章 1: One
Aaliyah tossed and turned in her bed, her thoughts tangled in the romantic narrative of the game she played until the early hours. The buzz of her phone startled her awake, blinking with urgency. She groaned, rubbing her eyes, and squinted at the message from her manager."London, Buckingham Palace visit," it read. A mixture of excitement and fatigue coursed through her veins.
"Another day, another adventure," she muttered, dragging herself out of bed. Her reflection in the mirror stared back a tall, confident figure with disheveled curls framing her face. A sigh escaped her lips. "Guess I should get moving."
As she prepared for the day, the message from her manager replayed in her mind, each word a reminder of her perpetually chaotic schedule. Her suitcase lay open, waiting to be filled, while her room resembled a battlefield of clothes and gadgets. "Why can't I be more organized?" Aaliyah mumbled, hastily packing her essentials and she put in her bag a portable console so she could play her video games on the plane.
With minutes to spare, she dashed to the airport, hoping her delay wouldn't derail her plans. Her manager's reproach was anticipated, yet she couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. "I should've been more responsible," she muttered under her breath, slipping on her cap and mask to shield herself from unwanted attention.
Midway through the security checkpoint, a woman's flirtatious advances interrupted her stride. She was tall and blonde, wearing a tight red dress and a dazzling smile. She sidled up to Aaliyah and whispered in her ear.
"Hey, gorgeous. Where are you heading?"
Aaliyah's response was polite but distant, her focus fixed on the impending journey. She had a flight to catch in less than an hour, and she was already running late. She didn't have time for this.
"I'm sorry, I'm not interested. Please excuse me."
The woman persisted, undeterred by Aaliyah's coldness. She ran her hand along Aaliyah's arm and leaned closer.
"Come on, don't be shy. You're too beautiful to be alone. How about I buy you a drink at the lounge? Maybe we can have some fun before you board."
Aaliyah felt a surge of annoyance. She pulled away from the woman and glared at her.
"Look, I appreciate the compliment, but you're not my types . And even if you were, I wouldn't go with you.."
The woman looked stunned. She blinked a few times, then scoffed.
"Wow, you're such a tease. You should be more careful with your signals. You don't want to give the wrong impression, do you?"
Aaliyah rolled her eyes. She didn't know what signals the woman was talking about. She was wearing a simple pants and hoodie and a mask, and a tired expression. She had done nothing to invite the woman's attention.
She was about to say something more, but the security officer intervened.
"Ma'am, please step aside. You're holding up the line."
The woman huffed and moved away, muttering something under her breath. Aaliyah sighed and followed the officer's instructions. She put her luggage on the conveyor belt and walked through the metal detector. She hoped that was the last she would see of the woman.
The encounter, though fleeting, added another layer of complexity to her already chaotic morning. She checked her watch and quickened her pace. She still had to go to the border police.
Her heart raced as the border police scrutinized her disguise. "Not allowed to hide your identity here," one officer declared. Aaliyah's frustration was palpable, yet she swiftly complied, revealing her face and identification. The officers' reaction, a mix of surprise and admiration, momentarily quelled her annoyance.
"Can I have an autograph, please!" The officer's request caught her off guard. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she signed, momentarily connecting with a fan amidst the chaos.
Finally seated on the plane, Aaliyah exhaled a sigh of relief. The captain's announcement faded into the background as fatigue overwhelmed her. "So much for a peaceful flight,"
Aaliyah plugged in her earphones and turned on her portable console.
She resumed the game she had played until the early hours, eager to immerse herself in the action and adventure. The game was called "The Last Quest", and it was a thrilling RPG set in a post-apocalyptic world.
She was so engrossed in the game that she barely noticed her manager sitting next to her. Her manager, a middle-aged woman named Sandra, was the one who arranged all of Aaliyah's trips and events. She was also the one who constantly nagged Aaliyah about her deadlines, her appearance, and her love life. Sandra was a good manager, but she was also very strict and demanding. She often clashed with Aaliyah, who was more laid-back and rebellious.
"Hey, Aaliyah, are you listening?" Sandra asked, tapping Aaliyah's shoulder.
Aaliyah paused the game and took off her earphones. She looked at Sandra with a bored expression.
"What is it?" she asked.
Sandra sighed and handed Aaliyah a folder.
"Here, take a look at this. It's the itinerary for our London trip. We have a lot of things to do and see. You need to be prepared and professional. This is a big opportunity for you and your blog."
Aaliyah opened the folder and skimmed through the pages. She saw a list of places, dates, and times, along with some notes and instructions. She saw names like Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, and of course, Buckingham Palace. She also saw some interviews, meetings, and photo shoots scheduled for her. She closed the folder and tossed it back to Sandra.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Go to places, take pictures, write posts, smile and wave. Same old, same old. Can I go back to my game now?"
Sandra frowned and snatched the folder.
"Aaliyah, this is not a joke. This is your job. You're a famous blogger, for crying out loud. You have over four million followers on social media. You have a responsibility to them and to yourself. You can't just play games all day and ignore everything else."
Aaliyah shrugged and put on her earphones again.
"Whatever. I don't care about fame or responsibility. I care about having fun and being myself. And right now, I want to play my game. So leave me alone."
Aaliyah had been a blogger for six years, ever since she was 18. She had started as a hobby, writing about her travels and experiences around the world. She had always loved traveling, ever since she was a little girl.
