Film of Love

Two Worlds Seeks One Thing

The two girls find their way to the same looking shop from the Town’s library and it is not a surprise for Aryn to feel another feeling. No other words beside feeling, is just that she can fill-up the exact word to define what she is having. Dem on the other hand, is very far from what she is having as she excitedly holds the door and opens the wooden door of the said shoe shop.

The bell rang and an accountable chills went through Aryn’s spinal cord. The shop is made from wood, from its furniture to fixtures to its decoration, but don’t mind the shoes as it is not made of wood— it is made of pure leather.

“Nice shoes!” Dem said enthusiastically while holding a pair of wingtip oxfords in the shade of dark brown. “It is pure leather too, Aryn.”

Aryn looked at her but never talked. She is just looking at another pair of shoes displayed at its rack, absentmindedly. Some shoes were now full of dust, some were looking new and fine. Not far away from Aryn, a table where scattered leather cuts, textiles, synthetic fibers and other materials. Looking at it, it must be the working area but no one was there.

“Ey Dem!” she called.

Dem looked at her back and went to her, pondering why she called her.“What is it?”

“What time is it now?”

Looking at her wrist watch, she said. “Half past eleven.”

“See these?” Pointing at the table.

She nodded. “Yes, I see. Why?”

“I think we went a bit late,” she said and finally looked at her. “They maybe went for lunch.”

“Ohh!~ You want to go back?”

Aryn is looking pale and cold for literally no reason. The Blanchester Shoe Shop is a closed building with no aircon on and a little window for exhaustion. She, in that moment remembered what she is always hearing from his father as she always keeps getting lies from her classmates. It is just a little to one of their meaningful conversations with the topic she wants to know. Her father gives her his wisdom— Truth will set you free and you will know the truth once you seek them, learn them or the truth will be the one coming for you. If you feel that it is not the time, then stop for a while and continue if you are in the best of the best condition. When you want to know something you must be ready for it.

“If you are not feeling fine then we must go,” Dem said, worrying about the latter’s health and condition. She may not know the veracity of her condition; she keeps her mind to understand the other. You don't need to know everything from your friend and just give her the right amount of warmth and understanding, it must and will be enough from now.

“We must go, although, I really want the leather boots though,” she jokingly sulked at her friend.

“You can get this for free,” a voice spoke. Aryn looked at the back of Dem and Dem turned around.

“Is your friend okay?” he said. An old man not that taller than them appeared out of nowhere. He is on his apron, white hair and has these aged black rectangular glasses sitting fine above his nose bridge like it was his own skin.

He walked to the table, sat at the chair and adjusted the chair to level it to whatever it’s label to be comfortable for him working.

“Uhm— ehem!” Dem cleared her throat. “Are you the— the owner?”

“Uh Uh!~ Welcome to the Blanchester’s Shoe shop since 1887” he welcomed the two girls with excitement in his voice but his smile creeps the hell out of Aryn.

“OMFG! Then you are like the master of the Artisanat de la chaussure!?” Dem asked the older man excitedly. Aryn looked taken a back and frowned to her friend who is talking to the man delightfully.

‘This is the first time she looked excited over something’ She thought. She also didn’t know or notice that Dem Ashton is taking interests and liking shoes for more than years. She is now wondering since when did Dem take interest in the world of fashion and more specifically, shoes.

“Aryn! Get yourself to reality as you meet the Artisanat de la chaussure,” Dem keeps on talking about the man as the ‘Master of Shoe’s Arts and Crafts’ in the town. She never heard it before because there are two possible reasons— she really doesn’t care about the town until now and second, she is not so fond of fashion and shoes which is in the category of ‘Fashion’ but whatever she doesn’t give interest at the things like that as she herself was surprised that she is learning something new today about her friend.

“N-Nice meeting you, Monsieur,” I said. We are now both in front of the old man who is sitting on his chair. “I am Mr. Achilles Blanchester, the owner of the Blanchester Shoe shop.” He introduced himself with a smile, defining what it feels makes me overthink more. I am staying here just to seek something.

“What are your names, Dames?” he asked.

“I am Dem and she is Aryn,” she replied. I didn’t even give the man a smile, even just a little while Dem gave him her big smile that I had never seen before. ‘She is a fan’ I thought. I looked at him but it never took long, just to acknowledge his presence and respect.

“Aryn, huh, seems familiar,” he said, mentioning my name again, directly looking at me while consciously looking away, frowning.

Looking confused as me, Dem spoke. “What do you mean familiar? Do you know her?”

