Chapter 2
I'm feeling dizzy, I don't know what to feel anymore.
"What's the problem Jasper? Are you ok?" asked Samantha while checking my temperature, I gently remove her hand in my forehead.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Just a little bit dizzy maybe because of how stress am I while editing and reviewing the photos." I said I did not check whether she believe it or not because right now, my priority is to calm my nerves so I can think straight.
Who is that girl? Why is she not present in my memory?
Samantha look at me suspiciously but because I assure her once more that a pill for headache and little bit rest will help she let me off the hook.
I fetch my phone from my pocket and dial a familiar number.
I'm being restless as seconds past, there are a lot of things that comes in my mind like who is the girl? Why can't I remember her? Or the photo itself, I do not remember anything about that day. I have a hunch that it has a connection to the emptiness that I'm feeling lately.
I know there is something wrong yet I can't point out what it is as if my brain has been hack.
"Ok. I'll leave you then. But be sure to contact me when you find the girl I'm talking about. I'm serious Jasper, everyone in the team likes her. I know this is absurd but whatever, I'm counting on you!"
With that she left me having another headache. Where the hell will I find that girl when in the first place I didn't even know her.
What if it is not really mine? I can't be wrong, I know all the pictures I've been taking from the past because I'm making sure that each of it is organize.
"Hello bro? What's up."
Thank God! He answered finally. I was about to call another person.
"Let's meet. Usual place. Yeah I'll be there in a minute."
I ended the call and fix my things. I called Jonathan he's a very close friend of mine. He's a childhood friend, we have each other's back since I don't remember. Maybe he can give me some answer for this.
It did not take me too long to get in the place. We used to hang-out in this high-end bar when we want to get wasted or to just chill in.
I enter the bar easily, the guard already knows me because I'm a regular customer here. There in the corner still in his suit is my best friend Jonathan Smith, a business man. He owns an architecture firm which is pass by his parents. He's now working as a full time architect and at the same time the President.
He wave when he saw me, he's already having his fill while waiting.
"What's with the hurry? Is it that urgent that you can't ask me through the phone?"
We fist bump first before I sit in the opposite seat. I did not bother calling the waiter because I'm not here to drink. It makes Jonathan raise his eyebrows but he did not say anything.
I put my portfolio in the table.
"Oh so you call me because you want me to help you choose your best shot for the photo shoot? Wow! Make sure that this is worth my time dude because if my father heard this, you know how the old man thinks. I'm definitely dead." He jokingly said. He even gesture a dead sign in front of me.
I look at him annoyingly "I'm serious here Jonathan, I will not be calling you out if this is not important! Now, tell me do you know this girl?" I asked impatiently because I really want to get an answer right now.
I open the portfolio and pointed the image of the girl I'm talking about.
"Dude, your hurting my feelings. I'm a playboy yes but I'm not some kind of dictionary to know every woman in this city." he playfully said I think he's teasing me because not like him I'm not interested getting myself a girl.
I'm not an asshole like him. I have a big respect with girls because I have two sisters.
The only date that I attended was years ago and it was arranged by my mother. It was her friend's daughter, Ria. As much as I want to decline I can't afford make my mother upset, after all that moment I'm finding a right time to tell her my decision of getting a place for myself so I need to be on her good side.
I don't want to remember that night anymore, the girl is too feisty, she slapped me when I told her I'm not interested being in a relationship with her. That I'm just doing what my mother ask mr because I don't to disappoint her.
I don't know that being honest will only give you an aching cheek afterwards.
Damn, why am I thinking the unfortunate night?
When Jonathan look at the picture, his impish grin was suddenly turn into frown then shifts into horror. He looks at the picture as if he saw a ghost.
That got my attention. He knows. There's no doubt about that. I knew it, Jonathan is a playboy. He probably see or maybe even dated that girl!
"You knew her do you? Who is she? Why did I take this picture of her?" I ask impatiently. I don't care if I sound crazy but I need to know who's this person by hook or by crook.
The adrenaline rush makes me want to ask more questions. I'm thirsty for the answer. I want to know more and I don't know why am I being like this.
Jonathan did not answer my questions instead he look at me nervously.
"What's the problem? Don't tell me she's one of your flings?"
He sighed heavily and drink his whisky in just one gulp.
"Bro. Are you sure do you want to know who she is?"
"Why am I even be here If not? Look this whoever she is, I need her. My boss ask for this girl to be our model for our latest magazine issue. You know how important this is to me right? Maybe if I find this girl, Sam will start giving me bigger projects."
I've been working my ass off to the point that I'm sacrificing my rest days to perfect my craft. I know in my heart that I'm not only destined to become a magazine photographer. I can still achieve even bigger title if only I would be given a chance.
My dream is to become a well-known photographer.
The way Jonathan looks at me with disgust makes me raise my furrowed eyebrows. What's wrong with this guy.
The playfulness already vanish, the Jonathan in front of me is serious just like how he talk to his colleagues when he's in a meeting.
"What? Don't tell me she's your girlfriend now?"
He sighed heavily, the heaviest sigh I've heard for today.
Jonathan does not take things seriously but when he did he really mean it so I compose myself. I don't want to be rude since I need his help.
"Do you really want to know her? S-she's dead, Jasper. And she's your girlfriend by the way."
My cheerfulness and the positivity that I felt when I'm talking about my dreams shattered. I felt like I was slap 40 times.
I wish this is only a dream, I want this to be a dream but the look in Jonathan's face tells me the opposite. This is true, it's real but I don't remember.