Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
Mirabella smiled softly, “I haven’t considered it for now.”
“Why not? With your looks, you’d be a sensation, maybe even bigger than David!”
“I’m studying medicine.””A doctor, huh? That’s noble too. You might not get the adoration of the masses, but you’ll touch many lives in need.”
Just then, Jossie’s phone began to ring. She excused herself to Mirabella and answered discreetly while leading the way. “Yeah, I see. Okay, got it. I’ll speak to David in a bit.”
After hanging up, Jossie’s expression deflated for a fleeting second before she regained her composure.
“What’s wrong?” Mirabella asked softly.
“Have you heard of Summer? She’s an international superstar, a singer whose face is never in the spotlight. We were hoping to have her close the show with David – a duet that seemed like a win-win.
We thought, with David’s influence, she’d jump at the chance, or at least consider it. But her agent shot us down without a second thought.”
“Just now?” Mirabella asked, her voice steady.
“No, a few days ago. We expected the rejection, so we started looking for someone with a similar fanbase to David’s, around the same age. That’s when we thought of Merry from the pop scene.”
Merry and David were about the same age, both adored by fans, each with their own hit songs and a strong following.
“Our Twitter teased a couple of days ago that the headliner would be a queen of the industry, and many fans guessed it would be her. But then, just now, Merry’s agent called to say that some paparazzo dug up dirt on her. They’re saying she’s been a homewrecker, the mistress of some rich guy, and that she secretly had his baby last month. That’s going to blow up tonight. Merry’s a wreck, not in any shape to perform a duet. She’s holed up at home, scared to step outside. Her agent called to cancel tonight’s performance, and now we’re scrambling to find someone to fill in.”
Jossie’s worry was evident; after all, Merry’s voice combined with David’s was sure to be an auditory delight, not something easily replicated with just any artist.
“There are some big names coming to watch David’s concert, but we’ve advertised someone of his generation, a true diva, and that’s tough to find.”
In the pop world, there were only a couple of young divas, and they’d have to be in Summerfield and available to make it work.”What does the agent suggest we do now?” Mirabella inquired.
“The agent wants me to talk to David, see if he wants to call up some veterans for an impromptu save, or if he’ll go solo,” Jossie said, sighing. “If Merry can’t make it, David could just be honest with his fans.
It’s just. David really wanted to do this duet with Merry, because of you.”
“Me?” Mirabella was puzzled.
“Yeah, the closing song was written by David for his sister, you. He wanted Merry’s unique voice paired with his to give you a surprise.”
That song had been meant for a duet.
Mirabella hadn’t expected such a surprise from David. After a second’s silence, she said, “Let’s go find David first.”
“Okay.” Jossie led the way. “We’re nearly there, just up ahead.”
As they walked, Mirabella sent a quick text.
On stage.
David finished his final dance move and spotting Jossie approaching with his sister, waved to his crew to take five.
“Bella!” He rushed over, ruffling her hair with a grin. “You made it!”
“David,” Mirabella called out.
“Hey, cutie. Have you eaten? I ordered your favorite takeout, it’s backstage. Let’s go have a bite,”
David said, slinging an arm around his sister’s shoulder and fist-bumping Romeo.”I’m not hungry.”
Before Mirabella could say more, Jossie cut in, “David, there’s something you need to know.”
“It can wait.”
“The headliner can’t make it,” Jossie said bluntly. “Paparazzi are about to drop a bombshell on her.
She’s a mess, completely tied up, and won’t be able to come.”
David paused for a second, his eyes meeting Mirabella’s with a fleeting hint of regret.
“So, are we swapping out the guest now?”
Before Jossie could finish her sentence, her phone started to buzz in her hand, the screen lighting up with an unfamiliar number.
Slightly puzzled, she instinctively answered, “Hello, yes, this is Jossie. Oh, right, our agent had a minor op at the hospital yesterday, so I’m handling David’s affairs at the moment. You must be Ms. Kiki, Summer’s agent.”
Jossie could hardly mask her shock and surprise, “Hi, Ms. Kiki, I’ve heard so much about you. Uh-huh, oh, thank you so much for considering David. Yes, the concert starts at seven, and the headliner should take the stage at 8:05 PM. Uh-huh, sure thing, I’ll send the duet song to your cell in a bit. Great, just let me know when you’re close, and I’ll come meet you. Alrighty, bye now.”
