CHAPTER 9
I went to the movies and I really missed my dad he was always the one to take me there. I give Maritim about my weekend and he is now saying that he will come to visit. At first, I think he is joking and he is serious about it. He says he saved up for it and the fact that I have extra money I can also top him up on his ticket back home. I never lack food and that is just a way of showing that he can also make sacrifices for me. The weekend he was planning was just after the Ezze occasion and I had to include that in my schedule. The weekend is over and I have to adjust to Monday. My lesson was around 11 a.m. and at least I wouldn't wake up so early.
It meant that Maritim would also do extra so he could afford all this. I am really so lucky to have such a boyfriend. Elsa went ahead and told me that at times he did bring them cookies when he was picking up his sister in school and he really did look out for them even when I wasn't around.
Ezze called me and it is the first time she does. She always uses sweet names and I have never stopped but I know I should. She wouldn't stop as much as I told her not to, that I am so sure of.
"Hey beautiful, I actually need to ask of you a very great favor. I was thinking of not only inviting you to the occasion of the year but also I wanted you to be part of the team I style. It will mean so much to me and I will really appreciate it. You are the only one I thought would look so much in whatever I have in plan. So if you are in we can meet any day this week so I can take the measurements and explain in detail." she says. I will try to fix it in some time on Tuesday to meet up with her since it's mostly the day I finish my shift early.
Trevor, some guy with who we always work together during internships most of the time did extra hours and I am sure he would help me out. He was a humble guy who gave me stories while we were on break and it would never be boring. Tuesday I always go from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. before I get ready for a lecture from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. This was the day to meet up with Ezze after I was done with everything. She picked me up and she had her own work space in a building just somewhere in town. She was really professional and really had invested a lot. For her to hire a space to do shoots and design her customers was a great move. She was very vivacious about it and I admired all that enthusiasm. She also did photography and all that resonated with the fashion thing.
Her office and the space were very beautiful. She was also a fan of art and had some effigies and sculptures in the corners of her office. The studio side was filled with lights and beautiful curtains. The whole space was divided into four parts. Her office, the studio, a secluded place where the sewing machines were and also somewhere she displayed some designs. I somehow felt like Rihanna, I had never thought of modeling and she has chosen me to act as her model. She is styling me for her occasion and I will represent her brand. I honestly felt delighted and excited. I am sure her studio was always busy and she made some great income out of it to also pay the rent for hiring the place since it didn't look like a cheap place.
She took her tape measure to get the fittings. She measured the height, length of my arms, shoulder to shoulder, I didn't know the names she gave. She had to measure my thigh, the breast or whatever name they gave it, and the hips. It started getting uncomfortable. There is always this air when we are around each other that I don't get to figure out well. One of her arms went to my back as she held one end of the tape measure and the other pulled it so it would come to a measurement she would read. It had to be a fitting size and so the tape measure was just so close. When she held the tape measure with both her hands so she could get the accurate reading there was contact with my breast. She was just two steps in front of me and we all looked into each other's eyes. She then released the tape measure and wrote down the measurement. There was a silence that I was afraid she could hear how fast my heartbeat was increasing.
I could see her trying to be professional, she took her tape measure, and both her hands held the tape measure and the tape measure was around my butt. She was trying to adjust it and it was going up and down my ass. I took a deep breath and let it all out. No one was speaking and I didn't have anything to say. It was just some minutes before I start sweating. She professionally let go of the tape measure did her recording. This was most awkward I'd thought she was done until she told me to widen my legs so she could take the measure for my thigh.
She had to bend a bit since she was quite taller than I was. I saw her stare at my ring and she went ahead and took the measure. I was glad she was done but again it's not like I wasn't glad. I was really uncomfortable and I really didn't know the reason behind it. After she was done I took a seat before my weak legs felt how heavy my body had begun to get.
"Need some water?" she said to me as she was studying the measurements she didn't even look at me.
