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Phoenix
Part 22: Street Shadows
The next morning, the studio is already buzzing. The lights are on, coworkers are moving around, preparing for a new commercial shoot.
Phoenix is organizing her tools at the makeup table, noticeably fast, as if racing against time. Her hair is slightly messy, her movements rushed.
Emma steps up to her, a notebook in her hand.
Emma (confused):
“Phoenix, what’s wrong with you? Ever since you came in, you’ve been moving around like someone’s chasing you!”
Phoenix (hurriedly, embarrassed):
“Me? Nothing… just… I have a lot of work. A lot. Very, very much. You know, commercials, models, makeup… and… and the… you know what.”
Emma (raising an eyebrow):
“What do you mean, ‘you know what’?”
Phoenix (confused, muttering):
“Well… the… lights… and the… hum of the cameras…”
Emma looks at her suspiciously, then suddenly glances behind her.
Emma:
“Albatross is coming.”
Phoenix instinctively ducks under the makeup table, as if something had fallen.
Albatross enters with determined steps. His gaze sweeps across the studio, as if he is searching for someone very specific—and everyone knows who.
Leyla (half-whispering to Selin):
“Well, that’s the look of someone who didn’t sleep all night…”
Selin:
“Or someone who spent the whole night thinking about someone.”
Albatross stops in front of Emma.
Albatross:
“Emma, have you seen Phoenix?”
Emma glances back toward the makeup table, then back at Albatross.
Phoenix is still crouching under the table.
Emma (innocently):
“Hmmm… no idea. She’s definitely not here.”
Albatross walks around the table.
Phoenix silently prays: Just don’t look here. Not now.
Albatross stops in front of the table.
Albatross (firm, deep voice):
“Phoenix. Come out.”
Phoenix slowly—very slowly—emerges.
Phoenix (with a sweaty smile):
“Hi… well… I was just… looking for a brush. On the floor. Under the dust. And… behind the wall.”
Emma laughs with her mouth closed; Selin and Leyla turn away so their grins won’t show.
Albatross steps a half step closer.
Albatross (calmly, deeply):
“Phoenix… will you tell me why you’re avoiding me?”
Phoenix (quickly, in full Sanem-mode):
“Me? I’m not avoiding you! I just have a lot to do! A lot-a lot! Tons! Look, I’m going now, I have to do makeup! One model! Two! Five! Or a hundred!”
She tries to leave, but Albatross gently takes her wrist—just as a signal, not forcefully.
Albatross:
“I called you last night. Several times. Why didn’t you answer?”
Phoenix (stammering, turning away):
“Well… because… I was sleeping. Yes. Deep sleep. Like a… rock. Rock-sleep. Or… something like that.”
Albatross (serious, gentle):
“Phoenix. Did something happen?”
Phoenix (avoiding his gaze):
“No… nothing happened. Nothing.”
As Phoenix tries to escape, Albatross keeps watching her.
Albatross (inner thought):
Why do I feel like she’s distant from me?
In the mountains… when we laughed together…
When she fell asleep on my shoulder…
The way she slept so peacefully that night…
His heart tightens.
Phoenix retreats to a corner, pretending to prepare makeup, but in reality doing nothing.
Phoenix (inner thought):
Why does it hurt so much that Esra called him?
Why do I want to forget that evening, yet it keeps coming back?
The way he looked at me…
The makeup brush in her hand starts to tremble.
Leyla (whispering to Selin):
“Oh my God, these two are exhausting. Look, they can’t even breathe properly when they’re near each other!”
Selin:
“This isn’t just tension anymore… this is… chemistry.”
Emma (half-whispering):
“And neither of them would admit that they’re suffering.”
Albatross steps toward Phoenix again.
Albatross:
“Phoenix… please. If something is bothering you, tell me.”
Phoenix steps back, while something tightens painfully in her chest.
Phoenix (smiling to hide the pain):
“Nothing’s wrong. Really. I’m just… working. That’s all.”
Albatross is about to say something else when the director suddenly shouts at them.
Director:
“Albatross! Light test!”
“Phoenix! The new model is already waiting!”
They both move away, but the tension between them continues to vibrate in the air.
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