Why Did I Become the Villainess?

 Soiartze followed Aaline and whispered before me. "Welcome to Tahanan, Ysa. Welcome to home."

 I look inside and saw a different world inside. It's different from what I have mostly seen in Kosmo. Tahanan looks like Earth. Feels like Earth.

 I walked inside, and the first thing I saw is a towering building. There's a signboard in front of it saying Movie theater. There's also a lot of people going in and out from it. 

 In front of the movie theater, there is a jam-packed restaurant. Many people are eating inside. Even the outside of the restaurant is full of people. 

 "This," I whispered. I couldn't believe what my eyes are seeing. People are wearing clothes from the real world. There are buildings and shop designs like it's still in the real world. If I don't know that I'm still in Kosmo, I would probably mistake it that I came back to the real world.

 Aaline clings to my arms and beam. "Welcome to tahanan Ysa. This door is the most visited illusionary door in Kosmo. Among all the doors it's the only door that makes us feel like we are still living in the real world. Isn't this amazing?"

 I look around and nod my head. This is really amazing. I suddenly realize that I miss the busy city of the real world. But there's something I don't understand.

 "How come there's a movie in here? And how about the people in here? Are they illusionary too?"

 Aaline shakes her head and is about to explain things to me when Soiartze cuts her off. "I think it's better to talk about this with the seniors." Soiartze taps my shoulders. "Do you want to stroll around first, or do you want to look for the seniors first? There's a lot of things that I think you will love to see."

 The three of us decided to check the movie house first. Not that I'm not really curious about the Seniors, but I just want to experience Tahanan first hand. Who knows, maybe this would be the last time I could visit this place. 

 We don't really plan to watch a full two hours movie. It's too time consuming, so we decided to just go for a short movie. Aaline suggested a movie that Soiartze is playing in. Although Soiartze shakes her head in refusal but Aaline just ignores it. 

 "Soiartze, why are you so worried? You're acting improved since the day you came here. What's there to be shy about? Even Earl said that your acting is great. Come on, don't you want to show Ysa how great you are? Maybe this will be the last time Ysa could see you acting. Will you take that chance away from her?" Aaline said to Soiartze. 

 Soiartze then looks at me and sighs. "Okay, for the sake of Ysa. But this will be the last time, okay?"

 Aaline claps her hands and clings her arms on me. "I don't understand why she doesn't feel confident about her acting skills. You should see for yourself Ysa and tell her how her acting is."

 Soiartze walks beside me and nods her head at what Aaline said. "Yes, Ysa, please tell me how bad my acting is, please. You're a writer, and writers have an eye for acting, right? So, please tell me how do I act, okay?"

 I nod my head helplessly at Soiartze. Who would tell her that I'm not really good at rating acting? For me, as long as the actor isn't using a monotonous voice, then it's good. 

 The three of us entered the movie theater. We're about to enter the cinema when suddenly someone calls us. 

 "AALINE! SOIARTZE! YSA!" 

 We all look back and saw Earl running towards us. Aaline immediately rolls her eyes when she saw Earl. "And what are you doing in here? Are you following us?"

 Earl grimace at what Aaline just said. "Following you? Why would I follow you? I was on my way to look for Soiartze since I heard she went out already. I thought I would find her in the Movie theater, and I'm right."

 Soiartze frowns at the mention of her name. "You're looking for me? What does the great Earl want from me?"

 Earl scratches his nape and takes a deep breath before he looks straight at Soiartze's eyes. "Soiartze, can you become the female lead of my novel? Director Jace already called me and said that they want to adapt my novel into the movie, and they personally ask me if I have a specific person in mind to portray my characters. The first person who came through my mind is you. So, are you willing to become my female lead?" Earl asks with a nervous voice. 

 Soiartze just looks at him for a couple of minutes before she turns her back at him. "I'm sorry. Not interested." Soiartze then enters the cinema like she just didn't decline an offer from Earl.

 Earl was left dumbfounded at Soiartze response. Even I didn't expect that Soiartze will decline it. I look at Earl pitifully and taps his shoulder. "Maybe it's better to talk about this sometime later, or maybe you could look for someone else," I glanced at Aaline, who is currently quiet at the side.

 Earl shakes his head repeatedly. It's as if saying how he despises that idea. "I cannot. Only Soiartze can pull my character off." He then looks at me. "Ysa, you need to help me. You're a writer too. You know how difficult it is to find a suitable person who could fit your character, right? Please, help me. I nee-"

 Before Earl could finish his words, Aaline, who is quietly standing on the side a while ago, stand in between us and glares at Earl. "You hooligan, Soiartze already said no. Don't you know what the meaning of the word no? Or do you want me to explain it to you? Also, can you not bother Ysa. Shoo, stay away from us."

 Earl just stands there and watches the fuming mad Aaline. He then shakes his head and looks at Aaline disappointedly. "I'm offering something that would help Soiartze. Why are you so against it, Aaline? Don't you want her to be successful? This opportunity could open doors for her. Why are you against it?"