She then looked at me and I nodded, she stood and put a glass on for me. What made her know I needed a glass of water? She served her too and then she started giving me two varieties she had in mind but she had to pick one. There is one she had given the name 'inferno' that would make me seem as if being on fire or another that she would make me an angel and give me some wings. I think the inferno one seemed to be more appealing. I gave her my opinion and she said she would give it a thought since she needed to start working on it as early as tomorrow. She also said her most votes were for the inferno too. How her makeup team would also do some creative makeup and then I would get a photoshoot session. Well, I feel like I will be a goddess except that I will be on fire. Her studio was already beautiful and I was already wishing that photoshoot would take place now.
The water seemed to cool me down and I was up taking a look at the art. I hadn't really surveyed the whole place I was just peeping from the office side. I went into the studio and I found a portrait of her mounted on the wall and I felt like I was in a museum. It seems to be somewhat a Gala. She had a silky shirt, the first three buttons were unbuttoned, yes the Maritim way. White long-sleeved silk shirt and a black tuxedo that seemed to have glitters, especially on the blazer, and I was unable to let my eyes off that beautiful portrait. She also seemed to be on a red carpet. There were two more and the one I saw first had taken all my attention. She had some magazines that were all about photography and fashion. Her dedication and passion were rewarding and if they weren't fully rewarding they soon will.
"Looks like you can't take off your eyes from that amazing person from that wall. It's the same person standing behind you," she said jokingly and I stared at it for a few minutes before turning around.
"Where was that one taken?" I said pointing at the most outstanding portrait in the room.
"That was an event I was invited by a certain designer called Ted Walker. He was launching his new designs and also holding a party for his friends and family to come and celebrate with him. Well, I know you want to ask how I knew him. I have been so passionate about all this and I always worked my ass off to create great designs and showcase them on my Pinterest and blog. It started with me being recognized by other bloggers. They would write about me and slowly I have begun getting a bigger audience until I got a chance to style some models for a certain agency. I don't know how but Ted Walker eventually came to know me and he has supported and encouraged me to now. He is a mentor too and he also gives me great opportunities too. Had I accepted his offer to work for his brand I would be far now but I wanted and have always wanted to be independent. He also says that if he slips my new and upcoming brand might impose a great competition. I saw so many designers who I always wanted to meet and even though I never spoke to most of them I felt so happy. That is just the story summarized about that portrait." she says as she takes the last sip of her water.
I found a sketch of the design and I thought better and drew a better sketch and she was happy and was joking about hiring me to work with her. I laughed and she was still looking at it. "Oh, my word! I knew you were just but perfect for it. If only I could afford you here." she let out a laugh and I was left wondering how much it is that I am worth. "But I can afford to take you for dinner for really helping me out and accepting the offer." She was now seated on the customer chair and I was on her desk.
I was so tired and wouldn't go out like this. Her smile is always so handsome and I really like it when she does. She insists on taking me home and that she is going to wait until I am ready. I really tell her that there is no need since I didn't give her the rest of the money that it will equal out. She wasn't taking 'No' for an answer and so I agreed. She drives smoothly and even though she does speed up sometimes she does it with ease and seems to be so used to driving for some time. She is talkative and she tells me of other designers she has met and Gala's she has attended that she never thought of.
Knowing her story, where she has come from, and what she has done to be there is a very encouraging one. I love her spirit so much. We arrive and it is around 6:30 pm so I will shower and later on come home to rest. No cooking for today huh. I wasn't taking much time, just showering and wearing some clothes. Okay, Ezze was always dressed up and I wouldn't go with her just looking homeless. Was this a date, an impromptu? I realized that it was a date when I found the urge to dress well. I wore Maritim's cologne a bit of it though and mixed it up with mine since the other was more of men's cologne. I wore some earrings that really matched up with my ring. I had to feel Maritim's cologne so that I wouldn't get any temptations should anything happen.
