How Should Lesbian Stories End?

Illustrations

“Ms- I mean Aizen.”

Belle corrected herself as she entered her boss’s office.

Aizen put down the stapled stack of papers to look at Belle and smiled at her.

“I’ve read the few chapters and I’m impressed.”

You can see the overflowing happiness Belle is feeling right now in her eyes. It keeps sparkling almost like lighting the whole room.

“Thank you so much, Aizen.”

Belle said and vow like how Korean and Japanese do.

She’s just so happy.

“I’m expecting a 5-page sample illustration of this next week.”

“Yes, Ms. Woods.”

Aizen wanted to correct her but decided to just let it slip for today.

After a few more words, Aizen dismissed Belle and handed her the draft.

Aizen was really impressed. She’s aware that Belle was a good writer, excellent rather. But writing something that you don’t have any idea is pretty hard because you will need to go back to square one. And Belle, she willingly did that and gained the knowledge she needs in a short span of time.

Aizen stared at the picture of Belle she took in Belle’s cubicle without her knowing. At first, she doesn’t have any intention to take it. It’s just one time when everyone was out, having their lunch and she’s the only one on the floor, she passed by at her cubicle and saw the picture. She didn’t notice that she’s been staring at the picture for too long and just when she was about to paste the picture back on the cubicle, people started going into the floor and due to panic she just shove the picture into her pocket and in a hurry went back to her office. And now, she’s been keeping it for 4 days already. And now she doesn’t have any intention to return it.

--

“Is this okay?”

Vince asked, showing the drawing in a sketchbook of who supposed to be the main protagonist of the manga.

After receiving back the draft, the next day, Belle, Vince, and Ynah immediately work it out.

Belle stared intently at Vince’s drawing. Vince was very good at drawing. Vince always amused her with all of his illustrations but she somewhat is not contented right now. She felt like something was missing, something was wrong with the illustrations but couldn’t make it out so she decided to show it to Ynah.

“What do you think of this Ynah?”

Belle was certain that Ynah can somewhat figure out what was she think was missing on the illustrations because she’s not an editor for nothing but get disappointed when Ynah approved it.

“I think it’s good.”

Belle slightly frowns at what the editor just said.  

“Why Belle? Are you not satisfied?”

Ynah asked as she caught a glimpse of her frown.

“No, it’s not like that. It’s just that I think something is missing but I can’t tell what.”

The three exchanged looks, trying to figure out what Belle said missing but failed to conclude anything because Vince’s drawing is nothing but exquisite.

“Never mind. Maybe I’m just tired or what. Let’s just continue.”

Belle said and the two just agree with the idea.  

--

Aizen scrunched her eyebrows as she looks at the 5-page illustrations that Belle and her team submitted.

The three were nervous, their boss looks like she’s not satisfied with their work.

Belle still felt like something was missing on the illustrations but never brought it up again on the two.

“To tell you the truth, it looks dull.”

The three didn’t answer and just stared at their boss. They are intimidated at her presence. Her expression, the tone of her voice, the way she looks at them, everything was enough to send shiver into their veins.

The Aizen that keeps telling Belle to call her on her first name, the Aizen that was playful and somewhat childish was not visible. Everything about her was screaming “I’m the boss here.”

 “I know that you’re a pretty good artist Mr. Dudley but I’m really not satisfied at how you just draw everything you thought was they should be.”

Aizen leaned her back on her swivel chair as she looks on the left side, Belle and her eyes met for a few seconds then she shifted her gaze towards Vince and Ynah.

“I’ll give you another week to fix these. Make it more like lively, like when I stared at the manga’s characters, it felt like I’m looking at a real person and not just character in a Yuri manga.”

“Yes, Ms. Woods. Thank you so much.”

Vince mumbled and picked up the illustrations. Belle and Ynah just slightly vow at their and quietly make their way outside.

A long and unison sigh was heard at the three as they set their feet outside the office.

They looked at each other. Frowns, disappointments, frustration, and exhaustion were visible on their faces. Immediately getting tired at the idea of re-illustrating everything again.

“Let’s eat lunch first.”

Ynah mumbled and the two just nod following Ynah.

The plan was to eat but Belle barely touches her food. She’s thinking about the manga, about Aizen’s advice on how they will improve the illustrations, and about her previous thoughts on the illustrations.

I’m right. Something really is missing from the illustrations.

Belle put down her utensils and propped her elbow on the table.

How will we make it like what she wants?

“Belle.”

Belle startled at her best friend’s voice and look at her in confusion.

“W-what?”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Just tired.”

Belle look down on her food and took her spoon, just play with her food.

“Is this because Ms. Woods didn’t approve the illustrations?”

“Sort of.”

Alexa consecutively nods while munching her food.

“Right, you still haven’t told me the reason or your inspiration for writing a Yuri Manga.”

Belle flinched at her best friend’s statement. She’s been avoiding that question or statement or what. She can’t just tell that she caught their boss and their team leader making out and that gives her an idea for a new concept.

Belle gulped in nervousness and straighten her posture but not leaning her back on the chair.

“What are you saying? It’s just I want to write something new, something that I never experienced or thought that I will write.”

Belle fed her mouth with her already cold food. Trying to shake off her nervousness but failed.

“Is that so? Or maybe,”

Belle looked back at her friend, scared at the words that will follow the word maybe.

Alexa squinted her eyes, trying to analyze Belle’s gestures and expressions.

