Anhedonia

You're Acting Weird

"We can't leave your dad." Rosie said softly, stroking her son's face with her thumbs soothingly. "Just give him more time, Akiro."

"But mom—."

"Please, honey. I can't lose your dad this time. He'll be back and all we need to do is to wait. Promise me that you'll wait too."

The kid stared at his mom. He's four, he was supposed not to worry about any matter aside from playing, but he's too mature and could already understand what's going on in their life. He could see how his mom was hoping for his dad to remember them both and if his mom wanted to stay, then he could do nothing about it but to support his mom just like how he supported her and protected her from Jayvee.

"Okay." Akiro said with a toothy smile. "If he could remember Jeremy, I know he would remember me too."

"Of course, honey." Rosie smiled in relief, kissing her son on his forehead before she stood up. "Get ready, we'll be going to Uncle Liam's studio."

Akiro nodded his head and he rolled out on the other side of the bed and opened his closet. "Uncle Liam said that I need to wear my best outfit."

"Do you want me to help you find one?"

"Nuh-uh. I'm a big boy now, mom." Akiro looked over his shoulder with cocky smirk on his lips which Rosie finds adorable yet amusing.

"Fine, I'll wait for you downstairs."

"Okay!" Akiro waved his hand dismissively as he looked back on his pile of clothes.

Rosie then left the room and went to her own room. She took a quick shower and wear a black draped dress in shiny jersey; leg length and long sleeve, paired with a black six inch patent leather pumps. She tied her hair in a loose bun and let it sit on top of her head then she put her own makeup on. She's already pretty without those makeups but since they are going in a photoshoot, it's necessary to put one on. Then wear some jewellery to showcase the appearance of her black dress.

She looked at herself from the whole body mirror, spinning one time and when she's satisfied with her outfit, she picked up her purse and left her room.

Jerry just finished making breakfast for everyone, he looked at the table with pride. He didn't let their maids to help him since he wanted to be productive. He heard footsteps coming towards him and he knew that it was Rosie so he didn't bother to look, but he could see her in his peripheral vision.

"Let's eat first before the photographer arrive." Jerry said but he didn't hear any response from Rosie.

"We are the ones who's going to meet the photographer, he's not going here." Rosie said as she sat on the other end of the table.

"Wha—." Jerry stopped, froze rather. When she saw Rosie's face. The angelic one earlier was gone and didn't leave any trace because the one he could see now is more like a wild and hot woman. That dress hugged Rosie's perfectly carved body, her smokey eye makeup was lit and it literally emerged her gorgeous face. Jerry blinked his eyes rapidly then looked away quickly when Rosie looked up to him. "What do you mean that—."

"We're going to Liam's studio since he volunteered to be our photographer." Rosie said, gauging Jerry's reaction.

"O-okay." Jerry stuttered because he could feel weak when Rosie put him under those hypnotising pairs of hazelnut brown eyes.

The boys arrived in the kitchen while the adults shifted their focus on them. Jerry took Jeremy on the chair next to him while Rosie put her son next to her on the other end of the long table.

"You guys are too far, just sit here." Jerry said, pointing quickly on the chair on his left side, avoiding looking at Rosie.

"We're fine here."

"I insist." Jerry said and this time, he gathered all his courage to meet Rosie's eyes.

Rosie decided not to have an argument about it and she just stood up and tugged her son with her and they both sat on the chair closer to Jerry while Akiro across from Jeremy.

The four eat their breakfast in silence and once they are all done, they leave the house. Rosie called Liam to inform him that they are already on their way to his studio.

After 20 minutes drive, they finally arrived at the LM studio where the owner; Liam Manoban, greeted them on the entrance and he pulled Rosie for a hug and left a kiss on the side of her head which Jerry saw and he felt annoyed but he didn't let it show in his features as Liam turned to him and nodded to him.

"Let's go inside so we can start. I still have a photoshoot for a magazine after this." Liam said, taking Rosie's hand and intertwining their fingers while on his other hand, he took Akiro and led them inside.

Jerry furrowed his eyebrows while watching the three entering the building, especially their hands.

"Uh Dad? Are you okay?" Jeremy asked agitatedly.

"Yeah, let's go inside so we can end this and let's go to the park." He replied, taking his son's hand and they both followed inside.

Liam's staff prepared the set, there are two chairs in the middle. Liam told Jerry to sit on the other while he helped Rosie to take a seat carefully, he even tucked some of the hair strands behind Rosie's ear and smiled at her sweetly.

"You're so beautiful, my Rosie." Liam said and he made sure that Jerry could hear him.

He did, he's actually glaring at Liam as he took his position behind the camera and the younger guy smirked when he could see Jerry's annoyed face.

Rosie was confused, she doesn't have any idea why Liam suddenly acts weirdly, especially that he knows Jerry is here. She saved those questions when Liam told them to look at the camera for a trial.

Their position is like this. Rosie and Jerry sitting while the two boys on both of their sides. But Liam thought that it was not appropriate so he asked one of his staff to remove Jerry's chair and asked the guy to stand behind Rosie while the boys stood on either side of their mom.

"Okay, give me a smile." Liam said while peeking at the viewfinder. "Rosie, smile for me honey." He yelled with his hand doing a countdown in the air and when he was down to one, he tilted his head to the side. "Jerry, why don't you try to smile?"

"Don't tell me what to—."

"Just smile, Jerry." Rosie cut him off. She just wanted to end this photoshoot so she could ask what's wrong with her best friend.

"Fine." Jerry groaned and he forced himself to smile but Liam shook his head and stood straight.

"Smile, genuinely." He said, staring at Jerry intensely. "Imagine that my wife is standing next to me." He said then bent over again to peek at the viewfinder but the couple looked at him dumbfounded, especially Rosie. "Okay, give me a smile!" Liam yelled and he made another countdown. Rosie and Jerry smiled but of course, Liam, being professional in his profession, he could tell those smiles were fake. "One more time."

"You already took three pictures, ain't that enough?" Jerry asked irritatedly.

"Not until I see the smiles I'mlooking for." Liam said and he looked at his staff. "Retouch their makeup." He said and the make-up artists approached the couple.

"Excuse me." Rosie stood up from her chair and made her way to her best friend, grabbing his arm and dragged him out of the room. "What are you doing, Liam?"

"What?" Liam asked innocently.

"You.." Rosie paused and she stomped her feet on the ground. "You're acting weird!"

"Me? Weird?" Liam laughed mockingly while pointing at himself. "So praising you is now weird huh?"

"No, but you weren't like this—."

"I am always like this. You just can't see it because you're too focused on Jerry." Liam chuckled.

"Good morning." Seul-ki greeted as he arrived in Liam's studio, holding two cups of coffee. As he was making his way towards Liam, he stopped on his track when he saw Rosie. "H-hey.. what are you doing here?"

Rosie's eyes shifted to Seul-ki and she creased her forehead. "What are you doing here? Don't you have class?"

"Uh. I'm a.. I'm on leave." Seul-ki replied nervously, looking at Liam, as if he's asking for help.

"I called him and asked him to go here." Liam said.

"Why?"

"I need someone who needs to stop me if I snap out and want to punch that asshole inside this room." Liam shrugged his shoulders.

"What do you mean—."

"Okay!" Seul-ki chimes in and he stands in between them then faces Rosie. "Look, don't get mad at my wife. I heard you two talking about Jerry's condition then I kind of told Liam about him so it's all my fault."

"What?!" Rosie exclaimed. "Why did you—."

"Because I deserve to know that Jerry has feelings for my wife and is making a fool out of me by hiding it from me!" Liam said through his gritted teeth.

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