It was a very busy day for Perial as she was quietly spinning her fidget into her fingers.
In the hours of preparing, the bustling place of a studio owned by a prominent photographer was occupied by staff and models. The director sat in his chair, inspecting the images on the monitors and devices.
"Ms. Dezancho, we will reshoot in 15 minutes after the shooting of Ms. Roshie," the director said while tapping into the monitor while putting his hands up, signaling the number with one hand.
The crew was divided by 5 to fix and retouch Perial and Seleigh's clothes and make-up. Perial closed her eyes and spun the fidget in her hand.
While brushing Perial's cheeks for blush, the gay artist said, "You look gorg, mami! I'm sure that the photos will have a good outcome. "
"Thanks, mami, " Perial said, and opened her eyes. She has dark eye shadow, a different hairstyle like a vintage type, and light make-up but with reddish glossy lips, and her clothes were cherry cordial dresses along with pink garnet.
Perial glance at Seleigh. She has an archaic hairstyle that goes well with her silky dark brown hair. She is wearing a spring/autumn vintage elegant dress with white charleston shoes.
Perial hates to admit it, but Seleigh looks like an angel that has slumped down to earth. Seleigh opened her eyes and looked at Perial's eyes. Perial immediately turned her head and focused on the fidget.
Seleigh giggled and smiled, showing off her pinkish cheeks and glossy lips.
"All right, Ms. Roshie, let's start your second to the last shoot," the photographer said, fiddling with his camera. The few crews hurriedly moved their bodies to do their job. They immediately arranged the lighting and, finally, retouched the models.
"Okay mami, we're done. Get her a bottle of water. " Gaelin said, The gay artist, while fixing the make-up tools in the cosmetic case.
Perial leant in her chair while looking at Seleigh posing in the shooting area.
"Good!"
"Wow!"
"Move your hands and legs a bit!"
"Yes! One more take!"
Perial diverts her gaze when her phone vibrates on the table. She took it and it was a call from Rell. She rolled her eyes and turned off her phone instead.
"That's it! Thank you, Ms. Roshie, and prepare for the next shoot, which will probably be the last for today. Ms. Devancho, you're up." The photographer said while looking at his camera. Seleigh glanced at her and smiled sweetly. Perial looked away since she felt an unexplainable feeling inside her.
Perial walked past her and stood in the shooting area. She posed like she usually does. She made it fierce yet calm to show the theme of their shooting for today.
"Yes! Turn your head a little bit."
"Wow! That's a great shot!"
"Okay! That's it! Prepare for the last shooting!"
.
Perial and Seleigh were in the same glam room after changing their clothes. Their whole crew starts changing their hairstyles and make-up. While Perial and Seleigh were reading the script for the subsequent advertisement,
.
After fixing their make-up, the crew goes out of the room since the director called them. The quiet and awkwardness lift the atmosphere between them.
Perial and Seleigh were childhood friends since primary school. They cut their ties after moving up to middle school due to family issues up until now. They've been together recently because of the shoots, and it feels like fate.
"Hey, do you want to try to rehearse the script?" Seleigh asked. Perial looked at the mirror and nodded.
' It's all just work. Let's get this over with. ' Perial said in her mind, closed her eyes to calm herself, and opened her eyes with a jovial face.
"Hello! everyone, I'm Perial, and.." Perial said in a cheerful voice.
"I am Seleigh, and this is." Seleigh said with a sweet smile.
"The Xeloshi Show!" they said all at once.
They rehearsed twice before standing on their feet towards the door, but Seleigh got a cramp in her feet and was about to stumble on the ground when Perial, in her fast reflexes, managed to hold her waist and change their position, making Seleigh fall into Perial's body instead of the ground.
Seleigh's left hand was in her chest while the other hand was on the floor, and Seleigh's right toe was in between Perial's legs, while Perial's right hand was wrapped around Seleigh's waist and the other hand was on the floor.
Seleigh slowly opened her eyes and blushed when she saw the perials in front of her with flushed cheeks groaning in pain. Perial opened her eyes and was about to scold her, but she was dazed by the beautiful and mercurial face of Seleigh. Instead of feeling the pain, she felt a pound in her chest.
' This is not good, ' Perial said in her mind.
Seleigh panicked, "I'm sorry.. I'll get up--" She couldn't finish when she tried to get up, but her feet weren't agreeing with her and that made her fall down to Perial's body again. Perial swallowed and turned her head away from Seleigh since their faces were inches apart due to the fall.
"It's fine. Are you okay? Do your feet hurt?" Perial asked.
"It's still cramping.." Seleigh said with a low tone, bowing her head in embarrassment. "C-can we stay for a few minutes?" Perial flushed from what she said and didn't respond.
.
A few minutes had passed when someone opened the door, saying, "Ms. Dezancho and Ms. Roshie. The director said---" Gaelin wasn't able to finish it when he saw their position. "Oh, sorry, I should have knocked. The director is calling you now.. maybe you can continue that later?" with a silly smile before closing the door.
Seleigh and Perial Eye contacted each other and immediately stood on their feet and fixed their clothes.
