Photoshoot

A continuous flash of the camera, busy surroundings, and different conversations welcome all of them as soon as they enter the huge elegant studio. There are many high-class cameras for photography, indoor studio lights, photography backdrops, softboxes and reflectors, tripods and other accessories, photography props, and computers and printers. Kinrue's jaw drop as the models she only saw in a magazine or an online platform walked passed by them—get ready for their turn. Even the famous photographers and designers are there and stand beside the fat old man with a beard on his face who sits in front of the monitor.

"Molly, you came. How are you, dear?" A tall, slender man wearing a navy blue suit and white pants strides in their direction.

"Max, it's been a while." The man kisses her cheek as a sign of greeting.

"You're beautiful as ever. You should try to model my next designs. It will suit you." He laughs, so does Molly too.

"Those people whom I told you before, they'll be running late for an hour maybe, but I've brought some of my people to help here." Molly utter. "I brought a substitute couple for your autumn-themed teen couple photo shoot. Both Emma and Ken can't make it on time. I'll feel sorry if I didn't bring a substitute, but anyway, use them however you like."

Molly turns her gaze to both of them with a devilish smile. They both wince and look away. Even without saying it, she knows Molly insists on delivering a bad omen for them. Her instinct tells her to run away, but the men-in-black are guarding the entrance.

"Who are they?" Max asked while taking a step towards them.

"He's my brother and an adorable part-timer."

Max stops in front of Raven and lifts his chin, turning his face left and right as if checking every nook and crook of it. "A handsome and flawless face, your genes are a genuine gift from god." He gives a simple smile before turning to Kinrue's side.

"A small woman with a nerd look? Molly, your taste is weird. Anyway, what's your relationship like? Friends? Classmates? Schoolmates or strangers?" He asked, but neither of the two answered.

"A lover." Molly blurted out.

The moment Kinrue heard the word lover, she wants to protest and reason with them, but Molly keeps giving her a warm look. One wrong move, both of them will end up in hell road.

"It's better. It's a couple-themed photo shoot so get ready. Bernie comes here and leads these two into the change room. Make them beautiful." He called for a woman in her 20s.

"Yes sir, please follow me."

The woman named Bernie guide them to the changing room. Compared to those people outside, there are only a few staff here. There's a make-up artist, hair stylist, and some who assist them. At the far end, you can see the variety types of clothes hanging. Bernie talks to one of them and seems to be the head of staff. She nods her head multiple times while giving a look from head to toe on both of them. After a few seconds, she called two staff and whisper something before they walked toward the two—drag them inside the small portable changing room divider. Kinrue looks confused when the woman removes her eyeglass. Out of instinct, she stops both women's hands.

"W-what are you doing?" She asked.

"You need to change clothes,"

"I-I... I can change on my own so, you can wait outside."

The woman looks at her in doubt. In the end, she walks outside. She closes the curtain and looks at the outfit she's about to wear. It's a black fitted long sleeve and dirty white high waist pleated knee-length skirt. Before they came into the studio, Molly told them to take a bath to get rid of the coffee smell. Now they are here. She understands why Molly insists and warns them many times. It's for their good sake. She let out a sigh and squat down, thinking deep what she needs to do. Instead of escaping, she'll end this fast and go home.

***

"Move closer to each other. Can't you do it right? How many takes do we need to do before you realize it's a teen couple photo shoot? Smile, give each other an affectionate look." The director said in frustration, face palming himself.

The atmosphere since they start the photo shoot looks terrible. It's their 5th change of clothes and all directors do is scold them from the start until now. Both of them wear a silk couple of red velvet color pajamas. Kinrue tied her hair in a messy bun while Raven's hair is in a stylish mess. They stand next to each other.

"Let's take another shot, show some skinship. Hold each other hand and give some natural pose." He commands them.

A sudden bolt runs down to their body when their hands brush on each other. They give a death glare when their eyes met before looking away.

"Excuse me, director, may I talk to them?" Molly steps forward to garner some attention.

"Sure. Talk to them and give some proper advice. I can't believe how stubborn teens are nowadays."

Molly walk in their direction with a mischievous smile that made the two flinch. She stops in between and taps their shoulder—squeezes it tight. "Kiddos, if you won't do it right... I'll make sure you'll serve me for the rest of your life. It's fine for me though, a lifetime slave is not bad." She smiles at them from ear to ear. "Will you do it right, or let's stop from here?"

"B-Boss... Can't you stop giving that sly smile? It looks like you have the worst plan."

"Answer me or I'll take it a no."

"Tsk. You're good at blackmailing other people, Molly." Raven hisses. "Fine, I'll do it right."

"Good. I'll watch until the end so, do a better job."

Molly turns her back to them, going back to the director's position. She whispers something to him. It made him nod his head before giving a sign to the staff who's in charge of set props. Raven and Kinrue look bemuse at what's going on in the set. They prepare something and turn the place into a busy one again. Amidst the ruckus, they saw two men who wears a cap bringing a sofa and putting it behind them. Those people assigned in lighting and reflector adjust the equipment as per director orders.

"Okay, let's start the shoot. Both of you sit on the sofa, close to each other. The man will wrap his right arm around the woman's shoulder while the woman will lean her head to the man's chest. Give us a natural genuine smile." The director's command made them speechless, just imagining the pose they were supposed to do.

Raven is the first one to sit on the sofa with a heavy step. She follows and sits next to him, still a distance from him. Both gazes turn to where Molly stands. She gives them a sign to move closer. It's when an awkward smile escapes from Kinrue's lips while moving closer.

"Be natural and move closer, closer..." The director signs them to move closer than they are now.

In a surprise, Raven wraps his arm around her shoulder, and pulls her closer to him. She lifts her gaze and gives him a death glare. However, he squeezes her shoulder tight—gives her a forced smile.

"Give a natural smile than a forced one and lean on his chest, Miss." Her eyes widened when he push her head to lean on his chest.

"What are you doing?" She whispers to Raven with a clenched fist.

"Can't you just act for a short while? Let's finish this embarrassing photo shoot." He glares back at her.

"Tsk. I'll kill you after this,"

She heaves a sigh before wrapping her arms around his waist, which made the other staff who are on a standby gasp. They heard a giggle and whisper around the area. However, she immense herself from acting and closes both eyes, giving a genuine smile while Raven caresses her hair with the same smile.

"Great, that's what I've been saying all this time. I like the vibes right now."

A continuous flash of lights from the camera echoes inside. They take it from a different angle and do a different pose with a lot of skinship. Both of them immense themselves in these petty acts to finish it as soon as possible.

"Perfect. I like every pose and angle. The other models are already here so, let's head to the last part."

"L-last part?" Raven asked in shock.

"I-I thought this is the last?" Kinrue protested, but two of the stylist came to drag them inside the changing room again.

There they saw a couple of attire that arrive earlier while on their shoot. It looks elegant, but a complicated theme for the teen couple. A champagne color long mesh sequin banquet temperament, long sleeve evening gown, and a two-piece ivory man's suit. From any angle, this couple's clothes they're about to wear resemble a couple's wedding attire rather than a normal teen couple.

"I'm not wearing it!" Raven and Kinrue protest in full of disgust. They are about to leave the changing room, but the door is open. Molly and Max enter with a smile on their face.

"Where are the both of you going? Don't tell me you want to run away now? You're doing a great job to emphasize the theme." Molly said.

"This is my newest design and not even out in the market, so use it well," Max added.

"Put it on, or else you want to run away?"

They hiss and turn back to wear the designated clothes even if they're against it. Molly's blackmail works on them. She's not even trying to joke around. She'll make them her a lifetime slave and it's worse than this photo shoot.