Checkmate - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

"EHHHH?" Hana couldn't believe her ears nor would she have thought that a simple favor could transpire into this.
"Are you sure? Have you seen me? I'm not actually attractive—like you."
Hana swore she saw Althea's face twitch. "There is no way I can improve if I'm to sketch myself repeatedly. You are good-looking, face-wise and body-wise, perfect for me to draw your simplicity. And besides, I believe I mentioned earlier that you can refuse."
"What? And you'll back out of the agreement!" Hana grabbed Althea's hand and looped her arms around it. "You can't back out now! You agreed!"
Hana could feel Althea stiffened from her touch. "But I can clearly see that you're disturbed. I wouldn't want to force you to do something uncomfortable."
"Disturbed? I'm just shocked that's all! And no, I'm not uncomfortable! I go to public baths all the time back in Japan! I'm just—" she faltered, "Just feeling that I'm not the best choice for your practice."
"Why?"
Hana's face flushed red. She didn't see the connection between modeling for her photography and modeling as Althea's nude model immediately, and then it slowly dawned on her. "I'm sure you have a lot of other friends who are better than me, Althea! You know a lot of people!"
"Perhaps, the art of painting was so intimate and it was supposed to be my secret. I prefer that this side of me will remain in the dark but to you—I trust you enough to show you this side of me. And also you do look amazing."
"Oh," Hana paused, blinking for a moment as the words sank in.
"Hana, every girl is beautiful. It's not a competition."
It was a rather odd feeling. When a boy would compliment her, she would feel attacked and suddenly become guarded. But when a girl compliments her—and especially someone like Althea—it made her feel all fluttery inside.
"Thanks!" That was all she could muster.
Althea placed a hand on her chin. "You're a beautiful work of art."
When she said that, Hana felt the blood rush to her cheeks. Her face was a red mess so she looked around, trying to not let Althea see her reaction, and realized something. "That's it!"
"That's what?" Althea got startled at seeing Hana leap from joy and wonder.
"I got an idea! This place is beaming beauty and I can't help but get inspired!" She kept hopping around the place.
"May you share your epiphany?" her eyes followed the perky Japanese.
"I will make use of the whole park!"Hana threw her hands up in the air. "Search for unused angles and to really use black and red photography!"
Althea looked loss for words until spoke a word that condensed all of her feelings and thoughts, "That's quite intriguing, Hana."
"I know!" Hana placed her index finger and thumb under her chin. "And we're going to need a lot of red!"
"A tangible material would prove to be better than a vague idea." Althea murmured for she didn't found the need to criticize her creativity until witnessing it with her own eyes."You're going to catch a cold, Hana." Altheanotedwhen Hana went towards the wet earth.
"It stopped raining. Look!" Hana murmured while pointing at the sky, to show her that the grey clouds had evanesced and instead had left behind a sparkling sun.
"Now that we canvassed the place," Althea slowly stood up and patted the dirt off her clothes. "Are you still up for that free treat?"
Hana scratched her cheek. "You're really sure about that?"
"I insist."She hung the bag's strap on her shoulder. "An offer is an offer."
"Hmm," Hana said began rummaging through her bag's pocket. "Then in that sense, a deal's also a deal." She handed her the money she owed her from the earlier bet.
Althea giggled, it was an expression Hana hadn't seen her do and when Althea realized what she did, she wore the poker face she had once again. "You don't have to."
"Let's not argue with this!" Hana raised her hands, signaling for them to stop. "You're going to treat me afterward!"
"Have you any place in mind?"
Hana really thought that Althea wasn't serious about the free treat, but she didn't argue, she was pretty much willing to be alone with her anyway."Are you up for sweets?"
"Sure." A slight frown marred Althea's elegant brows as she stared at her. "Any places you particularly want to taste upon your palate?"
"Not really," Hana scrunched up her nose. "But Natalya told me about that yogurt place near the mall and I really want to try it!"
"Oh, Madeline and Heather brought me there often."
"Oooh," Hana chirped. "Lead the way!"
They got into Althea's car and drove off. Along the way, they chatted about nonsense things. Hana felt more open and less embarrassed about her passion for photography.
"Photography is just so wonderful. You could do what you want with everything and the result would still be as beautiful! It's like seeing magic happen."But as she was saying that, Hana could see Althea's perfect lips curved in some hidden joy. "What?"
"Nothing," she said. "I just like the way you talk."
As they headed through the crowds of happy, mall loiterers, Hana looked at the people passing by them—the happy families, a group of friends, girlfriends, and boyfriends holding hands.
Every time they would pass mannequins, Hana can't help but imagine Althea doing the life-sized doll poses. Some fit Althea's disposition, making Hana impatient to see Althea in the spotlight.
