A Frozen Man's Sun

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The afternoon sky was gray with rolling clouds, casting the beach in muted tones of silver and blue. The ocean stretched calm and glassy, its waves lazy against the sand. There weren't many people around, only a scattering of families and couples in the distance. The emptiness made the place feel more intimate, more personal—as though the world had shrunk down to just the three of us.

Reina wiped the sweat from her brow as she dragged two heavy lighting stands into place. She was meticulous, setting the equipment at precise angles, while Flemeral paced with her camera, squinting through the lens, calculating.

I stood where they positioned me, my back to the sea, hands shoved in my pockets. My expression was flat, my patience thinner by the second.

"Ice, smile," Flemeral ordered, her voice sharp with frustration. "You look like you're attending a funeral."

"I was smiling," I muttered.

Her eyes narrowed. "Three seconds ago, maybe. Not anymore."

I turned slightly, my brows pulling together. "There. Happy now?"

She groaned loudly, throwing her free hand into the air. "You're impossible!"

Reina looked between us nervously, shifting the lights closer. Flemeral inhaled deeply, then steadied herself, speaking again in a voice that trembled with suppressed irritation.

"Ice, think of something that makes you happy. I don't need a fake grin. I want something genuine. Smiles live in the eyes, not on the lips. Do you understand? Give me a smile that reaches the eyes."

"You are so fucking demanding," I snapped.

"And you're a nightmare!" she shot back, the curse flying out before she realized. Silence followed. Even Reina froze, startled. Flemeral's lips pressed together as regret flickered in her eyes. "Ugh... never mind."

I sneered. "Reina, what do you think when you hear a woman cursing like that?"

"Turn off," Reina said quickly, avoiding my eyes.

My smirk grew, and I looked back at Flemeral. "Didn't you say you wanted my heart? How do you expect to win it if you're already turning me off, Eral?"

She bit her lower lip, glaring at me. "You're infuriating. And men who curse are turn offs too, in case you forgot."

"Too bad." I tugged at my collar. "I'm not a boy. I'm a man."

Her nostrils flared. "You're impossible."

"Back to the photoshoot," she snapped, shaking her head as if brushing off the heat. She raised her camera again. "Unbutton the first three buttons of your shirt."

I didn't argue. I slipped the buttons loose, baring part of my chest. She adjusted her stance, capturing shot after shot. The shutter clicked in rapid rhythm, the sound sharp against the hush of the waves.

"Now all of them," she ordered.

I rolled my eyes but complied, undoing each button until the shirt hung loose, my torso bare beneath it. Her lens followed me, relentless, while Reina crouched beside the laptop, watching each image appear as they transferred instantly.

"Bored yet?" I asked dryly.

"Please, Ice," Flemeral hissed, her tone edged with desperation. "Just give me one genuine smile. Your smirks are exhausting. Your poker face is worse."

"If you want a real smile, make me happy."

She groaned in frustration. "Forget it. Take the shirt off."