In this chapter of the novel "In the Country" by Mia Alvar, the protagonist, Alice Anders, travels to Manila, Philippines after running out of money. She reflects on the demand for Western features in Asian countries like Tokyo and Manila. While driving through the city, she remembers a previous visit with her roommate Sabine, during which they encountered a taxi driver who shared a ghost story about a white lady haunting Balete Drive. Alice ponders if the legend is still popular. She arrives at a hotel and reminisces about her friendship with Sabine, their shared apartment, and their lives as models.
The next day, Alice attends a casting call in Manila's garment district. She observes the other girls and compares herself to them, noting her book is outdated. She meets another model named Rae, and they share a lighthearted moment about beauty mishaps. Alice is called into an office where Carmen, a silver-haired woman, reviews her portfolio. Alice reflects on the concept of "It" in the modeling industry and realizes she doesn't possess that quality. She contemplates her future in the industry and her lack of other skills. The chapter ends with Alice contemplating her flexibility, a physical ability she has had since childhood, and its relevance in her life.
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At night, the main character had to confront the challenging question of food. It was crucial not to eat, yet equally important to avoid fainting or feeling lightheaded during work. One evening in their early twenties, the main character and Sabine devised a creative solution. They used their makeup as a substitute for food. With an abundance of makeup samples they had collected from various jobs, they treated the lipsticks as if they were food, playfully nibbling on them and giving each other nicknames based on their shades.
Since room service was expensive and wouldn't address their delivery habit, the main character decided to go out to eat. As they walked through the streets, they noticed posters of a man named Jorge, who appeared bare-chested and relaxed alongside different girls. The protagonist wondered if one of the girls resembled them, but all the posters had been vandalized, with the girl's face spray-painted black.
Having arrived at a small restaurant, the main character found themselves the subject of scrutiny from a group of teenagers. Feeling rebellious, they decided to order unfamiliar dishes to challenge their presence there. They consumed a variety of unfamiliar and intense flavors, pushing themselves to the point of feeling sick. Despite the disgust, they felt a sense of victory in having eaten to excess.
Leaving the restaurant, the main character noticed a white dress and a tall woman wearing it. Intrigued, they followed her through narrow alleys and down a flight of stairs, ultimately losing sight of her. They found themselves in a street illuminated by iron lanterns and littered with confetti and streamers. Feeling nauseous from overeating, they limped towards a taxi.
The following day, the main character participated in a beach photoshoot with Jorge. As they prepared for the shoot, Carmen, another model, noticed a bruise on the main character's forehead. In the studio, they reflected on their versatility and adaptability as a model, but also revealed experiences working in New York and participating in staged outings for promotional purposes.
Later, the main character and Jorge went to a karaoke bar, where they engaged in conversation about their aspirations beyond modeling. The main character suggested Jorge could find success in New York, remarking on the popularity of ethnic models. Jorge, however, expressed his contentment with the influx of attractive American girls coming to their location.
On the third day, the main character had a visible bruise on their forehead, attracting Carmen's attention. Concerned, she called over the photographer to address the situation. The main character hoped they weren't causing too much trouble for the team. Although modeling seemed to be their primary skill, they recalled past experiences engaging in promotional activities and acting as a shot girl to earn a living during lean periods.
In the morning, the main character woke up next to Jorge, noticing his long scar that stretched from his nose to his upper lip. Curiously, they traced it with their finger, prompting Jorge to sit up and cover his mouth.
"I had a cleft lip when I was born," Jorge revealed, his grin resembling those seen in toothpaste ads. "GrinGivers International made my dream come true!"
Excitedly, the main character exclaimed that they had worked for GrinGivers International before. However, Jorge looked at them incredulously, calling them an idiot without humor or forgiveness. Realizing they were running late for work, Jorge suggested he would take the blame and explain the situation.
As they stepped outside, a thick white mist blanketed Balete Drive. The tree branches formed arches over the street, and the vines swished against the windshield as Jorge hummed the Alice song while driving.
Upon arriving at the studio, the team was furious. The main character's swollen face looked worse than they had anticipated, and Carmen expressed her disappointment, mentioning that many girls had been considered for the job.
It was the first time in years that the main character was sent home with a cancellation fee. Jorge was engaged in a rapid-fire conversation with a crew member when they approached him for a final interaction. Feeling a morning-after shyness, they handed him their comp card and suggested hanging out if he ever visited New York. However, Jorge glanced at the outdated card and politely declined, expressing his contentment with finding work in his own country.
Feeling disheartened, the main character called a cab from the hotel's front desk. Grateful for a regular sedan instead of a luxurious limousine, they hoped for a quiet ride, but the driver turned out to be talkative.
"He doesn't deserve you," the driver remarked, observing the main character's bruised face in the mirror. He advised them to walk away if someone hurt them. The main character couldn't help but pity themselves for a moment, and tears welled up in their eyes.
The driver quickly assured them, stating, "Bruises or no, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." He then tried to recall where he had seen them before, to which the main character mentioned their work at Liberty Denim.
Excitedly, the driver recognized the connection and promised to tell his daughters about meeting them. Reflecting on their decision, the main character declared that the Manila job would be their last.
During the lengthy journey through midmorning traffic to the airport, the driver retrieved a disposable camera from the glove compartment and asked for a photo. Realizing that the evidence of their encounter would be incomplete without him, the main character agreed.
With the camera aimed at arm's length, capturing both their faces, the main character embraced the role of the white lady of Balete Drive—one who was cold and elusive. They dissolved into the image, imagining the distortion that would occur, and knew that soon there would be nothing left once the photo was altered.
Having spent years in this line of work, the main character could transform into anything visually. This last picture symbolized their departure from the industry, fading away like moonlight flooding the lens, leaving behind an indistinct and altered image.
They contemplated their future, wondering if they could lie about their age and find work elsewhere, perhaps as a waitress or bartender. They pondered whether the Czech, Argentine, or Senegalese girl still needed a roommate or if their mother would accept them back despite the failures they believed they had inherited.
Arriving at the airport after a two-hour journey, the driver retrieved the main character's suitcase and asked if they would mind taking a picture for his daughters. Despite not being famous, the main character understood the driver's excitement and posed for the photo, becoming the enigmatic white lady of Balete Drive for one last time.
With their image captured, the main character bid farewell to their past life, ready to embark on a new journey where they could sell sticky drinks, tell lies about their age and experience, and find solace in the anonymity of hotel rooms. As their image would be touched and altered, there would be nothing left of their former self.