Jasmine Tea

“So his secretary is right. He really is a troublesome boss,” Sabine muttered to herself while munching on her oatmeal cookie. On her other hand, she continued scrolling through her phone.

1 • Trending

#SoBine

112K posts

2 • Entertainment • Trending

#Sabine

261K posts

3 • News • Trending

#SenatorIversen

147K posts

@filmnerd89:

Not to be dramatic but Soren looking at Sabine like THAT??? Hello?? That’s a man in emotional peril.

@choosyuser:

If Sabine actually falls for him I’m unfollowing. He’s cute but problematic. Stay safe girl!!

@kweenmariie:

GUYS THEY LOOK GOOD TOGETHER SORRY I DON’T MAKE THE RULES #SoBine

@calloutpip:

He literally cheated and now he’s soft-launching an actress?? This man is allergic to dignity.

@newslyOL:

Sources confirm that Sabine Aria escorted Senator Soren Iversen out of the restaurant during last night’s commotion. More details soon.

The social media app was replaced by an incoming call. It was Au, her manager.

“Congrats, Sabine, you’re on top of the trending list again!” rather than an actual enthusiasm, exasperation slips through Au’s voice over the phone.

She put down the oatmeal cookie on her plate, wiping the crumbs off her fingers. 

“I sincerely didn’t mean to, I’m sorry.” She can only bite her lower lip. She sank in her seat, eyes lingering on the passerbys basking under the sun’s mellow heat. “It will probably die down in a few days. After all, there isn’t really much to uncover in that encounter.”

The man’s embrace, the words that he uttered, they were meant for his lover. She just happened to be in the same place at the same time. Not that the public would be easily convinced if she were to say that plainly.

“Are you seriously unaware of who you were with last night?”

“I informed you that I met with a friend, remember? I swear, he was just a random man I stumbled upon. I don’t know him at all.”

A deep, long sigh escaped her manager's lips.

“Well, this random man just so happens to be the infamous Soren Iversen, senate representative of our province, son of the current senate president. Can you imagine the weight of this coincidence?” Sabine can almost feel the tension radiating from her tone. “You’re still in the middle of building your name but there’s already a high chance that it can be dragged by a political warfare you’re not even involved in,” Au emphasized.

The rays filtering through the halfway drawn blinds made her close her eyes. Just one small thing she didn’t think through, a supposed kindness–leading to her demise? Isn’t it too much for a Sunday morning?

Her name has been making waves after the commercial and critical success of her recent film. She has long been in the industry, starting as a child actor, and currently, working to be a household name. 

While she had been floating in the background, never in the front line, it was the top actors who were subjected to scrutiny. Now, she gets a taste of the same treatment. All for a miniscule encounter. 

In her mind, sure, both she and the politician are public figures to some extent, but were they also public property? The people they serve, although in different manners, do give them the money they have. But, they work their asses for it. She for sure does. 

Now, it seems like a crime to act out of kindness. What more of a man–one in the field of politics–who openly showed vulnerability? She does not even want to imagine what kind of pictures were taken, even the stories that would spiral because of it. 

“Anyway, do be careful for now. We can try to wait until the press calms down, then let’s see whether we have to give a statement. Also, don’t forget the commercial shoot tomorrow, the schedule starts at 6 a.m., see you.”

Sabine opened her eyes, the light consuming her vision once more. She took a few moments to adjust before taking her almost empty cup to have one last sip of her jasmine green tea. 

When she had enough money, she immediately moved out of her rented apartment. Now, she is currently staying at a private and secure condominium. Thankfully, her address has not been leaked. Otherwise, the amount of reporters waiting for her would have prevented her from going home.

Is peace the price to pay when chasing fame? It seems like she has to get used to it. She resolved to hold on tightly. It took her two decades to be where she currently is, she would not be letting go of her dream so easily.