Back In Country X

"One, two, three, Cha!" August counted in his head before striking a pose.

Crossing his arms, he turned his head to the side, bringing his left profile into the light as he sat on the long stool, legs crossed.

Click!

"Buena! Buena calidad!" the photographer yelled out in excitement then yelled out, "¡Muestrame tu mejor lado!"

August quickly darted his eyes to his secretary's pad opposite him and beside the crew to see what the photographer was saying. 'Show me your best side,' it read.

August looked back to the camera, untangling his legs. "One, two, three, Cha!" he recited, pushing his head forward and flipping his hair back dramatically.

Click!

"¡Se sexy!"

August didn't need a translation to know what it meant. Even though he didn't understand Spanish at all, he had Spanish fans online who called him SEXY whenever he was on live video.

"One, two, three, Cha!"

He unbuttoned the first three buttons of his shirt, widening it, then wrapped his hand around his neck like a sultry strangler. He threw his head back, sticking out his tongue to the left side of his lips, looking all ready to lick something.

Click!

"¡Vogue, papi, vogue!" came the photographer's hurried and enthusiastic beckon.

'Vogue, daddy, vogue.'

He didn't feel bad about being rushed to perfection; it only meant the photographer liked his style and the view he showcased as a whole.

This photographer was Ric Pierre, the country's most sought-after talent even though he wasn't from this country. It was an honor for August to be pleasing him with his poses.

"One, two, three, Cha!"

August rested his head on his left hand, which stood firm on his knee, bending over. He stuck a finger from that hand into his mouth, squinting his eyes to purposefully paint the daddy picture vividly.

Click!

"¡Oi! ¡Muéstrame tus mejores atributos, Papi!" the photographer yelled, captivated.

'Show me your best assets, daddy!'

"One, two, three, Cha!" He lifted up his hip like he was barely sitting on the stool, the tips of his shiny brogues barely kissing the ground. He laid his upper body back, holding the edge of the stool front so as not to fall.

With his full upper chest open to the camera, he gave off the underlying message: 'Come have this Daddy!'

Click!

Click!!

Click!!!

"¡Buena vista! Este modelo es una creación divina, un regalo para los ojos."

Finally, it was all over. "Hww!" August sighed, glancing over at the pad.

'This model is a divine creation, a gift for the eyes.' The pad read a translation of what Ric, the photographer, had just said. August was delighted, but it didn't show on his face or body language. His mood was sore.

He sluggishly turned back to pick up his white Versace jacket when he felt someone wrap a cloth around his waist.

"I've got you, Papi."

August stood upright, only to meet face-to-face with a pink-haired, lean fellow who winked at him.

"Who are you?" August asked, his tone coming out protectively gruff. He hated close contact to the core, more so wrapping a cloth around his waist without permission. Rude.

The pink-haired guy inched closer, taking something out of his pocket. "I'm Day, and here, have this."

With that, Day turned back and walked away.

Compared to August, this guy was lean, and August could easily catch him and give him a good beating. But seeing what the guy had placed in his hand… a sanitary pad!

August: "!!!"

He quickly looked around; no one's eyes were on him, so no one saw. 'Thank God.'

But then, realizing something, he was stained at the back. His period had come out on a bloody wrong day!

"Mr. August, are you okay?"

August quickly hid the sanitary pad behind his back. It was his rental secretary. "Uh, yeah. Just a little tired."

The secretary leaned in, lowering her voice. "Ric thinks you're amazing. He wants to book you for another shoot next week. And, oh, a big artist idol here for a visit had ordered a free hot tea for you."

August forced a smile. "Great, that's... great." Why did it seem like he knew who ordered the tea?! Day?!

As the crew began packing up, August noticed Day lingering near the exit, winking at him.

'What's his deal?' August thought, feeling both grateful and embarrassed.

Despite being back in this ruthless country he had forsaken four years ago, he just met someone (Day) who didn't consider him a taboo for being a muscular man yet having a vagina that bleeds from time to time!

The secretary glanced over at him and said, "Your car is just outside, sir."

August nodded, taking a final sip from the free hot tea before returning the cup to her.

As they reached the white jeep car in front, seeing the woman sitting in the driver's seat made a smile creep across his face as he recognized her immediately.

It was Celine, his friend. Someone who stuck her hand inside of his hole four years ago to pull out his son. He couldn't afford the hospital even then!

Celine met August's gaze, then casually looked over at the secretary. Without a word, she tapped on her phone, her fingers dancing across the screen with practiced ease. "I've transferred the money to your account. You can go now and find another job."

The secretary blinked, "Nice working with you, sir." She hesitated for a second before walking away, leaving August standing by the car.

With a sigh, August opened the car door and slid inside the back seat.

No sooner had he sat down than he felt small, tiny hands wrap around him in a warm hug. He smiled, patting the child's head. "How are you, Little Candy?" he asked softly.

The little boy snuggled closer.

The woman, Celine, who was watching the duo with a knowing smile teased. "You fired another secretary yet again."

"Yeah," August admitted, "I can't keep them for more than a week. You know why."

"Where to next?"

"Home," August replied, "I need to change. I'm all red."

She raised an eyebrow, amused. "Really? Funny enough, it's my time of the month too." She gave him a good look, admiring his looks. It took the grace of God for her not to fall for this intersexual man.

August rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips.

The car purred to life as Celine started the engine, pulling away from the curb.

Reed, still nestled against August's side, was already half-asleep, lulled by the gentle motion of the car and the comfort of his father's presence.

August glanced down at him. His earlier bad mood and frustration easily melted away as he looked at the handsome charmer boy who looked almost exactly as 'his past'.

It was moments like these that made everything else seem insignificant. Moments like watching his son fall asleep beside him.

"So, what's the plan for the rest of the day?" Celine asked, eyes focused on the road ahead.

August leaned back into the seat, feeling the weight of the day's events settle in his bones. "Honestly? Just survive until I can get home, sink into that tub, and forget the world exists for a while."

"I'm thinking of candles, the whole works. Gotta treat myself after dealing with... whatever today was."

She shot him a sideways glance, eyebrow raised. Though, she didn't even catch a glance of him because he was sitting right behind her. "Candles sound nice."

They drove in comfortable silence for a while, the city slowly giving way to quieter suburbs.

Reed stirred slightly in his sleep, mumbling something unintelligible before settling back down. Seeing that, August patted his head, saying, "Yeah, Daddy heard that."

Celine glanced at the rearview mirror, her expression softening as she watched the duo. She was definitely accustomed to this right from country Z.

Reed always spoke in his sleep, though barely spoke when awake. He was autistic and was easily taken to be dull but, when he was alone with his Dad, August, Reed was a whole new livelier version of himself.

So, even when he spoke in his sleep, his daddy accompanied him as well. Those two were besties for life.

"You're a good dad, you know."