"Papa," Ayan whispered, rubbing his eyes and walking towards Roman, who was shaving. Roman narrowed his eyes, looking at his son through the dressing mirror."Look, who woke up early today?" Roman smiled at his son, who was blinking while looking around."You are on earth, mister," Roman said, gesturing for his son to get near."Good morning," Ayan mumbles while sleeping on Roman's shoulder. He heard his father's chuckle and warm embrace, hugging him back."You look like Santa," Ayan comments, looking at his dad with giggles. Roman raised his eyebrows. "Excuse me for this," Roman said and applied the foam to Ayan's cheek, who shrieked and rubbed his cheek. "Papa. Cold."Roman chuckled, taking the razor. Ayan observed his dad scooping foam from his cheek and applying it to his face."Papa, I want to shave too," Ayan said, making a face while rubbing his cheek as though he had grown a beard."You will get late for school.""You don't get late for work."⋇⋆✦⋆⋇"Sir," Dean calls while looking at the principal sitting on his chair and signing papers. The principal looked at Dean and smiled at him."Please take a seat," the principal said while gesturing for Dean to sit on the available chair. Dena looks hesitant to step in. He fists the envelope and inhaled deeply. He needs to get over this."Sir," Dean said, handing the principal his resignation letter because his eyes couldn't meet the principal.The principal looked shocked and whispered, "May I know the reason?"Dean stops his index nail from ripping his finger skin. "It's written on-""From you," the principal says, keeping the envelope aside.Dena contemplated for a few seconds and said, "Sir, I found a better job. I believe it's good to follow what makes you happy."The principal smiles. "Very well. Is it okay to leave after Christmas?"Dean quickly shook his head. "Sir, I don't-""I didn't mean to force you or change your thoughts. It's just that the kids will be sad. After all, you become the favorite of many." Dean's thoughts were interrupted by this response, which prompted him to recall his memories."Ok, sir. I'll ask the company and let you know." Dean replied, standing from his seat."Alright, I wish you the best. Do well in life and be happy." They shook hands.⋇⋆✦⋆⋇"Are you serious?" Daniel's voice echoed in the silent corridors of the school. Dean hushed him as they both walked together."Are you serious?" Daniel whispered this time, leaning closer to Dean's face."Yeah," Dean replied, pressing his fingers on the books."Damn, bro. I might be friends with a famous model." Daniel gasped, and there was sheer happiness in his eyes."I'm not a model." Dean tries correcting him."Ok, to-be model.""Are you understanding the situation?""Of course, I am." Daniel takes a book from the bunch he is holding. "Give me an autograph before you become too famous and I can't reach you.""You are my friend. Of course, you can reach out anytime. Famous? Like seriously? I work for a small company, that's all.""What if your poster caught the eye of a famous brand and they offered you work? OMG! You will become a famous model overnight.""If. Daniel, if.""And there is no guarantee of this word. This 'if' is like a pointer; it can tilt to the positive.""And negative.""Hey, try to think positively sometimes." Daniel stops in front of his class. "If a human can think one thing at a time, then why not positive thoughts?" Daniel said, smiling as he stepped inside his friend's class.Dean, who was standing alone, had wide eyes. The words Daniel spoke were so true that they moved his heart. Dean steps inside Daniel's class, where the children greet him."You are the best person," Dean said and hugged Daniel, catching the man off guard. The children laughed, looking at their teacher. They laughed, looking at each other."Even you," Daniel said, breaking the hug. "The title sounds heavy, though. It will be difficult to carry it." Daniel pats his shoulder.Dean laughs flickering Daniel's forehead. He quickly ran out of the class before Daniel could catch him.⋇⋆✦⋆⋇"Roman," Liam calls while knocking on Roman's cabin. He was busy planning the project."Yes, Liam," Roman replied, closing the laptop and smiling at Liam."Good morning," Liam says as he takes a seat on the available chair. Roman returns the greeting."You are fine with the final list, right?" Liam asked, fishing a paper from the blue file he was carrying."Yes, you know marketing, and I'm sure you chose the right people.""There is one problem, though. Dean Rayden is requesting whether he could join after Christmas.""Why is that? Didn't he read the JD that we need immediate joiners?""I know. You talk with him," Liam said, placing a call to Dean."Just remove him and add the next runner-up.""I can't. He is the trump card." Liam replied, waiting for Dean to pick up the call. "He is not picking, maybe teaching kids," Liam whispered, dropping a message to call back."Ask him to work on Saturdays and finish his photoshoots on the same day. Will your team have any trouble?""Give them a free meal, and they're good to go. My team is very passionate.""Alright, inform him of the same, and this time if he declines it, then remove him."