Truth Behind Beauty

Chapter 9: Stella 'pressed.

Ioanna finally arrived the hotel Stella was currently living in. It was in the top floors of the Otemachi Tower, a high-rise building with a stunning view of the Imperial Palace. The night had already covered the city, but it was hard to tell with all the lights shining from the busy streets of Tokyo.

"Quite the view. How much did you pay to stay here?" Stella was fiddling with some objects in the kitchen before coming out with a water kettle in her hand. "Tea?" Ioanna nodded. "And stop worrying about the price."

"I wasn't worrying about the price. I was kind of amazed how you manage to live in hotels."

"Well, someone paid it so who cares." Stella was already in the kitchen filling the kettle with water. "It's cold water that goes into the kettle, right?"

"That kinda defeats the point of the kettle?"

"You're right."

"But, why did you call me here? I guess you didn't invite me over for tea?" Ioanna sat down at the table in the kitchen after getting something out of a bag. "I brought you this."

Stella came over and looked at the gift. "Can I open it now?" "Go ahead. I didn't want to come empty handed." In the bag was a pair of shoes. "Aw, you shouldn't have. I'll wear these. I know exactly with which outfit!".

"Will it go out on Instagram?"

"Of course. Just give me a couple of days. I have some sponsor posts up for a the following days." Stella turned as if she was looking for something. "Your luggage?"

"Don't ask. I forgot it at the airport." Ioanna was looking rather annoyed by her own mistake.

"Doesn't sound like you. What's going on? Something up with you and your husband?"

"Please don't worry about me and my relationship. Why did you call me over?"

"Oh, well. If you wanna be that secretive—"

"Like you're one to talk."

Stella laughed. "I guess. Well, as you've guessed, my last relationship ended."

"What happened? Did you fight?" Ioanna got up to get the kettle that just finished boiling.

"No we didn't really fight. He came home drunk once, and I asked him where he had been. He looked very confused as to why I was home, I was supposed to be at a shoot after all. Then, following him came two girls. To say the least, it was a very memorable night." Stella turned around, "oh, you didn't have to get the tea."

"It's ok. I'm able to make tea." Coming back with the cups, she sat down at the table again and looked kind of unsurprised. "Well."

Stella just replied shortly "I know," taking a sip of the tea, "you did already tell me about him."

"My gut feeling is usually right."

"I know. But I still believe one should give people chances."

"I guess. But then? You just left?"

"No, I told the girls to go home, and they didn't really understand everything at once, since he was too drunk to act surprised or scared. But when they finally got it they left apologising. I guess he was just trash all together. Then I tried to talk to him for a couple of minutes, but realised he was just too drunk to do anything. So I just went to bed, and left the evening after."

"He didn't talk to you?"

"He tried. I told him to find a new place in a week. That I had terminated the contract, and that I will never talk with him again."

Ioanna thought to herself whilst nodding. "It's not like it's your first time saying you won't see someone again, then go out with them again."

"I guess I just need to focus on myself from now on. Just me. I'm tired of living for others."

"Well, whatever makes you happy. Find it, do it."

Ioanna and Stella continued to talk. Talking about business and love. The evening passed fast, and they were soon heading to bed. After a shower, Ioanna walked out of the bathroom in a towel. "I'll be borrowing one of your nightgowns."

"I don't even own a nightgown, how old are you?"

"Eh, what do you sleep in?"

"Naked?"

"How foul. Isn't it uncomfortable?"

"Not really. I prefer not using underwear all together when I'm home alone. It's kinda relieving."

"How? And what about the staff here?"

"I don't know really. And let's say there has been a couple of episodes."

"Do you have an oversized sweater then?" She was starting to become a bit angry about the little help she was getting regarding her sleeping habit.

"Yes yes, here, you can borrow this." Stella found the ugliest t-shirt humankind had ever set eyes on.

"That's the foulest piece of clothing I have ever seen. Why do you even have that?"

"Use it or don't. It's up to you." She headed back to bed, and set the alarm on her phone. "I'm going to work tomorrow, so need to sleep. Going to bed with lights on or off?"

"Just a second, let me change."

Both laying in bed, looking up at the ceiling, they remembered their old days of sleeping over at each others places.

"Hey," Ioanna laughed whilst turning towards Stella, "do you remember that game we always played before going to bed?"

"Ah, the alphabet game?"

"B!"

"Bridge!"

"Elf"

Stella had a small silence before murmuring "F—"

"Ah! Too long!"

They both laughed at their silliness as children before turning back looking at the ceiling.

"I remember wishing to become an adult to escape my problems."

Ioanna looked back at Stella, with a surprised face. For a couple of seconds she just stared, then looking back at the ceiling. "I guess I'm still wishing to get out of my problems."