Hiya! Another chapter here, hope you enjoy!
05 Star Model
The only reason why I'm still friends with you is because your the only one who can stand my craziness.
-Anon
The room is so bright, too bright that it almost burned her retinas just by looking directly at the flashing lights and those lamp thingies that helps with the brightness of the photos that the photographer is taking.
Her eyes, they buuuuuurrrrrn...
"Hey kid, don't look directly at the lighting! It's dangerous to the eyes!"
Oh, so that's why. She was only curious if it hurts her eyes as much as the sun does, but it somehow hypnotize her to not look at anything but at it and now, she just can't look away.
But that guy... He just called her a kid, is he implying something.
"Hey kid!"
I'm just going to ignore him.
"Kid!"
Why, isn't he a quiet one.
"Hey kid, I told you to look away. Can't you understand what I've said!"
Oh, I can completely understand you I'm not deaf. And you called me a kid again, I'm a teen so why should I listen to you.
"Who brought that kid here! Can someone escort him out of the building! If he gets eye damage we would be paying for that!"
Why youuu... I'll be the one giving you an eye damage or so help me.
A hand grabbed her shoulder to turn her around.
"Hey kid! I told you to look away didn't I!"
She stared at him with dead red eyes.
"Hey, security! Get this kid out of the building! How did he even got in here, geez are you guys slacking off!"
This guy... I'm officially going to punch him when he calls me a kid one more time.
The man seemed to feel her stare (glare) and looks down at her.
God, she hates how he looks down on her.
The other staff members seemed to feel the tension coming off her aura and chose to stay away from her for a moment and watch. Even the buff security guards stopped with their pursuit, they haven't seen a child with such an intense gaze before and eyes that seem too dead to associate to a child, nor they have experienced a child giving off that sense of foreboding. It's terrifying to see someone young to have that expression. A blank one, but still manages to convey that 'you-are-so-dead-and-screwed-right-now' look.
Even if it was coming from a child it still doesn't take away the fear factor.
But it seems like their superior couldn't take the hint and opened his big mouth.
"Hey ki-"
"I think that's not a good idea."
A deep voice interrupted the man, before he could say something that would lead to something painful.
Really painful.
The tall brunette knew that fact, he knows that his friend is a kind and patient person, but crossing her is something you shouldn't do. As they say, those who are patient and kind are someone you shouldn't anger, because it would only lead to a bruised heart (feelings), a bruised ego and of course, a bruised face (those are really painful). And if you're really that lucky, you could only get a savage beat down by the use of words.
Aoih of course wouldn't want his superior to suffer. Even if the man did deserve it. He doesn't want to let go of this project, thank you very much.
"What do you mean Aoih, this kid is bothering the shoot, looking at the lighting and attracting the models attention!"
As the man said that he pointed towards three beautiful tall women giggling and looking at Haku.
"Ain't he cute~" The tall long haired blonde whispered to her coworkers with a giggle.
"Yeah, too bad his getting kick out." The raven haired lady with a beauty mark under her lips replied.
"I bet you mean, too bad his young." A woman with short straight red hair chimed in, and the three of them squealed picturing a handsome older version of Haku.
Aoih couldn't help but sigh. He only left for a moment to change his outfit, and when he comes back his friend was already in trouble.
Man, maybe he should have reconsidered asking her to be his assistant for today.
He gave her a look that clearly says 'please, don't' over the Producer's shoulder. Which elicited a sigh of annoyance to the teen, she is clearly displeased that the portly man wasn't able to have a piece of her mind (fist).
The said portly man didn't seem to notice that he just got away from a painful situation. And decided to question Aoih further.
"So, Aoih what do you mean by that?!"
Hmmm... Can't he just speak normally and not raise his voice foronce?
"What I mean Sir is, that the person you are calling a kid is my friend and she is to be my personal assistant for today." He emphasized the word she, for everyone to hear, but everyone doesn't seem to heed his words, he internally sighs at that.
"You mean this-" "My name is Haku, if you must know." "Brat, is actually a teen?" The man didn't even heed her, and the girl just narrowed her eyes.
Aoih couldn't blame her for being irritated, even he was getting irritated. The man is too stereotypical, who is he to judge his choice of friends, not that Haku is a bad person, she's actually one of the people he knows who has a great personality. Her apatheticness aside, she is a kind person. Always there to help him even if his request are sometimes too much.
Like now.
