Chapter 39: Model / 6.3 : The classic trope
After unpacking and settling down all the candidates were finally allowed to go downstairs. They walked to the dining room and saw that they had prepared a feast for them. They all looked at the food excitedly. Eden looked at Naomi when she called him.
"I saved you a seat next to me."
He sat next to her at the head of the table with a smile. He genuinely likes Naomi, she’s the only one who had his back in the original timeline. She could see Astrid for who she was and she defended him until he was eliminated. Someone having his back rarely ends well for them and as usual, Naomi paid the price with her life. Eden will make sure it doesn’t happen this time.
They all took a seat and ate in a good mood. Eden spoke and laughed with Naomi. He found out more about her and the whole time he could feel two pairs of eyes on him but he ignored them.
Ezra already felt bad because Eden has been acting like he doesn’t know him now he is sitting next to someone else laughing. The only thing that makes him feel better is that she’s a woman. This time he won’t repeat the same mistake, he’ll have his back and he’ll tell him how he feels. His eyes flashed with determination.
When they finished eating they went out and saw that there was a dancefloor on top of the pool and next to it a bar. Eden danced with Naomi and mingled with the other candidates.
Astrid felt like she was looking at a stranger. Eden is the kind of person who doesn’t mind having just one friend if he is worthy so seeing him mingling so easily with everyone and laughing is out of character. She was counting on that to better destroy his reputation. She looked at Eden in bitterness.
Eden was about to walk out of the dancefloor but he felt someone pulling him by the waist. He narrowed his eyes at Kalel as his arms were wrapped around his waist. He smiled.
"Hi."
Eden circled his neck which made him happy.
As they danced Eden asked:
"What do you want?"
Kalel’s green eyes flashed as he answered:
"You."
Eden looked at him amused.
"Do you say that to all the people you’ve slept with?"
"Why would you automatically assume that I’m a player?"
Eden warned:
"I never forgive liars."
Kalel looked into his eyes, after a few seconds he admitted:
"I indeed like to have fun but it’s only because I hadn’t met my soulmate."
Eden looked away annoyed, it irritates him when Gege says those kinds of words because it’s harder to stay angry at him. His husband married Astrid in the original timeline which pisses him off, the whole time they were in the villa they would flirt. Kalel turned his head to decipher the look in his eyes.
"Do you think I’m lying?"
"I don’t but I also can tell that you’re an impulsive person."
He doesn’t mean when it comes to love he means in general especially when he is concerned. He knows Gege won’t deny it because it’s true which allows him to pump the break on their relationship. Plus he wants Ezra to pay and for that, he needs to get closer to him. Gege is incredibly possessive and jealous he’ll never accept that. He also wants him to pay for marrying that bitch Astrid.
He let go of him and left, Eden took a seat looking at the rest dancing with a smile. Kalel took a seat on the other side his eyes fixed on him like a hunter closing in on his prey. It’s just their first day he knows he can seduce and make him fall in love with him. He doesn’t know why but since Eden looked at him he knew that they had to be together.
Eden felt someone sitting next to him and his smile disappeared. Ezra looked at Eden’s profile. He looked down at his hand and he slowly moved his until he grabbed Eden’s. He looked ahead waiting for Eden to pull back his hand and leave but he didn’t. He laced their hands and looked at Eden. He seemed upset but he still didn’t take his hand back.
Ezra let out a breath looking ahead. He basked in the moment enjoying the feeling of holding the hand of the person he loves, even after all this time it didn’t change and he knows it never will. He felt his heartbeat quickening in excitement. Eden isn’t as indifferent as he let on and it gives him hope. After a few minutes, Eden stood up and left. He looked at him leave with a smile and shiny eyes. You’ll be mine.
For the rest of the evening, Eden avoided Ezra while receiving glares from Gege. He had to leave for the confessional before going to bed. He took a seat and the producer asked:
"How was your day?"
Eden smiled.
