Phoenix
Part 59: Secrets of the Forest
At the company, late morning
The office is buzzing.
Phoenix is doing makeup in the studio, Albatross is reviewing photos on a monitor.
Suddenly the door swings open — Mina enters, smiling as if she belongs there.
MINA (in a bright, chiming voice):
“Surprise!
I thought I’d brighten your day, Alby.”
Phoenix freezes, makeup pen still in her hand.
Albatross turns around, surprised — but his face shows no excitement.
ALBATROSS:
“Mina… why are you here?
This really isn’t a good time.”
Mina lightly hooks her arm into his.
MINA:
“It’s always a good time for me.”
Phoenix’s shoulders tense.
She doesn’t look at them, but she hears every word.
Albatross gently removes his arm from Mina’s grip.
ALBATROSS:
“We’re busy.
It would be better if you went home.
We’ll talk later.”
The tension in his voice makes Phoenix’s eyes flicker.
Mina is visibly offended — her gaze slides toward Phoenix.
MINA:
“Hm… I see.
Work is more important.”
She walks over to Phoenix, smiling sweetly — but sharply.
MINA:
“I hope you’ve been giving him a good day.”
Phoenix’s smile is neutral, but her voice has an edge.
PHOENIX:
“I try to work professionally.
That’s my only task.”
Mina walks away.
Albatross looks after her — then back at Phoenix.
He notices the jealousy in her eyes.
Slowly, he steps closer. Too close.
Phoenix’s hand trembles around the makeup holder.
ALBATROSS (quietly, teasing):
“Don’t grip that brush so hard.
It won’t run away.”
Phoenix looks back at him, sharply.
PHOENIX:
“Neither will you.
Unfortunately.”
Albatross smiles — that smile meant only for her.
Phoenix works on the model’s eyes, but her fingers search for air, trembling.
Albatross steps behind her again. Too close.
She feels it — but doesn’t move away.
Only her jaw tightens.
ALBATROSS:
“You’ve been very… precise this morning.
Or did something disturb you?”
PHOENIX (sighing, without looking up):
“I’m just trying to avoid unnecessary noise.”
ALBATROSS:
“So essentially… me.”
PHOENIX:
“Exactly.”
Albatross leans in — too close.
ALBATROSS:
“I thought you only noticed noise when it bothered you.”
Phoenix slowly looks up at him.
PHOENIX:
“I’m not watching you.
You just have… too much presence.”
Zeynep enters, knocking, holding papers.
ZEYNEP:
“People!”
Sanem asked everyone to gather!”
Albatross steps back.
Phoenix secretly exhales.
Sanem enters energetically.
SANEM:
“Attention! We have the next project:
We’re shooting in the forest.”
The team murmurs.
SANEM:
“We leave tomorrow.
So bring warm clothes — it’ll be cold, we’re leaving early,
and I don’t want frozen statues in my photos!”
Everyone smiles.
Phoenix starts writing notes when Albatross steps beside her — just as close as always.
ALBATROSS:
“Find a warm coat.
I don’t want you freezing.”
PHOENIX (without looking up):
“You don’t need to worry about me.”
ALBATROSS:
“I’m not worrying.
I just know how easy it is to get lost when someone doesn’t pay attention.”
PHOENIX (with a sharp smile):
“Not everyone gets lost.
Some people just run away from the forest.”
ALBATROSS:
“And some look back at the ones who followed them.”
Phoenix falls silent — it would be different if Mina weren’t there.
Mina steps between them, overly cheerful.
MINA:
“So I’m coming too, right?
I can’t miss an experience like this!”
Albatross grimaces slightly.
Phoenix’s shoulder finally relaxes — into empty air.
ALBATROSS:
“This isn’t a trip, Mina.
It’s work.”
Mina looks around, offended.
MINA:
“Then I’ll show you how useful I can be.”
Phoenix turns away, quietly, to herself.
PHOENIX:
“I’m curious to see that.”
Albatross hears it — and smiles.
ALBATROSS:
“The adventure starts tomorrow.
I hope you survive it.”
PHOENIX:
“I’m surviving today already.
Tomorrow it’s just a forest — today’s jungle is more than enough.”
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