My Heart Beats For You,

Dean returned for his next shoot in a long blue coat with white beads stuck on it; his hair was flipped and gelled with a few extensions of ash blond hair on either side of the head. He was holding a glass in front of his face with his gaze on the opposite side of the glass.
Liam was angry as he couldn't find a substitute for the female model. Everyone is busy with one thing or another. It sounded more like they were indirectly declining his offer.
Roman walks inside the studio with a lady following him. Quick gasps were heard, and the camera stuttered, pausing. People gave all their attention to the incoming person.
"Isn't she Freya Rubain?"
"She's damn pretty."
"What is she doing here?"
"She's among the finest models, right?"
"I can't believe it, I'm seeing her for real."
"Someone just pinches me."
People were whispering and talking among themselves. Some have wide eyes and mouths.
Liam had a wide mouth as Roman stood in front of him with Freya next to him.
"She has agreed to work as a substitute for the other girl," Roman informs while gesturing towards Freya.
"Huh?" Liam recalls Roman's words again. "What kind of prank is this, Roman?"
He thought it was a joke. However, Roman didn't laugh along with him. "What! Are you serious?"
Liam quickly brings his chair forward. "Ma'am, please take a seat. Someone, get some soft drinks." Noah looks around frantically. He didn't recover from the shock.
"What would you like to eat?" Liam asked, looking at Freya, who shook her head.
"I want to help Roman. Nothing else." She smiles at Roman, who returns her polite smile with a nod.
"I hope Roman told you that--" Liam was a little hesitant. "We cannot pay--"
"It's okay," Freya says, "you can give me the same as others. I don't mind."
Liam smiles with happiness rushing in his veins. Their products will indeed be sold out of the city now. People will buy their products, and soon their graph profit will soar high.
Dean looks at the commotion with a confused gaze. He doesn't know about this person. However, the name sounded very familiar to him. He looks at the people gushing over the lady, leading to the conclusion that she must be someone significant.
"Is it ok to start the shoot now?" Freya asked, glancing at her wristwatch. "I've got another schedule."
"Yeah, mam. Of course." Liam looks at the designer, who shakes his head.
"Ma'am, we weren't aware of your visit." Liam glared at Roman, who looked away. "We don't have your size now. We need some time," Liam explained, looking at the lady with an expectation of understanding. She nodded her head with a smile.
"Please stop calling me ma'am, and it was an abrupt decision. So, don't blame him." Freya spoke with softness, melting Liam with her polite manners. His day has gotten better thanks to her.
"Can I understand the product and the theme? Also, I will post it on my IG." Freya spoke, taking her phone.
"Yes, of course." Liam sat down in front of her and began explaining the situation and product details.
Roman looks around the place. His eyes fell on Dean, who was standing at the corner as the photo shoot stopped for now. He picks up a water bottle and walks towards the man.
"Have some water," Roman said, passing the bottle to the startled male. Dean looks at the Roman and takes the bottle, whispering thanks.
There was silence among them, and Roman thought to leave the man alone. "Uh, if it's not too much trouble, can I ask you a question?" Dean asked, capping the bottle and looking at Roman, who was nodding his head.
"Who is that, ma'am?" He whispered, making sure nobody heard. What if she's a popular personality and he doesn't know, and the lady herself hears him?
Roman looks at Dean. "Honestly, I didn't even know about her. She is a famous model. She has taken part in many fashion shows, and her pictures are always found in magazines."
Dean blinks his eyes in realization. "Oh, I don't read magazines."
Roman smiles and says, "Same here."
They both chuckled, looking at the lady. She felt a gaze on her and looked around. Her eyes lock with Dean's, who quickly bends his head a greeting. She smiles and returns her gaze to Liam, who is explaining things.
"Hello, everyone." Sebastian walks inside the studio with a wide smile. Of course, you must charm everyone in the room, especially the one standing at the other end with Roman.
Sebastian quickly marched towards Dean. "Good morning," Sebastian greets Dean with a shy smile. However, Dean can see through the facade. That man is hiding his smirks behind this mask of a good man.
"Good afternoon," Dean said with a fake wide smile. He looks at the wall clock. "It's midday, brother."
Roman coughs, looking at Sabastian. "Good morn-good afternoon sir. Wonderful seeing you." Roman nods and walks away.
"Did you see Freya Rubain?" Sabastian considered starting a conversation.
"No, buddy. She is invisible to me." Dean replied and stepped away.
"What would you like to eat? since it's afternoon now," Sabastian asked, looking at Dean with endearing eyes. He wants the man to be comfortable with him. But the first impression has ruined everything. If it were possible, Sabastian would have turned the time around and made sure to leave a good impression.
"The company is providing the meals," Dean informs Sabastian in case he forgot.
"Ok, I'm sorry," Sabastian said, stopping Dean from walking away by holding his hand. "Can you forgive me? I swear I will be a good man and maintain a good distance. At least, let's be friends." He left his hand, and Dean looked at him with keen eyes.
"How can I work with you when you harbor bitter thoughts about me? We won't be able to do well." Sabastian went on to explain his reasoning. Dean nods his head in understanding. Whatever he said is right. After all, the past is the past.
Dean reaches out his hand. "Let's be friends." Sabastian smiles and quickly returns the gesture with a wide smile. Dean smiled back.
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
"Doctor," Dean says, sitting on the bed while ruffling his wet hair.
[Yo, man. How are you doing? I received your reports. You are taking the anti-rejection pills, right?]
"Yes, I have set reminders for that. I cannot miss them even for a day."
