Runway of Heartstring

Start

"Miss the instructor's outside." Our old maid entered my room.

I glanced at her with my teary eyes. My mom turned her back and stared at the poor scared maid. Her lips formed into a timid smile. 

"I will be outside, you may leave now."

She flicked her fingers and the maid scurried to leave. My door shut close again and I hugged my stuffed princess even tighter. My mom made her way beside my bed and sat down. My quiet sobs made me gasp for air.

"Now, I will be downstairs to talk to your instructor. I expect that you will be all dressed up once I come back here." She sternly said. 

My confused eyes graced her face. "Why?"

"Well, since you're being a brat, I would be the one instructing you today. Now get up and get dressed, your maid will be here after I leave. Come along, stand up Elle." 

She held my arms, grabbed my stuffed toy and pulled me up. My weak body followed immediately, I stood up, feet shaking and hands sweating from all the crying. 

"Dry your tears, Elle." 

She wiped my tears with her hands, I watched as she do that. She smiled at me after she was finished. 

"Beautiful, my darling."

She stood up from my bed, her heels clicking on my marbled floor. She turned her back on me and walked towards my door. She grasped my gold door handles and opened my white humungous doors. She took one last glance before walking away. I can still hear her heels clicking, I grabbed my stuffed toy that fell on my floor, I put it on top of mu bed and walked inside my bathroom. I've been doing my own thing since I was six, I have maids with me still but most of the time it's just me who's taking care of myself. I don't mind though, I'm homeschooled so it's not hard for me to take care of myself. 

While I was in the middle of my showering, I heard my doors close. It must be my maid. I quickly rinsed myself and grabbed my pink towel that wrapped my tiny body perfectly. I hopped out of the shower and out of the bathroom. My smiling maid greeted me, she is sitting on my pink sofa with clothes on both her hands. 

"Come along, Elle. Your mother is almost done talking with you instructor."

She stood up and I went near her. I took my clothes from her and went inside my dressing room. After putting the dress on, I stared at myself on the mirror. I was always told that I am a bit tall for my age, I kind of agree though. The other eight year olds are a bit smaller and has bigger built than me. While I am, petite and tall. Just like my mom. 

I twirled around and giggled at myself. My pink flowy dress, white socks and pink doll shoes matched my pink headband so much. I look like a Princess, as my mom would always say. 

"Elle, are you done? Come outside now." I glanced at my door. 

I took one last glance on myself, my eyes are a bit puffy from all the crying, still. I shook my head and skipped outside of the room. I opened the door and both my maid and my mom are outside. 

My smile faded a bit but came back when my mom smiled at me. She must have liked the clothes. 

"Let's go." 

My pale little hand was held perfectly by her petite and thin hand. The cold feeling of her diamond ring made me shiver as we walked outside of my room. My maid followed us from behind. The busy corridor of our upstairs welcomed me, maids from here and there are scattered and are cleaning the floor, walls and antiques.

They all bowed to my mom as we walked down our black grand staircase, I can already hear the commotion from the west wing of our house. It might be my dad's employees or his bodyguards. I looked up to my mom and then back to the floor. 

"Your dad and his employees are very loud, I've come to tell them to pipe down a dozen of times already but they just won't listen, no bother though, it won't be heard in the ballroom."

I nodded. My dad and his employees aren't here much often but when they are, they tend to make lots of noise. It's fun hearing them though because when it's just my dad, mom, and I, the house would be very quiet. Which is very often. 

"Your playhouse will arrive from the mall later, after our routine then you may play with it. But only within the vicinity of our mansion." She looked down from me. 

I felt my heart boomed, I smiled widely and  jumped a bit. I am now very motivated to do good on my routine and practice. My mother's faint smile made me giggle. We made it in front of two large doors. Beside it are two maids, both are bowing and slowly opening the doors. The quiet ballroom welcomed us. If this was any other day then I would just sulk around and do as I am told without motivation, but since I have something to expect after all of this, I am excited to do everything. 

Even if  I hate playing the piano and practicing my walk. 

My mom sat down on our red couch, she took the wine glass with red wine in it and took a sip on it. I stood in front of her, fixed my posture and smiled at her. She looked at me seriously. Using her wine glass she motioned me to walk. My legs were trembling with fear as I stood and tried my best to walk as gracefully as I can. I couldn't tell if I messed up or not, I just continued walking and reviewing her every word in my head. I finished roaming the whole ballroom, the clicking sound of my doll shoes stopped, I stood in front of my mom again waiting for her to say something. 

