Apologize (I)

11:10 A.M.

ASN Studios.

June 6th, the year 2018. Wednesday.

"Okay! So since the two of you agreed to work on this new project. I want the two of you, as the main characters, to be on Friday for the script reading. It will be in the afternoon, so the two of you don't need to worry. You will meet the entire cast and production, so be there, all right?" Director Bayani reminded the two actresses. 

Carmela observed them talking while fidgeting with her fingers. When she met Ellis Smith earlier while Margo was waiting for the director, she felt her knees got weak. She even shook hands with him, and Carmela savored that touch from her celebrity crush.

Carmela saw that the two actresses agreed to what the director said.

"Okay, we will wrap it up here. Young lads, you may go now. Managers, come with me to the office," Director Bayani dismissed them. The two managers stood up from their seats. They closed the door gently, and they left the three of them in the room.

Margo looked at Carmela and uttered," Carmela, I need to take this call. I'll be outside in a minute."

Margo stood up hastily before Carmela could say anything. She went out of the Director's Office. Carmela locked her gaze towards the door, not wanting to look at her best friend, Katrina. She felt Katrina was looking at her. When Carmela was on the drive to go to Margo's place, she saw their scandal. And she knew it would affect Katrina.

Carmela looked at Katrina, and they stared at each other. When Katrina opened her mouth to say anything, the door opened. Margo peeped at it and eager on, "Carmela, we need to go."

Carmela raised her eyebrows and got puzzled. But she quickly got her Lacoste bag and slung it over her shoulders. She picked up Margo's signature Louis Vuitton purse. She walked towards the door rapidly.

Katrina stood up hurriedly and gripped Carmela's arm tightly. Carmela got surprised and looked at her best friend.

"Carmela, can we talk?" Katrina asked, pleading with her eyes. Carmela opened her mouth to say anything when Margo butted in.

"Katrina, we are in a rush. Not now, please," Margo muttered. Katrina looked at her and Carmela saw her eyes were changing from being soft to raging.

"Margo, for a moment, please."

"Katrina, we need to go. Carmela is my assistant. I need her. Please, do your best friend talk later or tomorrow," Margo stammered. 

"She will stay. If she is your assistant, I am her best friend," Katrina gritted her teeth and grabbing a hold of Carmela's right arm.

'What is wrong with these two?' Carmela asked her thoughts, disgusted.

"No, she will come with me. I need her," Margo voiced out as clasped Carmela's left arm.

"Let's go, Carmela." 

Carmela got furious by the two and retorted, "Wait up! Wait up! Is my arms a kind of rope for tug-of-war?"

Katrina and Margo looked at Carmela's arms, and their eyes widened.

"Release my arms," Carmela growled. They both unclasped her arms. Carmela looked at Margo and asked her.

"What is happening, Margo? Why are you in a hurry?" Carmela queried. 

"It's because... Xian got into an accident," Margo lowered down her voice as if no one can hear her. Carmela and Katrina got astonished by what she said. Carmela froze from her place, locked eyes with Margo, and didn't even bother to say a word because of her shock.

"You mean, Xian?!" Katrina burst, Carmela tilted her head towards her. She locked eyes with her and widened it as if saying something. Katrina raised her eyebrows, confused. In a minute, she got what Carmela had to say with that look. They understood each other with telepathic communication.

"You know my boyfriend?" Margo asked Katrina with a puzzled look. Katrina shifted her eyes and looked at Margo. She looked again at Carmela.

"Uh... h-he's the-famous-painter, r-right?" Katrina stuttered, not disclosing the information that Carmela was Xian's ex-girlfriend.

"I've met him in one of his open galleries, and his painting is exquisite and unique. I've known him since then," Katrina added innocently. Margo nodded, convinced of what she said.

"He is fantastic," Margo said. Her cell phone beeped again, and she got worried.