“Maybe, you’re starting to be gay. You’re now a lesbian!”

Alexa shouted the last sentence of her statement as she slammed her hand on the table and stood up from her seat. Alexa gave Belle a look like how scientists look at an alien that they want to dissect.

Belle blushed at her best friend’s statement then look around the place and found everyone looking at their table but Alexa doesn’t give a damn about them.

Her blush intensified, even more, when her orbs met Aizen’s. Aizen’s lips curved into a playful smile then back her attention to the one she’s been talking to.

Belle hasn’t recovered yet at the embarrassment her best friend caused when her friend suddenly spoke again in a loud voice.

“Oh my God. Is that because of Ms-”

Alexa didn’t get a chance to finish what she was about to say because Belle immediately covered her mouth with her hands when she realized what her best friend was about to say.

I love this best friend of mine but sometimes I really want to kill her.

“No. No. I’m not a lesbian. It’s not because I’m writing a Yuri manga, I’m a lesbian. I just- I just really want to do something new.”

Alexa just nods because her mouth was still covered by Belle’s hands.

Belle was still hesitant if she will free her best friend’s mouth yet. She’s worried that Alexa will say something that will embarrass her more.  But when Alexa motioned for her to remove her hand, she did, but she’s still ready to cover her mouth again once her best friend said something embarrassing again.

“Okay.”

The rest of the remaining time of their lunchtime, Alexa didn’t talk and just kept on glancing at her friend. She’s still not convinced but when she realized what she just did and said in front of everyone, she suddenly feels embarrassed.

--

Belle, Vince, and Ynah spent another week re-illustrating the manga. But this time they are more careful and they are seriously analyzing every word on the script.

Monday again, when they enter Aizen’s office. They saw their boss really engrossed in what she’s reading but notice their presence quickly. 

“I hope this one is better.”

Aizen said and took the illustrations on Belle’s hands.

Aizen carefully inspected it and the three observed every move of her. The way her eyebrows met halfway. The way she squinted her eyes. The way she tilts her head. The way she nods her head and even counts how many nods she did.

Their hearts are beating so fast like when Aizen still didn’t like the illustrations they will fire them even though that’s not really what going to happen.

Aizen sighed and lean her back on her swivel chair then looked back at the three, she looks stressed.

“Still, I don’t like these.”

The three silently gasped and can’t mask out the disappointment and frustration building upon their faces again. 

“These illustrations are just like the previous one. You know, Yuri Manga expresses too many emotions because the protagonists there are all girls and we all know that girls are emotional. They tend to show emotions more than how a normal manga is. And that’s exactly what I’m expecting for the three of you to put here.”

The three just kept their mouth shut. Don’t know what’s the right thing to say.

“But I can’t blame you, because this is your first time making a Yuri Manga and Mr. Dudley you drew really pretty good but it’s not enough.”

“And because we don’t have all the time in this world, I can’t give you a week every time I didn’t approve your illustrations. That’s why Mr. Dudley, you know Ms. Rein?”

Vince just nods as an answer while Ynah and Belle just exchanged glances between them.

“She was caught in an accident just yesterday and will be absent for a few months. And we need a temporary replacement for her until she recovers and I would like you to be the one who will temporarily continue her manga. But of course, we’ll ask for her opinion first.”

“But what about this manga?”

Ynah asked, not agreeing to the idea.

“I’ll be the one illustrating that.”

“What?”

Belle, the most shocked one asked with her voice louder than the usual and her eyes slightly widen, she forgets who she is talking to.

Aizen didn’t even get insulted at her. She was more than amazed at Belle. She found Belle cute in every way. She found Belle an entertaining creature that she shouldn’t miss every move and words that she will say.

“Why Ms. Cameron? Don’t you have trust in me?”

Aizen asked and her lips curved automatically into a smirk.

Belle almost passes out when she remembered who she is talking to and how she reacted. She was so embarrassed that she wishes that the ground will open up and she will fall and never seen again. But that’s not going to happen.

Belle gulped in nervousness and tried not to stutter as she speak but failed.

“I-I- It’s not like that Aiz- I mean Ms. Woods. It’s just that, y-you’re already busy in all the paper works and I just think that y-you don’t have e-enough time to do that.”

Aizen clasped her hands as she put it on the table and looked amusingly at Belle.

“Of course I’ll have time for that Ms. Cameron. I always find time. Remember? I’m the boss.”

Hearing that, the only thing Belle can do is to just nod her head and lower her head in embarrassment.

“Okay, to be fair. Then, I’ll draw 5-page illustrations of this too and show it to all of you after a week. And if you didn’t like it, I’ll allow Mr. Dudley to be the artist of this manga, and if you like it, I’ll be the one who will illustrate it. Sounds good, right?”

The three exchanged looks with each other then slowly nods at their boss.

After exchanging a few more words, the three were about to step outside the office when Aizen called Belle, so the two went ahead of her.

“M-Ms. Woods?”

“Aizen.”

“A-Aizen, what else do you need?”

Aizen held out her hand without a word, asking for Belle to lend her the draft of the manga but Belle didn’t get the idea.

“The draft.”

Belle immediately handed her the draft she’s holding but instead of taking the draft on her hand, Aizen lightly grabbed her on her arm causing Belle to slightly lose her balance and lean forward on the table.

“If you like the illustrations that I’ll present to you, let’s have a dinner date.”