4 THE FIRST SUNRISE

Arissa wakes up early in the morning for starting her routine. Exercising. Running and jogging. For her, the best moments in life always started in a fresh body. While she listening to her favorite song through her earphone, she jogs lightly around her neighborhood. She socialized and familiarize herself with the locals. Adjusting to her new environment. There’s a homemade bakery shop in the corner that always bakes their buns at dawn. The smelt of roasted buns made her stomach growled that morning. Made her stopped to buy few loaves of bread for her takeaway breakfast. Then, while she continues walking, she also found a flower shop, a traditional market, and a minimart around her areas. She also can smell a slight of the sea breeze from afar. She also sure, if she going a bit further, she probably will find a harbor later. 

Testing her guts, she follows the wind direction and ends up in a small dock. Panting heavily after her running, Arissa decided to take a rest and sat at the bench nearby. The wind blows her brunette hair while the sound of seagulls filling the air. The golden sunrise is seen from the far east and its ray reflects on the sea. Showing the layer of light sparkles on the surface. Arissa closed her eyes and let her body feels the warmth of morning sunray. After a while, she opens her paper bag, tear off the bread and start eating her breakfast. Once she finished, she throws it into the trash bag and drinks her water. 

“Yeah, I’m blessed…” She murmured to herself.

Thinking back on what had happened to her life before, she would never think that she will able to be here. As a single and independent woman who could stand carefree by her own feet. 

She has never been felt so lively like this before and from now on, she would be thankful for anything that would pass in her path. She sighed in relief and decided to walk home.

………………………………………………………………………………

“Hmmphhhhhh….”

When she opened the door, the romantic scene that she saw made her cheeks burn. A couple is kissing passionately in front of her and the woman even moaned loudly. Arissa turned her head away. Tried so hard to ignore the lewd scene that she saw and sneakingly tiptoed her feet as smooth as possible and passed them silently.

“Oh, you’re here…” 

DEGG! She froze. Her movement stopped and she cursed inwardly. 

“Bianca, let me introduce you to my cousin…” Cristan pushed the woman in his embrace gently. Showing her deep cleavage behind her shirt. Then, he introduced Arissa to his girlfriend. 

“Hi… I’m Arissa. Nice meeting you…” Arissa forced a smile on her face and give her hand to the bitch. The problem is, either she is invisible in her eyes or she just wants to be rude to her, the bitch didn’t give her any reply and shook her hands back. 

The bitch just stood there, tidying up her clothes and giving Cristan long deep goodbye kisses. Which looks disgusting and seems like a try to sucking his breath out from his lungs. Yikes!

“Call me anytime, babe..” 

Cristan didn’t answer and just winked his eyes at her.

Then, she waved her hand to him and sway her hips seductively before slammed the door loudly.

BANGGG!!!

“So, is that the stranger version of yours, Cristan?” Arissa asked him sarcastically. 

“More or less, yes…”

“She just one of many chicks who offered themselves to spend a night with me. What do you call it? Friends with benefit?” He smiled seductively at her and walk closer. Then, he put his hand on her shoulder and whisper seductively in her ears.

“Don’t worry, miss. If you want, I can spare one or two slots of my night shifts for you…”

PLAKKKKKK!!!!

A heat of pain stung and radiates on his face. Also, there’s a stamp of a redden finger palm on his beautiful face. Cristan baffled and fluttered his eyes several times. Still confused about what had happened before.

“Did you just slapped me, miss?”

“Should I repeat it, Mr. Lewis?” Her palm still in mid-air. Ready to do the same action anytime. Her gesture is steady. Keeping her at a safe distance from the pervert guy before her. 

Cristan scratched his head. A weak smile appears on his face. “Sorry..” 

“I won’t do that again, miss..”

“Good! If you excuse me, I need to take a bath now…” 

Cristan raised both of his hands and move aside. Give her a clear pathway to enter the bathroom. Arissa snorted and walked past. 

Arissa turned on the shower and water start sizzling her body. She rubbed herself and put more soap, Arissa closed her eyes. Let the water flow and washed away her body. And, the memory that she had seen before. 

……………………………………………………………..

