Chapter 30

“I’ll go, Rhiana. I need to work.” He hung up on the line.

I gulped and avoided her gaze.

“He’s just using you for his own revenge.” She sauntered her way towards the door while I was left alone, stunned.

Revenge? What does she mean? What did I do?

“Oh right.” She stopped beside me and looked at me. “I need to add something,” a smirk formed into her lips.

I stepped backward when she leaned in to whisper something on my ears.

“I’ll wait for the time you’ll discover that revenge. And by that, you’ll drown in angst.” She whispered and caress my hair like a psychopath. “Remember, no one will save you so brace yourself.” She added with a teasing tone.

Then she left.

Leaving me with full of questions and confusions.

No. That won’t happen. I will never be alone.

Someone’s still by my side. I’m sure she won’t leave me the moment I’ll drown in angst.

Even when she’s mad. I know she’ll stay by my side.

Because she’s. . .

“Andra?” I shouted the moment I entered our unit.

No one answered my question so I head towards the kitchen to check if she had eaten the chicken fillet I cooked yesterday.

I smiled after seeing the empty table. I’m sure she ate it.

My phone rang.

I looked at my leggings pocket and shoved my hand inside it to grab my phone.

White calling. . .

“Hello, White?” I answered the call.

“You busy? I have a good news!” His voice was lively.

“What is it?”

“I forgot to tell you this but I’ll have my first movie as one of the leads!”

“Wow! Really? Congrats! You deserved it!” I extolled.

“Let’s celebrate. If you want, you can bring your sister. Also, I know a person who works at a modelling agency. I could introduce you to her.”

That’s a great opportunity.

“Call.” I smiled.

“Okay. I’ll fetch you.”

He ended the call so I head my way towards our room and knocked the door.

“Andra? I need to change. Open the door please.”

Eventually, she opened the door.

“Are you—”

She turned her back on me and went back to bed to sleep again.

I sighed.

“Let’s go out. You remember White? The childhood friend I’ve been talking about when we were young? He’s going here. Wanna come?”

Instead of responding, she covered her face up to her head using the comforter as if she’s annoyed by my noise.

I heaved a sigh.

“I’ll cook a breakfast for you. Eat and call me using the teleconference if you need me, okay?”

Still, quiet.

So I decided to cook an egg and sausage for her breakfast then I took a shower.

I decided to wear a long sleeve gray crop top and high waist ankle skinny jeans with my small gray canteen bag which contains my phone and wallet. I decided to wear a crop top in order for that girl from an agency to see my figure.

Doorbell rang and I know that’s White.

“Good morning future actor.” I greeted him with a smile.

“Good morning future model.” He greeted me back and smiled.

He’s wearing a long gray coat with gray shirt and his brownish hair was in a messy hairstyle, perfect for an actor’s face.

“What a coincidence. Gray and gray.” He pointed my top and his, then laughed.

I shrugged and went out.

“Let’s have breakfast in a restaurant.” He said.

“This ain’t date.” I locked the door.

“Yep. It’s a celebration with my childhood friend.” He winked.

“So let’s go to a fastfood restaurant. Your treat.” I suggested.

He saluted so I head my way out to our destination.

“What kind of movie are you working? Are you the lead?” I asked in the middle of eating.

Although noises are very distinct, I can hear him well because he was beside me.

“I’m the second lead.”

“Pity. But that’s your first movie right? Not bad.”

“Yeah. Not bad. Actually, I like that I’m the second lead because I don’t like the female lead of the movie.”

I looked at him and munched the french fries.

“Who’s the lead?”

“Miracle.”

My eyes widened after hearing the name of the popular actress.

"You mean Racle? Racle Valentina Clifton?! You got such a big shot!”

He gave me a grimace look and shook his head.

I get it. He doesn’t like her.

“Why?”

“I don’t like her personality.” He shrugged.

“I bet that. Pretty sure you’ll fall for her by the end of shooting.” I teased.

“Nah. I already like someone else.”

My mouth formed an “0” after discovering something.

“You do? Who? You should pursue her!”

He shook his head and shifted his gaze on his plate.

“She likes someone else. And I know she hates me.” He smiled.

“Why would she hate you?”

“Because I’m the reason why the one she loves hates her that’s why she hates me. Complicated right?” He laughed.

I stared at him for few seconds. He really does look like his brother when he laughs.

“Is it in your genes to laugh when you’re in pain?” I can’t help but ask.

He looked at me.

“Does my brother laughs a lot? Well, it’s his hobby. Like a natural reflex to hide his pain and sadness. I know him well.”

“Why are you not in good terms?” Now this is the chance to know the reason why.

He avoided my gaze and shifted it to his food.

