Chapter 13

"Guys, we should give our little Cheska here a toast. We should celebrate her achievement in winning the Phoenix Award." Leon said as opened a bottle of champagne he prepared earlier before Francheska arrived.

"Oh! That's right! You are so amazing, Cheska! I saw your video while you are singing your latest song. You greatly improved a lot!" Cindy added as she put the tulip glasses on the table.

"Well, of course! Cheska is really the best!" Wendy proudly said. But she quickly looked at Francheska with a frown on her face. "But it does not mean you cannot contact us! Did you know how worried I am when you are not answering any of my calls or messages? If not for the news about you in abroad, I might suspect that a scoundrel kidnapped you."

"Wendy, are you bipolar? How can you change your mood so fast?" Cindy commented but she ignored it.

"Sorry. I know that am wrong. Your Queen Majesty, can you find it in your heart to forgive me?" Francheska pleaded as she acted like a servant asking for her to show leniency to her subjects. She even bowed her head to complete her role.

"Hmph! How dare you speak to me like that? I am the Queen Majesty of this land! You!"

"Your Majesty, please show mercy on this lowly servant!"

"No need to ask for the Queen for that. As the handsome prince of this land, I can give the forgiveness you are asking from the Queen. But in one condition." Leon haughtily said.

"What is it, Your Highness?"

"Simple. Marry me." Leon said in a frivolous voice.

"I object! I strongly object! The Empress of our kingdom cannot marry a stupid prince like you!" Cindy suddenly interjected ruining their adlib play.

"You really have no talent in acting, Cindy. How can a lowly maid become an Empress all of a sudden?" Wendy asked.

"Because the director changed her role. And I am that director!"

"No matter what happens, I am still the handsome prince." Leon joined their bickering.

"You can be a prince, but you were never handsome!" Cindy scoffed.

"Heh. Just admit the truth, Cindy. You have a crush on me."

"No! Eww! Never!" Cindy stressed each word with disgust.

'These people...'

Francheska can only sigh seeing these three people acting like a bunch of rowdy children in the street. She only watched them teasing and bickering with each other quietly. Francheska was already used to it since they are always like this even before.

When their bickering stopped, Cindy called one of her staff and told them to prepare their dinner. While eating their dinner, Cindy noticed that Francheska is only eating a small plate of green salad and a small bowl of clear chicken soup. Cindy asked one of her best chefs to cook for them because she got a call from Wendy last night that Francheska was back. Cindy wanted to celebrate and at the same time, feed her friend a lot of delicious food.

"Cheska, why are you not eating? I can guarantee you that all the food on this table is made of fresh ingredients." Cindy said.

"Hmm? But I am clearly eating right now." Francheska answered before she took a small bite on her celery stick.

"Those are veggie sticks, Cheska."

"Well, yes?"

"And if you did not know, we can't consider it as dinner." Cindy flatly informed her friend.

"Oh, I get it." Francheska said as she let out a soft chuckle. "I am getting fat these days, Cindy."

"Fat? You?"

Not only Cindy but also Wendy and Leon scrutinized Francheska from her head to toe. Francheska is currently wearing fitted jeans, a loose gray shirt, and flat shoes. Francheska can make simple clothes look so good whenever she wears them. With her current outfit tonight, Francheska looked so petite and fragile.

These three people have the same question in their mind— What part of her body is getting fat?

"All of you. Stop it." Francheska said. "I can clearly see what you guys are thinking right now."

"Oh? Then take a guess. What we are currently thinking right now?" challenged Leon.

"You guys. You cannot see it, but I am getting fat these past few days." Francheska explained. "Look at my arms. It was getting thicker."

Francheska showed her left arm to her friends. Cindy stared at Francheska's fair arm before looking at Wendy's arms.

"What are you talking about? Compared to Wendy's arms, yours are obviously thin and slender."

"Hey! Are you indicating that my arms are fat?!" Wendy interjected.

"I never said that."

"You!"

"Anyways, you should eat more." Cindy suggested.

"If I did, my manager will kill me."

"Rissa?" Cindy asked. "You know, sometimes I am doubting your manager. Does she really want you to be healthy or she was trying to kill you by means of starving you?"

"Do not be like that, Cindy." Francheska helplessly said. "I can understand my manager. I am now a celebrity. Of course, I should be responsible for my appearance. Or else, I might lose my job now."

"So you are now sacrificing your appetite just to be a star?" Wendy asked.

"I am not sacrificing anything, Wendy."

"It is a good thing that I did not try to be a star like you." Leon mused.

"You should stop being a star. Cheska, you are just starving yourself. Do not try to change the fact."

"Cindy, you know that I can't do that." Francheska said with determination.