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25% Burn with the Flames / Chapter 1: Juxtaposition
Burn with the Flames Burn with the Flames original

Burn with the Flames

Author: ysa_arcangel

© WebNovel

Chapter 1: Juxtaposition

"Why the hell did I agree to this?" Stan groused as he stood by the open door of the closet with nothing but a loose towel, hung around hips. Droplets of water dripped from his hair, down his perfect muscular chest, over his toned abs, and down to his chiseled v-line.

He had a scowl on his face as a frown tugged on his thin lips.

"Anything for charity, right?" a slow, indolent voice came from the hallway.

Stan turned and shot an irritated look over his broad, damp shoulder. "Yeah, right."

"Inspector, the studio is ready. Your stylist is waiting, follow me please," called the photographer. A slow sexy smile curved over her red lips.

Stan eyed the tall, lean body as his eyes soften. God, the woman moved like a lynx. Just the sight of her made Stan wanted to pull her down on the bed, let go of the towel, and forget all about the morning's ensuing madness.

He followed her to the makeshift studio they set up in the firehouse, as he shook the lustful thoughts out of his head.

It was a busy week for the San Isidro Fire Station. The Mr. Firefighter Philippines was just over a month away and the team was busy with preparations for the big day.

The Mr. Firefighter Philippines was a national male firefighter pageant sponsored by Firefighters of the Philippines Charities Inc. This annual competition was the result of the commitment to uplift and empower role models of handsomeness, health and leadership for fire men in the Philippines, and support a good cause.

The winner will represent the country in the annual Mr. Firefighter World where they could showcase their stunning physiques, show off their intellects, rescue skills and techniques and to compete with other representative from all over the world. The titleholder will travel to raise money to provide food and clothing for the under privileged.

With an immediate superior like Stan, slacking off was out of the question, even if he was told by Chief Inspector Calma to focus on the 'pageant' and avoid any injuries or burns.

Stan had already worked an hour before this shoot, and he found himself with a chewed up pen on his hand, while he chugged down his second espresso. He ran his hands through his hair, with regret flowing through his veins for being such a know-it-all.

"Okay, Inspector, your chief has already instructed what you need to be for this shoot. You need to be dark, while being scruffy and hot. We're going to show the light and dark side of you, like a juxtaposition. Redeemed and damned. It's gonna be fabulous!" the photographer explained.

Stan's mouth twisted into a cringe. "It's the most embarrassing thing I've ever done."

"Darling, you'll do great. Now get dressed," the photographer instructed as she set up her camera equipment.

Stan's lips curled in irritation, a headache formed behind his eyes.

"It's for a good cause, remember?" the stylist said earnestly.

"She has a point, Inspector," commented Eric, one of their emergency medical technicians, who popped his head in the room.

"We could raise so much money to get new equipment for a cause that you already support," a paramedic named Mike bumped in.

"Lagman, Arguelles, step out," Stan said, while he strived for patience.

"Yes, sir," they responded in unison, their soft chuckles echoed in Stan's ears, as they stepped out of the room.

When the boys left, Stan fixed his own gear and pulled the turnout trousers on over his bare skin. He looked at himself in the mirror appreciatively.

Stan has lived an Ugly Duckling life when he was younger. He'd been a cute kid but when puberty hit him, he was tortured. He was a crippled boy with a severe case of acne. His lower teeth were crowded and some had grown rotated and twisted. He was ridiculed for his looks, bullied by the cool guys, and ignored by the pretty girls. He suffered from bad social anxiety and always seated at the back of the class.

He couldn't help but smile at the reflection that stared back. The timid Eugenio and now vain Stan were the anti-theses of one another. They were exact opposites in nearly every conceivable way, and yet they were still one and the same.

Now, Inspector Eugenio Estanislao Buenaobra was set to represent his line unit in the Mr. Firefighter Philippines competition, and who knows? Tomorrow, he could be representing the team to the world.

"Miss, should I put on my turnout coat?" Stan asked.

"Just call me Bianca. That's Jinky." The photographer pointed to the petite stylist. "No coat on."

Jinky brushed his hair with her delicate hands.

"You've got gorgeous short hair. What should we do? Slicked back, mohawk, side-swept?" the stylist asked Stan.

"Anyway you want." Stan totally had no idea.

"Jinks, let's just go for the blown-back suave style. It'll give girls something they wish they could run their fingers through," suggested Bianca.

