The method Gia talked about involved changing of identity. If they wanted to make it to the gala, they had to change not only their appearances but names as well. Lucky for them, Gia just had the way. A friend of hers who specialized in this was here in the south, all they had to do was make their way down. This method was equally risky; they needed someone who was an extreme professional so that no flaws could be detected. The three made their way further down.
The South was known for its ghettos. The streets were dirty and different alleys piled up on the way. Holes filled with dirty water littered the tarmac road making it difficult for those with cars to pass across not to mention the narrow pathways. The man Gia had talked about lived on the basement floor of a rusty iron sheet apartment.
When they got there, the sun was already high up in the sky, scorching the middle of their heads. Both were sweaty, they had to use the bus for transportation because taxis did not operate in those areas. The apartment was small on the outside but the inside was incredibly spacious. It was not very tidy as pieces of paper and cloth littered the ground, a cardboard separated the space into two. A man was sitting on a chair in the visible space, passport photos were next to where his left hand was and his right was operating a computer.
He did not seem to notice anyone entering because he did not look up when the three made way inside.
"Hey Max, how have you been," Gia greeted in a loud voice. The man looked up in surprise, carefully registering that there were other people inside the room. His expression changed from surprise to utter shock as he took in the three people now standing before him, he then got up, went over to Gia's side and gave her a big hug while saying, "What a pleasant surprise G, but aren't you wanted though, what are you doing here?" With each word, he squeezed Gia even harder almost plastering his body to hers.
"Have I become that famous already?" Gia joked back
What the three of them feared was anyone talking about Gia being wanted by the police. The two men looked a little restless and fear crowded their faces. How fast had the news spread that even people from The South had heard already of it? While in the bus, they had worn hoodies and sat at different place so that no one would recognize them.
Lucky for them Gia did not seem affected at all so they dropped the eminent fear that was on their faces. Max was a black guy; he was very tall and was handsome as well. His arms were very big such that when he held Sean and Ronnie's hands I greeting, they engulfed the others whole. He was also very outgoing and just a few minutes later he was already making jokes with them.
Gia introduced them. Max was excellent in making disguises. Many people in the area sought after his services especially the gangs. He could make look alike casts and fake passports with fake names in a heartbeat. He explained that he knew Gia from way back but refused to disclose how they met. When Gia explained the situation, he promised to help. The other two men sat by the side while this two friends caught up in what they had missed all those years that had passed. Ronnie seemed dissatisfied with Gia's undivided attention on Max. Sean too looked like he could not watch the two anymore and turned to Ronnie with an aggrieved face. Both had taken each other to be enemies but now faced with a new enemy, they could only console each other, after all an enemy of an enemy is a friend.
Max had to take photos of the three in order to come up with the best new casts for their faces and the type of clothes suitable for each. Sean and Ronnie did not need any disguises but the former insisted firmly that he wanted one too. The three sat to the side watching Max do his work.
His speed was slow but bit by bit the three stared in awe as his creations came to life. His level of skill was just up the roof. Previously, Gia had had a few disguises as well and all of them were made by Max, she only ever saw the finished product but never the process of making it, seeing how they were made was enough to leave her astonished.
Since making masks took a long time, even at nighttime max was not finished still. He offered dinner and accommodation for the three. Max took them to a very posh house in the neighborhood, a stark difference compared to his work place. The South did not have good houses and seeing one that looked this way was already surprising. The work Max did paid quite well for him to afford such a house.
They had dinner before both retired to bed.
The next day, Max took them back to the studio. The process this time was much quicker as only the final touches was remaining. When presented with the new passports and masks, the two men could not believe their eyes. It was a perfection that was rare; no one they knew possessed such skill. They tried on the masks, looked in the mirror then the photo in the passport, this was enough to blow them away a second time.
The gala was in two weeks' time. This gave them enough time to plan and come up with strategies they would use once they arrived in South Korea. Ronnie booked them tickets with the fake identities while Gia and Sean went to shop for new outfits. They stayed at Max's for the week who also helped a lot with the planning.
The time for the departure came, they bade farewell to Max. Gia stood at the side to say a few words to him before the three finally left. Ronnie had booked a flight departing at 8:00 pm. While in the car, the two men were very nervous, fidgeting in their seats every once in a while. When they arrived at the airport, they almost refused to get out of the car and only accepted after Gia repeated we will not be caught over ten times.
Gia was really having a headache watching this two behave like children. Many people were looking their way already. She thought to herself, weren't this two enemies before, why are they so much alike now?