commitment.

4

sakari had me booked up. i saw her at least three times a week. yes she was paying me but it was interfering with my other clients. i was technically on call for her so she could get me whenever. i'd be in the middle of another shoot and she'd send me a text telling me she needs me for the night. that's the other thing, most of our shoots have been at night now. i was already on my way to her for another night shoot. i typed in the pin to the studio and headed up to her.

"hey caelan, how are you?" sakari greeted me with a smile.
"i'm tired, are you dressed?"
"no just give me a minute."
"really sakari? you knew i was coming, come on man."
"oh? what's going on with you?"
"i told you i was tired. i had two other shoots today and then you have me doing this last minute shit."
"sit down." sakari said. i ignored her and continued setting up my equipment. "caelan i know you hear me talking to you."
"can you just get dressed so we can get this over with."

"no sit down bruh." sakari said. i rolled my eyes and sat at the table. "i know ive been working you real hard lately and im sorry. i've been getting hella brands that want to work with me. while ive declined most of them, i still gotta make money."
"yea." i said dryly.
"look, just go home and get some rest. i'll hit you back next week."
"it's literally fine just get dressed i don't wanna see you half naked no more."
"well that's just not true"

"what?"
"nothing. after tonight i'll let you be, you can let me know when you ready to come back."
"it's not even like that. i can keep helping you. i just gotta rework my schedule."
"are you sure? like for real sure?"
"yea i am."
"alright cool, i like having you around."
"thank you, go get dressed though for real. it's already 7." i said.

sakari put her hand on my back then went to go change. when her hand was on me i felt my heart stop, but i ignored it. she came back out from behind the screen, dressed.
"this is an adidas deal?" i asked. sakari nodded and found her mark on the background.
"wait let me change it. i have an idea." i said. i switched the background to a dark blue, almost black. the contrast on the all white outfit made her stand out.
"these finna be fire."
"shush, stand on your mark." i said to her, i started taking photos. i never noticed how much eye contact she made with the camera. it made my hands shake. what the actual fuck? i thought to myself.

"i'm uh- gonna use my tripod i don't know what's going on with me."
"you wanna stop?" sakari asked, her eyes full of concern.
"no, no i'm good." i took off my glasses and wiped my face. eventually we finished all the looks. i was relieved to be done. i hastily packed up.
"okay have a good night." i said halfway out the door.
"caelan are you okay to drive?" sakari asked pulling on a hoodie.
"yes." i said without blinking.
"can i walk down with you?"
"i don't mind." i replied. sakari smiled and locked the door behind me. we walked down quietly. i didn't even know i parked next to her.
"how many cars do you have?"
"three. one for business, one for fun, and one for everyday use." she said. i nodded as i placed my stuff in my trunk.

"oh okay well, have a good night." i said. sakari quickly pulled me into a hug. she smelled too good, i couldn't even put my finger on it. i rested my head on her chest and i allowed the hug to linger ONLY because of how good she smelled. i pulled away once i became aware of it.
"you smell good." i said.
"thank you, it's MFK's Baccarat Rouge 540. i'll see you later cae." sakari said getting into her car. i nodded and got in my car as well, her pulchritudinous scent lingering on me.

the next couple weeks consisted of me constantly being with sakari and her never wearing that cologne again. i had four photoshoots back to back with her, once again all at night. my phone buzzed.
sakari: call me i have exciting news😁

i rolled my eyes and pressed the facetime button, already knowing she was gonna make a remark because i facetimed her and didn't just regularly call. the call connected.
"aw you must've missed my face!" sakari said with a smile.
"i'm gonna hang up."
"okay relax. anyways guess what?"
"nigga i don't know! you told me to call you." i said.
"drop your tude. anyways we going on a business trip!" sakari said smiling.
"oh? where?"

"nike invited me to a collab launch in georgia. i don't even really know who the collab is with but there's a show as well. i'm walking in that by the way." sakari said smiling at me. "the event after the show is really just a party though. you down?"
"how long is this trip?"
"5 days."
"i can think about it?"
"no, you're going. i already got the extra ticket in your name. hotel room already paid for. make sure you put it on your booking site that you won't be available for a week."

"sakari..."
"please?" she said pouting. twenty six years old and pouting, i thought to myself.
"yea fine whatever. good job on landing that opportunity though."
"we landed it. the pictures i submitted in my portfolio were ones you took. you got us here. thank you, a lot." sakari said looking at me. even through the phone i felt how sincere she was.
"well you're welcome... i'll see you friday."
"yea and we can talk more details in regards to the trip. see you late cae."

"bye." i said waving as i hung up. i guess i really could be doing more... and sakari was helping me get there. i looked around my office realizing what was happening. i was going up in my career and i had a partner in it...im growing. i quickly put together a notice for my instagram making it known id be out of state for a week. i posted it to my story and updated my booking site. my phone buzzed.

sakari: here's your ticket info. also we have a shoot in three days, 9pm
sakari: Attachment 1 Image
caelan: 9pm??? are you nuts?
sakari: not nuts lol, that's the only time i could get the studio
sakari: you wanna find another time?
caelan: no it's fine... i'll see you then
sakari: looking forward to it cae🩵

heart emojis, business trips, and nicknames... what's going on? i thought to myself. i know this trip is about to change everything for us... i mean, for me.

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make sure yall look up that cologne

rmbr when yall used to like my books😀💔