Beauty Under the Lens

CHAPTER 10

Amanda's POV

It feels like all my emotions are overflowing, and I don't know what to prioritize. I shouldn't be there when I could possibly cause disgrace to my family. The reactions from people online are evidence enough that I do not fit the Velarde frame.

Amanda Callie:

Guys, I'm done for the night. I'm resting here in my room. Headache.

Maybe I don't just rank first in the most embarrassing person department, I also rank first in the lying department.

I want some fresh air. Maybe I should go to the hotel's gardens. It's nice to hang out there. Aside from the cool breeze at night, I'm sure no one will disturb me and pay attention to me there.

Before I could even touch the door of the comfort room, someone else opened it. It's a woman, obviously. I assume she's one of the guests since she's wearing a dress, but I don't recognize her.

"Hi, Amanda!" she greeted with a smile.

"Uh... hi?" How did she recognize me? I guess she's one of the people on the internet who gossips and sees photos of me.

She reached out her hand to me. "I'm one of your mom's friends and I just want to ask a few questions about her."

My mom has never introduced us before, so I'm not sure whether I should believe her. Plus, she wants to ask me a question which made her more suspicious. Is she a journalist who gate crashed, pretending to be a friend?

"You don't believe me, do you?" she raised her eyebrow.

My face blushed because it seems like she can read my thoughts.

She chuckled and got something from her purse. She opened her phone and clicked on something. After scrolling, she showed me her phone.

It was a photo of her and my mom, but they looked younger.

"We haven't seen each other for so long. I'm about to surprise her tonight. So, how's your mom? Still looking beautiful?"

I was reluctant but answered anyway. "Yeah, a lot."

"Still a perfectionist, I guess? I had a glimpse of the party and it's so much like her parties before. But of course, it's more elegant now since it's more modern."

I nodded. "My mom is always like that, she's an expert in that field."

She smiled and shook her head. "Is she a good mom? I was supposed to be your 'ninang' (godmother) but I had to fly to another country."

"She's good at it," I responded, "parenting, I mean."

She nodded. "Hmm... okay," she pulled out a tissue from the dispenser and wiped her newly washed hands. "I just arrived at the party. Should we go inside together?"

"No, thank you. I'll also go up to my room. I'm feeling a bit unwell."

The gardens looked like those of the estate or the palace. They were maze-like, with shaped grass as walls. There were benches, lights, and vibrant shaded flowers.

"Oh look, I still have this camera on me," I giggled. I wasn't able to return it to him completely because of his sudden offer to dance.

Would he find it intrusive if I take a peek at the photos he has captured? Surely not, I mean, his photos get published in photo journals.

There were candid photos of Filipino people working together, smiling, laughing at each other, and doing mundane things. This was the one that earned him a winning piece last year. I loved that piece. It was about the Filipino's ability to find joy in little things. Filipino people are known for their resilience, still offering the sweetest smiles in the midst of struggles. People often mistake resilience for weakness, thinking they are avoiding problems. What Asher showed in his piece is that Filipinos aren't just smiling through their difficult lives. They're smiling because they have people around them, it's a sign of hope. Because it is through these people that we gain the strength to fight, to think of other ways, and try again.

He also had photos of models he was taking. They own a modeling and talent company. They're almost as big as Elite Modeling Management. I think he works as a photographer in their company in his spare time. I am amazed by the expressions of the models. They're like not even trying. Their outfits and concept setups are also delightful. You'll see the mold of their bodies as the clothes hug their curves.

It would be nice to be able to wear a variety of clothes. If I were fairer and more beautiful, I would surely be able to flaunt these outfits as well as they do. It's like enchanting the lenses of the camera as you gaze into it and it focuses on you. I tried copying one of the poses. I angled my limbs just enough to form a triangle between my legs. I then tried another pose, crossing my right leg in front of my left leg with my hip slightly tilted to the right.

My giggles echoed in the garden because I was alone. Maybe I could be a model, with non-living things as my audience. At least I don't get negative reactions. They're my silent viewers. I tried to place the camera on one of the stones, I'll take a photo of myself just to see. Then when I realized I don't know how this camera works, I just took out my phone instead.

"Want me to take your photos?"

"Oh my god!" I almost jumped from the voice that interrupted my little business.

He crossed his arms with his mouth twitching. When did he stand there? Stay away, Amanda Callie. Find an escape route! I searched for his camera and handed it back to him. Maybe the reason he was looking for me was because I still had it. This is too important to him, I feel.