“Let’s just say that we got into a big misunderstanding.”

“Then why don’t you fix it?”

He shrugged.

“Damaged has been done. As much as I want to fix it, he already closed my last chance of opportunity.”

I sighed. I still don’t know a lot about Grayson.

“By the way, we’ll meet Bea, the one I’m talking about, this afternoon. Where do you want to go? Since there’s a lot of time.” He changed the topic.

“I want to buy clothes for Andra.”

“Okay. Let’s go shopping. My treat.”

And that’s what we did. Maybe it took me more than an hour, much more, 2 hours and 30 minutes to pick a clothes for Andra.

More are looking, some are picking.

The man behind me was just yawning the whole time.

My phone rang in the middle of lining in the counter.

“I’ll answer the call.” I said to Aiden.

He just nodded so I went out of the line and picked up my phone from my bag.

My handsome bf ♡ calling. . .

“Hello?” I answered.

He’s quiet on the line so I looked at the phone if he hung it up but he didn’t so I put it back on.

“Hello? Gray—”

“I miss you.” His voice was tired.

“Your break?”

“Yeah.” He yawned.

“Then you should sleep. Why did you call?”

“I’m lying on bed. Just want to hear your voice.”

I bit my lower lip to stifle a smile.

“I don’t talk much, Grayson.”

“I’m your boyfriend, baby.”

“I know. So. . . ?”

“Don’t call me Grayson.”

“Okay, Grumpson.” I laughed.

I heard him chuckle on the line.

“Not that. Can’t you call me babe?”

I didn’t respond.

“Baby? Love? Hon? Anything? I want you to call me different from my name.”

“Daddy?” I laughed and grimaced with what I just said.

He laughed on the line.

“I’m done, Alessia.” It was the voice of Aiden from behind.

His laugh stopped on the line.

“Oh. Okay.” I said to Aiden and gave him a sign to head his way first.

“Is that Grayson?” He asked.

I nodded so he nodded too before walking his way first.

“Grayson?” I asked when the line became silent.

My forehead knotted so I looked at my phone's screen and he was still on call so I put it back again.

“Grayson?”

Seconds passed but he didn’t respond so I started sauntering my way.

“You’re with whom?” He heaved a sigh.

“Oh, you’re still there. I’m with a friend.”

“Who?”

“Just a friend.” I answered nonchalantly.

“Who?”

“A friend.”

“Who?”

“My friend.” I insisted.

He huffed.

“Who?”

“A frie—”

“My brother? You’re with my brother?” He cut me off.

“Uh-huh.” I shrugged his pissed tone off.

“Why?”

“Hang out.” I said simply.

He didn’t respond.

I hoofed my way to follow Aiden while waiting for his next word.

But minutes passed, still, he didn’t talk.

“Grayson?”

He sighed on the line.

“Why—”

“Alessia! Head in.” Aiden shouted and waved his hands on the air.

I nodded and ran towards his car.

“I thought you already hung-up.” I said as Aiden  opened the car door for me. “Where are we heading next?” I asked him.

“Cafe.” He answered.

I nodded and sat on the passenger’s seat.

Aiden smiled at me so I smiled back then he shut the car door and turned to head his way towards the driver seat.

“Grayson?” I asked on the line when he didn't utter any words.

“Should I hung-up?” He asked in monotone.

“I don’t know. If you want, then you can.”

He didn’t respond.

I sighed and leaned my head against the window when the car engine started.

Another minutes of silent but this time, I didn’t talk nor called his name, my phone’s still on my ears, waiting for his voice to utter any words.

“You’re with another man.” He pointed out.

“Uh-huh.” I answered, nonchalant.

“In a date?”

“Consider it as a friendly date.” I shrugged.

It was a moment of silent.

“I envy him.” He broke the building crickets.

“Why?”

“He got to date my girlfriend while I, her boyfriend, didn’t.” He scoffed on the line, obviously annoyed.

“Well that’s because you’re too busy with your work.”

“I always have time for you but you rejected my offer of date and now you’re dating with another man.” He sighed.

“When did I? I don’t remember the time I rejected your date. Besides, did you even offered me a date?”

“I asked you twice this week but you’re busy with your mom’s funeral.”

“Now you know why I rejected your date. So. . .what’s the problem? Why are you suddenly reprimanding me? Is not like I did something wrong just by being with a friend?”

He sighed.

“I need to go.”

I scoffed.

“Okay, off you go.” I said in monotone.

He didn’t respond nor did I.

No one ended the call.

He sighed on the line.

But still, he didn’t hung-up.

“Are you mad?” He broke the silence.

“You—”

“Mr. Grayson, you are needed in the operating room.” It was a voice of a woman. Maybe nurse.