She is filling up the role as his assistant yet she gets this kind of treatment. He would show this man that messing with his friends are not allowed, specifically not Haku.
"Yes she is otherwise, I won't be able to hire her even if it's only temporary. And please Mr. Argant, call her Haku." He might not be able to say what he wants to say, (because if he does, he might lose his job) but he sure will defend his friend.
The portly man, Mr. Argant, look at him for a moment, those beady eyes passing him judgment until he nodded.
"Alright then, I'll take your word for it Aoih. But if Haku here messes up, your the one cleaning it."
He was about to open his mouth when Haku interjected.
"I am very much capable on cleaning up messes Mr. Argant, so no need for Aoih-kun to get involve into this. I am after all, old enough."
"Let us see to it then, Mr. Haku." Mister? Hadn't he emphasized the word she, clearly the arrogant blonde portly man is not listening.
Well, at least they came to an understanding.
Some moments later~
It turns out that being assistant to Aoih-kun is not much work, Haku concluded (he did promise that she doesn't need to do anything major, she's only a stand in after all), the only thing she does is getting the clothes from the assigned racks, giving it to Aoih, getting someone to do his hair/face, some water/coffee fetching and then writing their activity. (so the real assistant could check up on some of his changed appointments for the next day/meeting) See not much to do.
And her brother says it would be tiring.
Ahhh... He so does have a sister complex. And a giant one at that. She guesses that it came from only having each other as family, her brother did experience having a mother (she doesn't know much of their father, even her brother doesn't recall much about him) something she wasn't able to experience. Not that she doesn't care about her mother (her mother died when she was giving birth to her) in fact she actually yearns for having one, it's that she's already used to only having a brother and she thinks that it's all she needs.
Anyway, she surely couldn't exactly relax (sleep) in this place, with all the flashing lights and insistent chatter, but she could all hell, eat some nice high quality chocolates. It seems that most of the models here have those fans that send them these really delicious sweets and they can't exactly eat them all since it would somehow ruined their slim/fit figure if they eat too much.
And so, some three nice ladies gave her these boxes of good stuff, saying that they can't eat them all, and that she could use a little treat for being such a good boy. As if she would need a bribe to work she can tell that much, but the chocolates are very much appreciated. They gave it to her, who is she to refuse?
"Hey, Hakkun~ can you come here please~" the blonde lady, otherwise known as Miss Joen, calls out to her. The said woman is talking to a tall handsome man with light blue hair and golden eyes, probably a model too.
His face is quite familiar, like she have seen him before. Like she sees him all the time but she just can't put a name to his face.
Haa, his probably just another model. No one special.
Hakkun. A nickname they bestowed upon her after learning her name. Somehow they all kept calling her that, not that she cares, but she thinks that the people in the studio thinks she's a he. Again, not that she cares, but didn't her friend already emphasize that she is not a he.
Why do people always refuse to face the truth when it's already in their faces?
"Okay. Miss Joen."
She strolls towards the woman and before she could get there, a surprised yelp and a sloshing sound came from her side. And being curious to what it is, she face towards that direction, and as if in slow motion, a bunch of papers came flying to her view along with some pens and a camera lens, (oh, that looks pricey) the person who tripped looking so distraught as he falls to the ground.
She couldn't help but pity him. (The camera lens is going to cost him)
And as a fellow coworker, she helped him.
Everyone in the studio was still as the newbie continues to fall, the objects his been carrying a while ago fly towards the temporary worker.
Pens, a load of papers and an expensive camera lens came flying towards the small temporary worker. Everyone in the studio are already picturing a disaster coming on, the photographer is exceptionally distraught about the thought of his prized lens ending up into pieces.
But at the last moment, the proxy moved.
Catching the stack of papers into a neat bundle in his right arm, then the pens going to his open right palm, the pricey lens was saved in due time by his outstretch foot (for some reason it didn't even break) and the falling man was saved from his faith of face planting to the floor by a hand grabbing hold to the collar of his shirt.
And then at that moment... a cup of hot coffee splashed the teen's shirt.
Oh yeah, along with the flying objects is a cup of steaming hot coffee. Which everyone failed to notice earlier.
There was a beat of stillness and Haku didn't move a muscle, her brain still processing why she was suddenly soak with the sticky hot liquid.
Slowly the boy gently placed down the now stunned gaping assistant (errand boy) to the floor, the man still staring at him. Next, he moved the camera lens from his foot to the floor, then he noticed that there was a conveniently placed table near him, and so he picked up the camera lens to put it on the table, then the pens, next is the stack of papers, he even shuffled it to look neat.