She would also imagine some mannequin dresses on Althea. Certain styles fit her regality—all with the chic and poised and sometimes boyish appeal from seeing tux and blazers.
Blue would definitely be Althea's color, but when she first met her—Hana associated Althea with red and black so she really wanted to do something like that.
As a matter of fact, Hana sort of liked the way it looked in the reflection of the windows they passed by. It was natural. Cute even, since they were about as far opposites as anyone could picture—even though people wouldn't know that from looking at her dressed in Althea's clothes. Which, she had to admit, looked pretty nice on her.
They arrived at the yogurt place, and Hana had been so lost in her own mind she hadn't noticed the guy behind the counter handing her a cup so small it was the size of a mini-cupcake.
"Oh, thanks!" Hana said before absently moving to the side as the same guy handed the similar object to Althea.
"You seem absentminded Hana; any reason as to why?"
Hana's face flushed. "Sorry! I was busy thinking about the photo shoot."
"I love that you're dedicated to your creativity; however, walking through the mall being inattentive isn't the best way to go about it."
Hana laughed awkwardly. "Sorry, won't do it again." She looked at the object in her hand that was given to her. "Umm," her eyes shifted to Althea and the object, embarrassed to confirm that this is her first time here.
A smirk slowly formed on Althea's lips. She walked past Hana, their shoulders nearly grazed but there was an electric feeling, and whispered, "Let me demonstrate."
Hana's eyes glued to Althea's form as the blonde went over the multiple flavor selections and pushed the machine lever. A long twirling stream cheesecake yogurt flavor fell to Althea's cup.
"This yogurt place is pretty much self-service," Althea said as she licked her chosen treat. "Come, you can choose what toppings you want asides from the flavor."
"Are you getting the cheesecake flavor?" Hana eyed the chocolate fudge one.
"That was actually a curiosity, it tastes good but I prefer vanilla when I want to put in some toppings."
"Wow, you're pretty simplistic at times."
"I suppose," Althea replied, apparently her turn to watch as Hana pretty much followed the blonde's sample and tasted the chocolate fudge.
"Ooh!" she licked her lips. "Tasty!"
Hana then began to taste test every flavor available and Althea didn't need to practice patience for she was entertained with Hana's expressions and given ratings.
"Had you chosen what you want?" Althea finally asked as she threw her used cup into the trash bin and took a small-sized cup on the counter.
"Yes!" Hana followed her sample but targeted the large-sized one.
Althea then proceeded to retrieve vanilla while Hana eyed the flavor selections once more. "Oooh!" her face lighted up with a jolly look on her face and proceeded to pour down the flavors on her cup. "I didn't know you could mix the flavors!"
Althea's eyes darted towards her and her yogurt cup. It was a swirling mixture of banana and green tea.
"Look!" Hana's eyes shone proudly. "It's your hair!"
Althea couldn't control the blush that formed on her face, "Hana!"
Hana giggled, loving the way Althea looked irritated with a playful glare aimed towards her. It added a sophisticated cuteness to her.
"Well, thank you very much for the comparison." She said. "I will try to keep my hair look like ice cream."
It only caused the tiny smile on Hana's lips to grow wider.
In a way to salvage her dignity of being a woman in control of her emotions, Althea went over to the toppings. Hana followed suit. Her eyes widened at the broadened selection and for once, Hana couldn't decide what to accompany her yogurt. It was as if she wanted all of them and she did so.
Hana's cup of yogurt looked a bit cramped with all the small amounts of candies, sweets, fruits, boba, and crackers while Althea artistically placed her toppings. It was a healthy selection of strawberries, blueberries, crushed graham crackers, and a couple of small mochis.
They went over the counter and had their cups weighed in for the total amount.
As Althea was paying, Hana was surprised when Althea asked her. "Who are your friends, by the way?"
Hana had no clue why Althea had suddenly interested in her friends but then Hana figured that Althea might be a lonely girl seeking different kinds of genuine friendship through her.
"My friends and I," she snorted. "We're considered the troublemakers in our year."
The guy behind the counter handed their order over on a bright pink tray, cutting their conversation. Althea grabbed it before Hana had a chance to, so she picked up two plastic spoons and a pile of napkins, then followed Althea over to the tables.
They both sat down, each girl reaching for her dessert. Hana took a bite when Althea continued their topic. "What sorts of troubles do you find yourselves?"
"Well, it was mostly because of our differences. I didn't know bullying will continue even after high school. I was told it gets better but yeah it wasn't as bad as high school but bullying is still there. You're not afraid of being bullied?" Hana paused. "Wait, of course, you're not. You've never been bullied, have you?"
"No," Althea shrugged her dainty shoulders in disregard."But I know what it's like to be outside of a group because you're different and sometimes, that's just as bad."