 Aaline got silent for a moment and look at Earl in disbelief. "What do you want to say, Earl? That I don't want Soiartze to be successful? Is that what you are saying?"

 Earl stares at Aaline and nods his head. "Yes. What are you afraid of, Aaline?"

 Aaline laughs at Earl. Although she is laughing, I could hear the pain in her voice. Although I understand where Earl is standing, but I don't think it's enough reason to said that to Aaline. 

 "I hate you, Earl. I really hate you. I wish I never befriend you," Aaline said in a low voice before she walks out and enters the cinema too. 

 Earl probably doesn't see it, but I see that Aaline was crying. I look at Earl. "You don't need to say it to her, you know." 

 Earl looks at me with a confused look. He probably doesn't understand why did Aaline walks out on him. I shake my head at his ignorance. I don't know if he got any idea about Aaline's feelings for him or if he got any idea about his feelings for Aaline. 

 "I didn't mean to say it to her. I-I thought..." he then looks at me. "Ysa, can you help me? Help me talk to Aaline. Her words. Is, is it true?" Earl ask me with a shaky voice.

 I shrugged my shoulders at him. "I don't know. Also, if you want to talk to her, then do it yourself. She'll appreciate it if it's from you and not from me" I tapped his shoulder before I enter the cinema too.

 But before I enter, I look back at him, who is still standing from where he is standing. He looks confused and disappointed with he's self. "Although I could help you say a few words to Soiartze. But I'm not sure if she'll agree to be part of your movie. But trying is still trying, right? Who know-"

 Earl cuts me off and just shakes his head. "Never mind that. It doesn't matter anymore but thank you for the offer Ysa." He then walks away. 

 I stare at his back. If he could just acknowledge his feelings for Aaline, everything would be better for them. But those two are really, hmm, how could I say it? Ignorant on love or in denial in love? Hayss, love is really complicated. 

______________________________________________

 After the thirty minutes short movie, we decided to eat first before going to the seniors. Aaline and Soiartze mentioned to me that the seniors are the ones responsible for managing the spirits living here.

 If the Virtouse guides the spirits of the real world to the fictional world. The seniors are the one who guides the spirits in the Kosmo. They are the ones who make sure that everything is under control and there's no one who is disobeying the rules.

 Aaline and Soiartze also mentioned that the Seniors are living in the middle of the Tahanan. They also mentioned that the reason why they are called seniors is because they are the first batch of spirits who stray out of their characters and got stuck in here. The Virtouse expected that the number of spirits being stuck in here would be double in the future. That's why they trained the first batch of spirits to help them rule the Kosmo.

 It's also the reason why the seniors are the second group of people who have authority in Kosmo after the Virtouse. But aside from the authority to rule, the Seniors don't have powers, unlike the Virtouse.

 "Seniors aren't really strict. They are like a leader in a group project in school. Those leaders who are competent, kind, and are easy to talk to. So, you shouldn't worry that much, Ysa. I'm sure they really want to meet you." Aaline assured me.

 After the movie, Aaline comes back to her usual demeanor, although I could still see a trace of sadness in her eyes.

 Earl should really start to acknowledge his own feelings for Aaline, or else he'll lost her.

 Soiartze places a strange elongated food on my plate. "Hmm, Aaline is right. I'm sure all your questions will be answered by the seniors." 

 I look at the strange food and poke it with my chopsticks. What is this? I have never seen anything like this. It's brown and elongated. Aaline notices the attention I'm giving to the food. She laughs and explains it to me. "You should try that it taste immaculate. As far as I know, it's called kikiam. It's one of the Filipino street foods. You should dip it into the sauces in here. The owner of this restaurant is a Filipino chef master."

 I follow the instructions of Aaline and true to her words the taste is really good. I've never tasted something like this before. 

 Soiartze smile at my reaction. "If you still have time, we could stroll around the Tahanan so you could taste other cultures' food. You should also see their culture. It's really amazing."

 I nod my head at her in agreement. I just wish I still have time for that. Hopefully.

 After eating, Aaline and Soiartze led me to the place where the seniors are living. I look at the open space in front of me.

 "This is where the senior lives?" I ask confusedly. Did they bring me to the wrong place? I look in front of me, and all I could see is an open space and nothing more.

 Aaline nods her head at me. "Yep, this is where the senior lives. Lovely is it?"

 Lovely? I look in front and smile awkwardly. Lovely? I couldn't even see anything. How could I say it's lovely? Does Aaline have trouble with her eyes?

 Soiartze shakes her head and elbows Aaline. "This is one of the another illusionary space in Kosmo. Seniors rarely show themselves to spirits. So, in order to meet them, you need to get an ID that you could use to break the illusionary space." Soiartze takes something from her pocket and faces it in the air. A second later, we felt something sucking us in. I tried to get out, but the force is too much that the three of us got suck in.

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