"Your posture, Elle. You're slouching quite a bit but it's overall okay. The media won't mind it anymore when we go outside." 

I licked my lips and nodded at her. I did a good job, I just have to stand properly a bit more. I held my lower waist and arched my back. I wiggled my shoulder and did the posture my mom wanted, a princess like posture. Just like what I see on the cartoons that I watch, where the princess is very prim and proper. 

"Now go on and show me what you learned from your instructor yesterday, I heard she taught you a new song, have you memorize it already?"

My eyes immediately shot down, I don't think I did. 

"I can only remember half of it, Mommy." My voice sounded sweet but scared.

I can remember a few notes from the very end of the song but I can't play the rest of the ending part. I was too pre-occupied with day dreaming about princesses and mermaids. I heard my mom's scoff, she fixed her hair and looked at me sternly. I fiddled with my fingers to release the fear, I can't look at her in the eye because I know that she will scold me. Even my maid who is with us is now very silent. I bit my lip.

I guess I'm not getting that playhouse anymore, I pouted a bit. I really want to play with my new dolls. 

She cleared her throat. "Very well, it's not like I can expect so much from you. Just play half of the song or what you know, what ever." 

Her voice laced with disappointment and sarcasm. I took a deep breath turned my back and walked to our grand piano. My maid hurriedly opened it for me. I ran my finger through every keys of the piano. I smiled as I replay the song and notes in my mind. I have to perfect this. 

The notes of Lavender's Blue graced out of my fingers perfectly. The soft mellow melody of the piano made my little feet swing back and forth. I pursed my lip as I start to review the notes again as I'm nearing the chorus. I tried to remember it but I ended at the very last note of the chorus. My breathing was heavy as I looked at my serious mother. Her ponytailed hair is now down. It exposed her natural curls, just like mine. She started to nod at me. I can't really tell if she's happy with what I did but she look pleased. I hope she'll still let me play the playhouse that she got me. 

"It was good, an easy song but you played it nicely. Although as it is an easy song I was expecting that you'll learn it a bit shorter and easier but I guess I expected too much. I want to hear you perfect that song tomorrow though, some media will be in our house for your father's birthday. They will be there to film you playing the piano, I do not want to be humiliated when you make a mistake while on live TV. That would ruin my reputation. Understood?"

She stood up leaving the glass wine on the table.

"Yes, Mommy." I replied softly. 

She raised her eyebrow and turned her back at me. She stopped midway to talk to my maid and them completely left me in the ballroom. I looked at our maid and was asking to come near me. My eyes are glistening with sadness and fear, she might told her that I can't play with the playhouse anymore. My maid hurriedly ran to me and gently tucked my hair behind my ear. She held my hand and gently smiled at me. 

"Don't worry she said that you can play with the playhouse after you rest. You have to sleep on your room first before you can play, she allowed you, Elle." Her voice was careful and mellow. 

I wanted to jump with happiness but the only thing that I can reply is a giggle. I can't wait to wake up in my nap and play with my new toy. I bet it would be fit for a princess! Just like me.

"Do you think it will suit me?"

My almond eyes twinkled, I can only imagine how good it will look later. Mommy always gives me the prettiest toys, she said its because it's what's meant for me. 

"Very much it will, Elle." She booped my nose and I giggled. 

We went back to my room with my enthusiastic skipping. She tucked me in my bed and sat beside me. 

"Rest well, princess." Her hands graced my forehead. 

I felt as if I was floating and quickly drifted to sleep. All I heard was her faint footsteps before I was taken to dreamland again. 

The rustling of my bed sheets made me cringe, I hugged my stuffed toy and tried to cover my face. My body feels numb and heavy, I don't want to stand up but someone is pulling me to. I purposely put my weight on my entire back to avoid being pulled out of my bed. I still have a petite and small frame but she struggled with pulling me. I can hear her groans and grunts. 

"Elle, come on, it's time to play with your playhouse. It's here."

There, I was awake. 

"Where?" 

She laughed. "You silly goose. You were so hard to wake up."

"I was tired, my body feels numb." I poked my arms and pouted. "It's like I don't want to leave my bed."

"We all have those days, princess. Now get up. It's all been set by the delivery guy a while ago. Oh, it's really pretty, Elle! It suits you very much."

I quickly stood up from my bed. My hands went automatically to my hair. I fixed it and my curls fell down naturally on my waist. I searched for any particles on my face and fixed my crumpled dress. I smiled widely at my maid. 

