Chapter 6
901 Words
I arrived at my studio after a refreshing iced tea. I picked up the phone and called my dear friend Martha. She understands my head, I must be crazy, and how after so many years and so much pain, is it still happening to me? That tickle, that warmth in my chest. Doesn’t my heart realize that it isn’t possible? All these years trying to forget him and in an instant, all those efforts are back to trash.
I feel anxious, I can't stop moving, something has awakened in me and it has a name and surname.
“Martu...”
“Eve! How are you?”
“Are you free for a few drinks at night?”
“Wowww... That sounds a little desperate, are you okay?”
“Yeah, well, no, I need to talk to you, you’re the only one who deals with my head.”
“At nine o’clock in Asia?”
“Sushi and champagne; your favorite.”
“See you there!”
I finished backing up the photos from the session, I didn’t even want to look at them, I didn’t need to be any more restless, after talking to Martha and feeling calmer, I would have to finish the job.
I picked up my jacket and my purse, and left towards the apartment. I had enough time to take a good shower, cool my head and get ready.
So I did, and although throughout the entire journey and then while I was getting ready, I couldn’t stop thinking about him, I finished on time.
I looked in the mirror and I was surprised.
I got in my car and headed for Asia, a trendy place, where I usually meet some models. I like it. Although I admit it’s superficial, it’s the place where they serve the best sushi and with Martha we love to enjoy it with a good bottle of champagne.
At 9:15 I entered the restaurant, Martha hadn’t arrived yet, but I wasn’t surprised, both of us are always late. While I was waiting for her, they offered me a courtesy glass. When I was almost done with it, she arrived, making all the men there turn to see her. She’s great! I admire her! So her! So unprejudiced! So free! So Martu! It’s fantastic to be her!
“You look like a goddess, girl!” said Martha, making me laugh as we hugged.
“What an exaggeration! I only have a little makeup!”
“What about that cleavage? You’re dressed up to kill! Can’t you see they’re not taking their eyes off you?” she said, looking at the bar, where there was a small group of men, more or less our age, as one could see them and who were actually looking at our table. “Did you start without me?”
“House courtesy...”
We ordered the usual. As they brought the order, we talked briefly about how our week had been; her children and her recent boyfriend. I think if I didn’t have at least one glass of the bubbly elixir, I wouldn’t be able to face it and get everything out of myself.
“What happened, Eve? You don’t fool me, underneath all that makeup, which would look more beautiful if your eyes shone and you had a nice smile, is the Eve I haven’t seen for many years... Sad and dull... Are you upset about something? Fabrice called again?”
“No, Martu... It’s not Fabrice...”
“So? What’s got you so upset, dear friend?”
“Today I saw him... I had to replace a colleague and lucky me... He was the interviewed one!”
“Who?”
“Nicholas...”
“Ouch! And?”
“Everything I wanted to forget came back stronger, I hate him and I love him, how can I have such antagonistic feelings for someone with whom nothing has ever happened, but hurt me with his little game?”
“There’s such a thin line between those feelings that, many times, we move from one side to the other in a matter of seconds. You keep torturing yourself with something that you’re not even sure is true, you heard something and preferred to believe it because you never trusted the beautiful person you are.”
“I heard it, Martu!”
“Him?”
“No, not him... But it’s the same thing!”
“You never let him speak, you never asked him, you don’t know!”
“What for? To tell me what I already know? I was seventeen, now I’m thirty-eight... I can’t let this destroy me again. Although I’m still the same insecure piece of s**t, I can’t let my life be turned upside down by an asshole.”
“No, Eve... You can’t, you’re not that baby anymore, and you went through tough things in your life that made you stronger or should have...”
“They must have... At times I feel strong, but in others, I feel that I am still the same and as far as Nicholas is concerned, I feel that nothing has changed.”
“Well... You’ll have the opportunity to talk to him...”
“I don’t have to see him again, I’ll give my album back to the magazine and that’ll be it.”
“Didn’t you get the invitation?”
“Invitation? What invitation?”
- Writer
