient, my little girl. I never had to hit you. You listened very well to me." She laughs, "that was because I saw how much you suffered when mother ran away."

"Yeah, I was devastated, but she's here now."

Leena says, "well, make sure she's never left alone with Everest."

"why?" he worries.

She smirks, "Everest hates her more than you can imagine. If I had to guess, he'd go as far as to give her money to disappear."

Reuben whines, "Don't say mention such ideas! I must go! See you at home, take care, daughter!" he shuts the door exiting her office.

Leena bursts out laughing, "Silly," she stares at her computer, "Everest has not been answering my calls. I'm worried. He hasn't come home either. He better not have fallen back into his old habits," she worries, biting her lip, and calls her secretary.

"Look into Everest's bank accounts and send me the report ASAP!"

As Leena hung up, she whispers, "I won't let you fall Everest. You'll stand no matter the pain."