She was on her phone all the time and she had some music keeping her company. I bet she has so many girls in her dm just as her gallery. She had a great playlist and I found myself dancing on my way out of my bedroom.
"We could also remain here and dance together. I got some moves and I can see you get them too." She puts her phone down and is now looking at me from top to bottom. One of her hands is on her chin and she is rubbing it as she licks her lips and smiles. "If only all these were mine? Heh! Anyway I know I can keep dreaming about dancing with you and since I have the chance to go out with you alone tonight I won't miss it.
I thought so too. Her words might either mess all this and I will end up chasing her away or I fall into her words which would've been a miracle. Some of her romantic moves remind me so much of Mar.
It was already fifteen minutes past 7 now. I had tried to not use up a lot of money. We headed out and I don't know where she was driving to and I really never knew much about this place so I sit back and wait. It was a small cute café that was placed in between a mall. There are so many beautiful places waiting for me to visit.
"I hope you like the place we can go to another if you don't like it," she asks as she hesitates to grab a seat and I love the place so we can't look for another one. She pulls my chair for me and once I am seated she takes her seat and she goes ahead and sits. I am trying to act normal and it is so hard when she is just in front of me. What are we going to talk about all the time we will be here, I didn't think of that. She never lacks anything to say anything but at times her choice is always pissing me off.
The menu is brought and I don't really know what to get since I don't even know what is written. She promises that I will love whatever she will order for me and I choose to put my trust in her. It doesn't take too long, since we had already started judging people's outfits and how they ought and ought not to have dressed. It even came to my concern after we were served that there was a bunch of girls at a certain table that was staring at us and mostly at Ezze. I chose to ignore them and took a bite of my food. Okay, Ezze really was really getting to know what I liked and she judged correctly. She was so happy and kept insisting that she is usually right most of the time. We talked about where she is from and her home. Gave a bit of her life when she came to Greece for the first time and lies about how everyone would know that she was a freshman.
These guys have been friends with Devon, Bart, and Derek for some time now. Living with a group of friends who are really family was a great thing. It sounds much better than staying alone. I mention to her that I might get a dog and she doesn't like dogs but tells me that she knows where she can get one. Her phone is ringing and she hangs up the first time and then it rings again. This time around she picks it, "Hello babe, I am in a business meeting you know I have a great occasion soon so I was designing and I got one client that I had to meet up with. I am just on my way out actually." she lies. Okay, half of that is the truth the others are just lies. Her plate is nowhere halfway. I want to shut up and mind my business but I find it so hard to.
"That's Chloe, right? Why do you do such things to her though? It's not right at all. These three statements might end up ruining this dinner and I realized that after I have said them.
"Well, it's true that I am in a business meeting right? We were just a few hours ago and we are just eating then we will be on our way out right?" she says calmly so that none of us ruins this. I nod and I go ahead and finish my plate. A notification pops up and it is Maritim. Should I tell him I am on a date or I wait till I get home and tell him that I was cooking? I am still holding my phone debating on those two choices.
"Why don't you also try not to lie? Huh!" Ezze goes ahead as she stares at me. I turn off my phone and look into her eyes and say to her "Okay why don't we all put the phones aside and not get into personal matters?"
"I thought so too" she replies still keeping eye contact with me and I can't keep up. "What drink do you want or I am the one making all the choices tonight?
As always I need a milkshake that I can get to take away. She calls the waitress and she orders so food to take away and I know she is taking some food to Chloe. This is where I fully mind my business.
"I believe y'all have heard that today we have an offer for movie dates. A couple like you get to pay just 10 dollars for dining with us and being the lucky table after the spin." the waitress tells us.
Did I hear her say a couple? Neither I nor Ezze corrects her and then the waitress asks if we want to waste such a chance. I'd just be at the movies last weekend and I wished I had someone to watch with it does add more fun.