"It was great I met a lot of interesting people and I had fun."
"Is there a person you like most?"
"Naomi she’s very sweet and caring."
The producer asked:
"What is your relationship with Ezra and Astrid?"
Eden’s smile disappeared and he just looked down in silence.
"Eden you have to be honest or it won’t work."
He looked up and admitted:
"The three of us have known each other since we were kids."
"Why did you act like you didn’t know them?"
"Because I don’t anymore."
"Were you aware that they would be here?"
"No, I haven’t had contact with them since I left home."
"What happened between you and Ezra?"
Eden looked at the camera his eyes shining.
"He betrayed me."
"How?"
"Ezra and Astrid fell in love with modeling because of me, it was the only thing I would talk about. We made a pact that we would all succeed together so when we turned 19 we went to my parent’s modeling agency. They only signed Astrid and Ezra. After that, they both sat there listening to my parents insulting me for thirty minutes without saying anything."
Eden quickly wiped his tears and said with a smile:
"It’s fine they cared more about their career than me and I didn’t blame them or said anything. I stayed on the sideline supporting them as they lived their dream and mine. A month later I left after something happened with my parents and Ezra couldn’t care less, he never called or texted. He saw what happened but now that he had signed his contract with my parent’s modeling agency I wasn’t useful anymore."
Eden wiped more tears.
He looked up with a forced smile waiting for the next question.
"Why did you let him hold your hand?"
Eden’s smile vanished and he murmured:
"I guess it’s not easy to act like someone who’s been in your life more than 15 years mean nothing."
The producer nodded and let Eden go. He walked to his room and closed the door behind him before the filming crew could enter. One of the producers told him to leave him alone until tomorrow and they left. Eden undressed and got into the warm bath. He used Versem to see what Ezra would say in the confessional.
Ezra took a seat and after the producer asked a few questions he asked about Eden.
"Did you know Eden before the show?"
"I did."
"How?"
"We were best friends but he moved away a year ago and I haven’t seen him since."
"Why does he seem angry at you?"
Ezra said with difficulty:
"Because I betrayed him. When he needed me the most I wasn’t there and I’ll never forgive myself for that."
The producer asked:
"How did you betray him?"
"I broke a promise I made and I didn’t have his back like he always had mine."
Ezra looked down, he seemed emotional. The producer’s eyes lit up and he asked tentatively:
"Do you have feelings for him?"
Ezra looked up and murmured:
"I’ve been in love with him since we were kids."
The crew felt excited hearing that, everyone loves watching a love story play out on tv.
"What do you plan to do to fix your mistake?"
"I’ll prove to him that he can count on me and that I’ll never break any more promises. I’ll do everything for him to forgive me even losing the competition I just want him in my life again."
Eden burst out laughing. He chooses his friends very well. The reason Ezra is spewing that bullshit is that he knows that Eden will tell the truth of what happened so he wants to seem more sympathetic, like the man who’s been in love with his best friend forever.
He can see that Eden is different compared to his quiet and timid old attitude. Ezra does have feelings for him but the truth is that he loves his career more. He and Astrid are bound to go down since he plans on destroying Grey Modeling. The worst in all of this is Ezra, not his mother.
He was there when Eden was beaten by his father but he didn’t try to stop him or have his back. That night Coltin was sleeping at the house and he was hidden and watched as his father broke his arm and three of his ribs. He never tried to stop him or take Eden away. When he left he never tried to find out how he was doing or anything. For all, he knew he could’ve been dead in a ditch somewhere. In the original timeline, Eden didn’t know that so he spoke to him as usual and was happy to see him in the villa.
Ezra knew full well what Astrid was doing to him but he was worried public opinion might shift against him if he defended Eden so he abandoned him again. He cares more about himself than anyone. If you love someone you put them first and if it’s you and him against the world then so be it. He believes that now that he met Gege, he always puts him first. As for Ezra his punishment will be the worst. Eden smiled cruelly.
