"Rai~" Aunt Seraphina called out to me, pulling me back to reality after I had been lost in a daydream.
"Yes?" I turned to her, only to see Mika standing beside her.
"Little princess! The director agreed to give you some photoshoots today. What do you think?" Mika said happily.
My eyes widened in excitement and amusement, but before I could respond, Ryo immediately cut me off.
"WHAAAT!? THAT'S AMAZING!" he shouted, almost jumping in place.
"OMG! RAI, YOU SHOULD DO IT!" he added, smiling so brightly at me.
'Seriously, this kid… he's so different from my past brother…'
I smiled shyly. "Okay…"
Ryo instantly placed both his hands on my shoulders and began rocking me back and forth from behind.
"Let's go! Let's go! I want to see my hermana menor in cute outfits!" Ryo said cheerfully as he pushed me forward.
Aunt Seraphina just laughed at us as we headed to the next studio in the same building, right where Ryo had done his own shoot earlier.
'Is this… okay?'
A small pang of guilt rose in my chest. I knew I was only being given this chance because of Aunt Seraphina's name.
'Am I really allowed to do this?' I pursed my lips, unsure.
"Little Rai~" Aunt Seraphina's soft, coaxing voice broke my thoughts.
I looked up at her as we walked.
"You'll be modeling their new children's hat line. It'll be launched next week." She smiled warmly at me.
We stopped in front of a large white door.
"Come on, let's get you ready." Aunt Seraphina reached for my hand. Her palm was warm, and it somehow washed away most of my nervousness.
"What about me???" Ryo cried dramatically when Mika stopped him.
"Oh dear, you're not allowed inside the ladies' dressing room." Mika chuckled.
"Aww!" He pouted like a sulky puppy.
"We'll wait for them in the studio, alright?" Mika said kindly.
"Fine!" Ryo replied, puffing his cheeks but quickly brightening again.
Inside, the room was spacious, carrying the faint scent of cologne. To the left, a long row of chairs lined up neatly in front of mirrors, each crowded with makeup products and brushes. To the right, racks of clothing stood tall, filled with colorful outfits of every style. In the far corner, a curtained dressing area waited.
"Woah…" I whispered, my eyes scanning everything with a mix of excitement and awe.
Still, deep down, guilt gnawed at me.
'I know I'm only here because I'm privileged…'
My small fists curled behind my back as if to ease the tightness in my chest.
'If I were still the same person from my past life—just an orphan with no background—I'd never get this chance. So… is it really okay for me to take this opportunity?'
"Rai?" Aunt Seraphina's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. She had just finished speaking with one of the staff members and now turned to me with gentle concern. "Are you alright?"
"I am." I forced a smile, hoping it looked convincing.
"Oh gosh! She's so cuteee!" squealed the woman Aunt had been talking to earlier.
She crouched down until we were eye-level. "Hello, my name is Anna. You can call me Ate Anna."
"Ate?" I tilted my head.
Her smile widened. Her dark curly hair framed her face beautifully, and her warm brown skin practically glowed under the mirror lights. "Yes. Here in the Philippines, it's how you call an older sister."
"I see! Then Ate Anna, my name is Raiquèn. But you can call me Rai!" I grinned brightly.
Anna's cheeks flushed. "Oh gosh, she's so cute! Can I pinch your cheeks?"
"Uhmm… okay?"
Her fingers gently pinched my cheek, making her squeal even more. "Ahhh, adorable!"
"Come on, hop on this chair and I'll make you even cuter." She stood and gestured toward one of the tall swivel chairs by the mirrors.
"Go on, Rai," Aunt Seraphina encouraged softly. "I'll pick out an outfit for you."
I walked up to the chair… but it towered above me. My small arms twitched helplessly at my sides.
Anna giggled. "Too tall, huh?" Without waiting for me to answer, she gently lifted me up and settled me onto the seat.
"There we go." She smiled, brushing a strand of hair from my face.
I smiled back, though heat pricked at my ears.
'Damn this short kiddy body…'
Ate Anna swiveled the chair gently, turning me toward the glowing mirror. The lights framed my reflection so brightly it almost startled me. For a moment, I just stared at the small girl looking back at me—red hair flowing past her elbows, golden eyes gleaming like little lanterns.
'That's… me?'
It felt surreal.
"Alright, princesa," Anna said warmly, tying a soft cloth around my shoulders. "We'll just make you look fresh and natural, okay? Nothing heavy."
I nodded, my small legs swinging nervously beneath the chair.
She dabbed a little powder on my cheeks, the brush tickling my skin. I wrinkled my nose, making her laugh. "Ahhh, so cute! Stay still, little Rai."
Next, she brushed my lips lightly with a pale pink tint. "There! Just a touch—look at you, so precious already."
I blinked at my reflection again. Even with just a little makeup, my features seemed to shine.
'So this is what it feels like… to be prepared like a star.'
Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Aunt Seraphina browsed through the racks of clothes with an expert eye. Finally, she pulled out a cream-colored dress with delicate lace trimming and tiny golden buttons on the front. She held it up against me with a smile.
"This one. Simple, elegant, but still playful. It will bring out your hair and eyes."
"Auntie knows best," Anna chimed, nodding in agreement.
I slipped into the dress with Anna's help, the fabric soft against my skin. It fit perfectly, almost as if it were made for me.
"Now… the finishing touch." Anna placed a small hat on my head—the very one for the new Ensi kids' line. It was a sunhat with a ribbon that tied neatly under my chin.
"Adorable!" Anna squealed again. "You look like a little angel."
Aunt Seraphina crouched down, adjusting the ribbon with careful hands. Her red eyes softened.
"You really are beautiful, Rai. The world is going to fall in love with you."
I froze at her words, my heart thudding.
'Beautiful? The world? I… I just wanted to try this. But what if… what if this is really the start of something?'
I stared at my reflection one last time, and for the first time in both of my lives, I saw not just a child—but someone who could shine.
"Ready, mi dulce princesa?" Aunt Seraphina asked.
I smiled and nodded. "Mhm. Ready."