CHAPTER 16

“Stay like that, Jeonguk!” Allen snapped a few photos before telling him to switch poses. Jeonguk dropped the board on the ground and pulls his hands inside his sleeves. Lifting one hand to his lips, he leaned his head to one side and made a puppy face. “Yes, Jeonguk, that is very cute!”

The girls stood on the side nodding in agreement with Allen. Once Allen lowered his camera, one of the girls came into the photoshoot.

“Alright, Aisha. Sass up the picture for me.”

“You got it, boss.” As Aisha responded, she glanced at Jeonguk who kept his eyes on the camera. Aisha tried on few occasions to speak to Jeonguk, but he was so stale and so stiff that she was scared to approach him; unlike the other girls who boldly flaunted their looks on him. But Jeonguk wouldn’t pay them any mind. Aisha felt so honored to be next to such a hot guy. And it made her wonder about Jeonguk.

Once the photoshoot finished, Jeonguk went on his way to the lounge for lunch break. He bought a snack from the vending machine and peeled it open. Jeonguk at this point was familiar with the unique action of eating. He actually enjoyed everything he ate. Almost everything. Aisha and the girls soon came in as the AI sat at a table. Pulling out a phone he had recently bought, his thoughts were to call Aurora. But Aurora didn’t have a cellphone. And he totally forgotten to request the phone number for the apartment at the front desk when he had first bought the apartment.

“…crap.” He whispered.

“Jeonguk!!!” One of the girls named Ivory pulled a chair out from the table and sat in front of him. The rest of the girls followed suit.

“Oh, hey girls.” Jeonguk smiled kindly.

All of them felt their hearts melting from his radiating lips.

“You don’t mind if we sit with you, do you?” Corina asked.

“No, it’s fine. It’s pretty lonely sitting alone, anyways.”

“You should have asked us to join you earlier, then you wouldn’t be alone.” Avlyn grinned.

“I honestly didn’t think about that back then. I was so used to just doing things on my own, that after some time it just started getting weird.

“Welcome to the world of being a model,” Ivory rose her hands in the air, leaning back in the chair.

“Amen to that, sister.” Corina sighed.

Aisha peeked inside, seeing the girls already crowding him. She felt intimidated to go in and engage in conversation with them—especially because Jeonguk was the center of attention. Ivory turned and grinned at Aisha. “Oh, Aisha! Come, join us—”

Corina swings a chair in between them and slaps the seat. “Come here, girl!”

Sighing to herself, she calmed down and walked in and sat.

“Meet this cutie named Aisha!” Corina wraps her arm around Aisha’s neck and pulls her in, causing her to gag a bit. “She’s the angel of the group! She’s sweet, she’s cute, and on top of that—” Corina leans in as though she was telling a juicy secret. “She’s a virgin.”

“Hey!!!” Aisha blushed profusely, yanking herself out of Corina’s grasp.

All the girls laughed at her.

Jeonguk couldn’t find what was so funny. “A virgin?” He asked befuddled.

“Yeah, you sound interested.” Avlyn teased.

Aisha lowered her head in shame and exhaled.

“No, not really.”

“Ouch.”

“That’s harsh.”

“Advertising Aisha’s virginity, again?” Jordique walks in with a soda in hand. Luther and Marron followed behind. Each of them took a seat and gathered at the table. Jeonguk was surprised that there were actually these many models at this site—if not more.

“You know we gotta support our baby here. She’s the only one who hasn’t hit it off with anyone so, we’re just trying to help her out.” Avlyn explained.

“Right,” Jordique gulped his can down.

Jeonguk was relieved that the attention was taken off of him. He truly preferred being alone, but for his boss’s sake, he pushes himself to mingle whenever someone approaches him. Everyone was conversing, leaving Jeonguk out of the talking, until Luther spoke out. “Say, Jeonguk, if that’s your name?”

“Yes, it is.” Jeonguk nods.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you since you’ve started working here,” Everyone got quiet. “But where are you from?”

Jeonguk tilts his head at Luther for multiple reasons. “Why do you ask?”

“Nothing, I just assumed you were Chinese or something. Not that it matters, but I just like to ask everyone where their background is from.”

