"I'm not hungry Zen. I need more than food right now." Phoebe moaned as Zen tried to force some cereal down her throat.
Since the breakup three days ago, Phoebe had lost appetite for most things she used to do.
"You have to at least eat something so you can use these drugs. Please." Zen didn't relent.
Watching Phoebe laze around the house with a gloomy look affected her also. The house lacked Phoebe's vibrancy, rich laughter, and energy but she was trying her best to revive it.
"I will tell you again as I have always said. Kirk is a fool who cannot recognize gold when he sees one."
"You don't have to cry for his loss. Move on Phoebe. Stop moping around, it's enough. You have to pick yourself up again after falling." Zen tried cheering her up.
"It's not only about him Zen. I feel so empty. So useless that I have lost a lot. The audition. Morgan. Kirk. It's a wonder that you are still here with me." The tears rolled off Phoebe's eyes as she stared at the empty wall which had days ago gone bereft of Loukas's pictures.
The memories were stamped on her mind so effortlessly.
"Really? I'm going to smack your face for that. Do you expect me to leave you like they did? Those men are assholes who don't deserve you."
"Be thankful they are out of your life Phoebe. Imagine having to beg someone to stay in your life. Others will come dear." Zen dropped the plate of cereal to reach for her phone before she continued.
" I never liked Kirk anyway. You know it was because of you I had to accept him. I knew there was something sly about a guy who was always pushing you to meet so many agencies for modeling. It wasn't just about the support, I could feel him waiting for you to reach fame so he could boast about you." Zen sneered.
"What about Morgan? Why did he have to leave me too? I am tired Zen. So tired I want to give up everything." Phoebe's voice lacked enthusiasm.
Yesterday, Morgan had served her another letter of rejection saying that he was no longer interested in being her manager and that she was free to look for someone else.
"Well, about Morgan, I really don't know but all I do know is that you've gotta fix this so they do not laugh at you. The more you keep up this facade, the more you allow them to feel relieved for letting go" Zen said.
"I will fix this Zen. However…" Phoebe's next statement was stalled by Zen's chirpiness.
"That my girl, is the very first step." Zen felt so happy that Phoebe was coming out of her shell.
"However, I would quit modeling." Phoebe rolled her eyes as she said so.
"What? You are going to what?" Zen's face changed almost immediately.
"Why?" She whined.
"I have to because I have no manager, I've got to pay my debt, and who my dear would want a model who Loukas Hamilton has rejected?" Phoebe said sarcastically.
The rejection had cut deep into her.
"Loukas was a jerk too! You don't have to give him power over you. Get yourself together and let's fix up this debt then we can look for other ways to get you signed." Zen nudged Phoebe.
"He might be a jerk but people obey his command. I don't want to disgrace myself once more trying to get into another audition or the stress of having to get another manager.
"You do remember how long it took me to see Morgan. Now he's left. My only focus now is to pay off Gordon's money." Phoebe rolled off the bed to pick up the cereal pack.
"Thank goodness! You want to eat already." Zen sighed.
It hadn't been easy cooking Phoebe to eat these past few days.
"I won't change what I said, Phoebe. Let us fix this one after the other." Zen repeated.
She knew modeling was Phoebe's life and that she would eat up her words soon but the rejections she had faced made her speak that way.
"I might even have to start working two jobs." Phoebe spooned some cereal into her mouth.
"I'll draft a resume for you and if there are opportunities I'll share them with you. I got your back baby." Zen winked.
"Thank you, Zen. You truly are a lifesaver." Phoebe was grateful for the friend who didn't leave her in times like this.
What would have happened to her? She couldn't imagine it.
Zen had taken her in when she got tired of her parent's bickering. She had nowhere to go so she confided in her friend.
Zen was kind-hearted enough to allow Phoebe to crash in with her. They now shared the same space and almost everything together. She would pay Zen's kindness to her someday.
"I feel so happy that I have to rest today. My whole body aches. I'm going to sleep soon." It was Saturday. Zen didn't go to work during the weekends but Phoebe did.
However, she had sent in sick leave to the office. It had come back as a surprise when it was accepted by Rob. She didn't have too much time to dwell on it but she wondered what was going on.
"Make sure you finish up that." Zen pointed to the cereal before Phoebe.
"I wanna sleep for a while." She moved to one side of the bed and laid down to sleep.
"Alright girl." Phoebe said as she reached for her phone to check her Instagram feeds.
A call came through on it. The caller ID showed Luis.
"Oh my god," she exclaimed.
She hadn't spared a thought for her new friend these past rough days. If things were normal, she'd have called him. She picked it up.
"Hey, Phoebe. How are you? I thought of reaching out to you today because I have been damn busy. There has been a lot to do with Lou's clothing." Luis's deep voice said on the phone.
He said with a hint of happiness that he couldn't suppress. It had been a lifetime dream for him when he got signed.
"Aw, I'm so happy for you Luis. Everything worked out for you in the end. I'm sorry I haven't been able to call too. It's been rough for me." Phoebe tried her best possible to sound cheerful enough for him.
"Things will also work out for you in the end. Rough? How?" Luis asked.
"I have to pay back my debt." she said.
"Ohh, anyways I had the day off so I called to check up on you and to also inform you that…" Luis continued.
The phone fell off Phoebe's hands as she screamed. Zen who was sleeping immediately woke up to the sound of the noise.
"What is it again, Phoebe?! You almost gave me an attack." Zen complained.
She rubbed her drowsy eyes to face Phoebe when she saw that Phoebe wasn't even listening to her.
"Phoebe! Phoebe!" Zen hurried down the bed to her side.
"What is it? Are you alright? Who was that on the phone?" Zen hurried to pick it up.
Luis hung up when no one replied to him again. Zen went to her call log and saw his name.
"Who is Luis?" She frowned at Phoebe, thinking that it was another little secret Phoebe had decided to keep away from her.
"The guy I told you about. He encouraged me before I went in for the audition." Phoebe said, sitting back on the bed for support.
Zen's lips did an "oh" when she remembered. Phoebe had told her when she got home.
"So what made you scream?" Zen sat down.
"He said Loukas had paid back everyone," Phoebe said.
"I don't understand," Zen said.
"Loukas paid back the five thousand dollars we used for the audition. He paid everyone who participated." Phoebe said explicitly.
"What!? That's great news!" Zen was happy but Phoebe's countenance was sour.
"Aren't you happy? This is good news?" Zen shook her.
"I am Zen. It's just that no money was sent to me and Luis said it had been paid for two days now." Phoebe turned to look at her.
"So? Speak Phoebe. I do not understand what you have just said." Zen asked.
"Two days was the day Morgan sent me that letter" Phoebe looked so scared.
"Oh my goodness! Morgan has the money!" Zen's hands flew to her mouth in shock.
"Yeah, we used his account because he was my manager." Phoebe continued.
"We've been racking our heads on how to pay back and he keeps mum about it? He needs to be thrashed."
"What the hell?! Bring your phone! We need to call him right now. Why didn't he inform you? That's so bad." Zen snatched it from her hands to dial Morgan's number.
His line was dead.