He blocked my way so I collided with his chest. I gasped and looked up at him.

"Stop escaping me, Amanda Callie. I won't bite, and I'm not poisonous," he said with a slight grin. "They said you had a headache. I came searching for you, and here you are, being the opposite of your reason."

I sighed, feeling guilty. My eyes went everywhere but him.

"I-I'm not avoiding you," I reasoned, but it seemed he didn't accept it.

"Then stop running away when I'm around," he said in a deep baritone.

Even my motives can't go unnoticed by this man. What else will he not know about me? It's like I'm an open book to him.

"Okay, then," I replied quietly. I turned to face the garden to look at it again. The moon was full and the stars were shining brightly. They were more visible than ever.

I heard the click of Asher's camera, which made me suddenly turn around and look at him.

With my questioning eyes, "Why did you do that?" I ran towards him and tried to grab the camera, which he quickly lifted out of my reach. I couldn't reach it due to our height difference.

I glared at him. "Give me that, Asher."

He looked amused. "My offer still stands. I could take your photo. My camera is better than your phone."

"Why do you like taking my picture so much? I'm not a good subject. Your camera might even get infected."

He smirks. "So, I can have something to laugh at when I feel down," his voice taunted.

"Tss! I'll beat you and Jasper up," I rolled my eyes at him.

But at the back of my mind, I really did want to see how I looked like on camera. And Asher seems to sense that my protests are half-hearted because he once again offered.

"Really? You'll be my..." A sneaky smile slipped my lips, "... photographer?"

He smiled at my question. I just implicitly gave in to what he wanted to do.

"Where do I stand?" I asked. I was still walking around looking for a spot.

"What kind of photo do you want?" he asks in return.

"Hmm..." I hummed. "I want a candid one. As if I'm just playing around the garden. Can you do that?" pure enthusiasm was evident in my voice.

He nodded. "Yeah. Just try doing what you want to do. You can dance around."

"Then it will be chaotic!" I complained.

"I'll handle it," he assures me.

There's probably nothing he can't do so I'll just do what he wants to happen. I danced like I was playing in the fields. I glided and twirled. The wind embraced me as I did this, causing a gentle laugh to escape from me. Asher's camera kept capturing what I was doing and I didn't know if Asher was getting good shots. He knelt down to my southeast as he took the last photo.

"So, how was it?" I was excited to see how my photos turned out. I wasn't model material but at least I tried.

He smirked proudly as he looked at the photos. "Yeah, it's good."

I peeked at his camera. He handed it to me so I wouldn't have a hard time in my position. I beamed as I saw my photo. I looked like a princess dancing in her palace garden. There were photos where I had my eyes closed while welcoming the kiss of the wind. My arms spread wide. Then the last shot was of my dress twirling. My dress was beautifully swayed by the wind. My hands were placed on my sides. I looked back at him while facing away, the moon was over my head. The results of the photos showed his talent. Good thing I was wearing make-up, I looked better in the camera. When I looked back up at him to thank him, he was staring at me. His eyes sparkled as he watched me be mesmerized by the photos.

Slowly, my smile faded. "Asher?"

"Hmm?" his eyes were back to being serious.

"Thank you," I said in a calm tone.

"You'd be a great model," he said, not acknowledging my thanks.

I almost burst into laughter at what he said.

"I was just carried away by your talent, Asher. I might as well take some glutathione and go to Korea to have fairer skin," I laughed.

"Maybe that would work."

"Well, what will you be?" he asked.

"Makeup artist, obviously."

It was no longer difficult to answer that question. Makeup is where I excel. Maybe I had other dreams. But fate says I could only take myself here. Being a makeup artist is a great job. They're one of the forces behind every successful photoshoot, movies, and even events.

The makeup looks I'll do will serve as my support to the person. Makeup has ultimately contributed to everyone's confidence boost.

"I want women to be confident in themselves. So proud and love themselves more. And if makeup does that, then I'll give them that service. When you're talented at something, you utilize the skill to help others. And this is my way of helping others."

In the time we spent here in the garden, I suddenly realized that my sister is celebrating her birthday. And Asher is not there.

"Aren't you going back inside? Mama might be looking for you."

He shook his head. "I hate parties. Too noisy and a lot of people are there."

I rubbed my arms to warm myself up. "I'll go back."

His stance shifted. He adjusted his tuxedo and put his camera around his neck. "Let's head back in then. It's cold out here."

He took off his coat and wrapped it around my shoulders.