⋇⋆✦⋆⋇The weekend approached with a leap in the sky. The sun shone with a chilling temperature. Dean looks back at his family, smiling and giving them the thumbs up. He chuckled and opened the door, where the sunlight hit his face."Welcome, Dean." Liam was the first to greet him. "How are you?"Dean smiles back, saying, "Feeling nervous. I have never faced a camera. I don't know how I'll do.""Everything has a first time." Liam smiles, "I never thought that I could be a manager of the marketing department. But I am." Dean smiled and nodded his head."Your outfit is ready. We'll have the first few solo shoots, and then you'll shoot with Sebastian. Later, all four together." Liam explains while gesturing for Dean to follow him. Dean nodded, absorbing the words.Posing in front of the camera was sure a big task for him. The outfit is in a shade of green, with a velvet overcoat that is covering his thumping heart. His flipped-up hair was styled perfectly, and his side profile shows the jawline. His eyes shone because of the lights. His hand movements were like gliding his hand over the surface of the water. His expressions were like holding an ocean in his eyes. Each camera shutter gave a boost to his confidence."Will you stop sneaking out of the office?" These words caught his attention as he looked away from the camera. He saw his brother standing in front of another man."I let it slide other times." The man further added that Ethan looks down, whispering his apology."You are being paid for work, not for-""I apologize on his behalf, sir," Dean said while standing in front of his brother. Roman raised eyebrows."He was worried about me." Dean looks at his brother and smiles. "He was just looking out for me, sir," Dean further added, looking at Roman.He probably didn't recognize Roman. But the other person knows him very well, thanks to his son."Go back and do your job," Roman said, gesturing for Dean to go back. However, Dean narrowed his eyes. He glanced at his brother and then back at the man. "How do you handle his temper?" Dean whispered while making sure Roman heard him."Don't fight with someone who holds power more than you," Roman advised, moving away from the brothers."A heat wave may believe that water evaporates as a result of it. What it doesn't know is that the same water has the power to dim its fire." Dean replied, crossing his arms. Roman stops his movement and looks back at Dean."It's not even a day, and look at your tone of speech." Roman stood in front of him, staring at Dean, who was also staring back. "Talking about the flowers was all made up, right?" Dean widens his eyes."Get back to work," Roman said as he walked away."Dee, I was wrong. I shouldn't have sneaked in. I wanted to see you. But I didn't expect Sir to be here as well. Do your best." Ethan said this before quickly walking away with a hug.Dean glanced at Roman, who was talking with Liam. Why does he feel something is wrong with him? He stops snapping or getting angry at people. Moreover, his brother was wrong too. Where did his rational thinking go? He was like the previous version, who just wanted to fight. He quickly shook his head. All because of his mouth, his brother might loose his job. He should properly apologize.Dean stood in front of the camera again. He posed with the perfume. His gaze was frequently locked with Roman's, who was staring at him like an angry eagle, waiting for a slip-up. Dean will not make any mistakes without his conscious consent."Sir, look at your right and have a soft smile like when you see someone you love," Nish said, focusing the camera on Dean's face."Is he doing well?" Roman asked, looking at the picture on the monitor and turning back to Dean. Amias, who was sorting different pictures, nodded his head.Dean looks at Roman, and his eyes narrow as he holds back some angry words.Nish narrowed his eyes and looked at Dean. "Sir, I said with a soft smile, not a glare."Dean tore his eyes from the man and asked, "Can I look left instead?""No problem," Nish said as he looked through the camera lens.Dean turns to the left and smiles. "Perfect," Nish said and continued to request different poses with different expressions. Sometimes Dean was asked to sit on the floor with many flowers scattered around. Sometimes, he sits on a stool while gliding his hand in the air, which was edited as though he were sitting on the beach and playing with water."Roman, you need to check on the draft and accounting," Liam said, gesturing for Roman to follow him. Roman looks at Dean one last time and walks away."Sir, I wanted to interfere in the argument. But my friend didn't allow me." Nish said as Dean looked at him."You did fight with your boss. He is the one handling this special project. If he wishes, he can fire you while giving a proper reason, like that you don't have good conduct or attitude. He might look cold, but he has a good heart. Moreover, your brother was wrong. If he wanted to see, he could have sought permission." Nish continued, returning his gaze to his friend. Dean looked down and nodded, understanding that he had judged the man wrong."Everything good?" Nish asked, getting a thumbs-up from Amias."Alright, thank you for today," Nish said as staff started collecting perfumes around Dean."Pack up."Dean changed his clothes and took off his makeup. His bag was thrown over his shoulder. He looks at his phone and connects the phone with earphones. His focus was on searching for a good song as he walked out of the studio."Roman, I think everything will work fine. Don't you think?" Liam's voice reached Dean's ears as he looked straight at Roman, who paused in his moment too."Yeah, if people cooperate while their ego is thrown aside." Their eyes lock for a second, and Roman looks away as he walks past Dean."I'm sorry," Dean said, turning around. But Roman continued walking as though he hadn't heard."Sir, I'm sorry. I and my brother were wrong." This time, Roman stopped, looked over his shoulder, and walked inside the studio."I--""It's ok, he didn't mind. He just avoids conflicts." Liam says, patting his shoulder. Dean nods with dejection.------------------------------------------