After arranging the papers neatly, he moved away from the table.
Everyone's eyes were on him and the crew was still not making any sound. They were still processing what just happened there.
"HOT!!!" The lot of them jolt from the loud exclamation.
And as if the play button was pressed the crowd went into action.
"HOT!!!" She couldn't help but yell out loud.
The coffee was really scalding and the fabric of her sweater is slowly sticking to her skin, which she pulls away, because her skin is already irritated as is.
Man, the stain is going to be a bitch to remove.
"Hot! Hot! Hot!" She keeps saying as she fans her neck to relieve some of the scalding warmth.
A tissue was suddenly thrusted towards her neck wiping some off the sticky warm liquid. She looks up to see Aoih's face looking at her with concern.
"Are you alright Haku? Your neck is a bit red. Is the coffee really hot?"
His hands hadn't stop wiping them until she took hold of him.
"Y-yeah I'm fine, I think my skin is only irritated nothing serious." She took some of the roll of tissue in his hands and wipe it to her shirt to at least alleviate the staining.
Everything around her seemed to move on after that, the portly man earlier coming close to them looking furious.
"Are you alright Haku?" Mr. Argant asked her.
"A bit of irritation is all."
The man is about to say something but a nervous voice chimes in.
"I-I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I wasn't looking were I was going, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." The poor clumsy guy from before apologized profusely while bowing repeatedly.
"Damn right you should. You've been messing up lately and that's the last time you'll be doing that because-"
"Wait! It wasn't his f-fault." A squeaky voice chimed in, everyone look at the source only to found a mousy looking boy.
"Mickey! you don't have to take the blame for him. This man had been messing up from the start, you don't need to-"
"Papa! Listen, I, I was the one who is messing up from the start! Please don't blame Mr. Klutz for it. It was my foot that jutted out and trip him- I didn't meant to!- and now he, he spilled coffee to Ms. Haku (he acknowledges my true gender, yey for me) and, and it's all my fault! I'm sorry!" The boy insisted.
"No, that can't be your-" "No! It's the t-truth, I was scared how you might react Papa, s-so I didn't tell you. I was just too unnoticeable that everyone thinks that I'm a ghost. Mr. Klutz was not clumsy, I was and it's my fault that Ms. Haku got hurt."
Mr. Argant look at his son impassively, then he bowed his head and his shoulders began to shake. Everyone (except for Haku and the blue haired man) was getting ready for the man's outburst, but instead they heard a sniffle.
And when he lifted his head... Let's just say it wasn't such a pretty sight (for some reason the blue haired guy stumbled and faced away, is he crying too?)
"Y-you don't need to be afraid son, P-papa isn't angry!" "R-really?!" "Yes-"
"Ahem." Haku interrupted and the lot look towards her direction.
"Sorry to interrupt your moment but, I really need to got to the comfort room right now." Haku said, a little frown marring her face. She was trying to uphold the fact that the coffee splash was really uncomfortable, with the shirt trying to stick to her skin and also the fact that it's hot.
~Minutes later~
"M-Mr. Haku are you done?" The poor young man from earlier knock to the door where the teen is currently changing. The man felt guilty about spilling the hot liquid towards the raven head, even if it's unintentional. But still, it was him who caused this and not only that the teen helped him from his blunder, that camera lens would probably caused him if Haku didn't intervened at the right time.
A shuffling sound came from the door and a very odd curse being said (Haku: For the love of cheesecake!) after what seemed to be a few seconds, the door opened slightly revealing the teen's apathetic face with a little frown marring her face.
"Klutz-san, do you have anymore clothes that fits?" The fellow raven head quirked a brow at confusion. He was sure that the clothes would fit Haku's small frame, so what could be the problem?
His eyes strayed downwards to see what's the problem with the clothing and what he saw made his head feel woozy, and some hot liquid is coming out from his nose he held up his hand to see what it is only to see a red mess.
"Oi, are you alright Klutz-san?" the bland voice of the teen startled him from his stupor a tinge of worry hinting at Haku's voice even though her face remain expressionless. The boy, no girl, moved and he looked down again to see if he was only hallucinating at first, but as Haku move closer to him and tiptoeing in order to reach his forehead, they moved.
