Ezra's POV
"Why do I have to do this?" I couldn't help but mutter that to myself as my ears were filled with the loud sound of music coming not far from here.
People are rushing everywhere, and their footsteps gradually get louder as they keep coming back and forth. "This is why I hate this place." The sounds make me irritable as I watched them panic over the missing clothes they should have prepared before the event even started.
"Hey, Ezra! You're late!" I flinched upon hearing that voice. That same voice that's been haunting me even in my sleep.
As I turn my gaze towards that person's direction, she raises her eyebrows as she kicked me in the butt. "What took you so long, you brat."
She's my older sister, Ebony Harriet Villegas. She owns this fabric shop called Harriet and supplies fabric to the famous fashion agency, Diamond.
I don't know why, but the fabric they were supposed to use is missing, so my inconsiderate sister called me to take all the material in her shop to this place.
"You should have told your husband to bring them if you can't wait for—"I was cut off when my sister suddenly head locked me.
"I-I'm sorry." I know that I'm lame because I'm still scared of my older sister. She used to be a gangster-like person when she was younger and would always tease and bully me. Thanks to that, I'm now regarded as the 'Scaredy-cat Virgin.'
"Anyway, put these to that room there. The one that's not locked. After that, you can go home."
'Tsk. Calling me like that on my off days just to bring these fabrics. I'm not even her worker.'
"Are you dissing me inside your mind?"
I flinched when she suddenly grabbed my collars. "I-I'm not! Don't hurt me, okay! You know that I just recovered from an injury, don't you?" I warned her because if I didn't, she'd probably smack me to the ground like how she did when we were children.
She sighed. "Right. Because of your volleyball shits."
"Hey! Don't call it—"Ebony glared at me as she cracked her knuckles "—shit… I'm going to bring this." I quickly picked up all the fabrics. "Where should I put this again?"
She pointed into the band on her arm and made me confused. "If you see another person with this red band on their arm with VIP written on it, ask them for help."
I raised an eyebrow as I was about to ask once again, but she hurriedly ran away. "Great. I'm alone again." I let out a sigh as I roam my vision. There are too many people in this place, and they have different things written on their bands.
"Where's that VIP person?" I whispered to myself as I wandered at the whole place. Ebony made me wear an ID for authorization since she's been making me do all these errands for her anyway.
"Why doesn't she just hire a lackey." As I was about to wander off into the straight path, I saw a woman with long and wavy honey blonde hair. 'Why does it have to be a woman!' I'm not good at interacting with women; they make me feel terrified.
She's wearing the same armband, like the one on my sister's. Since everyone's too busy to pay attention to me, I followed that woman while holding onto the fabrics. She went inside a room, which made me took a deep breath.
"I'll just leave it, then I'll quickly excuse myself." I kept reminding myself because I sometimes froze whenever I talk to girls.
I knocked on the door as I grabbed the cold doorknob. The air-conditioning makes this place freezing. I think I'm going to get sick.
As I opened the door, it created a creaking sound. I'm just glad that I'm buffed up to the point that I could hold all these fabrics with one arm. "Excuse me." I quickly placed the materials on the sofa. It'll be easy to notice it since she didn't respond to me.
"Then I'll— excuse my…self." I froze.
The woman in front of me blinked thousands of times before her eyes went down to her body, just to realize that she's not wearing any top. All the blood accumulated in my head, making me feel the heat.
"Flat chest…" I unconsciously muttered that.
Alexis's POV
"You'll live as her for me, right?"
Those words… the last word I heard from my mom, as myself. I thought that it was okay to leave my true self behind because no one will miss that.
But her… everyone misses her. My mom, my dad, and all our siblings were gravely affected by her presence. "I wished you were the one here instead of me."
"Great work again! It's nice working with you, Lia." People kept thanking me, smiling at me, and adoring me.
The me that's hiding behind these beautiful clothing and make-up that could hide my true ugly self. The people's loud and happy voices make me feel empty, yet I couldn't push this life aside.
Whenever I look like her, people love me. The me who can't face the world without you by my side. Slowly drowning into my thoughts, fading into the background.
I'm just a side character where you're the protagonist that takes all the light and attention. I am willing to stay in the shadows as long as you'll be the source of the light.
You, who showed me that the world is still beautiful, but also the one who deprived me of the happiness that I should have felt.
I walked into the cold hallway with ear pods on both of my ears. Listening to the music you loved dearly. Because if I didn't, people would flock over me, complimenting the me that looks like you.
They're all complimenting how pretty and adorable you are. Your personality brightens the atmosphere and the sweet and melodic voice you have, making boys fall head over heels for you.
Everything belongs to you.
As I got inside my changing room. I looked at the reflection of myself in the mirror. I've been smiling for a long time, and it makes me feel tired. "Still pretty as ever."
But this pretty face would vanish along with the curtains that closed. The secret beyond the act of being the perfect girl everyone would envy. Wearing such perfect and cute clothes, a honey blonde wig, and blue contact lenses.
"This was supposed to be all yours."
I removed the pink frilly top and was about to change into my regular clothes when…
"Then I'll— excuse my…self."