"Perfect!" Jinky exclaimed, and angled Stan's head to appraise him better.

"Is this your first photo shoot?" Bianca focused her camera to find the best angle. "Just relax," Bianca said with a smile. "We're going to have fun today. I'll make sure you're comfortable. Jinks, take good care of him," she told Jinky, who was applying foundation on Stan's face.

"Your skin tone is pretty even and you don't have any blemishes. You have small pores too. What's your secret?" She took out a large brush and dipped it into a puddle of foundation.

"Only Belo touches my skin," Stan sheepishly replied with the tagline of a famous medical-aesthetic clinic.

The stylist giggled, as she liberally set a section of Stan's hair with hairspray.

After a few touches, they arranged the lights and secured the reflectors in their proper places.

"Let's get this over with," said Bianca. "Bring in the pups, boys!" The photographer called out to the firefighters outside.

"Sir, permission to enter," said Eric on the other side of the door.

"Come in," Stan answered. He slipped on his boots while he stayed seated on a stool.

Eric brought in two aspins, a dog native to the Philippines, they rescued a month ago and were turned over to the Philippine Animal Welfare Society.

"Oh, they're perfect." The photographer hands one of the puppies to Stan. He leaned over to pat the puppy on the head.

Stan tore his eyes away from Bianca and shot Eric a look.

"Yeah, I should leave." Eric nodded and immediately stepped out of the room.

The photographer instructed Stan to stand up, and carry one of the puppies in his left hand while he cuddled the other one in his right.

Stan couldn't help but smile as he rested his chin on the puppy's head. The puppy tried to lick his face, which earned a "Good!" from the photographer and the click of the camera shutter.

"That wasn't so bad," Jinky remarked.

Stan chuckled, as he tipped his head back. Bianca took another picture before she asked him to try a new pose.

His fears of looking dumb and awkward were dispelled when Bianca whistled playfully. "I like that pose."

"Lay on the floor and put the pups on your chest," Bianca instructed. "Now look at the camera. I want to see the fire in your eyes, Inspector. Think about your girlfriend or whoever it is that makes you feel hot. Give me those fiery bedroom eyes."

At that moment, a very naughty thought crossed his mind. What if he really was able to seduce the women in front of him? What if he could project so much sex appeal that she'd set down her camera, walk right over to him and ravished him? The thought was ridiculous but he latched on to it just the same, used it to fuel the emotion he wants to portray.

"Great," Bianca praised, face hidden behind the camera as she snapped a few frames.

With every pose, Stan found it easier to relax, and soon they fell into an easy rhythm of posing and picture-taking. Every now and then he'd pause, and Jinky would retouch his makeup.

"Are you sure this is your first photo shoot?" Bianca teased as she captured another picture. "You're good at this."

"Yes, I'm sure," Stan laughed.

"Well, you're a natural," Jinky complimented him while she adjusted his trousers lower to show his v-line.

She stepped back and Bianca snapped a few more frames. "Let's get that fire back. I want to see the desire in your eyes," she prompted.

As Bianca looked at him through the camera lens, he peeked through his own private viewfinder in his mind, and imagined what his warm hands would feel like to cup her breasts. They would no doubt fit into his palms easily.

"Perfect! It's getting warm in here, Inspector," Bianca joked as she clicked the shutter continuously.

"You're really heating this place up." Jinky walked over to Bianca, tied her hair in a ponytail, whispered in her ear that made her blush and giggle.

At first, his face has contorted in confusion, while he watched the two girls. After a few seconds, his face has relaxed and understood the situation perfectly.

Stan coughed. "Um, should we continue?" he asked slowly.

The two girls caught him staring and chuckled softly.

"Okay, last pose," Bianca finally said.

The shoot finally wrapped up, to Stan's relief. The pictures will be sorted and the best shots would be sent to the FPCI committee for evaluation.

He realized, posing with pups for charity wasn't bad after all.


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
ysa_arcangel ysa_arcangel

Hey, Arcangels! How are you all doin'? I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! More to come! It'll be a fun ride so buckle up and enjoy the read!

Chapter 2: Bitchslap

"Come on, Trixie. It's late. Let's call it a day." Olympia leaned against the doorway of her office and pleaded at her friend with such sad eyes.

Trix didn't even look at her when she said, "Oh spare me your pity, P. I don't want it."