"If luck chose to be on our side then we will move to its side" Ezze replies to her. She gives a ticket and shows the way. I still hadn't said no all this time. Ezze was happy about going to watch a movie and she kept saying she has never been to one. This is the only thing I have heard say that she hasn't done and I tell her that it is very fun, specifically from 5D onwards. It felt so real and it's like you are in the moment. We passed the girls who were staring at Ezze and they still kept staring until she had to wave at them. They all smiled and Ezze held my hand as we walked.
The movie was already chosen and we found they were ten minutes into it. We sat in the middle and there weren't as many people here. I am still thinking if Ezze was lying saying that she didn't even go to the movies so we could go with him or she was serious. She kept insisting she wasn't a fan of watching and I just told her to sit still and relax.
It was an animation and one was seeing that lion just a millimeter in front of your face. I was holding Ezze's hand. Animations are usually sweet most times, and I was lying on Ezze's shoulder as we watched and she cuddled me all the way through the movie. I didn't find myself stopping here and that's a wrong thing I guess. The movie ended and I really had a great evening.
"Will there be enough for you tonight? I know it's already cold but you will warm it once you are home," she says. I thought it was Chloe's, I didn't say that out loud this time but I took the food and hugged her as a way of saying thank you. "Actually no let's ask them to bring some more then I will go with this home." at least she thought of her.
We were the only ones left in the auditorium and it felt so great. Being at the center and when I looked at her lips I felt like kissing her. Okay, I must be tripping, "We should now get going". I say as I stood up.
She followed suit and said nothing. I can see her trying to respect me a lot. She told the waiter about the order and in twenty minutes she had brought the food and we left.
"Thank you for the evening, it was a great one. It's been a while since I had this much fun. Maybe Saturday I will be done with the design so you can try it. I love being ready earlier in case of anything."
"I am grateful too, it's been a great evening. It's okay, you will just inform me." I reassure her. At this time there aren't as many vehicles on the road and we get to my place around 10:30 p.m. There isn't a curfew here and that makes it better and doesn't restrict me.
I didn't hug her his time, I just told her bye and I got off the car. She lowered my car seat's window so she could see me leave until I was already inside the gate. She then went ahead and said she will leave when I get into my house and send her the text. I took the elevator and I was home. I did text her and I think now she left. I would see the other side of the road while I was in my house.
I now get to read Maritim's text and say, 'I was cooking then I dozed off. I am seeing the text right now and I didn't hear the notification.' He is still online and he replies and says it's fine. I inquire about his day and his activities and he explains in detail every activity. He says the sales are increasing and he might even come the weekend before the date he had said. I can't wait to see him. I now tell him that I have to sleep, at least I gave him some minutes before I retired to bed. I had one chicken wing and I went to bed. Ezze's text popped up and she informed me she was home too. I then said goodnight to her and I retired to bed.
It dawns on me this morning that Maritim will come on the same weekend that Ezze's occasion was happening. I will just ask Ezze to add a ticket for him. He will actually get to enjoy Greece and see my friends too for the week he will be here. I am already searching for some places we can visit. My week is always busy and I know that weekend will arrive so quickly.
The week is over and it is time to try on the designs. Oh, my word! There is some splendid work here and I can't believe that this is me. She is amazing at what she does, the problem is that I have never walled on a carpet before. That's where the problem would come in, maybe I make the perfect fit for it but my shyness might make her lose some good marks so we had to discuss it. She encourages me and says that I am a very confident girl and that she sees it in my eyes. I was so skeptical about it but I promise her that I will do my best. She has her full confidence in me and I can see in her eyes that she has no doubt that I will do my best. I ask her if I can bring a friend over to have more company and she agrees to it. Of course, she has invited Derek, Dev, and Bart. Maritim does confirm that he will book a ticket for Thursday night and arrive on Friday of course.
