A Holiday to Remember [18+] Chris & Valentine

CHAPTER-10

* * CONTINUED FLASHBACK * *

* * Valentine's POV * *

"My God, Anne, are these outfits even appropriate? Are you seriously expecting me to go out looking like this?" I asked in disbelief, staring at myself in the mirror while we were in the changing room. My reflection felt like a stranger. I was wearing a skirt so short it barely covered anything, paired with a crop top that exposed my stomach completely. Anne had even insisted on sticking a fake belly piercing on me, claiming it would make me look more appealing. On top of that, my face was caked with almost a kilo of makeup—I could hardly recognize myself beneath all the layers.

"What are you even saying, Val? This is standard attire in a place like this," Anne replied nonchalantly while adjusting her hair in the mirror, looking perfectly at ease. "Besides, you need to wear that. Let me remind you, this is the kind of work you signed up for tonight—and honestly, it’s not even a big deal for me because I’ve been doing this for a while now. But for you? This is your first time. You have no choice but to dress like this if you want to catch the attention of a rich guy willing to pay big bucks. You want that money for your family, don’t you?" she said, her tone practical yet firm.

I exhaled deeply, the weight in my chest growing heavier with every word she said. I glanced at my reflection again and shook my head. I looked nothing like the girl I knew myself to be. This wasn’t me. It felt like I was betraying my own identity, putting on a facade, and stepping into a role I never imagined I’d have to play.

Still, I couldn’t argue with Anne. She was right, after all. My family needed the money. My brother was lying in a hospital bed, and we didn’t have enough to cover the bills. I had exhausted every other option. I didn’t have the luxury to hesitate or feel ashamed now. I clenched my fists and swallowed hard, convincing myself that this was just one night. Just one night, and then I could go back to being me—Valentine, the simple girl trying her best to survive.

Anne placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me a reassuring smile. "You’ll be fine, Val. Just follow my lead, and you’ll get through this. Remember, we’re doing this for something bigger. This isn’t about you—it’s about your family."

I nodded, forcing a small smile to show I understood, even if my heart felt like it was being crushed. My reflection in the mirror no longer mattered. What mattered was getting through the night and securing what I needed for my family.

"Oh, where are you going?" Anne asked, her tone full of curiosity as she watched me grab my small bag containing a few makeup essentials. I was about to walk toward the bathroom when she spoke again.

"I'm just going to tone down this makeup," I replied, trying to smile even though frustration was evident in my voice. "It's way too thick—what if this becomes the reason I don’t make any money tonight? I already look like a clown." I glanced at myself in the mirror again and shook my head. I couldn’t stand how I looked right now.

"Don’t be silly, Val. It suits you even if it’s thick," Anne said with a laugh, trying to lighten the mood. She wasn’t wrong; we still looked good despite the heavy makeup. But I still felt uncomfortable. It felt like a mask, weighing down my face and making it hard to breathe.

"Anne, I’m just not comfortable," I said firmly. "I just need to tone it down a little. I don’t want to look ridiculous in front of people later. But don’t worry, I won’t ruin the look." I avoided prolonging the conversation, not wanting to argue or waste more time. Anxiety was already creeping up on me, and I didn’t want to dwell on it.

"Alright, but just a little, okay? And be quick about it," she reminded me, glancing at her watch. "It’s almost 11, Val. Customers are already outside. I don’t want to keep waiting for you. If you want to make money tonight, you better be on time."

"Yeah, yeah, I’ll be quick," I said, hurrying toward the bathroom. My heart was pounding, my nerves threatening to take over, but I tried to push it all down. I just needed to rinse my face a little, lighten up the makeup, and feel a bit more like myself again.

As I splashed water on my face, Anne’s words echoed in my mind. She was right—this was just one night, one sacrifice for my family. But no matter how many times I reminded myself of that, the heaviness in my chest didn’t go away. After reapplying lighter makeup, I took a deep breath and looked at myself in the mirror again.

"You’ve got this, Val. This is for them," I whispered to myself. My hands trembled as I packed up my bag, but I forced myself to push through. I had to face tonight with courage, even if deep down, I still couldn’t fully accept it.

"In fairness, Val. You really look better and prettier with just a little makeup," Anne complimented me as I returned to the changing room.

"See? I told you, less is more when it comes to makeup," I replied with a smile.

"Well, you're right about that," she said, but her expression turned serious. "But, you know, there's a reason why I prefer wearing heavy makeup," she added softly.

"What’s your reason for liking heavy makeup?" I asked, curious about her sudden change in tone.

"It’s because, with this thick makeup, I feel like I can hide the innocent version of myself behind this job," she admitted, her voice tinged with sadness. "It’s like a shield. I also feel like, when the morning comes and I’m no longer wearing this kind of makeup, my customers wouldn’t recognize me if they saw me on the street."

I stayed silent for a moment, watching her as she sat in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. I could feel the weight of her words and the emotions behind them. Slowly, I walked toward her and hugged her from behind, holding her firmly but gently, hoping to let her know that she wasn’t alone.

"You know, Anne, I really admire you, even if this is the path you’ve chosen," I said, still embracing her. "Because I can see how much you love your family. You’re willing to do whatever it takes, no matter how hard or painful, just to help them. Not everyone can do that," I added, looking at her reflection in the mirror with a warm smile.

"Okay, enough with the drama," she said, trying to sound cheerful as she tilted her head back, clearly trying to stop the tears from falling. "Come on! It’s getting late, and we need to go."

I smiled as she stood up, her usual energy returning, though I knew deep down she was still carrying a heavy burden. She grabbed my hand, and together, we walked out of the changing room, ready to face whatever the night had in store for us.