Player of the Game

To Whom It May Concern (The Civil Wars)

Beatriz.

I DECIDED TO GO BACK to Astoria after that scene with Jho. I wanted to follow her but someone had held me back.

It was Riri.

She fervently told me to give Jho time. She was apparently upset over something. About what? I had yet to bribe Riri a promise of free dinner (for a week) for her to tell me.

She has seen EJ and I kissing.

That's rich, Beatriz. Way to go in mending your friendship with Jho.

I shook my head as I walked to my hotel room. Damn I really should be better in handling these matters.

I miss her already. We had a win and I didn't even have the chance to celebrate it with her. My Picasso must have been so upset. And as if adding insult to injury, she saw what happened between me and EJ in that parking lot.

Goddamnit, Bea.

I didn't bother going over mom's since I know they'd be asleep by now. I'll just greet them in the morning.

Tomorrow is the last day that I'll be staying here. And I haven't packed my things yet. Another good job, Beatriz.

I was so busy with my thoughts that it took me a moment to register Maddie's presence in my room. She was towering over stacks of paper on my desk. Her boudoir peach babydoll lingerie tells me her business here is something that came up rather urgently.

"Maddie, what are you doing here?" I asked her gradually remembering how she walked out on me just a day ago.

What is it with these girls walking out on me? That was three women in two days. You are on a roll, Beatriz.

"I was about to leave, kaya lang I decided din na i-organize 'yung mga papers mo. You haven't been staying here a lot, hindi mo pa nababasa 'tong papers na binibigay ng mom mo. Sobrang busy mo na ba talaga?" I just stared at her. What is she talking about? I have U23, what does she expect?

"Anyway, I actually came to give you these." After she's done with her litanies, she handed me a frocked envelope.

I threw her a questioning look as I open the envelope. Inside was a plane ticket and a set of itineraries.

"For the debutantes' ball. As head of the overall preparations, you should really get started with the preps. Your first assignment is Fashion Week."

The price I pay for having high-society socialites as parents. 

The debutante's ball is where young women whose ages range from 17-19 years old is being introduced to the society. They usually came from the upper-class families. These young ladies are also expected to be properly presented  to the sons and families of ambassadors, world leaders, and giants of industry in the country. 

A principle which I highly despised— why are young women being tasked to find men so that they can be branded and shaded by these men's reputation? Can't we do it on our own without really needing the help of these men? Women all over the world are being commercialized and exploited in different forms and I'm so disappointed that I'm one of the catalysts. This society hardly has the conviction for women. 

Of course, my musings wouldn't matter. I'm afraid mom's are more insistent than my millennial principles.

"When do I leave?" I was scanning the papers. I'm traveling first class: thank God, I don't think I can handle 19 hours beside a random stranger. Besides, I'll be needing that flat-bed a lot.