"I think you should take the week off. Go on a vacation." Trix opened her mouth to speak, but Olympia cut her off. "You can't keep living like this." Olympia looked at her with consoling eyes.

"P, I'm perfectly fine living the way I do."

"You call this fine?" Olympia threw her hands up in the air and stomped to her. "Have you looked at yourself lately? You can't tell me that you're pleased with yourself. There used to be days when you would come into the office without even brushing your hair. They look at you and they practically see a neon sign that says 'loser' flashing over your forehead! Come on, Trixie. You are lifeless here. You need to get out."

Trix looked up a few moments later with a resigned look on her face.

She is on top of her career as the head of the Marketing Department in a multinational financial corporation in Perth. A job with lots of money and recognition.

She's used to being independent, to doing things by herself. She wanted to be strong, so no one would have to worry about her. She was ultra-competitive, which was why her recent failed relationship hit her the hardest. That was the only thing she couldn't fix. She thought she was a failure.

"I'm tired, P. Just leave." Trix shooed her away. She didn't need anyone reminding her of how much of a loser she was. Olympia was right and it sucked.

"Do you remember the guy at the car show selling the 1970 Mustang? He's tall, dark and ruggedly handsome. Definitely your type. He gave you his card. Why don't you go out? Date him."

"I can't remember the guy. You know I'm bad with faces, P."

"What I'm saying is, have fun. You shouldn't be here this late. You're drowning yourself with work." Olympia plopped herself next to the window that overlooks the city. The lights from the buildings outside twinkled and illuminated the dark sky. The traffic and pedestrians below are micro-sized from that height.

"P, just go home. I'll be fine," murmured Trix in a lifeless tone. Her eyes remain focused on her monitor as her fingers danced over the keyboard.

The harder Trix worked, the less time she had to think and mourn her loss. The more of a workaholic she was, the less time she had to wallow in her own misery.

And yet it didn't work.

"I could stay with you for as long as you want." Olympia grabbed her friend's hand and stopped her from typing. "And for as long as you're treating tonight." She winked.

Trix squeezed her friend's hand and gave her an appreciative smile.

* * *

Trix and Olympia decided to hit a karaoke bar conveniently located in Queen St. just a block away from their office building.

They confirmed their reservation with the receptionist. Olympia booked a karaoke room for 3 hours and ordered a bucket of beer and finger food.

The ambiance was very convivial and they chilled out on their comfy sofas at the reception area and snapped photos while they waited for their room to get prepared.

After a few minutes, the staff led them to a small party room. Olympia squealed when the attendant turned the karaoke machine and the microphone on.

"Okay! I'm gonna go first!"

On the screen, a dozen song titles appeared.

Olympia searched through the songbook for songs to sing. Her eyes widened as she scanned the list. She grinned when she finally found her song. She picked her song plus added a couple more to the queue before the music started.

Trix smiled as she leaned back on the comfy leather sofa, next to Olympia. She felt grateful that Olympia invited herself to drink and have some fun with her. Whatever fun meant at that moment.

"Not having fun?" Olympia asked after she finished her song.

"I am." Trix forced a smile.

"I think you should go next." Olympia handed the mic over to her. "Come, on! You know you want to!"

Trix shook her head. "P, I'm not in the mood to sing."

Olympia rolled her eyes at her.

"Fine," Trix muttered, and chuckled at her friend's reaction. She grabbed the songbook and searched through it while Olympia belted out her next song.

Trix couldn't help but admire how cool her best friend was. She had a great singing voice, too.

Another song with an up-beat, pop rhythm came on next. Olympia happily swayed back and forth in time with the tune. Her grin was so wide, it was a wonder her face didn't split.

Apparently, Olympia had saved seven songs in a row. So much for giving Trix the chance to sing. Finally, it was Trix' turn and she chose the song "I Never Loved You Anyway" by the Corrs.

As the chorus of the song came up, she belted out the lyrics by heart.

Who was she kidding? Blinking away the tears, she shook her head.

When she finished, her face warmed up as a familiar melancholic tune emerged from the karaoke box and her heart beat faster. It was a song that resonated with a kind of love that is true but distant and hence, unbearably out of reach.

"Ooops, that's mine!" Olympia grabbed the microphone from Trix.

It was a song that reminded Trix of her ex. This particular Ed Sheeran song made her weep like a willow tree after a thunderstorm.

It has only been a week since she and Rafael broke up.