I told Mar about the event, it was somewhat a Gala. At least he would be there to see me walk on that carpet. Maybe I make a great model, but I wouldn't change my course. There was an after-party and the event would run till midnight I guess. In my internship, one would ask for a week off at least once a month and I have never taken one. It was such a great time. I will enjoy most of the day with Mar after my two hours class since the missing class was going to be hard.
The days were now moving sow when I knew Mar would be here in three days' time. I made everything tidy and I needed to get more shopping but I will do that with him. With Mar the simplest things we do really make me so happy and matter a lot. Friday was such a great day, I went to the airport to pick him. I had to be at Ezze's studio at around 5 evenings, it was about 8 a.m. and we would have some great time today. Mar asked who the designer was and when I assured him it was a girl he was chill.
His flight was to alight at 8:30 a.m and I was there early enough, my anxiety didn't make me sleep the whole night. Besides me is a man, looks like a dad, he might be waiting for his daughter. I remember my dad and family and I miss them already. There is a possibility I might go back with Mar back home. But we agreed with my parents that I will try and be a strong girl. After my exams, I would go home for a week that was agreed but that's three months from now. How will I survive?
I see a silk shirt and that's my baby obviously. I don't know the last time I ran, but I ran to him and I hopped on him. He was smelling all nice and he was so happy. We hugged for a minute and I was already crying. I couldn't wait to see him all this time. He had a bag and an extra one too I hadn't seen.
"Does Greece add more beauty? Then I will get more handsome by the time I go back home." he tries to make me smile as he wipes my tears. We take a cab home and I don't want to let go of his hand. He is growing big and his chest keeps broadening. He told me he does some homework out at times since some gym hadn't reopened yet and once they did he also got so busy. We got home and he is so wowed with the place. It's more like my room, just wider and has more beautiful things in it. I take his bags to the bedroom and he asks me to put leave one. He did have a gift for me. He goes ahead and gets a gift box out and it is wrapped with a red ribbon. There are some scented candles for my meditation, two books, some chocolate bars, and a jar filled with so many notes in them.
I actually had no candles and I always forgot to buy them anytime I went shopping. I jumped on him and gave him so many kisses. He grabbed me and carried me to the bedroom. He was already tickling me and he went back to close the door. I had missed these lips so much, and this body on me. Everything was happening in slow motion and I was really in anticipation. He kissed me on my neck all the way down. His finger was caressing my whole body and I just needed him to finger me first. I remove his jeans and he helps me out by removing his boxers. He had grabbed a condom from his bag earlier while closing the door. His hair has grown so long and his beard has maintained the same size but it seemed to receive some special treatment.
This time we had some slow foreplay since we didn't have to hurry up. Minutes later, his big body was on mine and my nails were on his back and I am sure I scratched him. I missed this a lot and he just had a really slow rhythm and kept up a good pace. Our bodies had great cravings and that's why we had this whole week. It was so really relieving that I didn't want to wake up from the bed. Maritim had a long fight and he needed to rest a bit. We lay on the bed and I was on his chest playing with his beard.
I think I heard a knock on the door but I didn't want to wake up. No one has ever knocked on my door except the janitor and it was only on my first day. I felt Mar wake up trying to put me slow down and he went to open the door. Oh, my word! What time is it? I check for my phone and it is in the living room. I grab my robe and I follow Mar. I find him shirtless and had a towel wrapped around his waist. I then hear Ezze's voice, "Woah! Where is Everett?" she asks Maritim.
There were several missed calls from her and I go and open the door.
"Sorry, I fell asleep and it has been a long day too. I left my phone in the living room when I went to the bedroom and I never had it ring. But I will shower and in thirty minutes we will be in your studio." I explain to her.
Maritim is still staring at her and I tell him that this is the designer and there is a way he looks at her. He says no word to her but keeps staring at her. I am sure Ezze understood what was going on here.
"Okay, I can wait for you, the makeup team is ready and you need to shoot a couple of photos before you show up on the carpet," Ezze says still with that face of frustration.
