Sunday, 9:45.
I arrived at RetroV's main company building earlier than scheduled.
Unlike the last time I came here, upon seeing my face, the security guards immediately guided me to the 11th floor, where the photoshoot was going to be held.
One of the rooms was transformed into a makeshift photoshoot studio. Its wall was glass, so I could see the chaos inside happening. The company staff were running around to satisfy the photographer's needs.
But as expected, none of Ethan's parents was here to watch. Instead, Oliver was sent in their place to manage things.
I entered the room with a knock, though no one noticed that knock until I fully entered the room.
"Oh my god, is that Ethan?!"
"Holy shit, he's a lot more handsome in person."
The staff's exclamation and whispers were clear to my ears, which made me a bit embarrassed, but my gaze focused solely on the one in charge here.
"Oh! Our star is finally here! Your looks are definitely something else, that dark circle of yours needs a bit of touch-up though."
A glamorous woman in her forties came up to me with a huge grin on her face. Oliver was beside her, following a step behind.
"Oliver, mind introducing us?"
"This is Madam Hailey, a make-up artist as well as the lead photographer for this project."
"Nice to meet you darling."
She held out her hand and I firmly grabbed it.
"The honor is mine."
Madam Hailey pushed me inside a preparation room after instructing her assistant about the clothes and the backdrop.
Closing the door behind her, she whipped out her collection of makeup tools that I didn't even know the name of and sat me down on a stool to start working.
"Because your skin is quite pale, I will add a touch-up to make it glow, alright?"
"Alright."
"Don't be nervous, I've been in this industry for 29 years, leave it to the professional."
I just nodded at every word Madam Hailey said, watching her work while listening to her explanation was mind-opening. Her relaxed demeanor spread to me, making me much calmer than when I first arrived.
"Bring the clothes here!"
Receiving the white suit with a grey loose shirt, I wore it as Madam Hailey instructed. When I stepped out of the room, gasps and squeals from the female staff were heard.
'I hope it doesn't look weird.'
This style was totally different from my usual formal style.
My hair was partially let loose, and the usual dark suit I used to wear was changed into the opposite color.
"Ethan! Come here!"
Madam Hailey was already standing by in front of her camera, with the backdrop now set, the photoshoot was ready to begin.
The only thing left was the product I needed to promote, and right on cue, Oliver approached me while holding a small black box.
Inside, an obsidian black smartwatch with minimalistic design was cushioned securely. It's a smartwatch developed after collaborating with the government, focusing on the emergency notice feature whenever a gate or rupture happened.
That was why an esper like me was chosen to advertise it.
Oliver offered me his hand, a gesture of him trying to help put it on me, so I held out my wrist with not much thought. Oliver smiled and adjusted the watch on my hand. He gave the watch a loving brush and gazed at me.
"How time has passed huh? You were 15 the last time I put a watch on your wrist and now you are standing in front of me again 10 years later, using the latest watch from the same company."
At some point in Ethan's life, Oliver was a caretaker and father figure he admired. Ethan had no one to rely on after Wilson study abroad, and the adult who gave him the thing closest to love was Oliver, so Ethan quickly got attached to him and treasured him as his own family.
That was until he stabbed Ethan in the back to chase his own desire.
"I hope we can go back to those times."
There's a glint of desperation in his voice, his eyes were one of regret.
A feeling of disgust suddenly surged inside me. I turned away from his gaze and walked toward Madam Hailey instead.
That was a problem in the past between him and the original Ethan. Though Ethan's past, present and the future were now mine, I had no right to forgive him if the lingering feelings Ethan had inside me repulsed even from the sight of Oliver's gaze.
'I'm not a saint, I have no obligation to forgive everyone who did me wrong.'
CLICK!
"Nice! Move your left hand a little bit forward."
CLICK! CLICK!
The camera was clicking nonstop as we kept going. The photoshoot only ended when Madam Hailey was satisfied with the result, which took 5 hours of switching clothes and different poses.
"The photos turned out great, I knew you would fit the youthful look more!"
"Is it? Thank you, it's my first time trying this kind of style."
"Yes, definitely recommended! By the way Ethan, can I get your sign?!"
Madam Hailey's assistant gave me a copy of the photo we took today and she screamed in joy when I signed a photo she had in her hand. It's one of the photos I took in the studio today.
'I still can't get used to this amount of fame.'
Though I didn't achieve my goal of meeting my parents today, in one way or another, I helped achieving someone else's goal. Moreover, seeing someone that happy over a signature was contagious, so a smile also appeared on my face.
I was about to leave when Oliver stopped me.
"Don't forget to check the news tomorrow."
I was confused by what kind of news I was supposed to be expecting but I nodded anyway. I walked past Oliver to my car. Luckily, he didn't stop me, so I directly went home.
I really didn't want to be in the same space as someone Ethan was uncomfortable with.
Once I arrived home, I immediately plopped on the bed.
By morning the next day however, I finally realized what Oliver's words meant, which made me question the discipline of my parents' company regulation.