Mariana in "Eye On The Prize"
Eye On The Prize
The sterile white lights of the studio reflected off the crimson satin clinging to Mariana's curves. Another click from the camera, another sexy pose, another day as the face of "Exquisite Secrets," a prestigious lingerie brand. Just another day at 27, a birthday forgotten by the very world that seemed so obsessed with her image.
Mariana sighed internally, the frustration a dull ache beneath the practiced cheer. Today, the ache felt sharper, tinged with the disappointment of a forgotten milestone. As the photographer, a flamboyant man named Pierre, declared the shoot a "fantastique success," Mariana shuffled back to her dressing room, the weight of the impossibly expensive lingerie a heavy reminder of the disconnect between her glamorous facade and the hollowness within.
Flicking the light switch, Mariana frowned. Darkness. She reached for the heavy curtains, her heart sinking as they refused to budge. Maybe a power cut? Suddenly, two loud bangs echoed through the room, followed by a shower of sparkling red and gold confetti. The lights flickered on, revealing a scene ripped straight from a fever dream.
Standing in the room, a motley crew of grinning faces, Mariana's closest friends, held aloft a banner that screamed "Happy Birthday, Mariana!" Tears welled in her eyes as the shock subsided. In the corner, a mountain of wrapped presents, a riot of red and gold bows, glittered under a disorienting, yet strangely beautiful, disco ball spectacle.
The air thrummed with forgotten disco classics, a stark contrast to the usual sterile silence of the studio. Ethan, her best friend since college days, materialized beside her, a sheepish grin on his face. "We, uh, borrowed the space after your shoot. Hope you don't mind the theatrics."
Mariana's laugh, tinged with disbelief, echoed in the room. "Mind? This is..." she gestured around her, "amazing!" The disappointment of the forgotten birthday evaporated, replaced by a warmth that spread through her like a cherished memory.
The night dissolved into a whirlwind of laughter, music, and the sweet intoxication of cheap champagne. Friends who had been scattered across the globe, united by their love for Mariana, regaled her with tales of missed connections and near-disasters while acquiring the party supplies. Gifts were unwrapped - a first edition Sylvia Plath collection from Maya, the bookworm of the group; a voucher for a weekend getaway to a secluded cabin from Liam, the adventurous one; a hilariously oversized pair of fuzzy slippers from Sarah, the ever-practical friend.
As the party dwindled, fueled by wine and nostalgia, faces began to drift away, lured home by the looming responsibilities of Monday morning. One by one, they bid farewell, leaving Mariana and Ethan bathed in the soft glow of the disco ball. The music shifted, the upbeat dance tunes replaced by a slow, soulful melody.
The playful camaraderie of the evening morphed into a different kind of intimacy. Ethan, usually the boisterous life of the party, seemed subdued. He sat beside Mariana, their shoulders brushing. He hadn't gotten her a gift, he confessed. "Couldn't quite decide," he mumbled, avoiding her gaze.
"Ethan," Mariana said softly, "this whole night...it's the best birthday present anyone could've asked for."
He finally looked at her, a hesitant smile touching his lips. "You know," he began, his voice low, "you're more than just...Exquisite Secrets."
Mariana's breath caught. Ethan had always been her confidante, her rock. But this, the unspoken vulnerability in his eyes, sent a tremor through her. Had she been so focused on the image she portrayed to the world that she'd missed something blossoming right under her nose?
The melody swelled, violins reaching a crescendo before a gentle descent. In that charged silence, Ethan leaned forward, his hand hovering near hers. Mariana's heart hammered against her ribs. Was this it? The moment years of unspoken affection finally confessed?
Just as their fingers were about to brush, the door to the studio burst open. Pierre, the flamboyant photographer, stood framed in the doorway, blinking in confusion at the disco ball spectacle. "Uh, Mariana? We have a last-minute campaign shoot. Lingerie with a disco theme, the client just decided."
Mariana's face flushed crimson, a laugh escaping her lips. The tension, the stolen moment, evaporated in a cloud of glitter and disco fever. Ethan chuckled, the disappointment fleeting in his eyes.
"Duty calls," he said, extending a hand to help her up. "But trust me, Mariana, that conversation isn't over."
Mariana leaned her head against Ethan's shoulder, a contented sigh escaping her lips. As the glitter ball lights painted their faces in a kaleidoscope of colors, she knew this birthday, and all the ones to come would be anything but forgotten. They would be filled with laughter, love, and the undeniable truth that sometimes, the most extraordinary moments come in the most unexpected packages, wrapped in red and gold, with a healthy dose of disco fever.
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"Eye On The Prize" »
A Haiku: "Eye On The Prize"
Red gifts, disco's gleam,
Prize beyond forgotten date,
Love's light wins the night.
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