Alrich stood there in silence, his patience wearing thin as he waited for the man before him to respond. The longer Felix remained quiet, the more Alrich wondered if the man was simply caught off guard or if he was, in fact, just a fool. Despite the calm exterior he maintained, a swirl of annoyance brewed within him, and he felt an urge to scratch his head in frustration.
After a few more excruciating moments, Alrich broke the silence once again. "Hi, I'm asking you what you're doing here," he reiterated, making a subtle yet deliberate gesture. He waved his right hand in front of Felix's face, hoping to jolt him back to reality, and indeed, it worked.
Felix's expression shifted as he seemed to come back to his senses, a flurry of embarrassment washing over him.
He quickly bent over to bow, desperately apologizing for his uninvited intrusion.
"I'm sorry for barging into your home without warning. My name is Yin Felix," he explained, managing to regain his composure. "I'm the younger brother of your twins' teacher, and I also own PRIME Mod & Film Incorporation. To be completely honest, I was captivated by the beauty of your sons, which is why I came here to speak with their parents."
Felix's words spilled forth in a rush, laden with enthusiasm as he introduced himself to Alrich.
Alrich nodded thoughtfully, taking in the information. He turned slightly, scanning the area to see if any onlookers were witnessing this peculiar exchange; there were times when nearby residents would eavesdrop or spread rumors about the happenings in their neighborhood.
When he finally made his way to the door of his house, Alrich's silence seemed to hang heavy in the air.
Felix, watching Alrich's movements with a growing sense of unease, couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't going to have much luck securing an agreement today.
Regret gnawed at him, for he felt he had stumbled upon a perfect opportunity—the ideal models to represent the new line of products from his company. Yet, here he was, standing on the threshold of an opportunity he sensed slipping through his fingers.
As Alrich opened the door, Felix pondered the reality of his situation. Life moves on, he reminded himself, and another chance would eventually come. Nevertheless, he knew deep down that there wouldn't be another pair quite like Alrich and his sons. Their rare beauty was unmatched, even on a global scale, and that realization weighed heavily on Felix's mind as he quietly lamented what might have been.
"Come inside."
After a moment of silence, Alrich glanced at Felix with an encouraging expression. The invitation caught Felix off guard, causing him to instinctively point to himself as if to confirm that Alrich was indeed referring to him.
A flicker of uncertainty crossed his face; perhaps he was overstepping a boundary. The thought of entering the house made him feel slightly embarrassed, as he wasn't entirely sure what to expect within those walls.
Sensing his hesitation, Alrich fixed him with a serious yet inviting gaze, his tone steady as he repeated, "Come inside."
"Ah... Then, I'm coming. Thank you!" Felix replied, mustering a smile as he quickly stepped forward, stepping over the threshold and into the warmth of the home.
He paused at the entrance to remove his shoes, mindful of the clean floors and wanting to show respect. Leaving only his socks, he was greeted by a pair of neatly placed slippers that had been set out just for him. With curiosity piqued, he looked up, only to find one of Alrich's twins observing him with a cool disinterest.
Felix's mind raced back to a recent memory where he had seen this boy dash away, gripping his brother's hand as they fled in a flurry.
This had to be the elder sibling, he reasoned, but in a moment of frustration, he found himself struggling to recall which twin had the distinguishing mole beneath his right eye.
They bore such a striking resemblance that it felt like a puzzle he couldn't quite piece together. "How will I ever tell Zefhan from Kidlat?" he thought to himself, feeling both exasperated and amused.
"Thank you," Felix said politely, his attempt at courtesy met with silence from the boy, who merely turned and continued to walk away, disinterested.
Felix sighed and followed suit.
He spotted Alrich not far away, sitting with another child who, unlike the first, bore no visible mole on his face. The other twin was engrossed in a piece of cake, clearly unfazed by his surroundings or anyone watching him. Felix felt a twinge of nostalgia as he recognized the dessert; it was the same one his mother had brought home just the other day.
"I'm sorry for the intrusion," Felix apologized again, carefully settling himself onto the empty sofa, which faced the direction of Alrich and the boys. In the center of the room stood a table adorned with a vibrant spread of juice and two pairs of gleaming drinking glasses, an inviting setup for a family gathering.
Alrich's voice broke through Felix's thoughts.
"About your offer," he began, his tone turning serious. "You already know that my sons are still in kindergarten. I don't like to see them working at such a young age. I only allowed you to come into our house to discuss this in private."
Felix immediately shook his head in a gesture of understanding. "No, no, no, it's okay. I know about that too. I'm really sorry," he responded, his voice earnest as he tried to convey his respect for Alrich's parental decisions.
"Dad, what exactly is modeling?" Zefhan inquired, curiosity dancing in his eyes as he glanced toward his father.
The memory of Felix's persistent questioning flooded back to him, a moment from their school that lingered in his mind recently.
His father, Alrich, responded with a subtle smile that revealed both warmth and a hint of nostalgia, as if he were revisiting his own youthful days, when he's in his real world.
Nearby, Felix, a seasoned professional photographer well-regarded in the Entertainment Industry, couldn't help but be captivated by the scene unfolding before him.
The soft afternoon light filtered through the trees, casting a warm glow on father and son.
Zefhan's inquisitive nature and Alrich's patient demeanor created a picturesque moment that Felix longed to capture. His heartbeat quickened at the desire to lift his camera and frame the perfect shot, but he quickly reminded himself of the importance of maintaining his professional composure.
In that instant, Felix found himself torn. Here sat the epitome of grace and connection—a father explaining the nuances of an art form to his son. However, he knew that allowing his admiration to interfere with the occasion would not reflect well on him.
He swallowed hard, internally battling the impulse surging within him as he stared at the perfect image crafted by nature and circumstance.
Meanwhile, Alrich attempted to clarify the concept of modeling to his son. "Well, Zefhan, modeling involves posing for a photographer while wearing elegant clothing or accessories that enhance the photograph," he elaborated patiently, his arms motioning gracefully as if he were demonstrating the poses he spoke of. He understood that merely explaining through words might not fully resonate, so his gestures aimed to provide a clearer picture for Zefhan.
What Alrich remained blissfully unaware of was Felix's struggle behind the camera.
His fingers fidgeted restlessly around the device, yearning to press the shutter and immortalize the genuine rapport shared between father and son.
"You can do it," Felix whispered to himself, determination flooding his mind as he lineated his thoughts, "Just one picture—just once!"
Frustration began to bubble as he battled against his instincts. "Why is it so difficult? Can I take just one photo? Shit!"