CHAPTER 43

A few days later, I was all over social media. I and Connor's photoshoot. I found myself admiring the clean editing. The black and white and how harmonious the photos looked and blended. And most especially the way my fears and anxiety had not been captured in any of the frames. In its place was a strong resilient Asian model with slim-thick curves, dominating the photoshoot as if she owned it. I smiled in pride at how my faux confidence could take me anywhere I wanted to be. Although this time, I gave it all to Connor. He had been my support system and had helped me coax my insecurities and imperfections. I had leaned on him and he had kept me standing tall and strong.
And all over social media.
People had tagged us the #couplegoals #Arinor. I almost laughed at the absurd name. Whoever had shipped our names in the weirdest combination? But that didn't mean I did not find it any cute either. I read through some of the comments on my phone and almost choked at all the love and hate I was getting from people I never even knew existed before.
OMG! She is the real definition of B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! @siajay
My Asian sister is taking the spotlight. Go, girl! @ericluka
Duh! We all know him from the other girl. She's such a gold digger! @sadistquinn
Does anyone else notice just how much she looks like Bae Suzy??? @miadavison
I am obsessed with her eyes. I want a fox eye too, ya'all! @thatgirlkay
Isn't it strange that no one ever noticed her before? Where does she even come from? @mimiyoonie
Omg! They're the perfect couple! @rosiesu
Jessie would be so mad when she sees this. Lol. @miriamfaruk
She looks like Bae Suzy, ya'all. But the eyes!!! I am so obsessed! @viviejayjay
That day, I received a mail on Connor's doorstep.
For Ari. It had said.
When I tore the package open cautiously, I could see that it was a magazine that had a picture of me on the front cover. I gasped, stunned as I took in the photo Faris had taken of me that day at the agency.. Inside it was a short handwritten note that I slowly picked and examined.
You are art.
Love, Faris.
My face smiled and my phone buzzed close to me. I slid the receiver and placed it to my ear without checking the caller's ID because of my attention on the magazine.
"Kenzie!" My ears vibrated at Jojo's high pitch shrill and I pulled the phone from my ear to allow myself to recover before putting them back again.
"What's up, Jojo?"
"Fuck, Kenzie! You are everywhere. Everyone on social media is talking about you."
I bit my lips "Yes....about that..."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
I rubbed a hand over my forehead.
"It wasn't planned. It just happened."
"Woah." Jojo gasped in awe. "My sister is an incoming celebrity."
Having enough of her dramatics, I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Goodbye, Jojo."
"Wait, Kenz..." But I already ended the call before she could say anything else. As much as this was an exciting experience, I wasn't feeling quite safe. This was a dangerous risk I was putting myself in. I was supposed to be keeping a low profile. Not portraying myself around as the next big thing.
When it was evening, while waiting for Connor to get back from the agency, I sat in the living room, rewatching sex and the city for the what? hundredth time? A bowl of Doritos was before me and I dipped my hand and stuffed them in my mouth as my attention drowned in the movie. My phone vibrated and buzzed again and I groaned lowly and picked up the phone. I examined the new number for a few seconds and slid the receiver, a frown on my face.
"Hello." I sounded grumpy but I did not care. Having any business with more people than I already did was not something I would like to engage myself in.
"Uh...hi?" An older woman's voice came, sounding strongly Asian. "Am I on to Ariana Seattle?"
"Yea." I shoved another bit of Doritos in my mouth and did not care a bit that I was munching on it, loud enough for the person at the other end of the line to hear.
"My name is Miranda Lee. I own a cosmopolitan magazine which features women of all diversity..."
"Uh...listen, if you are trying to get me to model for your magazine, I want to say that I am not the least interested. But thank you for your offer."
"No." The woman's gentle laugh came from the other end of the line. "I wasn't calling for any of that. It was just a boring ass introduction like most folks these days do. Don't worry. I find it boring too. I was calling to hear the voice of the girl who looks so much like my daughter. I was going to confirm if she had her voice too."
An instant wash of embarrassment covered me and I cleared my throat and shifted on my seat.
"Oh." I paused. "Do I sound like her?"
I could imagine her shaking her head as she answered, a bit of disappointment in her voice. "No."
"Oh. Alright."
"Do you think you might want to get coffee sometime?"
"Uh...I'm not sure. I barely even know you."
The woman's laugh comes again. A gentle almost quiet laugh that quite sounded like mine.
"Come on. It's just coffee. I won't bite."
"I uh...I..." For some reason, I could not say no. The guilt of disappointing someone I didn't know felt strange to me. Why was I even playing nice?
"Alright. Maybe we should get to know each other better before planning any physical meetup then. What do you think about it?"
I admired her convincing powers and how they had worked on me like magic. Or maybe it was just me because I needed no convincing as I was already smitten, eager to please a total stranger I did not know about.
"Okay."
"Thank you for your time, Ari. I shall speak to you soon. Do have a lovely day." She ended the call and I was quite taken aback by her level of informalities and how she had gone straight for my first name.
Was she someone I knew or someone I was supposed to know?
I heard the door creak open and as Connor's tall frame came into view, I quickly adjusted myself on the sofa, casting a quick look at the pair of shorts I was wearing. I cringed inwardly and felt like I was about to be swallowed into the ground. What is it with this kind of shorts that were designed to have half of a butt on public display? And why was he home now? He was not supposed to be home now till late at night. That was what he had told me this morning.
"Hey, grumpy head." Connor walked in and frowned at my unmoving stoic position that was intended to hide my exposed butt cheeks. Thankfully, he took his eyes off me again and plopped his large frame on the cushion as his hands reached to loosen his tie.
"You are home early." I hoped my voice did not sound as shocked as I was.
He nodded, clueless about my discomfort. "Yea. Was having burnout. I need a break."
I mouthed an 'oh' and after a minute of silence, he added.
"Go dress up. We have somewhere to go to."
I frowned this time at his words.
Who did he think he was to boss me around?
Your employer.
"Where are we going?" I stifled the urge to protest and asked instead.
He stopped his action and angled his face to look at me closely, a slightly irritated look on his face.
"You always have to ask questions, don't you?"
I did not reply and he resumed taking off his tie.
"I want to go for a walk in the park. And I want you to come along."
I hardened my expression. My face looked as pissed as I was.
"Do you even care about what I want to?"
He set his face again and acted like he was in deep thought.
"Uh....no." An annoying smile crossed his face and I curled my fist in a ball.
I hate him.
"You have no sense of humility."
He stood up and began to walk upstairs. "Honey, humility isn't quite one of my few virtues." He said with a grin and added.
"Five minutes, Kenz. Five minutes. And please wear something casual and decent that doesn't expose those round sexy butt of yours."
I gasped and threw a pillow at him but he ducked and it merely missed his head by an inch. He laughed and ran off, his laughter trailing after him as he did so. This time, I groaned loudly and felt the urge to pull off my hair.
Why did he always have to be so annoying?