The sky was shining bright with the morning sun. It was just a new day, nothing special. The heat was still bearable, while the activity at the international airport of the city was climbing to its peak. There was order amidst the chaos. Planes took off, while others landed, all creating a noisy symphony of cacophonous engines, screeching tyres, and screaming air.
On the runway, a plane landed and, as usual, continued down the designated path to bleed away its kinetic energy before taxiing down the tarmac and finally coming to a stop. A moment later, its doors opened, and the passengers inside streamed down and walked to the customs.
Coming down from the first class was a blonde with a mask covering half of her face and a pair of large sunglasses. Only when it was her turn at the customs did she take off the glasses, and lower her mask.
"Here."
The officer behind the glass lowered her head to check the passport, but when she raised it back up, her expressionless face broke into one full of surprise. Then, as she processed the visual information along with the name she just saw on the documents, her surprise gave way to a disbelieving smile.
It was only the discipline and the professionalism her work and her uniform demanded that allowed her to avoid jumping like the excited fan she was.
As Sharon smiled brightly with gratification filling her chest, the officer forced herself to swallow the excitement she was struggling to restrain, and lowered her head to process the documents. Finally, after the check and the stamp, she returned them back with a trembling hand while looking into the smiling sapphire blue eyes across:
"Welcome back, Miss Kenner."
"Thank you. Have a good day."
Just that response brought the female officer's repressed excitement to the peak. Sharon turned around to walk away, but the commotion the reveal of her appearance started had already drawn the attention. While those in the line behind and around her could do nothing but watch her walk away, those who had already passed the customs were different.
"Hi~! That is Sharon Kenner!"
"Sharon! Sharon!"
"Miss Kenner, could I have an autograph, please?!"
"Miss Kenner, my daughter loves you! Can I take a picture for her?"
"Miss Kenner~"
"Miss Sharon~"
"Sharon~"
.
.
.
"Phew…"
Sharon leaned back with a tired exhale after waving at her fans with a smile one last time, and closing the door of the multipurpose vehicle. Though she massaged her wrist to relieve it from the side effects of signing more than a dozen autographs in a row, she still had a smile on her face, one that not even the trouble of going through a crowd and taking dozens of pictures could erase.
It was not vanity, but just like when she was facing the female officer earlier, it was gratification of being recognized for her work, her efforts. Moreover, who would dislike being loved?
Thinking of the joy on the faces of all the fans she had met, her smile grew further, before she turned to the driver in front while suppressing the happy twinkle in her eyes.
"Let's go."
"Yes, ma'am."
Leaving the airport, the city she had left for a week appeared again before her. Propping her chin on her hand, Sharon watched the highrises through the window of the MPV which fortunately didn't have to suffer from traffic congestion.
From where she was, isolated from the weight of the city, the bustling metropolis felt picturesque under the 'warm' bright sky. Her face and her smile gained the calm only a lack of worries could afford, the trouble that had seemingly forgotten her for about a month already fading even further from her mind. It was as if her life was back the way it had been before it got upset by a Damocles sword, or even better.
The window was not just between her and the rest of the world, but between her and everything bad or going wrong in her life. She felt calm, and at peace.
Sharon's smile softened further, and it could have melted any anger or impatience. Unfortunately, as always, life never gave much rest, it never afforded anyone much pity. Whenever it did, it was only ever a transient bubble, just like right now. Sharon's bubble of calm and peace burst open.
*Ring~ Ring~ Ring~*
The sound from the phone felt loud in the calm silence. Sharon turned to her bag with a slight frown, then picked up the call after seeing the name of the caller:
"Hello?"
"Sharon, there is a party tonight and you have been invited. There will be many influential people. I'm already having Eunice preparing the dress for you. Do you want to have it wait for you at the agency or brought to your apartment?"
Hearing that, Sharon took a deep breath. It was no wonder she didn't see her assistant at the airport but only a car to pick her up. She forced down the storm of frustration budding inside her, regretting the favor she granted the woman who used to be like a friend, a confidant to her, then spat out with a raw edge to her voice:
"Gladys, is Eunice your assistant or is she mine? Did you get her the job to control me?"
"Sharon, you– I– can you–"
Sharon cut off the stutter from the other side with a firm voice:
"No, I can't."
The sound of an exhale could be heard, before Gladys spoke again, her composure back online. Still, her voice was full of helplessness:
"Sharon, please, there is no need to be like–"
Gladys's words were not even finished when Sharon frowned, then the hard look on her face melted into calm indifference:
"Anyway, I'm not going to any party."
"Sharon–"
"I am not a slave to the agency, and I am not a puppet for your ambitions."
"Listen to me, Sharon. I had nothing to do with what happened. I am just an employee. Please, don't make it difficult for me too."
Hearing that, Sharon's chest felt tight, but not because of her clothes straining against her chest, but because of her anger. She couldn't suppress the scowl that rose up on her face, but then she took a deep breath, and forced herself to calm down. Being angry couldn't be any more useless, so she simply stopped investing her emotions into the conversation, and turned to look outside. Her voice calm, she leaned back in her seat as she ended the exchange:
"Gladys, you are my agent. Just do your job, and do it well."
*Beep*