Casting day was brutal.
The girls were told to wear simple fitted clothes and heels. Natural makeup. Hair styled.
Elena wore a soft beige dress she bought with part of her parents' money.
She looked beautiful.
But so did everyone else.
They were loaded into another van and driven to a hotel ballroom.
Inside were tables with judges holding clipboards.
One by one, the girls walked forward.
Name. Age. Height. Smile. Turn. Walk.
That was it.
Some girls were dismissed in seconds.
Some were asked questions.
When it was Elena's turn, her palms were sweating.
"Name?" one judge asked without looking up.
"Elena Marquez."
"Experience?"
"Local boutique modeling."
The judge finally looked up.
And paused.
Not shocked.
Not amazed.
Just… attentive.
"Walk."
Elena walked.
She remembered Tessie's instructions. Shoulders back. Slow steps. Soft gaze.
She turned.
I walked back.
The judge whispered something to the person beside him.
"Stay."
Two girls before her had been told to leave.
She stayed.
After hours of waiting, results were posted.
Elena's name was on the selected list.
It was for a product launch event at a casino in Pasay.
Not glamorous.
But paid.
She texted her parents immediately.
Elena:
"I got selected."
Her mother replied almost instantly.
Mama:
"We're proud of you. Always pray."
Her father's message came minutes later.
Papa:
"Be careful."
Simple.
Heavy.
That night, Camille flopped onto her bunk dramatically.
"Congratulations! First job means you're officially in the game."
"What game?" Elena asked.
Camille laughed.
"The one where you either rise… or disappear."
Elena stared at the ceiling again.
She wasn't here to