Maritim doesn't get out of the way and I just pull him slowly from the door. I know he looks at her like that since he raised she is a stud. I heard him asking her several times who she is and what she wants.
We went to the bedroom and he was still asking how I got to know her and I promised to tell him later. We go to the shower together and I Ezze wakes from the couch and says "Actually I will wait for you in the car, take not much time you will finish up after the show. And then he won't be going directly to the studio but will be taken to the event and wait for you there." She walks out.
It was the first time we showered together and if we weren't hurrying up we would have this moment last forever. I begin regretting why I even took up this offer. It was so hard to back down now since I was the model, if I was just attending of course I would fail to show up.
We are done, and we didn't take much time. We have several days and the whole house for ourselves with no interruptions. Ezze doesn't even say a word and she just drives. Is she pissed off because I didn't pick her calls or is there some other reason? I just don't get it and I also can't work with her like this. I have had a marvelous day and her attitude will just make me so gloomy.
She dropped off Maritim and I even wonder how he will stay in a place he knows no one and doesn't know where to go. He can't even go back to my place since he doesn't know the place. The event hasn't begun yet, people are waiting outside in villas. He had a jacket on so he could be warm at least. I call Bart and he is there actually so I tell him to stick around with him so he doesn't get bored.
"Your boyfriend flew all the way to see you?" Ezze goes.
"Yes, he did" what else would I say.
"You would have told me earlier I would have picked someone else," she says as she gets to the parking lot.
"He was to visit the next weekend but plans and anyway where is the problem in him coming on the same weekend? You can get Chloe to actually do the showcasing for you, I don't want to be a part of it anymore. We have the same body size and I am sure she will do it perfectly since she isn't such a shy one. Besides she loves you, she can do anything for you." I am so pissed of right now I don't know how I will walk on that carpet so infuriated.
"You can't do this to me? Not right now!" she starts changing her tone.
"Neither can you talk to me like that", I say back to her.
She begs me to stay and I know failing her right now will cause her to fail and might make some promising designers forget her. I might be ruining her career. So I choose to go ahead and finish this since I chose to participate in it.
She comes and opens the door for me and reaches for my arm. I decline it and she says it's just tonight that she gets to hold it. She will also hold it as we walk in together on the carpet. So I ease up and let her do it anyway. I wasn't that late but hadn't she come to my place I am not sure we would be awake right now.
There was some dark skin guy and a lady and I bet they were the ones doing the make-up. Ezze was behind the lens. So many lights were on me and it seemed like Ezze was recording the whole time even as the make-up was going on. The guy was so funny and he boosted my mood. He was doing the make-up and the girl was doing my hair. I have been wearing heels so that wasn't a thing I would be scared of. In about an hour we were all set and now it was the photo session. They couldn't stop telling me how amazing I looked. I went to the shooting section and there was a white canvas in the background they still had some light on me and I felt like a celebrity right now. Ezze was aiming for the best angles since she needed perfect photos. After several poses and photos, we had finished that session. Of course, for all the poses I was told what to do since I have never done this. It is now 6:00 p.m. I text Maritim and he says they are now queuing to go in. I won't have my phone while I go in so I ensure he is in before we start going into the runway. I needed to see him and hug him so that I would feel confident.
It was a 10 minutes drive to the venue and so Ezze also had to dress up. She was the designer and so she had to look at the part. My outfit was a mix of black and orange. There were some flames on different parts of the dress. My make-up had some glowing right on my neck and eyes. She had an amazing idea and the whole makeup that went all the way to my neck resonated with the clothes I was wearing. On top of that, they made a crown that seemed like a fan. I was to walk on the runway fanning myself since I was on fire and I needed to cool a bit before setting the runway on fire. I was taught where to turn and how to turn. It wasn't such a professional event, the creative ideas were all that mattered here. She showed me a picture of the stage and where some designers who are the judges will be seated. I familiarized myself with it and the screens too. So before the model gets to the runway they would display a photo of him or her. I got Bart's text telling me that I got the potential and that I can do so well. He said he had also been there once and he performed better than he thought he would. He gave me tips on what to do and what not.