"I need to go. Xian needs me now. Let's go?" Margo asked Carmela, tapping her feet as if she can't wait to get to the hospital. Carmela thought about giving Katrina a ride since they need to talk to each other.

"Um... I will give Katrina a ride. Where is he admitted?" Carmela asked Margo.

"In San Miguel's Hospital," Margo's anxious every second. 

"Okay. We will be right there next to you," Carmela assured Margo as she nodded and went out of the office in a haste.

"Let's go?" Carmela looked at Katrina as the door opened. Manager Maci and Manager Ines went inside as they furrowed their eyebrows.

"Where is Margo, Carmela?" Manager Ines asked.

"She went to the hospital," Carmela answered.

"What is she doing there? Does something happen?" Manager Ines asked, concerned. Carmela looked at Katrina as if waiting for her approval. Katrina nodded, and Carmela said what happened to Xian.

"Xian got into an accident," Carmela said. The two managers got shocked and widened their eyes.'I felt guilty. Maybe I am the one to blame for Xian's accident. What happened earlier at Kelly's Diner is for personal matters,' Carmela said in her thoughts.

Carmela said that Xian got admitted to San Miguel's Hospital. Manager Maci and Manager Ines went with the two of them. Katrina agreed on riding with Carmela since they need to apologize to each other. Katrina and Carmela went out of the director's room.

They walked beside each other, saying nothing. They reached the parking lot without starting a conversation. Fortunately, the two of them who had a scandal didn't come across other artists at the studios.

When they reached Carmela's limited edition car, she looked towards Katrina. She was clutching her purse tightly. Carmela's car was a model called BMWi8. It's a gift she received from her Aunt Martha when she graduated from Del Rio University. Carmela fumbled with something in her bag. She retrieved the car's remote control. Carmela pressed some buttons, and the car unlocked. The doors opened slowly.

Carmela nodded to Katrina and motioned, "Cmon." 

Katrina climbed into the car. She fastened her seatbelt as Carmela started the car. She drove off towards Bella's Main Highway. Tracking the road towards San Miguel's Hospital. Katrina titled her head towards Carmela and looked at her driving.

"Carmela?" Katrina called out. Carmela shifted her eyes to Katrina for a second, and she looked towards the road again. "Hmm?" she answered. 

"I'm sorry for what I did yesterday," Katrina faltered while looking down at her fingers. Carmela glanced at her and saw that sadness crossed her face.

"I didn't intend to say those things. You know, it's my emotions. I have a hard time dealing with it. I got furious because you are my best friend, and yet, you are also my rival's assistant," Katrina explained. Carmela sighed. She gathered her thoughts before saying anything.

"Not all the time you can manipulate everybody's decision, Katrina. Even if a person did a thing that doesn't favor you, it doesn't mean you have to start a fight with them." Carmela lectured Katrina. She huffed an air and looked at Carmela.

"Katrina, even if I am Margo's assistant, I will choose you over her," Carmela mumbled. 

Katrina felt the tears brimming in her eyes as she said that. She smiled slowly and said, "So, is my apology accepted?"

"Yes, I can't bear to mind not talking to you for a day," Carmela grinned. 

"Thank you, Carmela. You are the best," Katrina showed her white teeth. They sat in silence for a minute.

"Next time, if you say those insulting words to my family, our friendship will be over, all right?" Carmela disclosed. 

"Yeah, Carmela. I will do nothing dreadful again. I promise," Katrina smiled and looked out of the window. Carmela smiled and focused her eyes on the road. When they arrived at San Miguel's Hospital, Katrina was the one who climbed out of the car first. She inhaled some fresh air. She realized that a moment ago, Carmela and she both said their apologies for the fight.

Katrina closed her eyes for a moment, but when she opened them, something caught her eye again. Someone was leaning towards a motorcycle feet away from Carmela's car. The person was wearing a black hoodie, and Katrina was sure that this was the same person she saw from her house.

She observed the person and her eyes widened. As her gaze looked down, she saw the person was holding a Katana sword.