“Hahaha!” the man laughed. “How could I forget the name of a little girl that disturbed the peace of the town? Where’s your boy?”

“W-what? I-I d-don’t understand where you are coming,” Aryn said, meeting the eyes of the man full of sinister and meanings, no one knows even he speaks it is not clear to anyone what is he pointing out—- especially January.

“Uh— You mean in a good way—- Aryn’s name is pretty popular because she is an athlete and represents our country,” Dem finds her way to help ease the sudden tension in the air. She doesn’t want anything to happen badly and suddenly, opposite to what’s on Aryn’s mind. She knows whatever happened, whatever day or time, yet she knows something will happen whenever she steps foot in the town and now that she didn’t just deliver something, that unsure possibility became a hundred.

She is learning while also seeking something she can’t define nor point out without stuttering her way out of words in her mouth. Blank as a white clean paper is her mind right now, and what is it she is ready to find out.

“Nah!” the man responds. “You don’t know? Or they don’t let you know?”

“What do you know then?” she asked bravely. The man smiled and pointed at the seat that was empty in front of him, waiting for a guest to sit on it. Even though her heart was full of anxiousness she gathered her courage up and sat just right in front of the man and across Dem.

“I know something about a young boy and a girl, one is born with a golden spoon and one almost born the same with the other one. 2013, when an accident happened and these two got kidnapped just across the street where I can see clearly under the sun what is happening that day, that I wished I didn't witness. They are in the park across from this shop, which is now a building and houses as you can see. They are with a bodyguard but a minute passed by the guard that was supposedly with them was gone.”

The two girls seem confused by the events, especially Aryn who seems to try her best to remember something she can’t.

“While the guard was gone…you know how this looks like a drama from the television. Very nice to witness something like this,” he said, something spine-chilling, hair-raising feeling and mystifying story to be told by a stranger, not literally a stranger but Achilles is not their acquaintance either, yet not a random person. Maybe, a person knows the half truth they are seeking and a witness to the incident.

“What is it? Why can’t you directly tell us?” Aryn starts to aggregate her emotions turning inpatient and irritated with what the man is doing on purpose.

“Why is that, Ms. January Ashton?” he asked. “Why so impatient, you making my story—- your story rather unexciting and dull. Don’t worry I won’t go into every detail, as I believe the right person is the right one to tell your story.”

Aryn eyeing the man while Dem holds her hand, calming her because if she lash out her anger or madness in here they might go back without a little ounce of what they are looking for. “But let me continue, that was a fine day, a gloomy day but no one was out for a walk— some stores are not open— only I and this store are open. The guard still didn’t come back but a white car went in, stopped right in front of the park, across this store and left without any traces, or any noise from the two and left like no one was there before and a few minutes later the guard came back and reported.”

“Who reported to whom?” Asked by the eager Aryn.

The old man shrugged. “I know you know! Please tell me!”

“Dear, I closed before they got here, I only watched from my window at my attic, not wanting to be involved with this mess. But my conscience got over me and told them the truth,” he genuinely said. “If you want, you can come back here and if the time is right, I’ll tell you.”

—

“THAT WAS INTENSE!” Dem shouted. “And I like it!”

“Really, Dem?” I stopped and looked at my friend to see if she is being serious or just seriously ill. “Did he poison your brain there?”

“What?”

“I mean you are not like this,” said Dem.

“I know but you know I like stuff like this, makes me excited,” She looked like she came from smoking and now being high.

“Well, I am sorry but I don’t feel like being excited and I don't know why you are like this.” Aryn walked a little faster than Dem. She is getting upset over her friend’s insensitivity.

“Being what?”

“Being insensitive to me,” I replied. No need to hide such a thing when I am reaching my limit plus I am having this guts that I am having a headache anytime now. “You know what, let's just leave this place.” Let me just leave this place before I get on my limit and explode my brain due to overthinking and headache.

I do get headaches when thinking too much or even dreaming something blurry on my vision but very fresh in my mind. Places I have been in my dreams feel like I am near to get there, a little push I might really get there. I looked at my side mirror, seeing the town little by little. ‘I will be back there, ready.”

“Are you alright?” Dem asked. Wow! Is she worried or acting? Does the magic spell go out now as it is now far from the town? I shook my head as want to erase those stupid and petty questions because I know no one will answer it for me— I am just adding pain in my head.

“Nah! I am fine.” I drove my way out to the road to my home.

—

“Great poses, right there Jace!” The director cheered the man in his 20s as he posed for the products.