It was real and not a hallucination, his mind was reeling at the sight of the bo-girl's exposed chest (not entirely) at the blue button up shirt he got for her that is too tight for comfort and of course for her chest area at the moment. The girl in question, momentarily had forgotten about her earlier predicament in worry of the poor man's health (isn't he such a lucky guy?) she was questioning him but the man was not responding, causing her lips to further slip downwards.
At long last the man still didn't respond to her question and continued to stare at her weirdly, she decided to ask for help (she could have just read his mind with her abilities in order to know what's wrong but still, she respects their privacy and doesn't do it often very much, only happens a few times), but before she could move from her spot, Aoih came around the corner, was about to open his mouth but when he saw the situation he came running towards them and bodily flinging the bloody nosed man from her, then proceeded on taking off his cool looking jacket and placed it on her shoulders.
The jacket wholly engulfed her small figure, reaching her lower thighs. Aoih look at the fallen man furiously, putting himself between the two. His once bright blue eyes taking a stormy blue color at the thought of the man having dirty thoughts towards his friend, he cursed himself for not fetching his friend the clothes that would probably fit her much better.
"Aoih-kun, why did you do that? His nose is already bleeding, you don't have to put more damage as is." The girl said as she lowered herself towards the now unconscious Mr. Klutz.
Why is she so dense and naïve when it comes to those things, isn't she supposed to be smart?
"Alright Haku, I'm going to find some clothes that would fit you so stay in here until I come back okay."
"Okay, but what about him?" The girl ask standing up.
The taller teen stared for a moment and then turned his back to walk away.
"Mah, I think his fine, he faced something worse than that."
"Oh okay."
~Another time lapse here~
The whole studio was buzzing with business, completely forgetting the whole incident earlier. Like nothing really happened.
As they were all busy and everything going well, the organizer, Mr. Argant, saw Aoih standing around the corner waiting for his turn at the shoot. The blonde man walk towards the boy, dodging the different contraptions used for the whole business.
"Aoih, where is Haku, he is not that badly burned is he?"
"No not at all, she's going in here any second now." Again, the man ignored the use of she in the sentence.
Just as the brunette said that, the door from there left opened and out came the said teen, wearing a long sleeved dark blue fitted turtle neck shirt that hugged her figure and a white mini skirt with three light blue stripes at the bottom, black cycling shorts beneath ending at her lower thighs, her high top black converse shoes goes nicely with the whole outfit. Her hair was down framing her face, and cheeks rosy from the splash of coffee earlier, all in all it was a complete 180 from the cute boy look she had before by just a new set of clothes.
"Sorry miss, but you might've gotten the wrong room, the audition for modeling is at the next studio." Haku only gave him a strange look.
"Ahh... Mr. Argant this is just a misunderstanding, you see this is-" "Don't you remember me? It's me Haku."
WHAT?!!"
After that outburst the whole staff look towards their direction, wondering what the commotion was all about. A certain blue haired man had a growing tick mark in his forehead, wondering what the fatso is on again, bothering a shooting with him in it. Unforgivable.
"Th-that can't be, Haku is a boy!"
Haku only look at him unimpressed.
"Clearly, you haven't been listening to what Aoih-kun and your son is saying. They had been referring me as a she if I recall."
His patience is running thin, such a waste of time.
The blue haired man decided to take this matter to his own hands, moving towards the corner were the trio occupying
He moved gracefully in each step, dodging people and modeling contraptions alike. His eyes slid to the tall brunette and identifies him as Aoih, an upcoming star model, by his beauty and charming personality he is sure that this young man would go far, and if the teen invests himself to acting or singing he is sure that his popularity would skyrocket and so is his career.
Next, he moved his gaze towards the plump man, the very reason for this whole commotion, a loud mouth and an arrogant little bastard if he say so himself. But even so, he can't remove him (yet), he is efficient at his work and had a great skill on managing the whole studio. If it weren't for that, he won't be working in here anymore.
After observing the two males, his gaze slid to the lone female. And again, he noted her beauty (even if she is a small thing) even if she wears such clothing (I.e her outfit earlier). Her eyes were actually amber not brown now that his gotten close to look at it, they were almost the same shade as his eyes were. They were dull but there's a sort of gleam into them. Her spiky-wavy raven hair contrasted her milky skin color but not in a bad way. She is the picture of plain beauty. She isn't as beautiful as the other models in the vicinity were, but a beauty nonetheless.
