"Hey ! Hey ! Aléssio, wake up ! Earth to Aléssio."
The voice snapped me back to reality. I blinked, the memory of Cassandra still lingered. As I came back to my senses, I saw my manager snapping his fingers in front of my face, trying to wake me up from that dream again.
I bowed my head slightly,
"I'm sorry... I promise I won't do it aga—"
Before I could finish my sentence, a sharp SLAP echoed through the backstage corridor.
My cheeks burned red. The sting bloomed across my skin.
He yelled, his face inches near mine,
"Focus on your job ! The elites are out there waiting for you on that stage ! Do you want us to be like those peasants ? Do you want us to be broke !?"
I stared at the floor, mumbling softly,
"Yes... sir."
◇ ◇ ◇
Once the show ended and the lights dimmed, I slipped away. I needed a moment for myself alone. I head to the nearby cafe.
The surroundings of the cafe were squeaky-clean, all polished and synthetic marbles. But the atmosphere was a contrast. Despite the luxury, the people inside treated the staffs like filthy and stray dogs.
A man shouted, slamming his hand on the counter,
"Hurry up, you lowly brats ! Without us customers, you wouldn't even have the right to breathe anyways ! Hurry up and move it !"
I ignored the scene that's unfolding and took a seat in the far corner, hoping to avoid any unnecessary troubles and rumors.
As I sipped a cup of black tea, a sudden tap landed on my shoulder. I turned around.
Nothing. Just the air.
A teasing voice suddenly came from the chair in front of me,
"Searching for me ?"
I looked back. Sitting in front of me was a woman with long, wavy, silvery-brown hair. It was decorated with tiny, delicate flower pins. Her calm face carrying a smug smile I'd seen countless times.
"Oh, it's you... Sheng Yue."
I sighed before taking another sip of tea to hide my exhaustion.
Sheng Yue smirked then laughed,
"Come on, stop acting so serious ! Brighten up a bit ! Besides, you should thank me for making you look like a glamorous, delicate angel. The audience were practically drooling when you stepped out ! Even without makeup, you're far too gorgeous for your own good.
I rolled my eyes, the weight of the 'Angel' persona felt like a chain,
"Why don't you annoy someone else. I'm not even interested in this company."
She laughed softly before leaning back,
"Well the reason I'm here is because... I wanted to tell you that I'm quiting. No more makeup brushes and no more painting masks."
The calm music from the cafe mixed with the muffled insults of the rich customer in the back made the situation calmer than it should have been. But there was something in her words that suggested this wasn't just a career change.