[Good. Everything looks normal. The blood pressure and heartbeats are normal. Good going. I think the heart has accepted your body well.]
"Yeah, I don't feel restless anymore. I can work and walk miles without feeling any shortness of breath or anything." Dean keeps his towel dry.
"Actually, I wanted to ask about Freya, your friend. You said she has a modeling career, and I saw a lady today with a similar name. Her name is Freya Rubain."
[She is the one. Amelia's best friend Although we three stayed together, Freya was special to Amelia.]
"Oh, ma'am will know many things, right?"
[Yeah, she will. I met them in college. They are, however, childhood friends.]
"Awesome. It's like the universe is helping me with this." Dean heard a chuckle from the other end.
[Of course, you are a good man. The universe will surely help a kind soul.]
"You wouldn't have said the same. If you knew about my past self."
[Dean. You're human, and humans make mistakes. What matters is whether you learned a lesson from them or you're going to repeat the same error. I believe you've reflected on them. As a doctor, do you think I didn't see your sorrow? I have noticed you being quiet and looking at one thing for a long time. I've informed your parents as well. They understood you needed them the most at that moment.]
"I see; take care, doctor. I'll talk later."
[Sure, anytime.]
"Freya would know many things about her. Will she become sad at the mention of her friend?" Dean mumbled while using a hairdryer.
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
"One more," Roman spoke, feeding a spoonful of cereal to the boy.
"Papa," The boy whined. "Full." He pats his stomach while chewing.
"Ok, fine." The boy giggled, watching his dad's defeated look. Roman smiled and helped the boy clean his mouth.
"Get your canvas. We'll do some coloring." Ayan nodded and ran towards his room, smiling.
Roman chuckled, washing utensils. Suddenly, his phone starts ringing, and Roman quickly picks it up.
"Hello, Liam."
[Roman, quickly pack your bags. We are going to--]
"Wait, pack? Why do I need to—"
[Let me finish talking first. We're going to the hill station for our project.]
"Huh? This wasn't planned, right?"
[Yeah. But things have changed. I guess you don't know that the budget of our project has increased.]
"Really? How? Did we get new investors?"
[Yes, we did. Moreover, our share price has increased in the market. Because of your help.]
"My help? What did I do?"
[You brought Ms. Freya, right? She posted a picture of our perfume, and guess what?
"Many people saw it and probably bought them?"
[Yes, in the online market, it's out of stock. Many new retailers are connecting with us. Also, our COO is delighted. So, he asked us to do better in this project and help the company. If the company succeeds, we will receive a promotion and a bonus. It's so exciting.]
"That's amazing news. You guys should go and do well. Make sure to send me the updates."
[You're joining us and making no excuses. Ayan, the cute boy will also join us.]
"You know, Ayan has school."
[He's just a kindergarten kid. Let him live his life. He has the whole future ahead to sit and break his head between books.]
The reply made Roman pause his movements of wiping bowls, having a thought that whatever Noah is saying is right. It's been a long time since Ayan had a trip outside their hometown. "Alright, send me the date of departure; I'll reach there with Ayan myself."
[What? The company is paying for this trip.]
"I'm the employee, not Ayan."
[Don't worry, the COO said to bring Ayan with us. Every expense will be paid for by the company. He is so happy, bro. He also knows you are the one who brought Freya. He will take care of the employee's needs too.]
"Alright, I'll talk with Ayan's school and let you know."
[Ok, two tickets in the name of Mr. Carter and his son. Byee.]
"Bye,"
Ayan ran towards his father, saying, "Papa, I bought them."
Roman smiled, watching his son. He keeps the plates back in their places. "It's brought, not bought, baby."
"Both are the same," Ayan said, looking at his father as Roman took him into his arms.
"No, they're not. One has R next to B, and the other doesn't have it." Roman explained while walking towards the living room.
"Now, tell me. R for?" Roman asked, picking up coloring books from the tea table.
"Race," Ayan says, sitting on the floor with his dad.
"Tell me more," Roman said, taking a book and flipping pages.
"Ring, rose, rice, room, roar," Ayan said while counting with his fingers.
"Anything else?" Roman asked, placing the book on the floor. Ayan shook his head, not able to remember any other words.
"R for round." Roman smiled and taught a new word to the boy.
"My head is rounding, papa." Ayan made a sentence from the word.
Roman chuckled. "Rounding?" He took out a crayon and drew a 5 cm circle on the paper. "Is it this big?" Roman asked as Ayan nodded his head, holding it. "Or, this big," Roman shaded another 5 cm circle.
Ayan had a debate in his head. "Round, round, and round, papa."
Roman chuckled, remembering. "I forgot that rhyme."
"Which one?"
"That... a ring around... then a pocket full of posies, I forgot, what else?"
Ayan giggles and holds his dad's hand. "Papa, we sing like this," Ayan said, standing up, and Roman followed.
"Ring around the Rosie." The duo starts circling while holding hands. "A pocket full of posies. Ashes! Ashes! We all fall down!"
They laughed and fell playfully to the floor. "Since we are sitting here. But, who sits on the wall?" Roman asked, pulling the boy into his arms.
Ayan made a thinking face while sitting comfortably on his father's lap. "Humpty-dumpty."
"Correct," Roman said as he tapped Ayan on the nose with his finger.
"Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, All the king's horses and all the king's men, couldn't put Humpty back together again," Ayan laughs.
The father helped his son review his school lessons while having fun. These are the moments where Roman forgets about his past; the memories he had with his wife don't invade his mind. Instead, he sits with his son to create more and probably rewrite happiness over sadness.