He's actually thinking along more on the lines that she might be a good hero material. He saw how she moved earlier and it wasn't half bad for a young lady. Beauty yet with strenght.
He knows how to appreciate beauty.
But he admits, no one can attain the same God level beauty that he has, this maiden in front of him is nothing more but the simplest kind of beauty (as they say simplicity is beauty) if a bit innocent.
Amai mask doesn't make mistakes.
It would be unbecoming of such a perfect man wouldn't it?
"What is the meaning of this commotion?" His voice as always, velvety and pleasing to the ears, surprised the trio.
"U-uhm... Mr. Amai, y-you i-it's nothing, i-it's just that this b-boy--"
"I'm a girl, you clearly aren't listening to us and surely there are something wrong with your eyes then." The girl interrupted the fatso before he could make a fool out of himself.
"He is, definitely a blind one." Then he smiled charmingly, looking at the girl's straight face lifting it with two fingers to meet her eye to eye (he needs to bend down slightly to fully do that)
"A beauty such as yourself, shouldn't be mistaken as a man. It should be praised and worship if I must say." He gestures grandly, by this time he expects her to erupt into a blushing mess or go on squealing and melting into a puddle, like most of his fans does. (if he ever does that action)
A beat of silence and the teen moved her lips. One eyebrow going up.
"Ahhh... Mister, could you let go of my face now... Ahhh... please?" Her reply was monotonous as ever, but with eyes alight with genuine confusion.
That reply was the last thing he expected to here from a female, no, from anyone really.
How could she brush off his advances like that?!
How could she do this to the likes of him?!
Doesn't she know who he is?!
No, that's highly impossible. Everyone knows him, everyone acknowledges him and praises him for his beauty and his strength.
His face is even plastered on every damn bilboard (well not all of them but you know what I mean), interviews, news, posters and magazines. Clearly she is working at this studio (or so he thinks) so it would be impossible to not know him.
Yup, definitely impossible. No one in this world wouldn't know or recognize him, right?
Unbeknownst to the man's dilemma Haku continued to stare at the man questioningly, a visible question mark hanging above her head, genuinely confused why this handsome man is still staring at her intensely.
Why does he keep staring at my face like that? Did I say something wrong? Is there something wrong with my face? Or maybe, maybe there's some chocolate on my face! (She ate some chocolate as a quick snack while going back to the studio) But I'm sure that I got everything!
At that realization, a dash of pink bloom across her cheeks much to the man's triumph. Quickly she retracted her chin from his fingers, furiously rubbing at her face at the invisible smudge. She turns away and faces her tall friend for help at her nonexistent predicament.
"Is there some leftover chocolate in my face?" She whispered, well, not really, since the two other men can hear her clearly.
The older teen floundered for a moment with the sudden attention going to him, but didn't hesitate to take hold of the confused girl's face.
"Ahhh... I don't see anything." He answered honestly.
"Really?"
"Really."
With Aoih's honest answer the girl was thoroughly confused right at that moment, another visible question mark popping above her head.
"Then why does he--" she points one index finger at the blue haired man non discreetly "kept staring at my face?"
If she wasn't really being genuinely honest and confused, the people at the studio would probably chew her out from her statement. But really, she really does look like a lost puppy at the moment (so cute) and they don't really want to kick a cute little puppy.
The staff members gasp at her oblivious statement and at the fact that she seriously doesn't know who the model/actor/singer/hero was because wow, she might've been living under a rock her whole life to not know the famous man.
Aoih gapes at his friend with wide wide eyes, he is clearly amaze by her nonexistent balls and ignorance.
Mr. Argant's mouth hangs hilariously to the floor with eyebrows going way way up the hairline.
Poor sweet Amai mask doesn't have much of a reaction except for his widen eyes and his always perfect skin going paler than normal. The sheer knowledge of someone not knowing him doesn't compute well to his brain.
Haku only stared at them, a bunch of question marks framing her head. Confused at the reaction of the people surrounding her. She tilted her head to the side with one eyebrow up and an air of obliviousness surrounding her, she ask another question.
"Did I say something wrong?"
A/n: Well I've got nothing else to say and I acknowledge that Haku is turning out to be a Mary Sue, but still I would try my best to clear her away from that zone.Her esper abilities is not stronger than the Tornado herself, she has just a variety of them and she can't use it simultaneously without straining herself, the difference is that she trained her physical attributes too so that she wouldn't be relying too much at her ability and for something more thay would be revealed as the story goes on.Review for the love!