Photoshoot in women's attire?
Hue had never anticipated such duel in his life. He expected their duel will be something like playing chess, which didn't include any physical contacts.
But, photoshoot in women's attire? It didn't cross his mind at all!
Hue found his composure after a while of silence. He smiled at the black-eyed man, "This is quite a challenge to us considering we are both men. Why, if I may ask, did you choose this kind of challenge?"
He knew he could not take his words back. He had agreed to the duel. So, he must know the reason why Luca chose such a duel for them.
Luca smiled and leaned forward with his elbows resting on the table, "Actually, I have been looking for a female model to be the front page cover for our travel magazines. But, since I couldn't find the model that I want, I wanted you to be featured in the magazine. Your look is already a package. I will be featured in the cover as well. Winner will be the one who stood out the most." He explained.
"You want me to dress up in female clothes and posed in front of the cameras for your magazines?" Hue was astounded.
Had Luca had a few loose screws in his head after knowing the truth about Jennet's marriage?
Luca nodded his head. "Yes, well, supermodels always posed in different kind of clothes. So, why not we have your face on the front page and this actually will help Jennet too while we are on our duel. More clients, more income for Jennet to support both the of you."
"Well, bless my soul, I would look so hideous to your eyes. It would be an embarrassment for your magazines plus I am not even a model." Hue answered, trying to dismiss the idea.
'How the heck did he sensed that I am jobless? This man called Luca Tybelg is so dangerous. Plus, I couldn't even read his mind!' Hue murmured in his head. Again, he was frustrated like how he couldn't read Jennet's mind before.
"Not to worry though as long as your wife is kept in the dark about this challenge, you're safe and also, you will be paid for the cover shoot," Luca said. "The photoshoots will be done privately and only a few people will be there. So, you don't have to worry about anything."
"Fine, I accept this kind of challenge. It's just for some photoshoot, right?" Hue asked, reconfirming everything again.
Money, yes, he needed money to support his wife. As what Little Veen said before, he needs to find a job to keep money flowing in. Well, now that he had the chance, he will do whatever he could to get some money and proved it to her that he indeed is not jobless.
"Yes," Luca nodded his head. 'Hue Hedo, I'll unmask who you really are. I am quite certain you are the one who messed with my first time back in Country N.' He chuckled deep within.
It's impossible if Hue is not the one because there is no one else that he knew who had such beautiful features. That mysterious woman and Hue Hedo must be the same person who perhaps has a double identity and the reason he had double identity is what Luca aimed to know.
His relationship with Jennet was quite a mysterious one as well. Given that Jennet never associated herself with anyone made everything even complicated. Plus, their marriage was hidden as well.
What was their reason to hide their marriage?
"Okay, but after the show ended, you must never speak a word about this to my wife," Hue added.
"You have my words, Mr Hedo." Luca smiled, "By the way, let's exchange contact numbers so it's easy for us to contact each other regarding this challenge."
"I don't have any phone to exchange numbers with you." Hue said, flatly.
For goodness sake, he now realized he didn't have even a single phone ever since he lived together with his wife. He didn't even bother to get one before because he could always see his wife from afar and Little Veen had always been the one reporting her current whereabouts to him before.
"Then, I'll just contact your wife if I want to speak with you." Said Luca which boils Hue's blood to the maximum.
"You are not allowed to call my wife. Don't even think about wooing her secretly behind me." Hue said, giving him a stern warning. Even after their so-called agreement for the duel, he still bears a grudge against Luca Tybelg.
Luca smiled back at him. He sensed childishness from this man however, this is the man that Jennet loves and he had to admit it.
"Mr Hedo, I'm happy to tell you that she actually rejected me a long time ago when I first asked her out on a date. We're only on good friend terms although at some point I do wish to snatch her away from the man who won her heart. But now that I know she's married, I can be calm and rest assured, I won't try to win her heart. However, if you would like to let her go, one day in the future, please let me be with her. I'll treasure her." He said.
"I assure you, My Tybelg, that time is impossible to surface as long as I am by her side." Hue gave him an assuring smile as well.
There was lighting spark in the air when they smile among them. They may be smiling on the surface but underneath they were fighting internally.
However, the spark vanished when Jennet returned to the table. Both men gave her wide smiles which made her feeling going suspicious of what they have been doing behind her. Had they been fighting behind her back?
However, she dismissed the thought and smiled back at them.
"Luca, I apologize for all the misunderstanding between us. I've tried to explain the truth but as I said, the timing was always not right." Jennet apologized again for the second time after they filled their stomachs.
"No worries. I'm at fault as well for not trying to listen to your explanation before. So, forgive me, Jennet." Luca extended his hand for a shake of apology.
It broke his heart to extend his hand for an apology because he didn't even want to let her go. However, since he had known the truth, he had to give up on her.
Jennet shook his hand and smiled at him, "Thanks. You're forgiven."
As soon as they pulled their hands away, Hue grabbed her hand and tucked it inside his pocket. He gave a smile to Luca.
"Well, since everything is now clear of any misunderstanding, let's not contact each other after work hour." He said with deep meaning embedded in them.
Jennet looked up at her husband who was about to show his pouty face. She found it funny when he spoke such words to Luca, her boss no less.
"Hue, stop it!" She hissed at him and softly elbowed his side.
Luca smiled at the unexpected sight. He saw Jennet making an angry expression at another man. Well, he couldn't make her do that kind of face to him. He knew she cared so much about her husband.
"Well, Jennet, since you're now a married woman, you should hand in a copy of your marriage registration to Susan for filing purposes. Your profile must be updated." Luca said.
For once and for all, he had to keep burying his love for her. But, he will keep an eye on her from the sideline. Now that he had a much better thing to do, he will keep his heart locked away.
The couple left the cafe shortly after that. They bumped onto Felix who was on his way to meet Luca. Jennet smiled at him and he nodded his head in acknowledgement without saying a word.
He watched the couple leaving in a car. However, there was confusion on his calm face. That blonde-haired man, he had seen him in Country N.
His train of thought rewound to the memories he had during their trip in-country N. He saw him with a little kid who had a cute face. But he dismissed the thought before because Luca was looking for a woman and not a man.
'Is that the husband of Jennet? Did they have a child together?' He questioned himself.
Everything was so confusing and odd. But, could he be a doppelganger as well?