Wounded Hearts

"WHAT?!", I said, rather, screamed in a deafening way.

It wasn't intended to come out as a scream or anything but I couldn't control it.

I mean, who wouldn't scream if their mum told them over the phone that their family was reconciling with their lifelong arch enemy and a party was going to be thrown in regards to that.

I mouthed "I'm sorry" to the eyes who were glaring at me like I just interrupted their beautifully planned first kiss. Pfft.

I stepped out of the dressing room so I wouldn't attract anymore glare from Ellie, our supervisor or perhaps... manager. The little round woman's glare were such that could kill if it was possible.

"Mum, I'd have to call you back. I have a photo shoot session in a few minutes", as much as I wanted to hear this story to the end, I had to work and I had also exhausted the two minutes call break allocated to everyone of us.

"Call me when you're free"

"Sure',

I couldn't wrap my head around what mum just told me.

I mean, I grew up being taught how to hate the Asher whom I never met and only knew them through the stories I heard from my grandfather.

"They are never without selfish motives", as grandpa always said whenever he told me about them.

I was warned to avoid anyone that belonged to the Asher family.

That wasn't really much of an hassle because even though we lived in the same town, the Asher family were at the top of the social ladder while we were in the middle trying hard not to fall to the last part, as such, we had no reason to cross path. They never attended public events. They only sent in their donations. They didn't attend our town's highschool, they didn't attend our town's church either, so there was no way we were ever going to cross each other's path.

"You good?", Ellie, asked as I stepped into the dressing room causing everyone to focus their attention.

"Yeah, just-"

"We have no time, get to work", she said in her usual bored tone.

Typical Ellie!

She's all about work and barely give time for pleasantries or anything aside work, maybe that's why she's still single. Divorced. Whatever, the fact remains that she has no romantic partner.

"Alright, girls, go out there and shine", although that would have come out as an exciting statement had it been made by anyone else, but coming from Ellie, it sounded like a command.

We understood her nonetheless.

We were going to shoot a commercial for a new clothing brand that had just emerged and couldn't afford the big models, so they came for us, the upcoming models.

I didn't mind, really.

Modelling was my second best thing while business was my first. And although I graduated a year ago with honors from a prestigious business school, I decided to follow my heart and go into modelling.

After graduation, I took modelling classes where Ellie worked as an assistant instructor before she decided to quit and start up her own agency. She handpicked some of us who according to her "had the potential".

She became our instructor, supervisor, and manager. She has held our hands through this journey and although we're upcoming models, she set standards for us. We don't just accept any deal.

Everyone of us dreams of walking the big runways and becoming super models someday but I want to grow Ellie's agency. I see how much work she does to put us out there and I hope I can repay her someday.

"You doing well, Clara", Victor , my favorite photographer said as I dramatically peeled off the piece of clothing that was draped around my waist to showcase the fayrouz coloured bikini I wore which according to Ellie, matched with my light green eyes.

I smirked, as I blew kisses to the camera/him.

Victor and I have a very platonic relationship although people tend to believe otherwise.

He had confessed his feelings for me when we first met but I wasn't interested as I had just left a very toxic relationship.

It's been a year, girl.

I'm still not interested.

"Good job, girls. The bikini is all yours"

As if.

"You know you're amazing, right? I really can't wait to see you on the runway with the likes of Zendaya, and-"

"Zendaya is an actress not a model", I said to Victor who had slipped beside me as I was walking towards my beat up car.

It was his routine. Walk beside me after a session,tell me how amazing I am, tell me about how he would love to see me on the runway with the big models and he'll mention Zendaya which I'll have to remind him that she's an actress and not a model and he'll go ahead to ask me out on an ice cream date which I would gladly agree to and he'll continue talking until I get to my car and he'll hold the door open for me and kiss me goodbye on my cheek.

"Let's meetup for ice cream later. What do you say my lady?"

Sorry, not today, Victor.

"Victor, I hate to decline but I can't. I've got things to do. Hope you don't mind", I had to call mum and then get ready for work and I had little time. I didn't tell him all of that, though.

"Ohh. It's cool. We'll meet up some other time, then."

Although he tried to smile, I could see through him. He was disappointed.

Just like me, Victor had no friends. He didn't tell why and I refuse to make any guesses or push him to tell me.

We can't call each other friends as we've not really told each other things about ourselves. We're just acquaintances.

"Have a nice day, Clara. I have to meet up with the guys", he said when we had gotten to my car and turned to leave without opening the door or giving me my usual goodbye kiss. Weird.

As he turned to go, I couldn't resist the urge to hug him and so I did just what my heart wanted.

"I'm sorry, Victor", I said while hugging him from the back. He was stiff at first but slowly, he turned me around and hugged me back.

It was as if fireworks went off in my stomach. I felt goosebumps all over my body. My face felt hot.

Jeeez.

This wasn't the first time I was hugging Victor, so I couldn't exactly understand what I was feeling.

"I really wanted your company today. But it's totally fine if you can't make it, I'll-"

"My schedule is clear, Victor.", why I cleared my schedule, I don't know but I want to believe it's out of guilt.

Guilt?

"You're sure?", it seemed like he had more to say but decided to stop there.

"Thank you, Clara.", he said as he turned on his heels to leave and then, as if he forgot something, he turned back as swiftly as possible and gave me a kiss on my cheek and then he left in a half run.

I couldn't help the smile that lingered on my face as I watched Victor leave.

He's so cute, I must admit.

Woah. Did I just admit that Victor is cute?

Before I delved into my wild world of fantasy, my phone pinged.

Don't believe the news until you hear from me - Mom.