“Ain’t he great, huh!?” The man nudged his assistant looking annoyed at the constant blabbering on how great Jace is, when in fact the whole crew doesn’t need to hear those praises for the man because the whole team knows he is great.

“Is this his first time working with him?” A faint whisper of a woman coming from not too far from the director’s back asked the man beside her.

The guy nodded. “Yeah, he is.”

“Oh I see. That’s why he is too eager and enthusiastic,” she commented.

“But not for long.” The man walked away and went near the monitor where Jace’s photos are being edited real time.

“Oh Mr. Melvin, you are here!” The director guy greeted Jace’s manager, Melvin Cross. “I thought you were staying behind?”

“Yes, not unless I need to see if it is good,”

“Are you telling me that I am doing no good, huh??” The man raised his voice a bit. He was offended, Melvin observed.

“You said it. And besides I didn’t even say who.”

The director glared at him. “What—” he was cutted when the producer went in and coughed to get his attention.

“What are you being nosy about? I thought you were ‘directing’ this photoshoot?” he was asked by the producer who just gave him a look.

“I am—”

“But you look like you’re not.” He walked towards the man and grabbed the radio and made an announcement. “Last round and let’s end the day.”

He patted the man’s back and walked away. The director fist curled and tightened and a big madness was painted on his face.

On the other side, Jace, being bothered , is posing with full confidence in his three piece suit and a few shots made by the photographer and the work was done.

Jace sighed as he felt his back aching and hungry. The photographer smiled at him and patted his back “Great job, Jace!”

“Thanks!” After that he thanked everyone who was part of this work and went directly towards his manager.

“Shall we?” he raised his brows to his nonchalant manager who was waiting at him beside the door.

“Will you change in the car?”

He shakes his head. “No. You wait in the car.”

The man nodded and made his way out of the room. Jace, furthermore, went the opposite way where his private and exclusive room was. He went inside and changed into his more comfortable clothing. A sound from his phone echoed in the almost empty room.

“Hello?” he asked the other line.

“Is this Mr. Jace Martin?” the man on the line asked.

Jace is lost but still answers him. “This is Jace speaking, how may I help you?”

“The one you requested is here sir. Do you want to talk over the phone or let me schedule a meet up?”

Jace's eyes widened and hurriedly agreed to meet up. ‘Finally! What I am waiting for is finally here.”

Jace heedlessly went out the room and head to the parking lot. He can’t help to feel excited yet nervous. For what he knows the thing he is seeking has finally come to an end or that’s what he knows.

“You look excited. What happened there?” Melvin teased the younger. Melvin Cross is 6 years older than Jace and he has been his manager since Jace came back from America. “Did you finally see someone from your mom’s girl?”

“Oh please! No, of course and I am happy earlier and you just ruined it for reminding me I have a blind date this week.” Jace rolled his eyes at the man who just chuckled at the driver's seat.

He looked at the rear mirror and went serious.

“Kidding aside. What happened?”

He sighed again as he looked at the window, with beautiful city lights coming into his view. “Remember the girl I keep on talking about?”

Melvin hummed. “What about her?...Wait— don’t tell me!!?”

“Yes, I’ll be talking to my private investigator maybe next week, since I am busy this week plus that petty blind date my mom is setting me up.”

“She still doesn’t understand the rule, does she?”

Jace nodded, looking very done to his mom’s antics. “She even went to the company and had a one on one meeting with the Director. It is embarrassing,”

“You look like a kid when you are more than that,”

“I hate it.” The conversation came to an end— only a faint voice from a low volume radio was the only one that could be heard in the entire van.

Jace opened his bag and got his iPad and started to search places for his meeting with the man, his private investigator. He also checks his schedule for the other week because he knows he is still on his break. He has many shoots to do, interviews and fittings needed to finish within a week and even though he has big breaks he still can’t insert this meeting as he labeled it as the most important meeting he would ever have.

“This one..or this place?” he murmurs. “This looks creepy and old but quiet.” He scrolls endlessly with the huge amount of things popping up on the internet.

“What are you looking for, Jace?” Melvin asked as he got a glimpse of the man finding trouble deciding where and what place to take the meeting. Finally this time he will now know, hopefully, his first love’s whereabouts. This time no one will stop him to know something about the girl he almost lost years ago and hoping the girl he is finding still remembers him.

His heart throbbed thinking the last thing, yet what he can do if that happened. He still doesn’t have a next move as it didn’t even pass through his mind to worry about it but there is a possibility that it is the case for him and for her. He will stick to his plan to find her and to find the truth whatever happens. It is now or never.

Little did they know that even though they are living in different worlds, two worlds seem to seek one thing.