CHAPTER TWO — BROKEN CAMERA, NEW Face
987 Words
The following morning arrived with rain and overcast skies.
Ella sat on her bed staring at her camera resting on the table. It remained unresponsive.
She exhaled deeply. Reached for her phone.
“ Morning ma'am, " she said when the repair center answered. "My camera has stopped functioning. Could you send a technician to take a look please?”
The lady, in the end, replied, "Yes ma’am. We’ll dispatch a technician by midday. His name is Jayden.”
“Alright thanks " responded Ella.
Following the call she tidied up her studio slightly. Tina had a morning so she handled the work by herself. She arranged her laptop, wiped down the couch and attempted to repair the lights.
Her chest carried a weight. She convinced herself it was merely tension. Yet perhaps it was something profound. Perhaps she was weary of faking it daily.
Near 11:30 a knock echoed at her door.
“Who are you?" she inquired.
“Camera repair " answered a voice.
She unlocked the door.
The man positioned there was not what she had anticipated.
He appeared to be, around 25, dressed in a black hoodie paired with jeans. His smile was modest yet gentle. He carried a toolkit and had a bag slung over his shoulder.
“ Morning, " he said gently. "I’m Jayden. Did you contact us regarding a camera?”
“Yes please enter " Ella said, moving aside.
He entered silently, glancing around the studio. " Setup " he remarked. "Do you create videos here?”
“Yeah " she answered, turning on the lights. "I host an online love talk show. I’m the Love Coach.”
Jayden lifted an eyebrow. "Love Coach? Do you instruct people on how to love?”
Ella beamed with pride. "Precisely. I offer advice on dating, breakups and genuine relationships.”
He let out a laugh.
Ella observed. "What’s so amusing?"
He glanced up, continuing to smile. "Nothing. I simply wasn’t aware that love had an instructor.”
She crossed her arms. "Naturally it does. Everyone requires assistance in grasping love. It's more than emotions. It’s a journey."
Jayden knelt down next, to the camera gently opening it. "Hmm. I always believed love is something you experience, not something that gets described to you.”
Ella scowled. "That’s the belief but love requires reason. That’s why many end up hurt. They don’t gain wisdom before they dive in.”
He chuckled quietly. "Perhaps.. If you overthink you overlook what truly matters.”
She remained silent. She only watched him while he continued working. His hands moved with precision. His expression was serene. No hurry. No sound.
He behaved unlike the majority of men who approached her. No grins or flattering phrases. Simply calm self-assurance.
After a while he mentioned, "It’s merely a disconnected wire. The internal power link has slipped off. I will repair it immediately.”
“Thanks, " Ella replied.
As he was working she attempted to look at her phone. Her gaze frequently returned to him.
He appeared concentrated. As if he was invested in the task at hand.
“So " Jayden remarked without raising his eyes "what made you choose to be a Love Coach?”
Ella gave a smile. "I once had faith, in love. Then an event occurred. I grew weary of watching people suffer so I chose to guide others to understand before they repeat those errors.”
Jayden agreed with a nod. "You probably got injured.”
She paused briefly. "What makes you say that?”
He glanced upward for the time his gaze locked with hers. "Those who chatter excessively about love often no longer trust in it.”
Ella’s eyes fluttered. "That’s incorrect.”
He smiled more faintly. "Perhaps not.. It seems true.”
She was at a loss, for words. For an instant it seemed as if he could peer straight through her. All her insincere grins and flawless counsel.
After he completed repairing the camera he. I tried it out. The red light flickered on again.
“It’s functioning now, " he said.
“Wow, " Ella exclaimed, astonished. "That was quick. Thanks.”
He gathered his tools carefully. "You’re welcome.”
She wished to inquire yet her pride prevented her.
Before departing he glanced around the studio once again and remarked
“You have a space. However perhaps you ought to allow yourself to experience love not merely discuss it.”
Ella c****d her head to one side. "Pardon me?”
He gave a smile. "No big deal. Just some tips, from a cameraman.”
After that he departed.
Ella remained standing gazing at the door once it shut.
Nobody had ever addressed her in that manner before.
She was uncertain if she should feel irritated or intrigued.
She remained seated in her chair gazing at the camera that had resumed functioning.
His voice resonated inside her mind.
“Perhaps you ought to allow yourself to experience love by merely discussing it.”
She chuckled quietly. Shook her head.
“What could he possibly understand about love?”
Nonetheless she found herself unable to stop pondering his gaze and subtle smile.
That evening she attempted to record a thank-you message for her followers but she struggled to concentrate. Her speech kept faltering. She kept recalling what Jayden had said.
Following her attempt she abandoned the effort and settled on the floor clutching her knees.
“Why does my mind keep returning to that person?" she murmured.
Outside the rain began more gently and gradually. She gazed through the window. Exhaled deeply.
In a part of the city Jayden was seated in his room working on photo edits, on his laptop.
For some reason he also found himself unable to stop pondering the Love Coach, his eyes and a forced grin, on his face.
Maybe, without knowing it, both of them had just started a story neither of them planned.
- Writer