“Okay, I’m coming.”

I let out a loud sigh.

“I’m going, baby. Talk to me later.” He hung-up.

I sighed and looked at Aiden who gave me a quick glance.

He was quiet as well as I am, even until we arrived at the cafe, he didn’t talk, I know he knew that we had a little fight with his brother because of him. I’m sure he heard what I said earlier.

“Here she is. Bea.” He stood, looking at the cafe’s door.

So I stood too and followed his gaze, it stopped at the woman that may be in her late forties, looks young and fresh although there are little evidence of wrinkles when she smile.

“You should be thankful that I agreed to meet you even if I’m a really busy woman, Aiden.”

He laughed.

“Of course, Aunt. By the way, this is Alessia, my friend I’m talking of.”

Her gaze shifted to me so I smiled at her.

But she didn’t, instead of greeting me, she looked at me from head to toe with her intimidating aura.

“Don’t worry, Alessia. She likes to observe woman who are pretty.” Aiden whispered.

I nodded and sighed.

“Have a seat, Aunt.” He signaled the chair beside me.

I gulped and nervousness suddenly ate me but she didn’t mind my nervousness and sat beside me with her intimidating demeanor.

So I sat too.

“Nice to meet you, Alessia. I’m Bea, call me Ms. Bea, and I’m the casting director in Elite Model Management.” She lend me her hand.

I gulped and gave her my hand for a handshake.

“Alessia Mae Robins.”

She nodded and rested her back against the chair’s backrest then she crossed both her arms along with her legs.

“The first thing I need to know is that if you have a social media? Before submitting to our agency you should have a clean background. And just to remind you, nasty behavior in social media is not tolerated.”

“I. . . I don’t post that much pictures this past months since I’ve been busy handling my own mental health.”

She raised her brow and nodded at me.

“You have a mental health issue?”

I looked at Aiden who seems shock too so I bit my lower lip and nodded.

“Oh dear. I’m telling you, modelling might have a huge effect on your mental health. Models run a higher risk of developing psychological disorders, can you say that you’re mentally stable to cope with it?”

“I-I’m already healed. So I guess I can go back to modelling.”

She nodded.

“Give me your phone number. I’ll call you the moment our company will open casting and auditions for modelling.”

I nodded and let out a sigh of relief.

We talked a lot. About my past modelling for 3 years, my personal reasons of being fired from my previous agency and things related to modelling.

Although she has such an intimidating demeanor and most of the time she would give me her stern and harsh comments about my body and reality of modelling, still, I like her for being real and frank.

“See you.” She bid her goodbye and left the Cafe.

“Whew. Almost 5 hours of talking. I fought the urge to sleep in the middle of your blah-blah things I don’t understand.” Aiden yawned.

I laughed.

“Once I make money, I’ll treat you.” I promised.

He smiled.

“Nah. My brother might kill me. And what a great mira— I mean how surreal, no one called me knowing that he knew you’re with me.” He laughed.

Right. He never did call or text me. For the past days, I got used to him texting me everyday even when he’s busy with his work.

“And my twin bro—”

“Twin? You both are twins?” I asked, shocked.

He laughed.

“Yeah. Fraternal twins.”

My mouth formed an ‘0’ due to shock and at the same time, astonished by the new discovery.

“That’s why you look same but at the same time different! Weird.” I nodded.

“But we almost look the same when we were child. I remem—”

“Wait! Does that mean you both have the same birth date?”

He smiled and nodded.

“I remember, that time, he send a ‘happy birthday’ greeting to me via messenger but he immediately delete it after seconds.” He laughed.

I laughed too.

“Tell me more.” I said.

I became attentive while listening to him especially with the new astonishing discovery.

So we ended up talking for more than an hour and now the sky’s already dark.

“Thanks for today, Alessia.” He smiled and gave me the paper bags.

We’re already in front of my building and his car was parked on the side of the street and it seems like he had no plans of going to the parking lot to park his car.

“You don’t live here?” I asked.

“I do but I still need to go somewhere. As much as I want to carry the bags until your unit, I’m afraid we might bump into your boyfriend.” He laughed.

“Yeah. Yeah. I need to go.” I smiled.

He smiled too so I turned my back on him and sauntered my way towards the building.

“You look happy.” Grayson’s voice that suddenly appeared made me jolt.

I looked at my side to look at his direction and he’s leaning the side of his body against the wall beside the revolving door with both arms crossed.

“Oh. You’re already off work.”

He removed his body against the wall and shoved both of his hands inside his pockets.

“What’s with the cold look?” I asked with forehead knotted.

He sighed and stole the paper bags from me.

“In my unit. Now.” Then he turned his back on me.

I gulped.

Another punishment?

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