5
1458 Words
Despite the heavy makeup Hazel had been wearing earlier, nothing could hide the spark in her expression or the youthful glow radiating from her eyes. Even when she tried to look older, rebellious, or intimidating, her natural softness refused to be dimmed. Standing beside Logan Wesley, however, the contrast between them was so striking that it immediately drew attention.
Hazel looked vibrant, warm, and impossibly young. Logan looked mature, cold, and formidable, his posture straight and aura calm but sharp like frost forming on steel. Their differences were so dramatic that the staff member behind the desk kept glancing at them with a helpless kind of disbelief. Hazel felt a small sting of embarrassment but kept her chin up, refusing to show weakness.
When the clerk asked their final confirmation question, Hazel instinctively turned her head toward Logan. She wanted reassurance, though she would never admit it aloud. And to her surprise, he was also looking at her.
Their gazes locked.
Something faint flickered behind his dark eyes, something not quite cold this time. A hint of playfulness, hidden deeply, almost like a secret escaping before he could catch it. His lips lifted very subtly, not a smile, but close enough to make Hazel’s heart skip.
“Are you scared,” he asked quietly, but there was a teasing undertone that slipped through the coolness of his voice.
Hazel felt a strange flutter inside her chest, something warm and unfamiliar. She immediately shook it away, refusing to let the feeling linger. She straightened up and lifted her chin defiantly, refusing to be intimidated or mocked.
“Hmph. I am not scared of anything,” she declared like a tiny warrior trying to intimidate a dragon.
Before she had time to think, her hand moved and she wrapped her fingers around Logan’s arm, holding onto him as if proving her own words. The moment her fingers touched him, she felt his muscles tense beneath her grip. Hard. Solid. Warm. Far too real.
Logan lowered his gaze slowly, looking down at their intertwined arms with a quiet expression Hazel could not read at all. He seemed thoughtful, distant even, as if the sight of her holding onto him meant something he did not care to explain.
Hazel bit her lip nervously, unsure whether to let go. But he did not pull his arm away. For some reason, that tiny detail made her chest tighten.
A few minutes later, the clerk handed them their stamped forms, sealing the final step of their sudden marriage. The moment the paperwork was done, the staff pointed upward.
“Please proceed to the second floor for your wedding photos,” he said.
Hazel nodded and followed Logan toward the staircase. The hall echoed softly as their footsteps ascended together. It felt surreal. Just hours ago she had been crying in her room, terrified of being forced to marry a man she despised. Now she was walking beside a cold, mysterious stranger she had chosen instead.
At the top of the stairs, the photography room was brightly lit, decorated with a simple red backdrop and a camera mounted on a tripod. The photographer, a middle aged woman wearing glasses, glanced at Hazel’s appearance and immediately frowned.
“This makeup cannot be used for a wedding photo,” she said firmly. “You look like you are attending a rock concert, not a marriage registration.”
Hazel’s cheeks heated in embarrassment. She felt Logan’s gaze on her again and wanted to hide. The staff member continued speaking with authority.
“You must remove it. All of it. Wedding photos must be clean and natural. Please go to the restroom and wash your face.”
Hazel blinked, slightly stunned. “All of it…?”
“Yes. Everything.”
Hazel hesitated for a moment, then nodded obediently. “All right. I will do it.”
She stepped toward the restroom, but before entering, she cast a small glance over her shoulder. Logan was standing calmly in the corner with his hands in his pockets, expression unreadable. Hazel’s heart squeezed faintly. Would he recognize her without makeup? Would he think she looked too young then? Would he regret agreeing?
She shook off the thoughts quickly and pushed open the restroom door.
Inside, the bright lights reflected harshly off the mirrors. Hazel stared at her face for a moment. The thick eyeliner, the heavy lipstick, the messy shadow all rubbed off quickly under the warm water and soap. She watched in the mirror as her natural face emerged.
Five minutes later, the makeup was gone.
She stepped back and looked at her reflection. Her oval face was fair and soft, with delicate features and a natural glow. Her thick lashes curled beautifully without needing mascara, fluttering slightly when she blinked. Beneath them were her large, clear black eyes that always gave away her emotions no matter how hard she tried to hide them. Her lips were naturally rosy, her nose small and straight, her cheeks smooth and gentle.
Hazel suddenly felt nervous.
This was her real face. This was her real self. No armor, no shield, no disguise. She wondered what Logan would think when he saw her like this. Would he think she was too childish? Too innocent? Too young to be standing next to him in a marriage photo?
She took a deep breath, patted her cheeks lightly for courage, and stepped out of the restroom.
The moment she emerged, the photographer who had been preparing the equipment froze in place.
“Oh my goodness,” the woman blurted under her breath.
Hazel felt her cheeks warm. She walked forward shyly, unaware of how much her appearance had changed the atmosphere. Her earlier rebellious aura had completely disappeared. In its place was a soft, gentle beauty that could easily capture anyone’s attention.
Her long dark lashes fluttered naturally, and her clear eyes sparkled like stars reflecting in water. Her hair, now free of gel and smudged makeup, framed her face elegantly. She looked young, yes, but in a beautiful, pure way that made her stand out.
Logan, who had been standing silently in the corner, slowly turned to look at her.
His gaze stopped.
His eyes locked onto her face.
For a moment, he did not move. Did not blink. Did not speak.
Hazel felt her heart thump painfully as she walked closer. His stare was different this time. No coldness. No suspicion. No calculation. Something subtle flickered behind his eyes, something she could not name. Surprise. Realization. Something deeper.
He looked at her like someone seeing a completely different person.
Hazel cleared her throat awkwardly. “I removed the makeup. Like they said.”
The photographer nodded quickly, finally regaining her voice. “Good. Good. Much better. You look perfect for the photos now. Both of you, please stand together.”
Hazel stood beside Logan nervously, holding her hands in front of her. She could feel the heat of his body next to hers. He was tall, broad, warm, and entirely too close. Her heart pounded faster each second.
“Closer,” the photographer said.
Hazel inched a little closer.
“Closer,” the photographer repeated with a sigh.
Hazel blushed and stepped until her shoulder lightly brushed his arm. Logan’s posture stiffened for a moment, as if surprised by the soft contact. Hazel lowered her gaze shyly.
Logan’s voice lowered quietly beside her. “You look… different.”
Hazel’s heart skipped. “In a bad way?”
He paused. “No.”
Hazel swallowed her nervousness.
The photographer lifted the camera. “Smile.”
Hazel smiled. Not too big. Just enough.
Logan did not smile.
The photographer frowned. “Sir, you need to look less like you are attending a funeral.”
Hazel bit her lip to stop herself from laughing. Logan slowly exhaled, barely curving the corners of his mouth. It was not a smile. But it was less cold.
The camera clicked.
Hazel blinked, staring at Logan’s faint expression. Something warm bloomed inside her chest. For a moment, she forgot this was a marriage born from desperation. For a moment, she forgot it was temporary.
The photographer pointed to the screen. “Look. This came out beautifully.”
Hazel leaned forward.
In the photo, she looked soft, bright, and happy. Logan looked calm and controlled, only slightly less cold than before. Together, they looked like a mismatched pair that strangely fit. A warm spark beside cool ice.
Hazel stared longer than she meant to.
Logan glanced at her. “Is something wrong.”
She shook her head quickly. “No. Just… surprised.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Surprised by what.”
Hazel lowered her gaze.
“That we actually look like a couple.”
- Writer
