It was, perhaps, his first memory.
Creak, creak. The incessant, quiet groaning of the swing that badly needed oiling was in a way, peaceful. He listened to its rhythm, trying to find a recurring pattern in its beat. Creak, creak.
Suddenly, a peal of delightful laughter broke through the monotony. The boy looked up, not startled, but out of habit. Yes, it was them…the other children in the sandbox. The elegant girl with wispy hair was laughing at a mortified looking blonde cherub with icy, aqua eyes. The fiery redhead was pulling them apart, trying to amend the friendly bickering.
They were always there, playing blissfully, without a care in the world. He listened to them laugh, and a feeling he could never put a finger on finally registered. There was no doubt about it.
The boy was lonely.
Shiki's POV
"Shiki san!" a sharp cry pulled me back from my reverie. The annoyed voice continued, bombarding me with criticisms. "Modeling is not a time for daydreaming! You have to ENCHANT people through your expression, your eyes!! Look at you! Show me some fire, some spirit!! Modeling is a job, NOT something you can blow off!!"
Fire? What fire? Modeling was truly a waste of time, something that was trivial, yet amusing enough to fill my hours of tedium. Then again, time has no value when you're only one step from immortality. "Shiki san, please look this way." "Shiki san, tilt your head a little to the left, please." "Shiki san, move your hand this way, and don't blink." The instructions were all the same, whispered in hushed tones. It seemed like the humans noticed I was, in a way, unearthly, inhuman…The murmurs all blended into one, and I imagined myself as a still doll, a motionless mannequin…lost in my thoughts once again.
"SHIKI SAN!!! WILL YOU STOP FINGERING THAT NECKLACE?!!!" My manager snapped at me, exasperated, yet unable to say anything. I smirked. We had made an agreement the very first day – as long nobody touched that necklace, our contract was on. The necklace stayed with me, or else I would resign. I made that point very clear – it was my most valuable possession.
I sighed, and dropped my hand. Fine, Fine. Fire is what Mashiro san wanted, right? That's what she'll get. I lifted my head, and put on a nonchalant expression, but I let my light cerulean eyes smolder. There were sharp intakes of breath, as people gasped, unable to hide their ogling. Even Mashiro san was speechless.
In a way, this was my own little revenge…for what?
I immediately chided myself for my stupidity, letting my emotions slip so easily. To be woken in the middle of a heavenly slumber in the afternoon just for this shoot – ugh. To be under the bright sun, no matter how uncomfortable – even worse.
But, that wasn't the reason I was so irritated.
It was because I was hungry.