A man. Tall and firm body build, his fringe almost covers his hazelnut eyes. He froze as he saw my naked body and muttered, "Flat chest."
I didn't realize that the light I've been chasing for a long time would perish and be replaced by something else. Something much brighter than the sun.
The warmth I could feel from his gaze and gentle smile. As if pulling me from the deep sea where I continuously sink into, his warm hands gently hold mine, vanishing the coldness I've been feeling.
He who was shining brightly.
"Didn't your daughter died?" The gossips of our neighbors grew louder as they surround my mom and me. "Why is your son wearing girl's clothes?" They all looked at me with judging eyes as Mom pulled me to her side. She laughed at them as if what they said was a joke. "No. My daughter's alive, as you can see. Lia, greet them." Mom forces me to smile at our neighbors and greet them happily while they feast at me as if I'm something out of place. "So, did your son died?" I looked up into my mom's face as she smiles at them. "Yeah, he did." The loud sound of the alarm clock woke me up from that recurring dream. I could feel the warm sunlight on my cheeks which made me twist
I couldn’t believe what he just did. I know that I’m somewhat a pushover but that’s quite rude. “Please do mind your own business,” I said as I took a last glance at him and walked away.I hope we won’t meet again. “Okay!” He shouted. “Just take care of yourself!” He’s nosy but I couldn’t care less. I don’t want to involve myself with such a bright person. He’ll just make me realize how much of a gloomy thing I am. And he would definitely drain the energy that I’ve been saving for work, plus he’s blinding. I arrived in front of the classroom with my cold hands trembling as I couldn’t muster the courage to open the door. This is an unknown place, I would probably be bullied because of how passive I am but…
I blinked thousands of times, but he’s still pointing his finger at me.What did he just call me?!All of my classmates were taken aback while others are suppressing their laugh at what he just said. I think my face looks beet red right now. Wait… He does look quite familiar… Aha! He’s the guy that bumped into my back this morning! The nosy guy that treated me like I’m some kind of blind boy on the street! Now he calls me a hentai protagonist?! Before I could even react, one of the members slapped that guy’s hand making him stop from pointing at me. “I’m sorry for his rudeness. He’s just a natural airhead.” The guy kept apologizing to me
Lean greeted me near the gate of the company which makes it easier for me to get in. Although people are already aware that I’m a VIP because I’m her little brother, they don’t really know my purpose as to why I keep coming to the company like this. “Ion, hurry! I have a new dress made for you.” Lean said as she pulls me towards my dressing room. “Here, look at this.” She proudly showed me her new creation but I’m not impressed. “You’ll make me wear a sleeveless crop top that shows my belly button?” I looked at her straight in the eyes. “Haven’t you forgotten what just happened the other day?” She looked at me with clueless eyes and made me slap my forehead. “Someone caught me naked! And even mentioned my flat chest right in front of me!”&
I gulped. “I-I just think that she looks like an angel.” Jackson nodded furiously. “He’s an angel that came down from heaven so that she could shower us with her beauty and innocence!” They all laughed at how fanatic Jackson became. But I’m just glad that there are people that like Lia so much. “Aren’t you interested, Mitch?” Mitch shook his head. “I prefer matured women.”That’s quite unexpected of him.So that’s what his type. “Heh~ that’s unexpected. But since Mitch is also pretty, doesn’t it make it harder for girls to choose you? They might think you’re going to h
“Center!”I tossed the ball to Ezra’s direction and he easily spiked it which leads to another score for our team. “Nice toss!” He raised both of his hands at me as if waiting for me to do something, he’s anticipating. However, I tilted my head as I feel confused by those actions.What does he want from me?He chuckled. “It means high-five.” Ezra made me raise both of my arms and he did the high-five with me. I blinked thousands of times as I don’t get what does that meanwhile I stare at both of my hands which are now redder than usual. “Don’t you need to tie your bangs? I think it’s getting in the way.”Ezra tried to s
Mitch saluted to the captain. “Yes sir!” He placed his hands on Ezra’s shoulders with his brightest smile. “Let me help you.” Ezra shuddered, he avoided making eye contact with Mitch. “N-No thank you.” He backed away but Mitch moved closer to him. “P-Please stop moving closer towards me.” I don’t understand why he became uncomfortable with Mitch when they were being buddies before. Though it was more like they’re children. Mitch pouted. “Why have you become so cold towards me?” Dwight chuckled, he got in between them. “It’s because you look like a girl— Come here, I’ll help you instead.” He pulled Ezra towards him and made him stretch his body.
Maybe the gods hate me. This is why I’m stuck with Ezra right now. I would have been thankful if it was Mitch, he was at least tolerable. But not this upperclassman! I don’t understand but I just can’t feel comfortable with him. Whenever he’s near, I could feel anxiety swallowing me because he would often talk to me a lot and I suck at interacting with other people. I spouted nonsense already when he was talking to me before.I’m scared that I might say something that I don’t want anyone to know.Although I'm aware that it’s rude not to answer at all, I still don’t want to. “Mitch was searching for you. You just left without a word.”