CHAPTER 8
Kenji's Point of View
A month later…
“Where are you now? Been waiting for you here.”
“My love, I need more minutes, okay?”
“You don’t need to wear tons of make-up though.”
I rolled my eyes out of boredom when their conversation got longer. I’m at the studio, it’s my first photoshoot for branding and there’s them, making the progress slower than I thought it could be.
“Excuse me, I’ve noticed that their conversation is taking too long he hasn’t prepped me yet,” I asked when a girl came to pass by my seat.
“Oh, uhm. Wait,” she diverted her gaze to the person she called, “Franklin, he’s waiting.”
Franklin looked at her and gestured a ‘wait’ sign before he ended the call, “What are you doing here?” he asked the girl.
“Came down to ask for follow-up questions, yup.”
“Oh, alright.”
The girl just smiled and nodded before she proceeds to the set with her papers in her hand.
“Okay, I’m sorry to keep you wait earlier, yeah,” Franklin apologizes and turned his back off me to get the make-up he needs.
“That’s fine. Anyway, what’s her name?” I asked.
He faced me again with a smile on his face with a brush and a foundation, I guess on both of his hands, “She’s pretty, isn’t she?”
“I’m asking about her name, not how pretty she is,” I said before he proceeds to put make-up on my face.
“Her name is Cosette.”
While he’s doing his thing on my face, we continued talking, “Cosette?”
“Yup, she’s an interior designer.”
“Why is she here?”
“They’re designing the shop’s interior.”
“That explains well.”
“She’s not alone though. Do you know Mister Bleu? He’s way too talented when it comes to his work, could be a model because of his perfect face.”
“He’s a talk of the town in New York.”
“Right, and a girl named Chantel is with them.”
“I don’t know her.”
“Well, a month ago, I bet, they were called ‘le créateur du trio’”
“Meaning?”
“Means ‘the trio designers’”
“Because?”
“There’s this family that people praise because of their wealth and good deeds. They are way too wealthy and use their wealth to provide human needs.”
“That’s good to know, and what’s the connection between the two?”
“They made an orphanage that cost a billion and the trio designers designed that orphanage.”
“That was the reason why the designers become superstars?”
“Yeah. Besides, the outcome was also stunning, the kids were happy and comfortable. And after that news, they KABOOM! All people want their designs.”
I nodded, “Well, both Mr. Bleu and Miss Cosette’s from France, while the girl named Chantel came from the Philippines. Isn’t that amazing? It’s like the three of them are destined to be like them now.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Anyway, you’re now done.”
“Thank you,” I said then stood up.
I waited at the stand-by area for minutes before the owner of the store called me. I walked towards him and that’s when the conversation ended between him and the girl named Cosette.
“You ready?” he said.
“As I should,” I answered and smiled.
“Anyway, she’s Cosette and Cosette, he’s Alexander – my nephew,” he introduced.
“I did not expect that you recruited a very handsome man for the opening of your store,
Monsieur,” She said, smiling while slowly looking at me. “Hello, I’m Cosette and you can simply call me love. Nice to meet you.”
Blonde, angelic face, blue eyes, and beautiful smile.
I chuckled, “You’re funny. I’m Alexander, nice to meet you too.”
“Hahaha, let’s hang out sometimes. I’ll ask this mister here,” referring to my uncle, “to bring you when we’re done with our jobs, how does that sound?”
“Sounds good!”
“Well then, goodbye, for now, handsome,” she said while facing me, “and goodbye to you too, mister.. well.. not-so-handsome,” she said then laughed out loud.
Uncle also laughed and looked at the girl walking away from us, “Isn’t she beautiful?”
“You could say that,” I chuckled.
A moment later, we started the shoot. The first clothes I wore took us 40 takes. The second took us 30. The third took us 50 and the last two took us 100 in total takes and don’t come near me and tell me that modeling is not tiring. To the point that you’ll sacrifice profession over modeling. No.
We took a break before getting ready for the next five clothes to wear. This is the first but I feel like this is my job for like 3 or 5 years now. I get that the shop is almost finished, and we need to rush things now, but I’m a human and I’m running out of ideas to pose.
Shutter here and shutter there, there is a light and camera everywhere.
We finished everything and invited every one of the staff to have dinner and it’s on Uncle Damiel. After taking a bath and changed my clothes, my uncle waited for me outside their bathroom and handed me an envelope.
“What’s this?”
“Money. I know you’ve been living alone and heard that you shove your parents away. Said that you won’t take up modeling and just live on your own here, but look at you now. You’re here. Sideline?”
“I guess, so. Until I get to find a decent job that suits the profession I took up.”
“Culinary?”
“Yeah.”
“I have a friend that owns a five-star restaurant. If you’re interested, come and tell me. You good with that?”
“Yeah, thanks. And I think this is a lot of money.”
“That’s just a tip and a gift. Not your salary.”
“Eh?”
“Yeah, let’s go now.”
We headed to a famous restaurant and ordered the food we want since it’s uncle’s treat. He’s way too wealthy, that’s why. Having someone like him as a family member is great. He has a successful fashion designer daughter and a wife that stays at home, taking care of everyone. I wonder how is it like to eat with the whole family at the dining table. You know, talking about how was each other’s day or telling stories that happened.
Unlucky me, I grew up having my nanny beside me, not a parent.