Chapter 4: THREE MODELS IN ONE STAGE
"Ey, what's up?" She looked at me through the mirror while putting on her lenses.
"I really want to tell you something. I just can't keep it to myself anymore. It's bugging the hell out of me." I just can't do this to my bestfriend. She has been here through all the rollercoaster rides of my life. She needs to know this.
"About time. I know something's up. Even before I left here for New York, I could sense it. I can feel it", she then looked at me after putting her contacts. She walked out of the room, and I just followed her downstairs.
"What is it?", she asked as she fumbles through the stuffs on the fridge. I was just leaning on the counter.
"It's just that... I really want to tell you several times. I-I-I... I'm not dating Kent, and I'm pretty sure he's not into me. It's just fake dating for publicity, you know", there I finally let it out.
"Just that? I'm pretty sure there's something you're not telling me." Her eyes darted towards mine. How did she even know? I just can't tell her. I don't want to lose my bestfriend.
"Nothing. It's just that you know, what happened between the two of you in high school days," I answered, making noise as I play with my fingers on the counter.
"Why are you even telling this to me?" She got out her pitcher and walked through the cupboard to get a glass.
"Well, I know you're still into him. Even if you didn't say anything about it, about him. Come on, I know you two were perfect. Back in high school you two were the sweetest couple I have ever seen--" she cuts me off. The hell it is true. I was so jealous of them back then. I was wishing that I could find the right guy for me and have a relationship like theirs.
"Shut up. Stop taking the trip back to the memory lane. You are changing the subject. I know you are hiding something," she spat back.
"Remember the prom, you two were the perfect king and queen. And remember when---" I was fangirling over them, which made her more irritated.
"Enough, please. Lia, please stop." She didn't shout. She started walking towards the counter and dropped the things on the counter as she went closer, and then looked at me.
"I mean. What? What happened? What happened between the two of you? You never told me. You never told anyone the reason why you broke up." I was holding this question for too long. I just brought it up for the first time today. She closed her eyes and replied.
"I know you are curious about it for the past seven years. And thank you for understanding me. For respecting my privacy, for never asking anything about it. I just don't know why I can't tell it. It's not that big deal, but I just can't. I'm sorry. So please at least, tell why you are hiding something from me?" She opened her eyes to give me a sincere look. "I can really understand, if you don't want to tell me your secret but at least give me a reason why? I know you can let it out some time, eventually, just as the same as mine. I know we can finally let it out someday. But for now, please tell me your reason. We're bestfriends, right?" she added raising her eyebrows at me on the last part of her speech.
"It's just that... it's too complicated. I don't want to lose you. I'm scared of what will happen, if I let this secret out. I just love you too much to risk it all. I just can't. But I swear, it has nothing to do with our friendship. It's about my personal life, it's about myself." I'm just afraid to lose her.
"Okay, I understand," she just answered sympathetically.
"So ... are you ready for tonight? Are you ready to face him?" I asked changing the topic.
"You know, I've already done this. We have been face to face after the break up, and I always keep my walls up every time we get this close. I can do this; you have nothing to worry about. We're still good as long as the media doesn't know anything about the thing that happened between me and Kent," she said putting up a smile on her face.
I'm sorry, if you'll hate me, after this. I just want you to be happy, Terra. I can't tell you about Dylan. I don't want to lose you because of my selfishness. I hope it would turn out the way I hoped it would.
"Hey, are you nervous?" I could feel her tense up. She shook her head as a reply, but I know it's a lie. I grabbed her hand in case it would give some calmness into her.
"You'll do great. Just relax and act natural," I said. I remember the first time I was into this. I was also that nervous, not until Dylan did the same thing, and it helps me. He really helped me get through the fear.
"Our guests for tonight, Kent Jones and the two lovely ladies will be joining us on the stage. Can you guess who? (Audience chants) That's right, our lovely ladies will be two hot and spicy models from one of the leading clothing lines. Let us all welcome, Malia Carter and Terra Stark," that's the cue. We walked out giving a smile to everyone as we waved.
