After The First Sight (GirlXGirl)

Chapter 1. After The First Sight

Anaya Bupha Inthurat is facing a challenging situation as her store lease is set to expire next month, and she currently lacks the necessary funds to renew it. Since the beginning of the pandemic, she has been facing challenges in her work. Before the pandemic, business was thriving for this fashion designer. She had already established a strong reputation in Bangkok, attracting clients from various backgrounds, such as artists, singers, and even beauty pageant queens. Celebrities are particularly fond of her nightgowns, formal dresses, suits, and cocktail dresses, which have become widely recognized and highly sought-after. She has a contract with the management of the beauty pageant to provide all the dresses. Business was thriving before the pandemic.

When the pandemic struck, people worldwide had no choice but to enter quarantine. Due to the government's closure of all establishments, her business was left without any income for nearly a year. Anaya had no choice but to lay off her employees one by one. Despite having no income, she still had to fulfill her obligation to pay all the suppliers. All fabrics, crystal beads, and buttons are seen as useless. The management of the beauty pageant was forced to stop their activities. Many showbiz events were cancelled, including music festivals, concerts, and extravagant weddings.

"P'Ana, have you considered seeking help from P'Chan? She is going to help you right away." Her younger sister is anxious about the elder one, and last year's lease is still available to pay. However, after an entire year of experiencing a decline in business, everything starts to go wrong.

Selene Evans, whose full name is Selene Patcharin Evans, is Anaya's half-sister from a different father. At the age of two, her father passed away due to a heart attack. Three years later, her mother remarried a British man named Peter Evans. Selene was born one year after their marriage, when she was six years old and her sister was nine.

"I can't; when P'Kwang gave birth last month, she was a huge help to me. I can't ask her for any more favors." Anaya recalls about Chantira Naowarat, the renowned owner of Bangkok's most famous music label. "You have already been a great help to me, even when you were just starting your career."

"I can't help much; since I started and the pandemic hit, we are in the same boat, Phi..." Selene finds it challenging to start her debut as a new model and artist in country, especially with the start of the pandemic. Despite the circumstances, she still manages to laugh and maintain a positive attitude.

Chantira is a highly successful music producer. Every song she produces under her label and every singer she nurtures has achieved significant success. Chantira is greatly sought whenever people want to create the debut song for many artists. However, she's selective and has specific requirements that need to be met before she agrees to produce the entire piece, including the theme and the concept for the music video. However, there is also a group of individuals, known as the A-list, whom Chantira can't turn down. For them, she consistently produces one-hit wonder songs, as that is typically all they desire. They never make an effort to enhance their abilities because they can simply purchase fame with their wealth.

Since they were both born in the same year, it became easier for them to build a closer relationship, especially considering that Chantira is one of Anaya's favorite clients. Most of Chantira's nightgowns or suits that she wears to Gala Dinners, events, or awards are her own designs. Chantira and her have known each other for three years already. They share a great relationship, and some people have even mistaken them for being in a romantic relationship because Chantira is openly lesbian.

Anaya took a deep breath. She had been very accommodating when her older sister, Kwang, gave birth to a healthy baby during the pandemic. "Isn't she your girlfriend?" Anaya asks her sister, remembering when Chantira helps Anaya and her family in paying some of the hospital fees.