Disclaimer: Gakuen Alice is not mine, unfortunately.
Note: slightly OOC.
Chapter 5: Photoshoot
"No it's alright," she smiled in reply. "Was the call about your job?"
"Actually, it was," he paused for a while as if he was building up his confidence.
"Hey, do you want to be my model?"
"EHH? What?!" the brunette exclaimed. She was really shocked to hear Natsume's proposition. Being a model was something she never thought of doing. It was out of the question that the offer would soon be rejected.
"I said do you want to be my model? Sheesh, so you're deaf now?"
"Yes I heard you but what I am trying to say is, why? I mean, why me? Don't you have any other options? I don't even look good in front the camera." The brunette explained in panic.
"Of course I wouldn't have asked you if I had any other option," He lied. He knew he was being unfair and selfish but this was the only way he could spend time with her without her having suspicions. "Well, you see the reason why I thought you would be a great model for my shoot was that I needed someone to play the piano. And what would make a better model than a pianist itself right? The magazine was also having a hard time looking for someone competent enough to fill in the role, plus the deadlines are fast approaching. Come on Mikan, are you going to help me or not?" He tried to sound pleading and honest.
"So you think I'm competent enough?" She sounded sarcastic.
"If that's what will make you say yes then, yes."
There was a long pause of silence. Obviously, the lady was contemplating on whether to grant the photographer's request or not.
"Well, since I don't see anything wrong with it…I'll say yes."
"Really?" It was not his style to sound excited and pleased but hearing what the brunette said made him lose his cool. He failed to conceal this emotion but he didn't regret it one bit. He was happy and it was as simple as that.
"Yes! But I'm warning you though; I don't know how to model."
"It's alright; you just have to play the piano for me. It's my job to make you look good."
"If you say so. Oh, When is this photo shoot anyway?"
"I still don't know. The magazine hasn't e-mailed me the details yet."
"I see. So, shall we exchange phone numbers?" The brunette uttered as she searched for her phone.
Natsume couldn't believe how this day turned out. First, he accidentally saw her as he was left alone by his friends. Second, she agreed to be his model. And third, she was the one who asked for his phone number! Really, how much luck can one guy have in a day?
Natsume smiled contently at the pictures he had developed. It was already 9 o' clock in the evening when he finished his job. He was now in his room scanning them and of course, he stared the longest at the picture of the brunette.
His room was a very simple one. Its walls were covered in black wallpaper where he posted his favorite masterpieces. There was a small desk near his bed where his laptop and camera was placed. On the desk were pictures of him and his friends, his family and definitely, the picture of the brunette when he first saw her.
The sight of her made him smile inwardly. She looked shocked and cute with the icing on her cheeks. This picture was so different from the first photo he shot when he saw her for the very first time. The brunette's eyes reflected the total opposite of what he had originally seen. He was wondering on how a cheerful lady like her could show a very sad expression when his thoughts were cut off by an e-mail that popped into the screen of his laptop.
Greetings Hyuuga-san!
This is Hiroki from the 'Be Entertained' Magazine.
The following are the information about the photo shoot:
Date: Nov. 27
Time: It's up to you and your model.
Note: We will deliver the piano to your studio the day before the said date.
If you have any questions just reply to this e-mail.
Thank you and Good Day!
He felt something weird about the said date, it seemed special but he couldn't quite remember why. Whatever it was, he was sure that wasn't something to make a big fuss about.
'I guess I better inform her about these details,' he mentally said as he took out his mobile phone and started typing a message for the brunette.
Mikan,
About the shoot that I've told you, it's on the 27th of this month, two weeks from now.
The place would be here, on my studio.
Hmm…I guess that's it.
Goodnight.
He read the words that he had typed for the last time before finally pressing the send button. It was already 10 o'clock and he had spent the past hour just typing these few words and revising them like there was something wrong about it. He was unsure on what to say to the brunette as his first message. He was indeed making a big deal out of this simple text message.
'No one's gonna reply to that kind of message Natsume. Sleep,' he thought as he crawled lazily to his bed. He really needed to take a break, to sleep. He had been busy the whole day and him feeling overly excited about her reply isn't helping at all.
*ring ring*
The beat of his phone's ring tone synchronized with his heart.
He immediately grabbed his phone and answered the call, only to end up disappointed. Instead of who he was expecting to hear, he heard the voice of his best friend.
"Hey Natsume," Ruka greeted. "I'm sorry for ditching you last time at the cake shop. I had no choice."
"I know and it's alright," he replied monotonously. Though he was a little irritated at his friends for leaving him all alone that day, he had to hand it to them for taking him to that silly cake shop, for the chance of meeting her again.
"To make it up to you, how about we hang out on the 27th?"
"Sorry, but I'll pass," he replied softly. It's true that he liked being around his friends but he had to say no to this suggestion. Nov. 27 was already a set 'date' of him and the brunette and there was no way he'd bail out on her.
"Why? We always hang out on the 27th! Come on Natsume, why can't you come?"
'We always hang out on the 27th?! What the heck is up with that date anyways?' (lol)
"I said I can't, I have an important job on that day," he calmly said.
Ruka sighed in defeat before answering, "Alright, I guess I really can't convince you."
"Hn. I have to hang up now Ruka, I'm sleepy," he was in fact starting to feel drowsy.
"Ok. Just call me if ever you change your mind."
"Believe me, I won't," he retorted first before finally ending the call.
He positioned himself comfortably on his bed and before his eyelids finally sealed his day, his phone rang again.