"Really you feel like that too? But you're the Althea Lancaster! What group would consider you different enough?"
Althea looked down at her yogurt; playing with it by the way she stared so intently. It was the first time Hana had ever seen her act anything other than confident. When she looked up again, her expression was soft, and if Hana didn't know any better, she'd swear Althea was hurt.
"Let's just say not all girls are nice, especially when you're prettier than they are. And not all boys give you the respect you deserve."
"Sorry, I... I just... You have no idea how hard it is having people make fun of you and stare at you."
Althea's eyes shone when she accidentally reminisced something from her past. She wanted to say something but refrained herself from even parting her lips. "Could you tell me about your friends?"
"So I have like only five friends ever since I transferred here. I got my roommates—Fallon and Liezel and the other trio—Samantha, Natalya, and Hildegard. You don't mind me babbling about them, do you?"
"No, not at all," Althea said as she licked chocolate frozen yogurt from her spoon. "I did ask you about them. Tell me."
"So first: Fallon is a bookworm! She could talk about the Nightfall series for hours and she's a music student while Liezel is a chemistry student. She's got a nasty personality and there are rumors around that she could be a witch with her specializing to you know—potions."
"Then, Samantha's a great gymnast and she tends to skip classes because being a Business Management student bores her out. Hildegard prefers to be silent but she's really good with her personal projects. She's a mechanical engineer student and lastly, we have Natalya, she's super strong and fluffy, I mean she's got the strength of a hundred men and she's a culinary student."
"All of you have something to contribute to the group's excitement, for you all have different interests; yet, you all find harmony in being together."
Hana smiled wider as she scooped up more of her sweet treat and plopped the spoon into her mouth. She licked away the gooey goodness, watching closely as Althea did the same.
As she watched the pink plastic spoon slip between Althea's pursed lips, she realized she wanted the sight of them slightly parted. Even if the photoshoot were days away, Hana couldn't stop herself from envisioning Althea's poses. Just imagining the multiple scenarios made everything inside Hana all warm and fuzzy, just like she felt when Althea first held her eyes at her.
"I, um... I think I'm finished," Hana said, clearing her throat. The sound of a spoon scraping across the bottom of the bowl indicated Althea had finished her dessert as well.
Althea took one final long, almost teasing lick of her spoon, clearing it of any remaining frosty yum, before dropping it into the empty bowl, "Me too. Let me drive you back to your dormitory."
"Sounds like a plan!"
Althea too was surprised she asked Hana to be her model. Sure, she'd thought about it but she hasn't believed her ears even when it came out of her lips. When Hana approached her to ask for a favor, Althea accepted and asked something in return, it wasn't the way she'd always done before.
There was no hostility, no inner anger, but a slight attraction that Althea didn't know how to go about it. So she said the words that could make the two of them closer—closer in a way that there'd be no fabric to get in the way.
There was just something about Hana that had gotten under her skin. Something that—for some reason—chipped away at the guards she held up so tightly. She didn't really notice there was a bit of a hurry to her step as she made her way out of her surgeon clothes into her dapper and every movement that leads her to Hana.
She refused to acknowledge the little spark that ignited when she saw Hana walking towards her earlier today.
Althea rose from her seat, the sound of the metal legs scraping across the floor of the crowded yogurt place. Hana turned to walk away, leaving her bowl on the table for the mall maintenance staff to clean up, but when she saw Althea begin to clear hers and place it atop the tray, she turned around again and followed suit.
With their trash in the receptacle, they made their way through the mall and towards the parking lot.
Outside, the afternoon sunshine warmed her shoulders while the breeze billowed by, caressing her cheeks. The smell of petrichor still fresh from the rain had only happened two hours ago. Althea knew she felt good. The day had suddenly gotten so much better with the simple promise of helping each other out.
As soon as they reached the university, Althea slowed the car down, suddenly unsure of what to say. Parking on her spot, Althea stammered, before Hana would get of her car. "Umm, so... listen."
"How do I contact you?" Hana smiled, beating her when she talked first. She tucked a brown tendril of fallen hair behind her ear.
"Oh right," Althea said, as she fished in her bag for something to write with. She took Hana's hand and scribbled her cell phone number across the pulse point of her wrist in blue ink. "I trust you won't give my number out, all right?"
"No. Yeah. Right," Hana stuttered, curling her hand and staring down at her wrist. Althea could feel the muscle in Hana's arms flex against her palm and she immediately let go. "So, I'll, um... call you tomorrow?"
"Certainly," Althea smiled. "Tomorrow works, anytime afternoon."
"Sure. Thanks, for...." Hana's words trailed off, and Althea was dying to know what she wanted to say next, but she didn't push.
Instead, she nodded and muttered, "You're welcome," before stepping on the gas and heading home.