“That’s right! Pose just like that,” Moby shouted words of encouragement as Jace executed some of the most ridiculous poses known to man. Sarang and Leni cheered for him, too, amused by how enthusiastic he was.
Amby, on the other hand, felt like his dad wouldn’t be able to fulfill his promise once more—to support his little sister’s piano recital. He could just see the money flying out of his company within that moment.
Amidst everything happening, Zeno found himself thinking about the past. The way Moby called out directions elicited something within him—a distant memory.
Mission #22 = Brooklyn, New York. Become a model for Castelain—the most luxurious brand in the entire world.
Suddenly, bright lights, cameras, and a crew of noisy stylists bombarded Zeno’s mind. A group of teenage models, all dressed in the brand’s latest collection, were waiting their turn. The atmosphere was already tense due to the photographer’s frustration.
“No, no, NO! How many times do I have to explain this? It’s not that hard! You’re supposed to look confident, not like you’re waiting in line for the dentist without your mom for the first time! Ugh, why can’t anyone get this right these days?”
The photographer, a middle-aged man with a short temper, glared at the current model, a lanky teenage boy with nervous eyes. The boy fumbled with the hem of his jacket, intimidated by his instructions.
“I-I’m sorry, I thought I—”
“Sorry doesn’t get the shot! Look, kid, if you can’t do this, step aside. We don’t have all day. Next!”
The boy shuffled off, shoulders slumped, as the crew exchanged uneasy glances. The photographer rubbed his temples, muttering under his breath about “amateurs.”
The assistant nervously stepped forward. “Uh, who’s next? Let’s keep this moving, people!”
From the group of waiting models, a young man stepped forward. He was around 15, with tousled blonde hair and sharp features. He seemed the most confident out of everyone in the room, and he held a spark in his eyes that caught their attention.
He didn’t wait for instructions. He just stepped into the light.
“Alright, kid, let’s see what you’ve got. Don’t waste my time,” the photographer said.
The young man didn’t respond. Instead, he tilted his chin up, his gaze locking onto the camera.
His body moved effortlessly into a series of poses—each one more striking than the last.
The room fell silent. The stylists stopped adjusting clothes. The assistants pause mid-gossip. Even the photographer lowered his camera for a moment, staring in disbelief.
“Well, I’ll be damned…”
Zeno shook his head to get rid of the memory. It had been such a long time ago, but it was one of his most memorable missions. He was born as Kairos Sterling, born in the 1970s, as a poor boy with a single mother living in the outskirts of Brooklyn.
The mission he received was to become a model for Castelain. It was one of the first luxury brands in the entire world, and until now, it has been striving amidst the rise of newer brands.
“You look like a model from Castelain!” Sarang exclaimed as Leni smiled nervously at the camera.
“Castelain, my ass,” Amby quietly scoffed before shaking his head. It was ridiculous! Even some of the most famous artists and models couldn’t work with Castelain.
“Hey, kid. Don’t diss her like that. She’s doing her best,” she said, nudging his shoulder.
Amby pursed his lips. “I’m not dissing her. I’m just telling the truth. Don’t take it offensively,” he said to Leni. “In fact, none of you here would be able to make it to Castelain.”
“I guess that’s true,” Sarang muttered.
However, what they didn’t know was that they were in the presence of a former Castelain model. One of the bests during his generation.
“I’m good now,” Leni shyly said, scratching the back of her neck. “Let’s move on to Zeno.”
With that, they all turned to Zeno, who still appeared lost in his thoughts. He had a small smirk on his lips as he recalled his days as Kairos. It definitely wasn’t easy, but the moment he catapulted to fame, he felt it was fun.
Modeling was fun.
But hey, Zeno has changed now! Rest was the most fun activity for him at the moment.
“Zeno!” Jace exclaimed, making him snap out of his thoughts. “It’s your turn now.”
Zeno looked up and found that the rest of them were already finished.
“It’s almost lunchtime,” Moby muttered. “Should we eat first before heading back here?”
Zeno shook his head and took his position in the middle of the man-made cave. “It’s alright,” he said. “It’ll be quick.”
“Eh,” Jace exclaimed, “you need to make the most of your time here and take as many photos as possible. We need to pick the best out of the bunch!”
Zeno didn’t listen to him and stubbornly stood his ground.
He didn’t want the best. He didn’t even want a good photo! He wanted something that would give “nothing” to the audience.
So, that was what he did. He merely stood.
“That’s it?” Amby asked. “That’s your pose?”
Zeno nodded, causing Amby to shrug. The others had done such ridiculous poses, so it was strange how Zeno stood still.
With that, Amby positioned his camera to capture Zeno’s upper body.
Zeno didn’t do anything with his expression. Yes, he was a model from before; however, that was a long time ago. It was his 22nd mission in the 1970s, so he definitely had lost touch.
Amby pressed the shutter button, the flash hurting Zeno’s eyes. He closed his eyes at the last second, causing Amby to click his tongue. “You blinked,” he said, pressing to check the photo he just took.
However, as he zoomed into Zeno’s face, he felt a shiver run down his spine. Then, he looked up at Zeno with wide eyes.
“What the,” he muttered, zooming in even more. The others gathered behind him, looking at the zoomed photo. Their mouths collectively went agape as they stared at the small screen.
Jace pursed his lips before clenching his fists. “My rival is photogenic, too.”