Ezze was out and she was dazzling. A tie-dye suit of black and orange. It somehow matched with what I was wearing. She had some shades on that made everything spectacular. Her shoes were black with a shade of blue. They were some official black shoes with a shiny surface. She had a white cotton shirt that she of course didn't button the first three buttons. I would smell her cologne five steps away from her. I was to walk in with her to the stage and then she would stand at a particular point. I would then walk all the way as she waits for me some steps just after the entrance. I had mastered all the instructions and I wasn't fully ready but I wanted to get it all done.
Her phone rings and she picks it. "She whispers to me what's your boyfriend's name?" she asks as she pulls the phone away from her ears. "Don't grant him access I want this show to be a success with no drama I overhear her," she says as if I haven't heard her.
"I grab the phone from her before she hangs up and tell the bouncers or however they were to let him in, else I won't walk to that stage. She snatches the phone and tells them to let him in. I go ahead and text Maritim, I would agree to go to the event only after I was assured that he was in.
Ezze is really on my nerves tonight and I can't wait to finish all this drama. She drove to the event, the make-up team was in the back seat and I didn't say a word to her. We met a couple of designers and their models everyone was ready and we had some coffee or whatever we wished to have to reduce the anxiety. Ezze came and sat by my side on the coffee table and held my hand looked me in the eyes and said, "I am sorry for my attitude today, I am just so nervous and jealous. But I just want a peaceful and wonderful evening. That's all I want from now on till the end of the event. And a beautiful smile too." She rubs my palm smoothly and I nod in agreement to a peaceful evening.
I just take a few sips since I might start rushing to the bathroom almost when I am on stage. We were given number tags and I was the fifth one. Every one of these models was just gorgeous. Almost everyone had a tag, either a number or their name. Ted walker, I one approach us, "I knew I wasn't wrong, the most outstanding design must be related to Ezze." He whispered to us. "Hey, gorgeous where did Ezze find you, if she began with you she would be so far right now, I am not saying she is behind but you will see for yourself tonight," he adds a compliment and I am already in that smile Ezze was wishing to see. "Oh! Make sure you don't let go of her hand, I am sure many will want to grab her on your way out this Gala."
"All that is in check Ted, thanks for everything." Ezze gratifies him as he goes ahead saying hi to the others.
I take a deep breath and l release it with all the doubt in my body. There was a lobby where the designers and models would stay as there was entertainment for the audience and for us too. It was to cheer us up and there was a band invited to play. I didn't know people had so much fun backstage, some were dancing to release the anxiety. For sure I was less nervous. The band had some melodious songs and the fact that they did some Lauv Covers made me so happy. They would also put some music while models were on the runway at least I wouldn't hear my heartbeat so loud that it would make me panic.
The host of the show went ahead and began the Gala officially, that stage was so huge. Ezze stood by me as we were asked to line up and she did that side hug and rubbed my hand. I looked at her and smiled. She went ahead and gave me her hand and I was to intertwine my elbow in hers. I was the fifth at least I wasn't opening the stage. I didn't have that much confidence. I don't know how fast my turn reached but I heard the host of the show "Next is number 5 and that is Everett Valerie, by the designer Ezze Daniels" even before we walked to the entrance I heard the audience applauding. My smile broadened and walking in I saw my photo on the screen, I had more zest and we walked in five steps, we stopped and made a turn with Ezze then she let go of my hand and I walked towards the crowd and the judges. It came naturally I didn't find myself counting the steps as I did while I was practicing.
The audience didn't stop screaming and I felt my smile broadening. I was walking back to Ezze and I was so glad that I was done. Ezze waited for me with her hand ready for mine and now we had to go ahead with her another round. This one was quite easy with her by my side. We did part at the middle of the runway went to different sides of the stage and turned for the judges to have a greater look at us. We then walked back backstage the audience still applauding.
