Breaking free

Breaking free

"Takahashi, come over to the office at 10 am tomorrow. We have an urgent meeting for you." Before Ai could make any response to the request, she was greeted by the beeping tone of the hung up call.

[/i]That's weird. . . What could it be about? [/i] Ai wondered silently in her mind as she placed her iPhone back to the tableside and pulled the covers up to her chest. [i] Have I done anything wrong? Or is there a new project for me? [/i] Ai anticipated the possible reasons for the meeting tomorrow.

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Ai stepped her foot into a the familiar agency office, greeting the acquaintances that had supported her throughout her career as an idol, and now, an artist. When she entered the meeting room, she was shock to find someone other than the upper management of the agency in the room. That includes her comedian who acted as her brother in the hamlet play a year ago and his management, and the management of the period drama she had just managed to clinch on as a small recurring character.

"Ohayo gozaimasu." Ai bowed lightly as she greeted, not forgetting her manners even when she was shocked.

"Takahashi, take your seat." The upper management ordered. Ai brisk towards her seat beside her female manager and sat down, before looking down at her feet as she was unable to contain her uneasiness and nervousness.

"Alright, this is the plan that we have for the two of you. The two of you is going to pretend that you are dating and living together for the tabloid to take photo, as a part of media exposure for yourself and the promotion of the period drama when Takahashi appears in June." That made Ai looked up abruptly from her feet and shoot up from her seat in surprise.

"What-" Before she could make any statement, her female manager grabbed her wrist and silenced her.

"Ai-chan, not now." Her female manager whispered.

"And of course, when the news is revealed, we are going to deny everything, and this, can increase even more media exposure. I'm sure the reporters and producers of many programs will be fighting to interview and invite you all to ask about the issue. And since, it's nothing real, there's nothing to hide at all. Is that understood?"

Ai looked up and stole a glance at the ex-coworker seated across her. His thick eyebrow furrowed for a moment before relaxing. "I won't mind doing that." Came the response.

That directed the attention of all to Ai. [i] I can't do that. . . That's lying. . . That's making use of people. . . I - I - [/i] Before Ai could made her response, the upper management of her agency interrupted. "You are doing that, Takahashi, No argument about that."

Ai's eyes shot wide open. She turned over and look at her female manager. Her female manager made no statement. Instead, she gave Ai a sympathetic look. She could understand Ai's struggle. But there's nothing much they could do. It has been finalised even before the two artist was called into the meeting room.

As people retreated from the meeting room, leaving Ai and her manager all alone in the room, Ai began to tear. "Ai-chan. . . "

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Ai stared lonely at the orange painted wall in her living room. [i] I really hate you, Ai. How can you even agree to do such things. That's so unethical and cheating the minds of the fans. . . [/i] Ai scolded herself silently in her mind. [i] This is tough. . .How do I have to overcome this. . .. I have no freedom. . . I'm living like a puppet on the string. . .That's not what I wanted. . . Why do I have to do it? [/i] Ai continued in her mind. Ai hugged her knees close to her chest tightly. [i] I hate you, Ai.[/i]

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"Ai-chan, are you alright?" The comforting voice of her best friend echoed into her ears.

"Yah. . ." Ai lied. She looked forward at the railway tracks before her.

"Really?"

"Hmmm."

"You know. . . .No matter what happens, you will always have us around supporting you through it. Your fans will be out there supporting you through it. . . "

[i] But you don't understand, Gaki-san.[/i] That was what Ai-chan thought in her mind. [i] Having had to act through a script just as your life. . . It's never easy to. What if. . .  What if there's this day, when the fans find out about this, how will they thing? How will the members think? I can't imagine. [/i]

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Break free. I need to break free, free from all these strings. But. . . How can that even be possible. . .