To Live Again, For the First Time!

At times, Emilin wondered if she was jumping the gun, especially considering her less than mediocre skill level.

She wasn't even sure if watching someone who was so many levels above her would be of help, but she was thankful for the opportunity nonetheless.

The two of them proceeded to discuss some other matters, including what dates Mason already had shoots scheduled, with Mason thinking that he was informing Emilin when he was unavailable and Emilin thinking that Mason was informing her when she should come.

Everything proceeded quite 'smoothly'.

Mason had yet to bring up what theme he would like to do the photoshoot with Emilin, or anything about the photoshoot for that matter and so that didn't pose a 'problem'.

But that was mainly because that could all be discussed at a later date, thinking that he should get to know the model first before decided what would be most suitable for her, and Emilin not knowing that there was such a thing going through his mind simply nodded and noted down the dates.

That was when a fateful question from Emilin finally forced the two parties to confront the elephant in the room, that neither of them knew to be present.

Quite contradictory but fitting at the same time.

"Then would you be okay with me calling you Teacher?"

Emilin asked in passing, this was not the main point of the conversation, at least not for her, but she would like to establish good relations there, after all, the man was doing her a favor.

She would also like to recognize his talents.

But her earnest eyes only made Mason even more confused.

As a photographer, he had been called many things by the models, Brother Nosa, Brother Mason, Uncle (by those of younger ages), Director, just to name a couple, but as someone who never had the chance to pass on his skills, Teacher was not a title he associated himself with.

Nor one that he had ever heard associated with himself.

"I don't usually have models calling me teacher, but I guess you have the freedom to call me whatever you like."

And I have the freedom to decide whether I want to respond or not...

"Model?"

Silence ensued.

Emilin's honestly confused face and her questioning tone sent both of them in for a loop as the atmosphere became more stifling, neither of them knowing how to respond. 

There was an extensive silence permeating throughout the room, which was ultimately confronted by the duo at the same time.

"Um..."

"Um..."

"It seems like we may have a misunderstanding in our hands here."

It was Emilin who brought this up first, seeing as she was the one who understood where the misunderstanding had stemmed from while Mason was still at a loss.

"Could you explain?" Mason asked helplessly, also having realized that something wasn't quite right.

"This must have started from back when we were in Malalakan."

Emilin thought back.

"I was buying my camera while you were a photographer, you looked like you knew what you were doing seeing as you knew your way around the place and when you offered to work together, I naturally assumed that it was from the position of a photographer to a greenhorn in the industry."

"I mean, I think it was pretty clear that I wanted to get into photography, but you seemed to have misunderstood my intentions when I accepted your invitation. Thinking that I was agreeing to become your model due to reasons unknown to me."

Emilin clarified everything from her perspective, which left Mason pretty embarrassed, especially when everything was laid out so clearly.

Mason thought back to previous events, some of which were a few weeks back while others just this week, even those occurring today.

It was clear to him that though both sides had their own faults that led them to their predicament today, he was a little more at fault than the other.

He got a little ahead of himself back in Malalakan and then he never looked back.

Mason was the one who misunderstood first, and because he didn't clarify later, the misunderstanding continued.

Mason had all the clues that could have led to the realization that there was a misunderstanding.

There was the simple fact that Emilin was buying a camera for professional use, but he had chosen to ignore and forget it, there was also the fact that she had never worked as a model, and if she indeed was interested, it probably would have never gotten to his turn to shoot her debut, especially considering her age and her apparent wealth.

If she was well off enough to travel across the world alone at a moment's notice, with her looks, it probably would have been a piece of cake to get the opportunities she needed to quickly rise to fame.

Mason had thought that it probably wouldn't be the first time Emilin had gotten a modeling offer and thus assumed she naturally knew what he meant when he said working together, but then he didn't realize that if that were really the case and she was really interested, considering the fact that she hadn't known him, it really would be too strange if things went so smoothly.

But still, even after that realization, Mason wasn't sure of how he wanted to proceed.

It was then, in a rare moment of enlightenment, Emilin suggested an offer of her own. This was business, after all, business and favors.

"How about this, since this is all somewhat unexpected for both parties, it should be best that we negotiate things out to see if we can work for a consensus. I want to learn photography from you, and you want me to work as your model for a photo shoot. Let us just say that these are the preliminary offers."

"I most likely won't change my demands, of course depending on what you want, the only difference would be how much attention you give me in the process of teaching."

"You could leave me to just watch by the sidelines and ignore my existence, or you could look through my progress over time and give me some tips. Of course, this wouldn't be for free, I doubt any one of us here is a saint."

Emilin kept going as Mason quietly listened.

"I'll be frank, I've never been too keen on modeling, not to mention how I have absolutely no experience. Facial expressions are also not my forte. I also wouldn't like to be a public figure."

Emilin voiced out one point after another as to why she wouldn't be the best choice for a model, but in the end, they ended up going in one ear and out the other.

All Mason heard were excuses.

After all, she hadn't said that she was absolutely against it, nor had she said that she hated it.

The reason why he wanted to have Emilin was not solely for her good looks, a lot of things could be dealt with using makeup, wigs, etc. and though the result would be less than satisfactory, it wouldn't be the first or last time it was heavily used.

What really attracted him was the ice-cold aura she had around her when they first met.

So strong that it would be able to pierce through the image. Mason was sure of it.

It felt the same as when he had first discovered that woman of amber eyes.

As previously stated, everything else could be dealt with using other methods.

"So, if you could consider what else I could do for you in return for this opportunity, please just state your demands, of course, if in the end, you are still unsatisfied with the transaction, then I won't be the one to force you. It would—"

"Wait, wait."

Mason finally interrupted.

"What you mean is that, if your identity is not exposed, you don't become a public figure, you won't be able to be recognized, you won't have to deal with facial expressions, I don't care if you're a noob, then you'll do it, right?"

Mason himself twitched at that long line of requirements he listed, but in the end, he acted as if it was nothing.

"I guess…?"

Emilin responded out of impulse, even though she hadn't even heard everything he had said clearly.

It sounded about right.

But then why the heck would you even want me anymore???

"Then it's a deal!" Mason smiled brilliantly.

Though Emilin had come into the conversation with a little more clarity than Mason, she came out of it more confused than anyone else.

As for Mason, even if he still didn't get what was going on, at least he felt like he did and that's all that matters right?

***

Mini-Theater

Lisa had been standing on the sidelines this whole time.

Lisa: 'What's happening here?'

Lisa: 'Boss what did you do?'

Lisa: 'Isn't this misunderstanding a little too… um… can people of your caliber even misunderstand like this? Or is it because of your caliber?'

Lisa: 'Can I please leave?'

Lisa: 'Can I not?'

Lisa: 'Should I bring more coffee and water? She's been talking quite a bit.'

Lisa: 'Nah, I probably shouldn't meddle, or I might affect the mood… it's not because I don't want to help or get caught up in the sparks or anything.'

…

..

.

Lisa: 'Ah great! All is well when it ends well!'

Lisa: 'So what was this conversation about again?'

Lisa: 'Then I should just go back to my own business, they won't notice if I leave now right?'

Mason: Lisa!

Lisa: Yes!? Ah? What did you say?

Mason: ... the contract we were talking about.

Lisa: ?????