A friend's concern

(Bang Kieu)
He put down the newspaper and his cup of coffee as his new boss, a friend he’s known for years, approached the table.
“Good morning, Ms. To” He said.
“Good morning.” She replied. It was still hard to get a conversation going with Ms. To, even after all these years.
Marie took a look at the newspaper lying in front of Bang Kieu and chuckled. “Take a look at one of your contestants, Kieu”
“Huh?”
Marie pointed at the Asian boy on the front page.
“Um…really? That’s…. interesting. You know the boy?”
“Talked to him yesterday”
“What’s his name?”
“Luong Tung Quang. You know what to do.”
She meant to disqualify him. Marie hated the kind of singer that stoops low and does crazy things to get people’s attention. Nhu Loan was the only exception for she is one of her dad’s proudest achievements—of course it doesn’t mean Nhu Loan had intentionally tried to get on the front page but to Marie it doesn’t matter. Excuses are the last thing she’d listen to.
However, these celebrities are only human. Every little mistake they make are then fabricated and exposed to the public by the press. Bang Kieu himself was once a victim of these newspaper and magazines, and he felt bad for the guy.
“But ma’am, don’t you even want to see his performance first before deciding?”
“You know my answer.” She said without looking.
“You don’t know Kim!” He protested.
“I’m not interested in your past love life”
Bang Kieu was hurt by the reply. It was hard to believe such thing can be said from a friend, especially Marie.
“You’ve changed…a lot.” Bang Kieu managed to say the words that he had long wanted to say since that day Marie came back from her long trip to France.
The audition started as other judges and contestants was coming in. Bang Kieu sat there and tried to concentrate on each contestant’s performance though it was no easy job. He wondered how some of them made it to this level and then gave himself the answer—connections.
LTQ was nowhere to be found and Bang Kieu thought it was better that way than having to come all the way up there only to be told that you’re disqualified because you’re on the front page for the wrong reason. Obviously, he wouldn’t actually say that to him but the Marie he knows now can do just about anything unimaginable.
And that was exactly what she did. Lucky for him, he was the last contestant of the day; though Bang Kieu didn’t think the boy took it too well. After everyone left, he managed to give him some words of advice, the same thing someone said to him when he was new at this city, “Mason city’s not for everyone. Leave when you can.”

--------------------------
(Minh Tuyet)
Ever since her renewal contract was put on hold, Minh Tuyet spent most of her time slumping around the house. She wasn't sure if Marie To ever want her back again, the only thing she has been doing was writing out her thoughts and feelings to a point where there's not a single paper left in the house! Lately people have been laughing at the fact that a top artist like her would get laid off by one of the biggest companies. Juicy magazine joked that it was worse than being homeless, comedy skits mocked her getting laid off. Lately she has been receiving calls from her friend Bang Kieu. She didn't bother to answer them but she listens to the messages, he tells her to never give up and that even though Marie says she doesn't want you, she really does. Minh Tuyet refused to listen to him, she thought he was just trying to make her feel better. Her phone rang and she looked at it; the ID caller showed that it was Bang Kieu.

"Tuyet? oh you finally pick up!"
"Yeah, I'm sorry"...
"No, it's okay. Did you get my messages?"
"All a hundred of them" (laughs)
"Well, I'm serious about it, why don't you convince Marie to let you sing on Paris By Night?"
"She's the very reason why I'm not singing..."
"It doesn't matter. I want you to be there. Please?"
"I'm not feeling really great right now... so how about you call me back later?"
"Don't you dare hang up on me! I'll quit if you don't show ..."

Minh Tuyet shut the phone before Bang Kieu get to finnish his sentence. She didn't know if she can do it. Would Marie accept her? She didn't want to take that chance, and will her audience love her again?