Beautiful People

Chapter 1

The beautiful people (phrase) – people who are fashionable, glamorous, and overprivileged.

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CARLISLE

It was 5 a.m. when I woke up dahil sa constant na pag-ring ng cellphone ko. Hindi ko alam kung sinong tarantado ang mambubulabog ng tulog ko nang ganitong oras.

The screen's light is blaring right in front of me that lit my face and my dark room a little bit. Pag-check ko, it's Phoenix Laird Blanco. Of course, it's him. I am stupid to wonder kung sinong tanga ang hindi rumerespeto sa oras ng iba at hindi alam ang business hours. 

With my eyes still half-open, I slid the answer button irritatingly and blurted "What?"

"I don't like your tone, Rain. This is an emergency," Phoenix said seriously.

I surreptitiously rolled my eyes even though he can't see it. He's always saying it's an emergency kahit hindi naman talaga. Plus, he's the only person who calls me by my second name. I hate it, and I hate him.

"You always says it's an emergency kahit hindi. It's five goddamn morning, Nix. And ilang beses ba kitang ire-remind na don't call me--" 

"Vito Mayer is dead," he blurted, cutting me before I even finished my sentence.

My eyes are now fully opened this time. I pulled the lamp string and searched for my notebook and ballpen. Sandwiching my phone to my shoulder and ear, I turned my notebook to the blank pages and clicked my pen.

"Go on, I'm listening," I said with a little bit of amusement in my voice.

"Don't be fucking insensitive, Rain. That poor man is dead," Phoenix said. Nahalata niya ata na natutuwa ako sa news na binalita niya ngayon.

"You can't blame me, Nix. I am so sure that sooner or later, they will cause a drama. It's good for the paper, you know. This is news-worthy," natatawa kong sabi while clicking my pen constantly.

"Jesus, we are not a fucking tabloid, Rain. We're the student publication. I called you kasi I want you to write a news-feature article on it. If you don't want it, I'll just give it to--"

"Calm down, Palanca. I will write a decent article about it. Tell me the deets," I said.

Mukhang effective naman ang pagtawag sa kaniya ng Palanca because I heard him sighing before talking again. Typical Phoenix, he's so vain. It's always him and his Palanca Award nomination against the world.

"Chace called me and said that Arkin's grandfather was found lying at the balcony of their mansion at around 11 p.m. Dinala pa raw nila sa hospital but dead on arrival na. Myocardial infarction. This news is still not broadcasted by the media so this is an exclusive-- a nationwide exclusive news, in fact," Phoenix said.

I dropped my pen and notebook and grabbed my phone again, shifting my position into my bed a little bit.

"But we cannot break this news. That will be insensitive on Arkin's family. Plus, we don't have an interview to one of the families, we have no proof or whatsoever to prove this news. We cannot also rely solely based on what Chace said. They can probably sue us, Nix. I think it's a good idea na mag-wait sa announcement ng mga Fitzgerald before tayo magsulat ng news regarding this." 

I heard Phoenix sigh again over his phone.

"You're right. I'm really sorry I disturbed you. I'm just a little frustrated, I guess. Our readers are not increasing these days, Rain. I really don't know what to do," Phoenix said with a slight hint of frustration in his voice.