The weeks she spent investigating, gathering information, proofs and facts that Rafael was cheating had been the most miserable weeks of her life. Trix had looked older over the past couple of weeks and lost twenty pounds. She was so exhausted digging for the truth, and when she found it, her world was turned upside down.

Rafael was her everything: her high school crush, her first kiss, first makeout, first sex, first love and now, the first person to broke her heart. He was the only man she's ever wanted. She thought he was perfect.

After graduating from college, Trix got a job offer that she couldn't turn away in Perth. Also a chance to get away from her overbearing mother.

She and Rafael went through their options and decided to give long distance a shot. She left Philippines and worked abroad. They did well until their first year and then Rafael came down with a terrible case of "grass is greener on the other side". He eventually followed Trix and moved in with her.

She was the financier, the responsible corporate high riser with the strict daily routine who prefers intimate dates, quiet classical music and a day at the museum. On the other hand, he was horrible with money, a freelance photographer who finally graduated at 25, loves a big raucous rave parties, and a day spending with his Playstation.

They had a couple of years of bliss so to speak.

When she found out she was pregnant, Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach" comforted her as she sang and danced to it non-stop. Then there were miscarriages - one after the other.

Rafael made her laugh and told her what she wanted to hear. Then she caught him holding hands with a girl with a baby bump of her own. What a blow.

After that incident, she didn't want to listen to any music at all. She just wanted to lock herself in her room, call her best friend Olympia and talk all night, trying to convince herself that Rafael didn't mean anything to her at all. She still cried herself to sleep.

Trix isolated herself from the world since the break-up.

Rafael had stripped her down, taken away the final pieces of the broken shell that she was, so that she had no choice but to rebuild. She hated him for making her weak, but she hated herself even more for letting him do that to her.

Sensing that Olympia was watching her, Trix glanced at her friend but quickly avoided Olympia's gaze and chugged down her beer.

"I hate seeing you like this, Trixie," Olympia began. "Do you wanna talk about it? You know you're gonna have to get it out eventually."

Trix bit her lip. She has been crying since Rafael left, and frankly was tired of doing so. Her heart was like a dam dangerously cracked - stable one second and spilling over without warning. She finished the rest of her beer and banged it on the table with a sigh.

"What is there to say, P?" She stammered as she wiped away the two teardrops that snaked down her cheeks. "Raffy took everything from me. He left nothing but a broken heart and a few overdue bills." She chuckled bitterly.

"I know it's not easy going through this pain. But you just have to believe in yourself. Believe that you are strong enough to overcome this heartbreak," Olympia reassured Trix with a look of sincerity on her face.

Trix laughed a drunk laugh, the beer already gone to her head. "You know what, we had remarkably similar taste in music; most of what I listened to with him during our time together, I loved, and still love. Which means, I had to delete a bunch of my favorite songs because I couldn't bear the sound of them." She laughed in between her sobbing.

Olympia comforted her with a hug. "Trixie, sometimes you just have to delete the songs, erase the messages, block the numbers and move on. You don't have to forget who was he to you but you have to accept he isn't that person anymore."

"I'm scared to start from scratch again, P," Trix cried. "They say time can heal all wounds but sometimes the ticking is so loud, it feels as though time is standing still." Tears rolled down her cheeks. Olympia hugged her tight as Trix broke down on her shoulder.

"I know you're stronger than this, Trixie," Olympia gently stroked her hair.

"Had I known he was going to do this to me, I should've picked Eugene over him. Remember him? My childhood friend whom I betrayed," Trix slurred.

"Yeah, yeah, I remember."

"I should've told the truth and let Raffy suffer the consequences. I shouldn't have turned my back on my best friend," Trix sobbed uncontrollably.

"Shh…Trixie listen. No amount of guilt can change the past. It is what it is. Just don't make the same mistake twice." Olympia smiled.

"Maybe it was karma bitch-slapping me in the face. I ruined someone's future because back in high school I was another teenage girl who'd do anything for her boyfriend," Trix laughed and cried at the same time.

Maybe it was the alcohol or the fact that Trix was exhausted. She felt ridiculous.

"Better be slapped with the truth than kissed with a lie." Olympia cupped her friend's cheeks, turned Trix' head towards her own face, and grinned. "We're here for you, okay?"

"Thank you, P." Trix hugged Olympia tight.

Sometimes it only does take one person to reassure you that there is always a rainbow after the storm.  


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
ysa_arcangel ysa_arcangel

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thanks for reading!

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