CHAPTER 52

Celine Dion: Goodbye

~They played with your trust 'cause you auctioned it~

~Mina.

UNKNOWN POV

"R."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Remember, she dies tonight. "

"Noted, ma'am."

"And don't forget the rule. The head or the heart."

"Sure, ma'am."

I smirked and twirled in the comfy leather chair, watching in satisfaction as my designer skillfully decorates the masterpiece.

The marathon ends tonight, Del Varia.

SERAPHINA'S POV

The long-awaited big day has finally arrived. New York fashion week. And like the rest of the models, my heart was in my throat.

My friends had been nothing but supportive ever since I woke up, but I just can't shoo away the nervousness. I can't guarantee not having an anxiety attack on the runway.

"You're doing it again." Enrique chuckled, draping his arm over my shoulders.

"That's Phina for you. From a tender age, nail chewing is her go-to nerve-control remedy." Asher mused.

"I love how you mentioned 'young' like you were any older," Severina smirked.

"I love you, sis." I giggled, sticking my tongue out at an annoyed-looking Asher.

"Hey." A voice breathed in my ear, nearly making me fall off the barstool.

Maya chuckled and stood a reasonable distance from me, knowing I would've hit her with the nearest object I see.

"You scared me."

"That's the intention. " She started in a duh tone, hopping on a barstool.

"I swear, if any of you don't trip and fall on that runway, I'll forever live in grief. " Kabia scowled, making everyone double over.

"Why are you so mean?" Severina hiccuped, in hysterics.

" No, Seriously. Do you think I'm attending this show to have a staring contest with them walking robots? Bitch, I need drama."

I can't with this guy.

"Haven't you had enough drama already?" Maya snickered.  Kabia shook his head and took a sip from the bottle of vodka on the counter. Remind me who has alcohol for breakfast.

"I need baby drama, like petty drama. As in celebrity-inspired drama. Or maybe an e...

Thankfully Ace cut in.

"Thank you man, I think we got it."

After the incident with Hercules II, our friends decided to move in and live with us. To ensure maximum security. Severina was skeptical at first, but after much convincing on Asher's part, she reluctantly agreed. You and Severina both know I'll never plead with her.

"Aisha, dear please give the laptop a break." Malu went over and closed the device. Aisha's been working on tracing the unknown caller since yesterday, never for once having a minute of eye shut. I've told her numerous times that lack of sleep is detrimental to one's health,  but the concrete-headed hamster always brushed it off with her famous, award-winning "I know" statement.

"You'll kill yourself girl. Even Joaquín Garcia sleeps." Severina clapped her hands in Aisha's face, startling the poor girl. At least she finally looked up, for the most part

"Shut up. I'm almost there." She tiredly mumbled.

"You've been 'almost there' for forty-eight hours now." Kabia teased.

"I'd like to see you plant your almond-sized ass on this seat and showcase your imaginary skills." She glared at him.

"Almond-sized, okay." Leila giggled.

The doorbell rang, and Nathan offered to check it. He took a little longer and this got me worried sick, throwing me in a dark pit of nostalgia. Maybe I should go check up on him. I hopped off my seat, only to hear his annoying voice approaching the kitchen entrance.

"Yo Phina, it's some fine-ass Eritrean asking for you." That explained the prolonged door checking, pervert. Peyton is another gutter-minded being though, so they'll click perfectly.

"She's our sister! Send her in!" Severina yelled.

Peyton walked in seconds later with Nathan trudging behind her at a snail's pace.

"Nathan, you'll hit yourself if you don't look up, man." Kabia snickered. Nathan's flushed face got us in hysterics.

"Oh my God, it's the Peyton Sanders. Can I get a selfie?" Malu gushed, fangirl. She was on Peyton's side before the supermodel could even muster up a reply, clicking hundreds of photos.

"You didn't tell us you've got a celebrity in your life, Phina." Caleb frowned.

"Celebrated fools." I rolled my eyes and gulped down the remnants of my coffee. Peyton was leaned against the refrigerator, taking the scene in with amusement.  Malu was still openly taking pictures might I add. Talk about shameless. Makes me wonder if Camilla Cabello's song wasn't about her.

"Ready?" Peyton threw me a knowing, impatient look, desperately trying to get Malu off her.

I sighed and turned to Asher.

"Bro, a hand please?" He's the only one who can handle the situation best.

"I'll buy you the latest iPhone and MacBook pro if you let them be." Asher offered.

The way Malu flew to the other side of the counter was a must-see.

Where is the lie?

"Phina, can I have a moment?" Nathan whispered, scratching the back of his neck. I feel you, bro.

"What?" I mused, already knowing what he's on about.

"Give her my number, yeah. You know the freshman vibes. Favourite matchmaker. "

"Uhuh." We simultaneously wiggled our brows.

"No." I outright declined and ran off before he could utter a reply. I joined Peyton in a limousine parked on the driveway and we took off at once, heading straight to Sony Hall.

