Chapter 3
A
Chapter 3
The day after SATs results came out, I submitted my application online and quickly got an interview notification for the end of the month.
It wasn’t until I got the text reminder that I remembered I’d bought tickets to the Daido Moriyama photography exhibition-Daxon’s favorite photographer.
He hadn’t managed to snag tickets when they went on sale, so I’d quietly bought two at marked-up prices online.
I’d planned to surprise him after graduation, but now there was no point.
So I took a photo and posted on Instagram: [One ticket to give away, first come first serve.]
An avatar I’d never talked to before popped up.
“These tickets were so hard to get! Could I have it?”
It took me a while to remember that it was Kieran Wilde from Daxon’s photography club. He had a great physique and was always being used as a model by the club members.
An hour later, I met Kieran in person at the exhibition entrance-he was really tall, with deep brown eyes and curly hair, looking pretty sweet.
Several girls walking by kept turning back to look at him, some clearly working up the courage to ask for his number.
He didn’t talk much, but when he encountered pieces he liked, he couldn’t help sharing insights about Moriyama’s style and the background of various works.
Listening to him explain everything, I realized for the first time how fascinating photography could be.
“Can I take a photo of you?” he suddenly asked. “This lighting and angle-it’s perfect for you!”
I felt kinda shy but didn’t want to kill his vibe.
“Look!” He held the camera up to my face. “Isn’t this so moody?”
“Your profile’s gorgeous. Can I try a front-facing shot? Let me find the right lighting.”
The second he picked up that camera, he got all serious.
And I loved every single shot he took.
Something suddenly hit me-Daxon hadn’t been this patient with my photos in forever.
After we finished the exhibition, I asked him to send me the photos. Before we parted ways, I asked, “Can I post these on Instagram?”
“Of course,” he grinned, his whole face lighting up. “Can I post them too?”
“Totally.”
As I was turning to leave, he suddenly called out, “Hey, thanks for bringing me today. Let me take you to dinner next time, yeah?”
I nodded without even thinking.
One the way home, I picked out a few photos to post on Instagram.
I remembered the first time I met Daxon-he had a camera in his hands too.
Back then, I was only seven, Mom had just passed away, and Dad was drowning in grief. Sometimes he’d just sit at home all day, completely zoned out, no bandwidth for me at all.
I didn’t dare cry at home-I was afraid it would make Dad even more heartbroken. I could only squat alone in the neighborhood garden, watching ants move while wiping away my tears.
Daxon poked his head out from behind his kiddie camera and handed me a candy.
“Don’t cry, okay? You look way prettier when you smile.”
From then on, he’d always drag me along to photograph dewdrops and flowers.
Chapter 3
When Dad couldn’t deal with me, he’d bring me to his house for dinner.
Seven-year-old Daxon asked me, “Skylar, will you be my exclusive model? When I grow up, I’ll throw you your own exhibition.”
I nodded like I sort of got it, letting him pull me around for photos.
From then on, every birthday, he’d take commemorative photos of me.
But on my 17th birthday, he didn’t-
That day, Daxon’s mom’s best friend died in a car accident. Before she passed, she’d entrusted her teenage daughter to her.
From that same day on, I lost my annual birthday photos and lost all the special treatment I used to get from Daxon.
The phone ringing snapped me back to reality.
Daxon’s voice was pissed off.
“Skylar, enough already. Kieran posted all those photos of you-what do you think that makes me look like?”
“What?”
“Don’t play dumb. I gotta hand it to him though, he’s really playing along with your little act. Guy’s literally the campus heartthrob-who’s gonna believe he’s actually into you?”
I had no clue what Daxon was talking about. I put him on speaker and scrolled through Instagram.
Turns out Kieran had posted nine photos of me with the caption:
In light and time, you are the most special existence.]
‘It’s just a few photos on Instagram. Daxon, isn’t that a bit much?”
Listening to the long silence on the other end of the phone, I just felt like it was ridiculous-guess he finally knew how it felt.
Daxon, can you help me with my dress zipper? I can’t reach it.” A sweet female voice came from the other end of the phone.
chuckled. “Better go-can’t let Aria catch cold.”