Jeonguk tried to think as hard as he could, but nothing would pop up besides where he lived currently with Aurora and the silhouette of the name ‘Roulette’ bouncing around the back of his artificial intelligence. He prayed that Luther wouldn’t insist on him answering.

“Oh, come on, Luther,” Avlyn frowned. “Just because he looks M does not automatically mean he’s Chinese.”

“Hey, I’m just striking up a conversation with the pretty boy. Can I do my job?”

“Yes, sure, go ahead, Luther.” Avlyn grinned and rolled her eyes.

“I am curious about where you’re from, Jeonguk,” Ivory rested her chin in the palm of her hand. “You’re pretty handsome. And I’m sure Aisha here has the same thoughts, too.”

“Oh, stop it!” Aisha rolled her eyes.

“To be honest—” Jeonguk restricted his tongue abruptly. He suddenly remembered what Aurora strictly forbade him on doing.

Don’t tell people you’re an AI.

“To be honest, what?” Corina repeated.

“To be honest,” Jeonguk stood up immediately. “I need to go.” Jeonguk hurried out of the lounge, leaving everyone in confusion.

“Did we overwhelm him?” Marron questioned.

“I told you being in such a big group was a bad idea.” Jordique shrugged. “Ms are too reserved for this type of atmosphere.”

“Not true!” Aisha calls out.

Everyone wooed and instigated Aisha’s retaliation. “You better watch out, Jordique,” Corina warned. “That’s the M boy Aisha likes!”

“Yeah,” Ivory caressed Aisha’s cheek. “We can’t afford to let this one get away like the last useless fish.”

“Hey, I’m right here.” Marron frowned.

“Oops, did you hear that?”

Bending forward, Jeonguk exhaled heavily. “I couldn’t breathe in there… they were all up on me!” Erecting himself, Jeonguk decided to just explore the studio. He’s mostly been in work every single day without stemming off his goals. His goal was to make as much money as possible in order to pay for the rent. This was actually all he wanted.

Allen popped out from around the corner and smiled at Jeonguk. “Why don’t you come into my office for a bit, Jeonguk?”

Jeonguk was surprised that Allen was just around the corner.

Did he hear what I said?

Jeonguk followed Allen down the hall to his office. He was a bit skeptical about why he didn’t hear the man walking down the hall.

Perhaps he was sneaking around?

Getting inside, Allen shuts the door behind him and invites Jeonguk to sit down. He places a bowl of chocolates down in front of him at his desk. Allen drops down in his chair and sighs in relief. “So, Jeonguk,” He opens his eyes and leans his head forward to get a good glimpse of him. “Tell me, how have you been getting along with the other models so far?”

Jeonguk held tightly to his thighs of his pants. “Well…” He lowered his gaze to the floor. “It’s okay…for now. I’m still getting used to being around people…” He whispers at the end.

“You’re still what?”

Jeonguk cleared his throat. “I’m still getting used to being around people.”

“Ah, I see.” Allen sits up and pulls himself closer to his desk. “Because I’m just concerned about you.”

“Concerned for me?” Jeonguk repeats in disbelief. “Why?”

“Well, ever since you’ve joined this team, you’ve been only associating with me the majority of the time and not with anyone else. The other models would love to get to know you, but you’re holding back from them for some reason. What’s wrong?” Allen questions concerned. “Associating with the other models would help give you more experience and a leeway to better offers in the future.”

“Forgive me, Mr. DeChart,” Jeonguk began.

“Please, just call me Allen.”

“Please excuse me Allen,” Jeonguk pulls his chair to Allen’s desk and presses his finger tips together. “But I remember speaking to you about the fact that I am merely working here to provide for my master. She is the one who I am mostly concerned with, and I’d like to just focus on her wellbeing.”

“Ah, yes. You know, you’ve spoken to me quite a number of times about this, master. And now, you’ve gotten me very curious about who she is.” Allen smiled genuinely at Jeonguk, earning a dumbfounded stare from the AI. “You should introduce her to me some time.”

Jeonguk didn’t know how to respond to that. All he can think of was that he’s probably said to much.

“Okay.”