The photographer lazily got up and answered his phone, "Come on Ruka, could you give me some rest? I'm very sleepy."
Natsume wanted to swallow his words as soon as he recognized the voice of the caller.
"Err…I'm sorry Natsume, If you really need to sleep now then I'll just call again tomorrow. Bye bye, Sorry."
"No, it's alright. I just thought you were someone else," he responded quickly so as to stop her from pushing the end button.
"Are you sure it's alright? I can always call next time," she replied.
"I'm sure. So why did you call?" He uttered as he did his best to hide the pleased tone from his voice.
"Oh that, you see I was wondering, since the shoot is not until the 27th," she paused for a while and inhaled deeply before continuing, "Uhmm…do you want to meet up sometimes? You know, see each other during our free time?"
He removed his phone from his ears temporarily, trying to ascertain if the caller was indeed Mikan. If this was as real as he wished it was, does that mean she was actually asking him out?
"What do you mean?" He softly asked. As if hiding his excitement and awkwardness isn't already as hard as it was, Mikan decided to make him suffer a little bit more.
"Y-you see, we barely know each other right? And I have to be honest with you, I'm not really too comfortable around you since we only knew each other for just a few days. So, I thought that if I was going to be your model, we should at least know each other well. I mean, so that we would both be at ease during the day of the shoot right? I know you're feeling a bit awkward around me too."
"I see," he paused first trying to absorb what the brunette was feeling, "Well, if that's what you want then it's fine with me."
"Really? Great! So text me if you have a free time so we could see each other ok?"
"Hn, Alright."
"Ok~" she sounded very cheerful that even though it was somewhat disappointing to learn what she felt towards him, she still was able to make him smile."So I guess I'll talk to you next time, goodnight Natsume!"
"Goodnight."
It was already the 27th before they knew it. As what they had agreed on, they met each other for the past two weeks. It was amazing on how fast they became close to each other. True, they bickered over almost about everything, but they knew they were having fun. They didn't have much in common but they couldn't care less, besides, just having each other around was enough.
"Good morning Natsume," the brunette said as he entered the studio.
"I'm impressed, what did you do to wake up this early?" typical greetings from Natsume Hyuuga.
"Whatever. What time do we start?"
"As soon as I finish setting this up," he said as he continued positioning his apparatus on the right places.
"I see. Hey, I forgot to ask, what piece am I going to play?" she asked while watching the photographer do his job.
"I don't know and it's not as if I can shoot the melodies too, right?"
"Hmph, you know, you're too cocky for someone who's just asking a favor," she pouted childishly.
"Hn. Just play anything you like."
"Hmmm… How about I play something you like?"
"Trying to impress me now eh?" he smirked before continuing, "I like 'fantasie impromptu' the most."
It was obvious that her eyes widened in shock, "What the?! Do you know how difficult it is to play that?!" she sighed then continued, "I really hope I can play that for you someday but can you settle on this one first?"
River Flows In You – Yiruma
He watched her as she positioned herself comfortably before the white grand piano. Her eyes closed momentarily and her slender fingers started pressing the keys producing a slow and relaxing melody. It awed him how she changed from her childlike behavior to someone with great deal of elegance and sophistication. For a moment there, he just stood up and stared as she swayed her body to the tune she harmoniously created. When he came back to his senses, he had the urge to start his job and capture this moment.
He had to admit that taking a photo of her now was difficult. She challenged his concentration. At first, he had a hard time doing the shoot but as he went on with his work, it actually became effortless. Her movements were so natural that she didn't seem to need his skills to actually look good in front of the camera. Before he knew it, the roll was up and she had finished her piece.
"Was I ok?" she asked with a quizzical look on her face.
"You were great. I didn't think you're this good at playing the piano," he said honestly.
She didn't know why but she felt happy of the young man's comment. Though she was used to people complimenting her talents, she felt something different when it came from the young man's lips. She was pleased and satisfied. Was it because he was being shockingly honest for the first time? Or was it something else? That, she didn't know…she didn't want to know.
"Uhhh, thanks, I guess," Again, she paused then continued, "You know Natsume, if you would act like that more often then I think we could lessen our fights, don't you think?"
"I—"
*ding dong*
The photographer was cut off by the sound of the door bell.
'Who the hell is it?!' He mentally groaned.
"Hey, I think there is someone at the door," the brunette said as she looked at the door.
"Yeah genius, I can hear it too," he said with a great hint of irritation etched in his voice. No, it wasn't for the brunette but for that someone courageous enough to destroy this moment.
He forcefully dragged himself towards the door and opened it. Though after a few seconds, he immediately regretted doing so.
"Surprise! Happy birthday Natsume!" ALL of his friends were there outside his door.
He was stunned by the sight of his friends. All of them were there; it was high school all over again. He didn't know whether to feel happy or annoyed, though his mind was saying he should feel happy, his heart voted for annoyance unanimously.
'Shit. No wonder Nov. 27 seemed special, it's my birthday.' He sighed as he let everyone go inside his studio.
Author's Note:
let's all greet Natsume a happy birthday! XDDD I couldn't help myself from updating today because of the-oh-so-obvious reasons. I am especially sorry if this chapter turned out to be less exciting than what you guys have expected. I'm sorry since I rushed this chappie..XDDD anyways, PLEASE do say what you think about this chapter and story, like your guesses on my plot or something because I would love to know if I'm leading you to the right direction or not. anyways, please do review if you can. It is very much appreciated.
Again, thanks to those you have continued reading this story and I hope you enjoyed this one!
\^o^/