Written Film

Grand Ball Event. 

Just the usual ones. Current unknown, rising and hottest artists, all together for one night. For one big event. 

Stella has been in the music industry for more than a decade, 12 years to be exact. She did not stop with music, she also did modeling, acting and even tried directing. She was good with everything but nothing can beat her love for music. 

Nothing beats her love for singing. And her love for the person behind those every inch of emotions poured into her songs. 

Cyerielle.

Cye and Stella met 14 years ago, when Stella started to pursue her dreams in the entertainment industry. She auditioned here and there, got a lot of offers and invites yet none of them felt as safe as that one unknown small yet warm and not suffocating studio. 

Vergara Studio. 

The Vergara Studio was underrated and had a small team compared to the big companies and labels that tried to get Stella. But this small team immediately felt like a hug to Stella so she didn't hesitate to sign with them.

The team had lyricists, composers, producers, etc. Cyerielle got it all. 

With the Vergara Team, already sensing the long road that Stella is going to take and reach, they made sure she got the best experience. 

And Cyerielle,

Has always been the best. 

Those painful and tiring 6 years of silence after several productions and trials was almost as gut wrenching as it sounds. But it was bearable. 

All because Team Vergara had the two. 

Stella has Cye. And Cye has Stella. 

On their way to working together for 7 years, Cye had enough of that one specific burning between her and Stella. 

She asked Stella if she could court her. 

Stella did not even have to think twice and allowed the latter.

A year later, to Cye’s surprise, Stella made it official with her by revealing her 5 years pining with the latter. 

With one agreement. 

Their relationship has to be private. 

“Private.”

Stella’s name started rising the same year. Some of her newly signed contracts indicate restrictions like love ban or personal relationships must be hidden to the public. 

It's the entertainment industry after all.

RECENT 

“Now! Here we have the hottest star of the industry today!” the host, Jane Robles enthusiastically greeted the star as she neared the end of the red carpet. 

“ Huy grabe naman, ako lang to!” Stella covered her gummy smile. 

Reaching the front of the interview camera, Stella reached for the host’s side to give her a cheek kiss. 

“Lang?! You are the Stella Sevilleja! Ikaw ang usap-usapan sa industry na ito for months now.” 

Both of them chuckled at the comment and Stella just nodded, too humble to fully accept the praise. 

Robles smiled and signalled the latter that she's going to start interviewing her.

“How’s the star of the night? Would you mind telling us how you feel right now? Especially na ikaw ang pinaka-inaabangan ng lahat.” 

Stella paused and smiled at the question, she looked at the host for a second before diverting her attention to the camera.

“To be completely honest, I still feel like I'm dreaming. I've always watched my favorite artists on TV, walking on this red carpet with their gorgeous gowns and suits. But here I am, all thanks to those who never gave up on believing that I can make it!” 

Stella never forgot to recognize everyone around her. The teams and people behind the success she's getting is a compilation of hard work, teamwork.

“Nako eh napakaganda at sobrang latina mo nga naman talaga today, Miss Stella!” Robles said, trying to brighten up the star’s mood even more. 

Knowing that the next question that her team prepared beforehand might be a sensitive topic to the latter.

“Thank you! You too, Miss Robles, I like your suit!” Stella smiled, throwing a light slap to the host's arm.

“Huy, narinig niyo yun? the Stella Sevilleja said I looked good.” 

They both let out a chuckle before composing themselves again to continue the interview.

“Pero maiba naman tayo, is it okay to ask something about the recent happenings with your career?” she approached carefully.

Stella, the ever so composed and professional, answered almost immediately. 

“Of course, no problem.”

“It has been announced to the public that you did not renew your contract with the Vergara Studio.” Robles started.

With the obvious hesitation, she met the latter’s eyes. The latter gave her a quick brow raise, signaling for her to continue. 

“Anything that you could share with us about this matter?” 

Stella discretely shifted in her place. And clasped her hands together to stabilize her voice.

“Oh yeah, it was quite a news no?” her lips unconsciously formed a sarcastic smile. 

“Yeah, especially that you've been working with them for 12 years!” the host added.

Stella cleared her throat and fixed her posture.

“I know it's shocking, lalo na sa mga supporters ko that has been with me since the very beginning but you know, it's just like any other artists, there will come a time that you have to take a different path for growth and take risks for the better opportunities to come.” 

Stella said while staring at the camera, flashing a smile occasionally before looking at the host again. 

“But how's your relationship with your partner? Miss Cye?” 

Stella froze. “H-huh?” 

Stella tried her best not to make the cold that ran through her spine obvious. To be completely honest, she doesn't think it's much of a big deal for their relationship being revealed. 

Stella has been thinking about it too, a decade is long enough. Most of her contracts’ love ban has already been lifted. She's been in the industry since her late teenage years, she's a full adult now.

But there was just something that she cannot pinpoint. Something that's holding her back from screaming the way she has always wanted to. 

Something that made her fear about the sudden shift that can happen, once they reveal this relationship.

