Variety Show (11)

Once Kaiser left, Valentina quickly called Lia. The woman quickly declined and video-called instead. Once she picked up, she noticed that Lia's previously blue bob was now a bright lime green color.

"Grand rising, my favorite student! Your great beauty is as blinding as usual. The rising and setting sun cannot compare to the glorious radiance that is your face. How are you doing after that horrible fall?" 

Valentina: "..." it had only been a couple of days, but she seemed to have forgotten Lia's uniquely enthusiastic personality.

"Good afternoon, Lia. The doctor said I'm fine. I'm sorry about dirtying the clothes you lent me and thank you so much for filling up the dressing room at the house. Everything I've seen is beautiful." Valentina honestly thanked the woman.

"Not a problem. And don't worry, I have been properly compensated by Kaiser, and since the budget was unlimited, I just got whatever I wanted, hehe. So what do you think? Do you want to make me your stylist?"

"I do! I would love to talk contract details although the cost terrifies me. I have a job on Wednesday, so would you have time to discuss the details tomorrow morning?"

"Sure. I also have something to ask of you as well, but it would be better to talk in person. What job is it so I can start any preparatory work?"

"I'm going to be on weekly idol with the Fallen Angels. It's a special actor and idols cross-over episode. The clothing guidelines are pretty loose as long as it's not too formal and fits the angel/demon theme like the music video. I'm not sure if you've seen it, but I was an angel."

"Of course, I've seen it! You looked beautiful, although I wish I were in charge of the wardrobe so that I could style you. Then it would have been truly perfect!" Lia began grumbling for a moment before her eyes lit up,

"I have a couple of ideas of what you could wear, but I'm curious if you have any thoughts as well. The relationship between a stylist and their client should have a lot of give and take. You don't have to agree with everything I choose, and it's my job to bring your vision to life if you have one. Additionally, you know I have my own brand, so my tailoring skills are pretty good. You can just tell me what you want, and I can probably make it."

"Uhm, I'm not sure if it's possible due to the time constraints, but I actually had an idea, and I want you to tell me if it's possible." Valentina began hesitantly.

"Tell me, tell me. Regardless of if it's a bad idea, your beauty is stunning enough that horrendous fashion choices can be forgiven since your face is good enough to blind me from noticing ugly clothes." Lia bluntly replied while laughing.

Valentina: "..." what kind of backhanded compliment was this?

"Ehem, anyways, let me share my screen while I talk. I played an angel in the MV, but I was more so focused on battle than being pretty, lovely, or delicate. I want to kind of focus on the battle angel vibe and go with that style since I assume the other actress will go the classic, beautiful angel way. I came across this photo on Pintr*st, and some others like it." 

Valentina shared the images that contained an armor-like silver turtle neck dress that still looked delicate with the floral details at the bottom and the crisscross patterns throughout. A pair of metal angel wings were crafted to the back, and the entire composition gave off an aura of strength combined with beauty.

As she described her vision to Lia, a sense of confidence took over her as she scrolled through various items.

"Naturally, the wings are overkill, and I don't think the dress should be metal, but this kind of vibe? Also, I think a hairstyle like this with a sword hairpin embedded with black and white feathers would be a nice tie-in to wings of angels and demons without being too obvious. I don't know about shoes or makeup, but that's what I have so far. What do you think?" Valentina finished nervously. Although she thought she had a decent sense of fashion, it was different when talking to a professional, after all.

After a moment of silence, Lia cheered in excitement, "I completely understand and quite like your thought process. Come and see me bright and early tomorrow. Either I will have the dress sitting here if it exists, or I will make a prototype even if I have to die to do it. Thank you for the inspiration, Valentina! I promise my body will perish, leaving this earth and joining the celestial bodies above if I can't produce this dress!"

"Please don't di-" Before Valentina could even get the words out, the video call had cut off.

Valentina: "..."

It was fine…right? She wouldn't really die…right? 