The host goes ahead and clears his voice, "Looks like the stage has now been set on fire". Next on stage is number 6…" I didn't hear anything else from there I was so glad that I was done with the part. I was excited and I hugged Ezze and she squeezed me as she made two spins. In the last round, we would all go in and align ourselves respectively. There were 5 judges, two are celebrities I am unable to recall their names. I was a debutante and I started considering doing this more often, even though it meant just to be on the audience.
I went back to the lobby and Mar had sent a text congratulating me. He didn't forget to mention the part where we walked with Ezze. He says he wishes he was the one who walked in with me. he always gasses me up.
After all the designs were showcased, there was some more entertainment as the judges made their judgments. This was the part where I now felt my feet get feeble. They played several songs and I interacted with other models. I didn't ever search or come across models so I would even know those who are well known. Some guy who walked in as first asked how many times I have done this modeling and why he has never seen me before. I gave him the shocking news that it was my first time and he couldn't believe it. He started adding more compliments of how I can beat so many in the industry at the moment if I consider doing it often.
There was wine, cocktails, alcohol, and a lot of food for us back here. I just needed a sider since I was hungry. After about twenty minutes they started running the clip of us walking in as they wait for the judges to be back from their break. I wanted to see how I did, the audience has been applauding but I noticed how the applause increased after I walked in. There was a lady who sat in the farthest seat as a judge and her reaction was captured when we walked in. Her mouth was open from my entrance. I wanted to stare at myself more but of course, everyone wanted to see themselves. Finally, the judges came in and we asked to go back to the stage. My make-up team ensured my hair was fine and she ran a brush on my face and ensured all the features were in check. We walked in and lined up from the first to the tenth. It was the time to award the best and most outstanding designs. The winning team would get to stand a photoshoot for Ted Walker and the one other judge's brand.
Kathleen Everdeen, one of the judges was to announce who were the second runners up. She had a soft voice and she went ahead and gave comments on how they awarded. "We are awarding according to applauses, how you design wowed us and the crowd too. The outstanding design and the one that made us not want you to leave the stage and we always insist on who you choose to represent you. Your model must be the best fit for your design you have to take professional models." my heart almost skipped a bit on her last comment. "All that said and done the second runners up is the design by Garry Banks. His model was the guy who spoke to me backstage. They made a step forward. Ted Walker was the one announcing the First runners up, he doesn't say much but goes out and calls the name, "Hemmings Sean". His model was a lady who was so perfect in her turns and steps. I really felt weak and Ezze held me tighter and whispered it's going to be okay just relax.
The host takes it from there and says that the winner will be announced by the special guest of the night. It was the winner of the last Gala that took place last year. He was welcomed to the stage and he had an envelope in his hand. He opened it and said "Looking at the name on this envelope, I really agree with the judges that this person deserves this award I am sure the crowd will agree to it too. So are you ready to know who the winner is?" he shouts and then takes the microphone away from him towards the audience. "Yes, we are?" the audience answers him back.
"Okay, okay, so the winner is Ezze Daniels," he says as he welcomes us to the stage. The audience wouldn't stop applauding and I felt tears in my eyes but I forced them back in. They would ruin my makeup at this important time. The judges stood up and they were all clapping and I was so happy. I am nowhere close to being professional but we nailed it.
Ezze was given the microphone to give her speech, "I am so grateful for this award, I have been in the runners-up for a while and today when I didn't hear my name in the runners up I almost panicked. My model has done the most part and I want to thank her in front of all of you. It was a risk I took this time and I am glad it worked. There is more in stock for you so just know that I won't disappoint you. Once again I am very grateful." her voice is almost breaking and she gives back the microphone.
I have never spoken in an audience and this wasn't my victory either so I dodge the microphone. I am just happy for her, I did my part in supporting her and I am sure this moment will kick start her career so well.