The venue was jam-packed. Paparazzi were the owners of the day, with their ever-ready, life-sized cameras sitting on their shoulders.  Do they ever get tired? Some celebrities and fashion icons were also present, posing for the camera and taking pictures with fans.

"You ready?"

I put on my shades and checked my lip gloss before giving Peyton a thumbs up.

The guard opened my door and helped me out.

It was as though the cameras were hungry for me. Flashlights came from every angle, slightly blurring my vision and if it weren't for Peyton, I would've face-planted on the red carpet.

"Seraphina! over here. Seraphina!"

Jesus, my poor ears.

"Ignore them," Peyton linked our arms and strode inside.

We went to the changing room, which was surprisingly empty. Vacuum empty. Where is the rest of the family? isn't the show two hours away?

"Ma'am said you don't like being surrounded by a crowd, so I decided to rent a private room."

The fact that my mom went the extra mile to make me comfortable on this special day, melted my heart. Maybe this is the final convincing I need to believe my mom isn't what she portrayed her to be.

True to Peyton's words, she put on a hard exterior to prevent people from taking advantage of her soft side, but deep down inside, there's a hidden sweetheart.

"So what are we doing today?"

"Nothing." Peyton yawned, propping her legs up on the only dressing table in the room. Come to think of it, I was stupid to expect models in this room. I mean, the one-man dressing table was enough proof that this was a private room.

"Nothing? are you nuts? shouldn't we be practising or something? the show is in two hours, Pey."

Mom would've had her head if she was present.

"I don't practice on the day of my shows."

Impossible.

"What do you do then?"

All the models I knew always have last-minute practices before walking down that runway.

"Simply relax, free my mind and listen to music until an hour to the show, then my makeup and hair will be done." She explained calmly, totally unbothered, contrary to my anxious ass.

"I understand your anxiety, being a first time model and all."

"Can you see through me?"

How else did she know I was battling an anxiety attack?

"Nope, but we share the same career. I've been in your position before. What I'm gonna advise you, is to breathe and set your mind on anything but the runway."

"Who attends the show tonight?" This question had been bugging me my entire life. I heard only high profile personnel are present, but I had to be sure.

"Everyone. From celebrities to their managers, retired models and business tycoons. Think of any public figure and they're there, sometimes even the president. "

If my anxiety was at eighty per cent, it has now escalated by fifteen.

"Why are they doing it during the day  this time?"

I was hoping it'll be during the night so no one recognises my face when I fall off the runway.

"It's always been during daytime."

"What?! how? From the shows I'd watched, the inside is always dark."

"That's the magic touch of stage setters, sweetheart." She smirked, twirling in her chair.

"I'm nervous." I groaned placing my head on the table.

I checked the time and sulked further in the seat. Thirty-five minutes have already gone by.

"If you don't get your mind off this, trust me it's going to be hell out there."

"I can't help it." I exhaled.

Peyton opened the top drawer of the dressing table and removed a black apple laptop. How the hell was she able to sneak that in?

Electrical devices aren't allowed inside, courtesy of the program managers.

She winked and switched on the device. This was what I meant when I said Peyton's a snake.

"How about an hour of grown-ish for a little getaway?"

After one torturous hour with Peyton, I was all set. My hair was pulled into a low bun and parted in the centre. For my makeup, Peyton decided to opt for a soft, natural glam. Despite facing the mirror, I still find it hard to detect a makeup product on my face. Primarily, I thought my face was makeup-free until Peyton started pointing out the contour lines. Now, this is what we call talent.

The designer brought in my clothes twenty minutes to the show. Saying they were horrible would be the understatement of the century, not to mention hideous. Nothing close to my taste, but like Peyton said, "You have to wear what the designer gave you."

"I think I'm ready," I informed Peyton, who was rather engage taking in her masterpiece. I'd be in awe too had I glammed someone up like this.

"Yup, but somebody's not."

She handed me her phone and AirPods.

"Be nice." She ordered in a strict tone and left the room.

The screen lit up and remained blank for some time before mom's face popped up. Being caught off guard, I became tongue-tied.

"Hey, sweetheart. "

I neither know how, nor why, but out of nowhere, I suddenly got overwhelmed with emotions and struggled not to ruin my makeup by crying.

"Hi mom, I missed you." I sniffed.

"I miss you too, sweetheart. How are you feeling?"

"Nervous as f...freak." I corrected, knowing my mom and her resentments for foul language.

"That's normal. But what I always advise my first-time models is to  meditate, and set their minds on anything but the runway."

Funny, Peyton gave me a similar piece of advice.

"Thanks." I sniffed.

"Don't you dare ruin that five-hundred-dollar foundation young lady?" Now here's the mother I missed so much.

"I love you."

"I love you too honey, and remember to always breathe." She firmly stated.

"Okay, mom."

"Alright, let me leave you to have some minutes of peace before you start world war ten with those heels." She mocked, reducing my anxiety a tard bit.

"Okay mom, bye. " I waved my hand over the screen.

"Take care, baby."  She blew me a kiss before the call ended.

Peyton walked in and clasped her hands together.

"It's time."