LOVE ACTUALLY

Alena widened her smile when the photographer told her to smile more loosely. Raising her hand through her hair and parting it, her head turned to the right side slightly raised.

"Okay, one more time," said the photographer. "Yes, good..."

Alena's legs were crossed, leaning on the wooden table behind her. Her hand touched her lips while looking at the camera with a calm face.

"Done. Good job Leanne." The man 10 years different from Alena smiled faintly. Leaving the camera for a moment before looking at the photos.

"Thank you for today,"

Alena's last photo shoot was over. The girl walked to a folding chair not far from where she was standing. A bespectacled girl came to him while bringing him mineral water.

"Is there still another shooting schedule?" Alena asked Tamara, the manager.

Tamara opened the activity book that she always carried with her. "There doesn't seem to be any. Remaining an interview with one of the youth magazines. And after that, you can rest for 2 weeks." It's clear then. She sat next to Elena.

"What magazine?" Alena took a sip of the mineral water in her hand while looking at Tamara.

"Oricon Magazine. Just a casual interview for their magazine material."

Elena took a deep breath. "I'm so tired, can we go home now?" Asked Alena.

"Okay, I'll talk to Curtis for a bit. He will send the photos via e-mail. If you're curious, you can look at it later." After saying that, Tamara went to the tall man talking to the photographer.

Alena took another sip of her mineral water, then smoothed her hair. A man approached Alena and greeted her. "Hey, Lean. You did a great job today."

"Thank you, Daniel." Elena smiled faintly. "Want to sit down?"

The man called Daniel chuckled. "No. No. I still have a lot of work to do." He raised the two cameras in his hands, showing them to Alena. "This whole thing needs to be sorted out before Derek scolds me."

"Derek won't do that as long as you're his close friend, Daniel," Elena said. She saw Tamara walking towards him. "It's time to go home."

Daniel looked at Tamara. "See you later, Leann."

"See you later, Daniel."

On the way in the car. Alena took off her hair wig and put it on the chair beside her. She took out her cell phone and checked the incoming messages.

"Today I saw you chatting with Daniel again," Tamara said. The girl sat right in front of Alena. "And apparently, he has special feelings for you."

"What?" Elena stares. "That's not possible. We just love to chat. Just that."

"Hey, you're beautiful, it's not impossible if Daniel likes you."

"As Leanne, yes. But, as Alena? I do not think so." Alena snorted, then smiled like a mockery, more to herself. "Being Leanne or being Alena. I think everyone likes Leanne more than Alena." The comments, then.

"That's because Leanne is an open girl, while Alena tends to be quiet. How can you live two lives like that? Is it difficult to do that?"

Those bright blue eyes just stared at Tamara without making a sound. Back to the cell phone that she had been holding. Life being two different girls is difficult. A cheerful, friendly, and well-liked girl, Leanne. And a loner, geeky girl, who doesn't get much attention, Alena. For people who have a choice, there will be many who choose to be Leanne.

But, for Alena, being Leanne is just her role as a teen magazine model that she has been involved in since she was 16 years old. Not many people know that Alena—a quiet girl and nerd—is the figure of Leanne who is favored by young boys and girls.

This secret... Only known by the family, as well as Tamara who always looks after it at all times. And for the same reason, Alena would never tell anyone about the hidden truth.

***

Sunlight entered Alena from the bedroom window. Illuminating her body that lay sleeping soundly. She squirmed, feeling uncomfortable as her face was dazzled by the morning sun. She could faintly hear the birds chirping as if they were humming, melodious.

Her eyes blinked a few times. Looked at the window not far from the bed. She immediately buried her face in the soft cushions and looked back at the bedroom window. She took a deep breath with her dark eyes.

An activity that Alena will never be able to leave as long as she is still a student at a school in Houston, United States. Being an ordinary student and girl without anything special.

"Morning, Moms..."

"Cheer up, today is a new school year. Your younger siblings will be entering as new students at your school." The mother said softly. Watched her only daughter who had a sleepy face.

"That's not good news," Keane said curtly. "One school with a geeky brother is not something to be happy about. Haha, I'm sure, I'll be made fun of if my friends find out, that I have a nerdy sister like you." His blue eyes narrowed sharply at Alena who sat in front of him.

Elena huffed in annoyance. "Then look for the good sister of your dreams out there!" she said curtly.

Round glasses, hair tied on both sides, and carrying books everywhere are not the current trend. Especially in a big city like Houston. Everyone will think that Alena's life is in vain because she lives her life like that.

"It was just camouflage, Keane," Keene said softly. Smiling slightly at Elena. They were twins, but Keene was the only sister who cared about her, rather than Keane. "Alena is beautiful in every way." He continued. Elena replied with a faint smile.

"Don't protect her, Keen." Keane glared at his sister.

"I'm not, just speaking the facts."

"It's up to you. What's clear, don't come near me when I'm at school."

***

The atmosphere in the classroom was bustling as usual, busy with the Oricon magazine which was published today. They gathered to see Leanne there. An exclusive interview about Leanne's personal life that her fans have been waiting for, especially boys.

"Beautiful as usual..." Muttered a man with curly hair.

"I don't think her beauty will ever fade. Leann a gift from heaven sent to me. My sweet angel..." Said the blonde defender.

Elena was stunned. She never felt distrustful whenever her classmates praised him as Leanne. In their eyes, Leanne is a dream girl, an angel, beautiful, sweet, and perfect. Many men love her, and many women idolize her.

"You're dreaming too high." Mika—Alena's classmate. "Leanne is not on your level. Right, Elena?" Her head turned to Alena who was looking down at the book in her hand.

"Oh? Yes, of course." Alena stuttered. Her hand touched the glasses to correct her position.

"What do you think about Leanne? The magazines say that Leanne doesn't have a boyfriend yet." Mika said. "Impossible, if a pretty girl doesn't seem to have a boyfriend yet."

"Uh, I-I guess he just hasn't found it yet or doesn't want to find it yet?" Alena did tell the truth.

"Is that true? Maybe..."

"That's because Leann is still waiting for me to be her boyfriend. That's a fact." Said the man with curly hair.

"Basic, high dreamer." Mika chirps. She snatched her magazine from the hand of the man with curly hair. She lifted it in the air and pointed it at a man sleeping at her desk. "Hey, Ray! What do you think of Leanne?"

The man who was called Ray earlier turned around. Lifted his head slightly. His hands were on the table to support his head. His calm but firm brown eyes watched the image of Leanne sitting with a smile. "Ordinary." Ray comments, then. Firm, clear, and no-nonsense at all. He lay back in his arms.

"W-what? What did he say?" Mika asked the man with curly hair. "He must have gone mad," she said.