Cristan could hear the water sizzling inside the bathroom while Arissa cleaned herself. He makes a cup of coffee for himself and sat on his couch. His expression back to the normal mode. Ignorant, selfish, lazy, and cold. He turned on the television when Arissa also finished her bath time. 

Both of them didn’t say anything at all. But, before she left, a husky voice holds her step further. 

“What time will you go home today?”

“I think, it isn’t your concern, Cristan…”

“Today is my first day working. I haven’t got my fixed schedules yet..”

She replied to him casually. It feels awkward for her when the stranger asked her about her arrival time. They are not that close, yet.

“Ok. I probably will be very busy today at my university. Either I’ll go home at dawn or stay over at my friend’s place. I have duplicated it for you and put it on the table. Don’t forget to lock the door if you come home...” 

While he saying that, his eyes glued on the screen. Completely ignored her existence. 

“Alright…” She replied shortly. 

Then, he heard someone shut the door and the footsteps fade away. A heavy sigh comes out of his mouth. A shadow of sadness appeared on his face and tears welled up. In the next minute, he whimpered like a lost child. 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Tower Emerald, Fashion Blast

Arissa finally arrived in front of the huge green tower. A gigantic LED screen with a series of video clips of supermodel and ended with a big logo of Fashion Blast. Well, she’s here! At the right address. Confidently, she walks in.

“Manuel! You’ll take some pictures of our new covers today!”

“Liza!! OMG!! You are not supposed to be here, for god’s sake!! Fenita has been waiting for you for the past ten minutes!!” 

Chaotic. That’s the proper word to describe what is happening in front of her. A lot of people rushing in and out at flash speed. Most of them are yelling and shouting at one another. Telling what to do, checking the schedules, and bring the railing which full of beautiful outfits. Some of the models are stretching their legs. Some of them have just arrived like her.

“Welcome to our world, Arissa!!”

A tall feminine young man with circular glasses on his nose and ombre hair welcomed her. Then he embraces her in a bone-crushing hug. 

“Jojo!!” She gasped happily. 

“Yes!! And thank goodness you’re here in time, Arissa..” 

Jojo grabbed her shoulder and bring her along with him. They both are best friends and have been known each other for more than seven years since they were taking the same faculty before. Arts. Arissa took visual design as her major while Jojo didn’t finish his study because he already dipped in his art projects. Most of them were visual stylists for runway models. But then, after he focusing himself on this industry, he expanding and become a talent hunter for some artist management. Now, he’s an expert in this business. A top-notch stylist and Fashion Blast hired him two years ago as one of their golden assets. 

“We’re lack of photographer today, Arissa. And there are lots of photo sessions for our latest collection for this summer. So, I'm going to need your help as a backup...”

“Wait..wait? Who? Me? Are you sure, Jo?” 

“Hey, no training? Remember, today is my very first day, Jo. I’m not pretty sure that I would catch up that fast with the others…” A slight of doubt could be heard of in her voice. 

“When I call someone to work here, it means they’re professional, Sa. That is including you..”

“I believe in you, Sa. Always. Your portfolio is f**cking amazing and everyone loves it..”

“Come, let me introduce you to someone…”

………………………………………………………………………..

A woman in her forties is busy checking the papers on her hands when Jojo and Arissa walked in. Her expression looks so serious when at the same time, she also makes some notes on those papers. 

“Vika…” Jojo called her name swiftly. 

“This is Arissa. One of my best friends that I told you about…”

 She titled her head up and her eyes widened. 

 Arissa dressed up casually as she does but still, the plain shirt and trousers that she wears are not able to conceal her natural beauty. Her cheekbone curved her heart-shaped well. Her fair skin so smooth like velvet. And her tall figure with a perfect bone structure would shame any girl who stared at her with jealousy. Plus, her deep blue eyes giving her a magical charm that radiant all over her body. She is…

Gorgeous!!

Like a full-life package sent from heaven…

“She…” Vika’s voice stopped while she keeps staring blankly at her. 

“She’s my only and the most beautiful best friend that I ever have, Vika..”

“Aris…”

Jojo hasn’t finished his sentences when Vika suddenly does jolly jumping and clapping her hands excitedly in front of them both. 

“THE NEW SUPERMODEL!!! ISN’T SHE?”