Vowing to go to Lia's studio bright and early, she quickly browsed through the clothes, setting out a yellow plaid jacket, a black skirt, a silver chain belt neck, a pair of heeled loafers, and some black tights. Laying out the jewelry she wanted to wear with it tomorrow, she made sure everything was unwrinkled and orderly before brushing her teeth and going to find Luca.

He was sitting on the bed in his bedroom, drawing on his tablet. As she carefully knocked and cracked his door open, he flung it to the ground with a loud crack that caused her heart to drop and dashed toward her with his arms open.

"Mommy!"

"Say, Auntie Val, my little nugget. And please carefully put your tablet down next time. It's very expensive and can break easily."

"Mommy." He insisted with a cute pout before hugging her leg. "It's okay. There's a lot in the closet. See?" As if he had to show her, he immediately turned around and dashed to one of the many doors in his room, opening it to display a stack of tablets still in their boxes that were taller than him.

Valentina: "..." of course. She forgot whose son she was talking to. Why was she surprised that he had a stack of tablets in his closet, just waiting for him to break the previous ones? Still, somebody had to teach him to be more careful with his things, and clearly, it wasn't going to be Kaiser.

Going to sit on his bed, she held her hands out to him, and as he ran into them, she carefully picked him up and hugged him.

"Luca, we have to take care of our stuff if we can. Your father worked hard to earn money to buy it, so we have to try to keep it safe."

"But Dad said, 'throw it or break it, it doesn't matter; I have enough money to buy more, so who cares.'" Luca dutifully reported as he imitated Kaiser's voice, and his little face mimicked the cocky smile that was usually on Kaiser's face.

Valentina: "..." swearing to beat Kaiser up when she saw him again for teaching his son to be wasteful, she rubbed her head as she felt a headache come in as she tried to make a four-year-old understand he couldn't throw expensive electronic devices around willy nilly.

"What if I buy you a present? I'll be very said if you break it." 

"I won't break it! I'll take care of it!" he replied while patting his chest confidently.

"Really? Can you show me how you would take care of it with your tablet?" Valentina asked him with a gentle smile.

Luca glanced at her for a moment before climbing down and gently picking up the black tablet. After a moment of contemplation, he gently placed it on his bedside table and dusted it off before he glanced up at her for approval.

"Good job." She patted his head and carried him back into her lap while placing a kiss on his forehead. "Shall we try doing it like that from now on?"

"Okay!"

"Good boy. Luca, I wanted to ask if you wanted to go to your dad's office tomorrow. It will be like a field trip when you wake up from your nap."

"…are you coming mommy?"

"Please say, Auntie, especially when we're outside. And yes, I'll be coming."

"I want to go! And I remember. Mommy at home. Auntie outside!"

Valentina: "..." why are you so obedient to your father's words now? The two of you usually don't get along!

Hearing his happy voice, she just felt the energy drain from her body. Holding back another sigh, she asked him,

"Shall we pick out what you're going to wear?"

"…can we match mommy?"

"…sure. It's Auntie, not Mommy. I'm wearing yellow and black. Do you know what that looks like?"

"I know my colors, Mommy. I'm four, not a baby." 

As he gave her a self-confident look very reminiscent of Kaiser's cocky smile, she couldn't help but pinch his fluffy cheeks while kissing his forehead.

"Yes, yes, our Luca is so big. Since you're not a baby, I guess you don't need hugs and stories before bed. I'm a little sad because who will I hug now?" as she pretended to be sad, he looked truly lost as he stared at her in confusion.

"...I am a little bit of a baby. Don't tell dad." He muttered as he dug into her arms. Laughing, she helped him choose his clothes, eat a quick dinner, and go to bed after brushing his teeth and 30 minutes of stories.

As she collapsed into her own bed, mentally and physically tired even though she felt as if she hadn't done much all day, she marveled at all the parents out there, doing this alone without any help. She wasn't even a parent, and she didn't do any chores like cooking, cleaning, or laundry, yet she was already exhausted. She could only imagine having to take care of this with more than one child while doing everything else.

Although she wanted to sleep, she had bigger fish to fry. Now that things were somewhat settled, she finally decided to address the system notifications that had been blaring in her head ever since she had been talking to Kaiser.