“I mean, you shared with us before that your closeness with Miss Cye, your friend, ang dahilan kung bakit siya ang assigned to work mainly for you. And as to why you had a great relationship with the label.”

Stella snapped out of her thoughts. 

“Yeah, of course, Cye.” she started unsurely.

“We're good. All is well and of course, we talked about my contract before I decided not to renew. It's for the both of us, this way we can grow and improve by working with different people and having different experiences.” 

Very showbiz. Stella’s a veteran after all, she had media and interview training. She can handle this smoothly. 

“There’s a lot of people that supported and were rooting for you guys as we've seen the chemistry of your work being put together.” the host added, not letting the topic just go. 

Stella smiled and nodded. 

“I've seen them, Cye and I have been really grateful for the warm support with our work and we still talk about how we can't believe that we made it this far.”

“Together?” the host immediately threw the short question at her.

Stella then realized that she was right, it's a trap. It's the entertainment industry, how else are these people going to talk and interview you? It's not the entertainment industry if it doesn't have tricky questions and statements that can put your career in vain in a blink of an eye.

“Together. For a decade.” she firmly answered.

With the host realizing that she can't make controversial remarks with the woman’s answers, she decided to close the questioning, for now. 

“Well that's it! Thank you so much for sharing this with us before the party officially starts.”

“No worries, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to share this to my supporters.” Stella responded quickly.

“Good luck para sa bagong yapak ng career mo, Miss Stella Sevilleja.”

She gave the host a quick side huh and cheek kiss before entering the room for the party.

Cye

“Miss Cye! Sobrang ganda, sobrang shining ka today!” Robles greeted her energetically for the interview.

Cye offered her right hand to shake with the host and was pulled for a quick hug by her. 

“Hala grabe naman po yun, ikaw din po ang ganda at cool ng dating mo sa suit mo, Miss Robles!”

It's Cye’s first ever major event. She's not used to being seen like this, being exposed like this. She has always been working behind the scenes and she's used to it, that's just how she liked to do it.

But Stella's success changed it. 

The star's fans were just as kind and appreciative as their idol. They never forgot to express gratitude and gratefulness to Cye for helping Stella write and produce her music. 

Cye didn't mind. It was heartwarming.

“Miss Cye, it's nice to see you at the main event! Sobrang daming naghihintay at magrerequest na makita ka nila sa red carpet!” the host continues.

“Ay salamat po, medyo nahihiya pa nga po ako.”

There was an obvious nervousness behind the light chuckle that she did.

“I think you have to get used to it na kasi parang araw-araw ay nadadagdagan mo ang fans mo!” Robles jokingly slapped the latter's shoulder and teased her.

“Thank you po, patuloy po akong magsisikap sa ginagawa ko para sa mga nakaka discover at sumusporta saakin!”

“Nako di ko na patatagalin since the party’s about to start.” the hosts started.

“Yes po?”

Cye's eyes started to blink faster than normal.

“We want to know, how was it working all these years with the Stella Sevilleja? You started sharing your work through her songs, right?” 

The host knew that Cye was the one who's not used to this, so she tried the buttons on her. Maybe she can get that something she wanted from Stella with her. Just slowly make sure that she's pushing the right buttons. 

“Stella, yes.” Cye started shaky. 

“Such an amazing woman. Medyo mahirap pong describe ng sapat kung words lang eh but really, Stella has always been kind and hardworking.” she managed to share.

“Sobrang laki ng puso para saamin na katrabaho niya at para sa music na binibigay niya sa tao.” she added smoothly.

“She mentioned that you two are very close friends. How's the bond as workmates?”

That can do. The host thought.

“We're very close friends, yeah. All i can say is, very professional. She remained strict to herself and professional whenever it's just the two of us working, she did not take advantage of the fact that we're very close.”

“Friends.” 

I got it? 

“Thats nice and as expected, Stella isn't only pretty outside but also on the inside.” 

“Tama po kayo diyan, sobrang admirable po ng buong pagkatao ni Stella.” she agreed immediately.

Satisfied with the answers she's getting, the host tried to push a little more, to see if Cye would completely give out the statement that she wanted to hear and get.

“About the contract with Miss Sevilleja, how does it feel taking this new huge step para sa career mo?”

This time around, the latter has already warmed up a little and tried her best to sound calm to manage not revealing too much of their personal matters.

“Stella has been such a big and great part sa career ko kasi who would've imagined na aabot ko sa red carpet? When I can just stay behind the scenes?”

Cye managed to answer steadily. 

“Stella really did a lot for me, for this industry. This new journey just meant that we're now ready for the bigger steps with bigger risks, we got to learn a lot from each other.”

“Not to mention na that was a decade of work!” the host immediately added.

“Tama po, for the past decade, we went through a lot. From physical battle to emotionally and mentally. It's just the right time that we explore more out of our comfort zone. For growth.”

It was still obvious that Cye was depending more on her emotions when she answered the shobiz questions.

“Basing sa mga sinabi mo, Miss Cye, grabe ang appreciation mo for Miss Stella.

She chuckled as the host remained staring straight at her with a smile.

