Make Up

Honey's POV.

Today was nice.

It was the kind of day that makes one feel happy and delighted. The atmosphere was cool and the wind blew gently along the street. If you were calm enough, you could feel it brushing your skin. A sign you weren't alone. The temperature of the sun was just perfect. It wasn't too hot, not too cold. It was early May. The exotic scent of Jacaranda tree welcomed me as we drove through the road. Its bright purple leaves beautified the road.

I leaned on my car seat and brought out my headphones. I was on my way to MD photo Studio for my latest album photoshoot. I plugged in my headphones and listened to a song from my new album titled fatherhood. I was a Nigerian-American singer. I started my singing career after I finished highschool. My father had been my biggest fan, so I composed this song for his upcoming birthday. I smiled, I loved to see his expression as he listened to the song. Lately, things have been hard on him and that precious smile I cherished a lot wasn't reaching his eyes anymore. 

He seemed like he was trying to convince us he was alright, but I knew he wasn't. The oil and gas company he worked in was running down in business and money wasn't entering his account as before. 

"Oyin." Amelia called me. She crossed her leg, she sat beside me. She packed her blonde hair in a tight bun and wore a blue suit and crystal heels.

She was my manager and a family friend. She was actually the person who encouraged me to be a singer. She heard my voice when I was performing a solo song at one of my highschool events and introduced me to a record label. I eventually got signed at the age of seventeen and became who I was today. Although my stage name was Honey, she usually call me Òyin which was my native name. 

She told me she loved the native accent of my actual name, but most times she called it in a British accent. 

"Yes?" 

She showed me some background photos on her tab. "Which background do you prefer for the shoot?"

I swiped the screen, checking out the various beautiful backgrounds.

 I shrugged. "Anyone, they are all nice."

She smiled and nodded. "I was thinking about using this one." She pointed at a classic background of brown planks and palm leaves decorated on a brown wall.. 

"This will be suitable for the new album. It is kind of manly and classic."

Sooner, we arrived at the studio. It was a tall building made with glass. Amelia has sent the picture of the background and they were already setting it up. Various people moved around the room carrying planks, placing some palm leaves over some planks and engaging in different activities. 

A man holding a camera stand turned to look at me as I stepped into the room. He walked towards me and smiled. "You are Honey, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I believe you are the photographer?"

His smile broadened. "Yes, let me take you to the makeup room."

I was led to the makeup room at another section of the studio. It wasn't as big as the shooting room. It was small and cozy. There was a long vanity by the pale brown wall, it was surrounded with tall arm chairs and there was a luxurious bright blue sofa at the left side of the room with an ornate table before it. A big rectangular mirror was placed at the front wall. There were a few makeup artists sitting around the vannity. A lady who was dusting a makeup brush looked up and smiled when she saw me. 

"Honey!" She hugged me and led me to the sofa. 

"I'm a big fan and I'm so glad you decided to shoot here. I'm going to make you look fabulous!"

"Thank you."

I sat down on the sofa and crossed my legs. The vanity stood elegantly at the side of the room. "This place is nice."

"Thank you, make yourself comfortable." The artist said and the other smiled at me as they did their work.

I smiled back and relaxed on the sofa. "Thanks, I will."

"So, should I get you a cup of coffee?" Amelia suggested.

I shook my head. I took coffee before coming for the shoot. "No, just a glass of water."

"Alright."

I was given a glass of water and the makeup artist sat on the sofa with me. "I heard you just released a new album. I haven't had time to listen to all the songs, but I listened to a few and it's fantastic. You have an amazing voice, Honey."

I took a sip of the water. "Thanks. Actually, this photoshoot is also for the album."

"Really, then I will make sure you look good. The name of the album is fatherhood, did you compose it for your father?"

I shrugged. "Well, it isn't only for my dad. It is for all the fathers."

"My father, I made him listen to it and he loves it!"

My smile broadened. "Really?"

The artist nodded. "Yeah."

The photographer came back and informed us that the room had been set for the shoot. The makeup artist suggested I apply a smokey sharp makeup look, but I decided to use nude because it complimented my brown skin color. 

After a while, my curly hair was styled and my makeup was done. My thin brow was broadened, my lips were dark brown, brown glitters shone around my eyelids and my cheek was delighted with brown blush.

I smiled at my reflection in the mirror. 

I looked gorgeous.