She had a passion for exploring new places, cultures, and people. She had a curiosity and a wanderlust that never faded.
Her blog had become popular, thanks to her witty and honest writing style, her stunning and creative photos, and her charismatic and adventurous personality.
She had gained a loyal and enthusiastic fan base, who followed her every move and supported her every endeavor. She had also attracted the attention of various sponsors, brands, and media outlets, who offered her lucrative deals and opportunities. She had become a celebrity, a star, a sensation.
She had also become rich. She earned a lot of money from her blog and her endorsements. She used most of it to fund her travels and her lifestyle. She lived in a luxurious penthouse in New York, where she had a huge collection of clothes, gadgets, and games. She loved games, especially video games.
She had been a gamer since she was a kid, and she never grew out of it. She had bought more than a thousand games in her life, ranging from romance to adventure to action. She had played them all, and mastered them all. She was a skilled and experienced gamer, who could beat any challenge and any opponent.
After an 8 hours flight Aaliyah and her manager arrived at London airport, where Aaliyah's mother and sister were waiting for her. They had flown from Spain to surprise her, and they had coordinated with Sandra to make it happen. Aaliyah was shocked and touched to see them, and she hugged them warmly.
"Mom! Sis! What are you doing here?" Aaliyah exclaimed, as she embraced them.
"We came to see you, of course. We missed you so much," her mother said, kissing her cheek.
"We also wanted to check out London. It's such a cool city," her sister said, grinning.
They chatted for a while, catching up on each other's lives and news.
They got into a luxury car that Sandra had arranged for them, and headed to their hotel. Sandra had booked them a suite at the Ritz, one of the most prestigious and expensive hotels in London. Aaliyah was used to staying in fancy places, thanks to her blog and her sponsors, but she still felt a thrill of excitement and awe. She loved the feeling of luxury and comfort, especially after a long and tiring flight.
She looked out the window and saw the city passing by. She saw the iconic landmarks, the busy streets, and the diverse people. She felt a surge of excitement. She had always wanted to visit London, ever since she was a kid. She had read books, watched movies. She had a fascination and a curiosity for the city. She wanted to explore it, experience it, and write about it.
She smiled and reached for her portable console. She put on her earphones.
"Aaliyah, honey, can you please put down that game for a minute? I need to ask you something," her mother said, tapping Aaliyah's shoulder.
Aaliyah paused the game and took off her earphones. She looked at her mother with a bored expression.
"What is it, mom?" she asked.
Her mother took a deep breath and looked at her with a serious and concerned expression.
"Aaliyah, do you have a boyfriend? Or a girlfriend? Or anyone special in your life?" her mother asked.
Aaliyah blinked and frowned. She didn't like where this was going.
"No, mom, I don't. Why do you ask?" she said.
Her mother sighed and shook her head.
"Aaliyah, you're 24 years old. You're a beautiful, smart, and talented young woman. You have a successful career and a bright future. You have everything you could ever want. But you don't have anyone to share it with. You don't have anyone to love and be loved by. You don't have anyone to make you happy and fulfilled. Don't you think that's sad?" her mother said.
Aaliyah rolled her eyes and tried to ignore her mother's nagging. She hated how she always pressured her to settle down and have a family. Aaliyah didn't want that. She wanted to live her life on her own terms, without any strings attached. She wanted to travel the world, play games, and have fun. She didn't need a partner to make her happy. She had her blog, her fans, and her friends. That was enough for her.
"Mom, I'm not sad. I'm happy. I'm happy with my life, the way it is. I don't need anyone else to complete me. I'm fine, just fine, by myself," Aaliyah said.
Her mother shook her head again and looked at her with a pitying and disappointed expression.
"Aaliyah, you're not fine. You're lonely. You're missing out on one of the most beautiful and meaningful things in life. Love. Love is what makes life worth living. Love is what gives life purpose and joy. Love is what makes you grow and learn and change. Love is what makes you a better person. Don't you want to experience love, Aaliyah? Don't you want to feel love, Aaliyah?" her mother said.
Aaliyah felt a surge of annoyance. She didn't like how her mother was trying to make her feel guilty and inadequate. She didn't like how her mother was trying to impose her own values and expectations on her. She didn't like how her mother was trying to change her.
"Mom, stop it. Just stop it. You don't understand me. You don't understand my life. You don't understand my choices. You don't understand what makes me happy. You don't understand what love means to me. Love is not what you think it is. Love is not what you want it to be. Love is not what I need it to be. Love is not for me, mom. Love is not for me," Aaliyah said.
Her mother looked hurt and angry. She opened her mouth to say something more, but the car stopped.
Aaliyah got out of the car. "Aaliyah, come back here right away!" her mother shouted, but Aaliyah didn't listen. "It's dangerous," her mother said, but Aaliyah didn't care. She was angry and frustrated. She wanted to get away from her mother and her constant nagging. She wanted to be free and independent. She wanted to live her own life.
She slammed the car door and walked away. She ignored the honking horns and the angry drivers. She ignored the red lights and the crossing signs. She ignored the people and the noise. She ignored everything except her own thoughts and feelings.
She didn't notice the car that was speeding towards her. She didn't hear the screeching brakes and the crashing metal. She didn't feel the impact and the pain. She only heard some noises, screams and then silence.
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