“Well then that's it! Thank you so much, Miss Cye. Enjoy the party and good luck sa very bright future mo!”

Few minutes after entering the party room, Stella saw Cye from the main door and decided to text the latter.

Buzz. 

TEXT

S: You did well in the interview, Rie.

C: You too, Xene.

S: Enjoy the night.

Seen.

It was a long night of party with their friends in the industry and new faces to meet.  

CONDO

Stella arrived home with Cye organizing her things for tomorrow's work. 

“Nauna ka na pala, hindi ka nagsabi.” Stella started, placing her handbag at the counter table.

“Sorry, I had to pack a few more things.” Cye softly responded.

“Okay.” Stella didn't mind and made a big deal out of it.

“Patapos naman na ako but if matutulog ka na, I'll transfer sa sofa para hindi kita magulo.” she added, not wanting to bother the latter.

Stella knew immediately that the latter had said this because she thought she'd be bothering her rest time.

“No, it's fine. You're not bothering me at all.”

“You did great kanina, Rie.” Stella walked slowly into Cye's side.

“Ganoon pala feeling na nasa spotlight, Xene? Paano mo nagagaw yun, all the time?”

They both laughed soflty.

“Kinabahan ka ba? Hindi halata.”

Stella went to the side of their bed and sat down.

“Sobra, Xene. Sobrang kabado ako, baka mamaya kung ano pa masabi ko edi napaham—”

“Yet it went well, you did well, Rie.” Stella knew her enough to know what she was going to say. 

“Sure ba? Wala ba akong mal—”

So Stella would always interrupt her like this, making sure that the latter would be assured that she really did well, she did not say anything na mapapahamak siya or anything na mali.

“Walang mali sayo, Rie.”

“Okay, by the way, bagay sayo yung gown mo kanina. It's perfect.” she quickly changed the topic to avoid the heaviness of their past conversation.

“Thank you, Rie. Ikaw din, bagay sayo yung gown mo.” she smiled softly.

A comfortable yet emotional silence fell in the room. Cye quickly tried to think of something that can remove this feeling.

“Thank you. Drink?” she chuckled while asking.

“Bawal ka, Rie. Tsk tsk, makulit ka parin.” Cye has to go to work early, known with high tolerance, she tends to drink a lot whenever they have a drinking session.

“Just joking, to naman, ang bilis mabadtrip eh.”

They both laughed it off.

“I'll lay down na and baka dire-diretso tulog na to. Cuddle with me?”

Stella asked carefully. Not sure how the letter is going to react.

“Cuddle? Matutulog ka na, diba?” Cye felt a lump in her throat.

“I mean, later pag tapos ka na diyan, cuddle mo ako ha?” she pleaded.

“Xene.” a firm call.

“Please?” fuck it's starting to feel real.

Cye started  to look anywhere else but the latter’s eyes.

“Xene, you know—” 

“I know, that's why I want cuddles.”

Cye accepted defeat and fulfilled the woman's wish.

“Okay.”

NEXT MORNING

Stella already knew that she won't be seeing Cye once she wakes up, she needs to leave for work at 5:00 AM. And Stella was a bit too tired from the party to be able to wake up just an hour and a half after coming back to the condo. 

She woke up with a light head and body ache, she reached for her phone to check the time. 

Cye's probably already there.

She sat up to stabilize her sight before standing up and going downstairs to check what she can cook for her breakfast.

It wasn't that much of a surprise to her that she smelled the sweet scent once she arrived at the kitchen.

She went close to the kitchen table where the food cover was and saw a written note.

“I made this perfectly just how you always loved it. - Rie.”

Stella smiled to herself and felt her heart warming up. She checked at the time again and thought that the woman might still be not too busy to call her.

She dialed Cye's number.

CALL

S: Nakita ko yung nakahandang breakfast. Thank you, Rie. Ingat. 

A pause.

C: Thank you and you're welcome, Xene. Update?

Another pause, longer this time.

S: I'm meeting them mamaya. Don't worry I got everything covered. Wag mo na muna masyado isipin to.

Silence. Unsure how to say things. 

C: Xene, Im sorry. 

S: Shhh. It's okay. I understand. 

Stella quickly assured the latter.

C: I did not just throw that away. 

Cye said with an almost obvious shaking voice. 

S: Sabi nung kausap ko about the unit, they are sure about it na raw.

Stella tried to avoid the lump in her throat and tears that were forming on her eyes.

C: 8 years, Xene. 

S: I'll send your part as soon as I can.

Stella insisted.

C: Thank you sa 8 years. 

S: Thank you, Rie. Sa 8 years at hanggang ngayon. 

S: Mahal kita. 

C: Xene. 

Silence. An uncomfortable one. A long uncomfortable, uneasy silence.

S: Boarding time mo na, right? Safe skies, Rie. Mahal kita. 

A tear fell on her left eye. 

C: Thank you sa dekadang to, Xene. 

Cye took a deep breath.

C: Minahal kita. 

She quickly put her phone down and ended the call.

END OF CALL

“Please be safe, Mahal.” 

Gusto pa kitang mahalin eh. 

Ang daya mo naman.