"I-I'm really sorry, " Seleigh apologized with a shy tone.
"Gaelin thought something unrealistic. Let's go now or the director will scold us again. " Perial said and walked out of the corridor.
Seleigh and Perial put the embarrassing incident from earlier aside and carried on as if nothing happened that made the shooting flow smoothly.
"That's a wrap! Great job models and crews!" The crews, including the models, clapped their hands in joy. It was a habit that every time the last shooting each day, they clapped their hands to express their gratitude to each staff member and model.
But they stopped when a murmur went around and crowded at the entrance of the room. The crowd split and someone appeared: an attractive, good-looking, and well-known person came into their sights.
"Is that Xerchin Vcheroi?"
"I know, right?"
"Why is he here?"
"What else? for his fiance!"
"What what? The rumors are true?"
"I think so!"
Perial looked at Xerchin, who had an expressionless face with one paper bag of cake. The director and the photographer greet Xerchin with full respect.
"Long time no see, Mr. Vcheroi," The jovial voice of the director.
"You've gotten glowing, Mr. Vcheroi. Is that the term called "in love?" a photographer's teasing voice. Xerchin just gave them a poker face and looked at Seleigh, who was surprised while looking at him. Perial looked at Seleigh and Xerchin back and forth.
He glanced at Perial for a few seconds before walking towards Seleigh.
"What a cute couple!"
"Right??"
"I bet they are perfect for each other!"
"I know!"
"They will be a good couple."
Perial looked down when he remembered those blue mercurial eyes.
__________
(A DAY AGO)
Perial fixed her sunglasses while leaning into her seat and scrolling through her iPad. Her driver stopped at the familiar address where she usually goes whenever she just gets off from another country or model trip.
"I'll just call you when I need a ride." Perial said, and opened the door. She carried several bags since he promised to bring souvenirs or gifts if she came back. But something unfortunate happened, and she got the late news that Kean had gotten into an accident, but she couldn't leave hurriedly.
She stopped in front of Kean's condo and rang the bell twice; she knew that Kean knew that's how she rang the door bell. But no one came out. That's why she took the spare key and tapped the card into the sensor.
But when the door opened, that made her smile and look up to greet the friendly face Kean like she always does, but instead, she saw a tremendous aura with a cold look from a well-known man across the country.
"Who are you?" A baritone voice from Xerchin
' W-why is this man in his condo?! '
"I should be the one to ask you that! Who are you? And I have a spare key—which Kean gave me personally. " a ferocious but perplexed tone of Perial.
Xerchin just gave her a poker face and turned around, not helping her with the bags she brought.
' What an ungentleman! ' Perial explained as she struggled to gain entry. When she finally got inside, she put the bags onto the dining table and stopped when she smelled the hot, yet cooked porridge and chicken curry.
' He made this early in the morning?! '
Xerchin took his blazer and walked towards the door to leave, but Perial called him,
"Wait! What is your relationship with my best friend?" Xerchin stopped and turned his head to the side, but instead of responding, he wore his shoes and walked outside the condo.
' What a jerk! Why is he here anyway? '
She stopped when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around and looked at Kean with a joyful face. But she felt like something was wrong with Kean. He isn't the same person she met years ago.
' But maybe I just got away from him that long time and he just got into an accident. '
_________
(PRESENT)
Perial turned her back to them, changed her clothes hurriedly, and grabbed her bag. She doesn't want to cross paths with her anymore.
She climbed into the backseat of the car and leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes in exhaustion.
It was around mid-afternoon or early evening when they finished shooting.
Perial stared at the ceiling of the car as a scene from what happened earlier in the glam room, came across her mind. She felt an unexplained feeling pumping into her chest, which she had never experienced before.
She gently put her hand in her chest as she tried to feel the fast heartbeat pumping inside her, like she was running a few kilometers down the road with no break at all.
But a few words came back to her, and she remembered that Seleigh had a fiancee who was the well-known son of a businessman.
' She really had a fiancé. But why didn't I hear it in public? '
"Ma'am, we've arrived,"Perial flinched and climbed down the car, heading to Leansei's condo room.
.
She rang the doorbell twice more, and a minute passed before the door opened. Leansei was surprised to see her again.
"I'm super tired and annoyed." Perial said, and went inside his condo to lie on the sofa.
"What happened?" Leansei asked worriedly as he offer a glass of water to her. She sat on the couch while thinking.
' Right.. why am I annoyed? For what reason? ' Perial said in her mind as she took the glass of water from Leansei and drank all of it. She put the glass on the table and leaned onto the sofa.
"Are you still friends with Mr. Xerchin Vcheroi?" Perial asked suddenly. Leansei flinched and looked away.
"Yes.. why are we talking about him?"
"I saw him today." Leansei stopped and looked at Perial with a confused look.
"How?" Leansei asked, flabbergasted.
At that moment, Leansei felt something inside him crush his deep soul. He couldn't figure it out. He wanted to know, but at the same time, it was like fate was playing with his destiny.
Perial glanced at him first and said, "He visited his girlfriend."
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