"Really? What does it look like?!" I stopped. "Oh, no, wait, don't tell I want to see it on my own." I shook my head.

She giggled and held my hand.

"Well come on now if that's what you want." 

We both made our way down. We took a right turn and we went back to the end part of the house. The glass doors welcomed us, and out there is a castle like playhouse. It has pink towers on both side and lavender in front. It is bigger and taller than me. There are toys and dolls scattered on the floor and dresses hanging on my little coffee table. I looked up to my maid and smiled widely, my eyes laced with amusement and joy. 

"It's so pretty!"

"Just like you." She booped my nose, yet again. 

I let go of her hand and slid the glass doors away. The warm breeze touched my skin. The sky is almost turning orange as the sun is setting. Some of my hair flew with the warm breeze. I quickly picked up a doll, I giggled when I realized that the doll has the exact same features as me. Mom might had it customized. for me. I looked up at the castle. It is very huge for me. 

I entered the castle door and the inside is the size of my comfort room! It's very big! I can fit all of my dolls here, there's even a little bed I can sleep on the corner of the castle. I quickly got into action mode and played with my imagination. My mind wandered to all different stories and plot about princesses. 

I didn't even realize the time, I was at my zone. Enjoying my alone time and my toys. My body felt sore, I stood from where I was sitting. I skipped to the little pink bed covered with blush pink sheets and decorated with white pillows and unicorn plushies. 

"Looks so comfy." I whispered to myself as I ran my hand through the soft sheets.

I hugged my doll tight and yawned. My eyelids are slowly closing on its own. I don't understand how I'm this sleepy again when I just slept a while ago. But nonetheless, I started to lay down the bed, snuggled myself on the thick comforter and hugged my doll. I felt my lips form a smile before I drifted to sleep again.

"Elle! Oh my goodness, Elle! You're too old for this! You can barely fit in that bed, get up!" 

My face immediately turned red. Mom.. 

"Come on, up! Up! Gosh this girl." She grabbed my hand. My phone slipped from my hand so I had no choice but to stand and let her know that I am now awake from all her screaming. 

I sat down, my hair was in a bun when I arrived here a while ago but it's now down and my curls became more defined because of it. I ran my fingers through it to fix my appearance, I searched for some particles in my face before I sat properly and fixed my posture. I faced my mom who's now staring at me with her burning eyes. She has her phone on her left hand and is holding a wine glass on the right. Her black dress highlighted her pale skin which made her look cold. I kept my composure.

"Goodness you, we've been finding you for about an hour now. We have some things to settle before we send you to you senior high school. Oh gosh.." She gagged at what she said. "I hate that word, anyway, you have to get up and fix yourself. You don't look very respectable right now. Fix yourself, your father and I will wait for you on our dining room."

I answered only with a nod. Her brows furrowed. 

"And when I say fix yourself, I mean it. And hurry up, we don't have time to wait for you and your shenanigans." 

"Yes, Mom." 

Her stern stare was replaced with the serious and authority filled one. She started to strut out of my little playhouse. She can barely fit on the little door of my playhouse. Her heels made its familiar clicking sound when she walked out. I took a deep breath when I can no longer hear her footsteps. I checked my phone, there were no new notification but on some social media apps that are ran by my mother. I turned my phone off and stared at the small bed. I don't really know how I managed to sleep in this a while ago. All I can remember was being too tired from the runway practice that I immediately ran here when we got back home. 

I stood up and made the bed. All the bed sheet and pillowcases here right now are still the some ones that I had years ago when my mom first bought this playhouse. I didn't want to change anything from it since it's my only comfort when things get so hard in the modelling world. 

Because my mom refuses to use my privilege as her daughter, so instead of getting casted on a show in just a snap, I actually have to audition and work hard for it. Not that I'm complaining though I know that I should be fair with the other models. 

I looked at my knee length cream colored cotton dress. The little flowers on it matched my pearl and gold accessories. Even the slightly puffed sleeves of the dress fit me perfectly. I looked around to find the white heels that I was wearing a while ago. I saw it sitting on the table filled with dolls. I shrugged and fixed my hair, I grabbed my phone to look at my face. My light make up hasn't faded yet so I'm good to go. I put my phone on the pocket of my dress and wore my heels. I took one last glance on my playhouse before closing its door and having to compose myself again. 

One sharp breath, fixed posture, chin up, hands delicately swinging, and an elegant walk.

The cold night air did not even make me shiver, I just put on my faint smile and I'm ready to go. 

Like the Elle Lim that I am.