Főnix

Phoenix

Part 33: The Wave of Desire

The photoshoot begins. Albatross steps behind the camera, while Lina walks to the center of the set with graceful movements, noticeably swaying her hips a bit too much.

Phoenix watches from the background with her arms crossed.

On her face is that classic expression of “I’m not jealous, I’m just angry at the air.”

Albatross deliberately plays along.

Albatross (in a deep voice, giving directions):
“Lina, turn a little to the right… yes… perfect. Beautiful. That light suits you very well.”

Lina smiles and steps even closer to him.

Murat, the assistant, exchanges a glance with Phoenix. He knows what’s coming.

Phoenix (muttering):
“‘Beautiful… suits you very well’… uh-huh. Sure. The light suits her? Or you? Congratulations… in that kind of light even a lamb would sparkle nicely…”

Aylin, a colleague, asks softly:
“Phoenix, are you okay?”

Phoenix (grinning):
“Perfectly! Why? What would be wrong? Do I look like something’s wrong? Nothing shows! Nothing at all!”

Meanwhile, she drops three brushes.

Aylin:
“Just… the brushes…”

Phoenix:
“Gravity’s fault! Not mine!”

Albatross escalates.

He reaches for Lina’s hair to adjust a strand.

Phoenix freezes as she watches.

Her eyes split in two, like a hawk’s.

Lina (in a sweet voice):
“Is this good, Albatross?”

Albatross (with a half-smile):
“Perfect. Exactly like that.”

Phoenix can’t take it anymore. She walks over—but with fast, rushed steps, as if she might trip at any moment.

Phoenix:
“Hi, Lina,” she says in an overly sweet voice.
“I just thought… I’d freshen up your makeup a bit.”

Lina:
“But it was just finished.”

Phoenix:
“Yes, but… you know… the lights quickly melt the… the… beauty. And… and… yes, you’re about to melt everywhere! Come, come here quickly!”

Lina leans in, confused.

Phoenix deliberately powders her too hard.

Aylin stifles a laugh in the background.

Albatross steps closer to Phoenix—so close that Phoenix mixes up two brushes again.

Albatross:
“Everything okay, Phoenix?” he asks in a deep, slow, provocative voice.

Phoenix:
“Of course! Why wouldn’t it be? Why, does it look like something’s wrong with me? I’m not… I’m not… anything!”

Albatross (smiling):
“I see you’re paying very close attention to the shoot.”

Phoenix (stammering):
“Me? Just… professional… interest… you know… makeup… light… sparkle… too much sparkle… maybe Lina is just a bit too…”

Albatross leans even closer so only she can hear him.

Albatross:
“You can say it. You’re jealous.”

Phoenix nearly chokes on air.

Phoenix:
“Me?! No! I’m just… just accidentally… worried! About Lina’s skin… and… the sparkle… and the… sparkly… things!”

Albatross (softly, deeply):
“You’re very cute when you get this flustered.”

Phoenix turns red.

Phoenix:
“I’m not flustered. I’m just… hot. Because of the lights. Or because of you. Or both? Oh God…”

And then Albatross delivers the final blow.

Albatross (calling out loudly):
“Lina—we’ll do a few close-up portraits as well. Come here, a little closer to me.”

Phoenix’s eyes almost burst into flames.

Then she takes a deep breath and speaks confidently:

Phoenix:
“I’LL be there too!”

Everyone turns toward her.

Albatross:
“Here?”

Phoenix:
“Yes! Professional supervision! So the makeup… doesn’t sparkle… or sparkles too much… or… I don’t know! But I’ll be there!”

The crew almost bursts out laughing.

Albatross smiles like this was exactly his goal.

Albatross:
“Alright, Phoenix,” he says slowly.
“Then stay close to me.”

Phoenix completely freezes.

Phoenix:
“Close… to you?
You mean… very close?
Or… moderately?
Because if very close… then maybe… um… the light will be disturbing…”

Albatross:
“I don’t disturb you.
But you disturb me very much.”

Phoenix:
“O–oh…”