Slowly Falling

“IS there any problem, Andrius?” asked Samantha. They were inside her father’s office. She was sitting behind the desk and Andrius was in front. They were alone.

He nodded, “yes,” he replied.

"Everything seemed so well yesterday."

"But we know that the tension was there,” he said.

She couldn’t answer. There’s truth in his words. She also had a hard time hiding her feelings yesterday. Andrius is just meters away from her but seemed so far because she couldn’t move even if she wanted to. And Beatrice was there, watching.

"One more thing, you haven't forgiven me yet. Do you think we'll have a nice working relationship?"

“What’s hard about you, you take things personally,” she said.

"I can't help it. There's magic in photography. And so is the relationship between the photographer and the model. Do you think that magic will work if the model is furious with the photographer?” he asked.

“That’s why you’re leaving? It’s because I can’t forgive you. Is that your reason? Or there’s something else and it’s all about what happened between us?”

He heaved a deep sigh. “Both,” he muttered. “I don’t want to ruin my relationship with Beatrice.”

“Why?” her voice rose. “Am I obliging you to love me after what happened between us?” She shook her head. “No, Andrius. I don’t have the plan to steal you from her. I don’t want to ruin any relationship,” she said.

"That's not my point!"

“Don’t raise your voice at me.” She tapped the desk.

He stared at her for a moment. He bowed down and clasped his palms together. “Beatrice already knew what happened between us.” Her jaw dropped, but nothing came from her mouth. “I have to choose between my work and our relationship.”

She looked directly into the man’s eyes. She was upset. She then dialed the intercom. That was immediately answered by the secretary. “Marcy, kindly prepare a check for Mr. Novitch,” she said.

“Don’t!” Andrius grabbed the phone from her hand and put it down. “My work is still unfinished. I cannot accept any amount from you.”

"But..."

“I may be rude like you said. But I can’t accept the money that I haven’t earned.”

Their eyes met and stared at each other. In the end, Andrius then eventually looked down.

WHILE Andrius stared at Samantha’s pictures that will be used in her portfolio, he couldn’t deny his intense longing for the woman. And each day, he gradually fell in love with the woman. He knew it was wrong, but he didn’t seem to have the strength to fight it. He is slowly falling in love with Sam.

The woman was so beautiful and have a charm he can’t resist. Only fools who couldn’t notice her Goddess-like beauty of hers. And he was just a normal guy.

The glass door of Chime Shoppe opened. The chime hanging in the middle rings. Chuck entered. He then returned the photos inside the brown envelope and kept them beside the cash register. Chuck sat down on the stool. As usual, he sifted a patty for Chuck’s cheeseburger and gave him coffee afterward.

"As if you found a dime and lost a quarter. What's the problem, dude?" Chuck guessed the sadness reigning in his chest.

“Nothing.” He cut the bread with a bread knife. Picked up the patty and slapped it there. He put cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes.

"Know what, dude? I'm turning a new leaf."

"Hmm..."

"I want to eliminate women in my life," said Chuck.

"Don't be silly." He squeezed some dressing. He wrapped the cheeseburger and gave it to Chuck.

“But I’m serious. I came to realize that girls are so expensive.” Chuck sipped on his cup of coffee. “They expect you to take them out to dinner, movies, dances, and motels—never mind the latter. That’s an advantage anyway.”

"Let me just ask you something so personal,” he said.

"What?"

"Have you fallen in love?" he asked.

Chuck let out a soft chuckle. “I liked girls, but I never fell in love with any.” His eyes widened. “And for sure, I will never fall.” He unwrapped his burger and took a bite. “Hey, why are you asking such questions?”

"Never mind."

"Don't tell me that you have fallen in love for the second time?" asked Chuck.

“I’m afraid I am slowly falling in love…” he heaved a deep breath, “with another woman,” he added.

“Boy!” his friend stared. “Does Beatrice know this?”

He shook his head, “Sounds insane, right?”

"Who's the woman?"

He handed the brown envelope to Chuck. The man opened it and was amazed to see Samantha’s pictures. “The whore?”

“She’s not a whore,” he defended.

“C’mon, Andrius. Stripping in front of men is a work of a whore.”

He shook his head. "She was a virgin... not until I touched her."

"You did?"

He nodded and wiped his palm on his face.

"This is unbelievable!" exclaimed Chuck.

"There's something you must also know. Sam is the daughter of Mr. Silver Johansson."

"Your client?" asked Chucked.

"Exactly."

DAYS PASSED since Samantha saw Andrius. The things that happened between them can’t get off her mind. Until now, she can still feel the tight grip of his hug and his longing kisses.

She can’t feel any spot of madness towards him. She has already forgiven him. If there is something she could feel for the man, it is longing and love. But she had to fight the urge of falling in love because she knew that there was no chance of it.

Andrius already loved someone.

While trying to divert her attention to different things, she often goes to the studio. Watching the dancers rehearse for Silver Dust’s biggest show, she misses her former job even more. As she sees them how prepare for the presentation, she knew by then that the show will be successful.

But one-day Silver Dust was disturbed. Their star dancer Janella fell down the high stairs and broke her ankle.

“It takes a couple of months or even a year for her to recover.” Her father was worried about it. “We know that the biggest show is near.” Mr. Johansson sighed. “If we’re going to hire a Hollywood star to replace Janella, it will cost a lot of money.”

“Dad.” Sam held her father’s hand. “You don’t have to hire a Hollywood star,” she said and smiled.

“But we have to. We spent a lot on the preparation for the event. People are now looking forward to a worthy show. They will look for Janella.”

“Why don’t you try me?”

The old man’s mouth partly opened and stared at her. And it seems like he doesn’t want her idea. His face shows if he will allow her or not.

“I was a dancer and a singer, right?” she stared at him. She was sure of her capabilities. And she knew she can. “I’m not as famous as Janella, but I can be as good as her.”

Her father picked up his cup of coffee and sipped. Seems like an unvoiced resistance was still on his face.

“Well, I just don’t want to put all your efforts in preparing for the show into dismay,” she said.

Mr. Johansson heaved a deep sigh and put down his cup. He looked in the other direction, and she didn’t know what was on his father’s mind at those moment.