After ending the call, Jossie was still trying to process the news. It took her a moment before she squealed with excitement, “David, Summer said she’d be our concert’s headliner! Her agent asked me to send the duet song over for her to review, she’ll pass it to Summer!”
“Really?” David hadn’t expected Summer to agree so suddenly. He hugged his sister tightly, his face lit up with joy, “You better stick around for the end, Summer’s voice is out of this world.”
“David’s got a crush on her?”
“Who wouldn’t like someone talented with a voice like hers?” David ruffled his sister’s hair, clearly pleased to surprise her.
Meanwhile, Romeo glanced at the well-behaved Mirabella, a smirk playing on his lips.Did she know Ms. Kiki? Or Summer herself? How did she manage to convince them to get Summer to agree to be the concert’s headliner in such a short amount of time?
“C’mon, let’s get you some grub,” David said, still riding a wave of excitement, eager to take Mirabella backstage.
But Mirabella held her ground, “You go ahead to the soundcheck. Romeo and I will find something to eat.”
David was surprised that his sister seemed to have Romeo on her mind no matter what she was doing, “Alright then. Romeo, don’t you eat all the good stuff, save some for my sis, okay? I gotta run through my set. How about I sing a couple of tunes for you now?”
“We’ll see what’s good to eat,” Romeo said, slinging an arm around Mirabella’s shoulder, steering her away before she could linger any longer.
“Hey, man. Is my singing really that bad? There are tons of people out there dying to hear me.”
With Summer joining the lineup, David was sure the song would be a hit.
Thinking this, he watched his sister’s retreating figure, eyes soft with affection.
“Mirabella, I’ll take you backstage,” Jossie said after sending David’s new song to Ms. Kiki’s phone. She led Mirabella and Romeo to the backstage area, “Take your time looking around. All this food is from David’s order for you guys; enjoy it. With the agent in the hospital, I’m the only one running around here. I gotta check out the stage setup; the concert’s about to start.”
“Okay,” Mirabella nodded, watching Jossie disappear.
Romeo hadn’t anticipated David, the ultimate doting brother, would really spoil his sister with a feast of snacks and drinks. It seemed he was genuinely worried she might go hungry.“All in the name of brotherly love,” Romeo said, poking a straw into a glass of iced tea and handing it to Mirabella.
She took a sip and asked, “Aren’t you having any?”
“Your brother told me to save some for you. How about we just share the one you’ve got?”
“Careful, or my brother might take a swing at you.”
Romeo couldn’t help but chuckle.
After a while, David finished his soundcheck and walked into the backstage area with a few of the day’s hottest pop idols.
“Let me introduce you guys. This is my sister, Mirabella, blood-related,” David said, tousling Mirabella’s hair as he introduced her proudly as a brother. “And these guys are the hit boy band KING. You’re usually buried in your books, so you probably haven’t paid much attention to them.”
A group of fresh-faced young guys greeted Mirabella with beaming smiles, each one of them reaching out for a handshake. But before Mirabella could respond, David quickly pulled her to his side, “What’s with all the fuss, guys? A simple ‘hello’ will do. My sister’s just started her freshman year at college.”
“Come on, it’s just a handshake,” one of them protested.
“I can’t believe it, you’re such a sister protector,” another teased.
“Your sister is way prettier than the last one I remember, no offense. She definitely got the good genes,” a third chimed in with a grin.
Just as the guys were eyeing the bags of snacks and drinks on the table, thinking of quenching their thirst, David immediately shielded the bags. “Those are for my sis. Your stuff is over there.”
“What’s the difference?” the guys wondered, suddenly suspecting the sister’s stash might be superior.
“Bella, what are you drinking? Let me have a look.”
“Is that lemonade? You like sour stuff too?”
While the guys continued to chat up Mirabella, David interjected, “Back off, guys. She’s engaged.”
“Engaged so young?”
“Bella, who’s the unlucky guy? Why the rush? You should be enjoying your youth.”
“I can’t believe you are letting her get hitched so soon.”
“So, no chance for me, then.”David was about to ask Mirabella where Romeo had gone off to when he saw the backstage door swing open, revealing Romeo’s return.
“I step out to take one phone call, and someone’s already hitting on my fiancée?”
As soon as Romeo entered, the young guys greeted him respectfully.
“Romeo? You’re her fiancé? My apologies, you two really do make a great pair.”
The group was known for their playful teasing, and since they were all good friends with Romeo and David, their banter was casual and laid-back.
Just then, Jossie knocked on the door, slightly out of breath, “They’re starting to check tickets outside.