"Hello, there lovely ladies. First of all, I would like to thank you for being here in our show. Thank you for accepting our invitation." Mandy, the host gave her sincere gratitude.
"It is our pleasure to be here", my bestfriend replied.
"So, let's all have a seat. I am excited to ask you all of these questions", Mandy said in excitement. We all took our seats. The seating arrangement went like this. On the right side of the stage, Mandy is sitting by herself. While on the left side, where the long couch is there, me, Terra and Kent occupied the space.
"Okay. So, all of these questions goes out to all of you. Just answer it one by one. Let's start", She said preparing.
"First, when did you start modelling? Malia, you first," she asked.
"Hmm. I was modelling ever since I was a baby. I think. You know, being a daughter of a mother obsessed with fashion and clothes. She would bring me to a lot of clothing lines to make me apply as a toddler model. It was against my will. I still don't know what's happening by that time. Basically, my whole life is being in the studios, standing and posing for those lenses. I got used to it," I said laughing a bit. I grew up in this industry but sometimes I get tired of doing this. Sometimes I just want to run to the arms of my love, and just leave everything behind.
"Your whole life is being a model. Do you ever think of leaving this industry?" A follow up question, I guess.
"Well, sometimes it crosses my mind. When things are getting tough, like all the paparazzi I get now that my name is up there. If you know what I mean," I answered her.
"Yeah. You have paparazzi now. It's hard to move, they are watching you," she joked, but it was undeniably the truth though. "Next question, Modelling. Is this really what you want as a career?" The last question for me.
"Career? Honestly, I have a different dream career. But I have learned to embrace modelling, so I don't know maybe I'll just stick to it. I don't know when I get older, I think I won't have that thick bookings anymore. I will just have to put up a business," I just answered honestly.
"Okay, thank you, Malia for your answers. Now it's your turn, Terra. Okay, same question, when did you start modelling?" she asked the same question.
'Well, I started in modelling, when I was in high school. Just a part time. I don't even know I can model. Not until Malia came into my life. We were at her house doing some school projects, and when were done, we decided to take pictures. Just like that, she told me that I can model. I was like "No, I can't. It's just the way you captured it. It was your photography skills that made it astounding," she answered and I butted in.
"Yeah! I told her that it's beautiful. She can model and I saw it on those shots. The way she poses. It was so vibrant. I told her to try out modelling, but she doesn't want to. I lied to her that I was dying, and she should do it as it was my dying wish. She believed it and tried out modelling," I told the story, reminiscing back to the old memory.
"I really did believe in your dying wish," she laughed. "When I got a lot of bookings and did maybe five photoshoots. That's when she told me that she's not dying and that she just said that because I really need to be a model. I ignored her for a week, but then I realized that what she did was only just for me. I did even realize that time that I was already in love in what I am doing. So there, if it wasn't for Malia. I will not be here at this stage," she answered it laughing. Mandy laughed slightly.
"So, thank you, Malia, for bringing Terra here with us. Terra, do you ever think of leaving this industry?" she said.
"Nope. This is my life. I think I am destined to be here, and my guardian angel is Malia. As what I said, I'm in love of what I'm doing. I will not leave this industry. Back in high school, I don't have any career that I want to pursue in my life. It was just the need to graduate, but when she introduced me to this, I know that time. This is all I want," she answered. I almost cried; I can't believe that I had helped her that much.
It was time for a commercial break, so I excused myself to the washroom. As I was walking down to the corridor. I felt someone grab my hand, which made me stop walking.
"Malia, if they ask anything about the relationship status, just leave it all to me. Please", he said, or more like begged.
"Okay", I just smiled at him.
"Hurry, you have three minutes," he said and walked back. I just went to the washroom. I don't know what will happen, but I got this feeling that our managers will not like it. I shrugged off the feeling.
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kimathynza Voice out your thoughts. I hope you enjoy reading. Thank You. I started on changing the chapter titles too. :)
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