Chapter 2 I Want To Do This

• Avery spun a fountain pen in his fingers, clearly not paying attention to his personal assistant, who was attempting to discuss the getaway trip with him. He would merely hum and bob his head, pretending to understand every important detail of what was being spoken.
• "So..." his personal assistant named Francis said, finally capturing Avery's entire attention. "Do you agree with all of the terms discussed?" he said, receiving just a tight-lipped smile from Avery.
• "Mr. Jacques, did you really follow what I just told you?" he needed to double-check, as he was skeptical of Avery's expression.
• "Of course," Avery replied, crossing one leg over the other and nodding. Francis would have believed his act if he had been more confident. But then, Avery is unable to meet the other man's stare.
• "Of course... not," Francis sighed, shaking his head. He expected this to happen and went on with it anyway, so it's completely his fault that the entire talk was pointless.
• "I did understand some things," Avery muttered timidly. "Like I'd be alone for a period of time, traveling the seas, whatsoever," he explained.
• "Which seas?"
• "Well... I... I..." Avery began, his eyes narrowing before shrugging his shoulders. "The name of the sea is not the most important bit here, Francis. Is it?" he inquired, arching both eyebrows. "What's important is that I'd be able to get away with this relationship that I don't want for a considerable amount of time," he persisted.
• When the other man remained mute, merely staring at him, Avery gripped his nape and muttered, "I agree with the terms, Francis. Let me just proceed with it."
• "I can't really decide for you anyway," Francis said faintly, so only he could hear. He then stood up and took a step closer to Avery, whose eyes followed his every move. "Love-Free Yacht Services asks you to sign this paper as proof that you consented to their terms and conditions," he informed him, handing over pieces of paper clipped to a hard material board.
• "Uh-huh," Avery said, then pretended to examine the entire list of terms. His eyes eventually landed at the section where his signature should be inserted. "All right," he whispered before pressing down on the fountain pen's button.
• Then and there, Avery affirmed the agreement without giving it a second thought.
• *****
• Ida, on the other hand, is on the phone with her manager, Maki. This is done particularly since Ida's leave from work is now overdue. The company is concerned that the longer the woman fails to appear in front of her followers, the more dissatisfied they will become. She must continue to be the most popular actress in order to receive greater sponsorships and endorsements.
• "How are you, anyway? Are you all set for your trip back here in Japan?" Maki inquired, peering through the computer screen at Ida. "The company is sending a private jet, so you'll be more comfortable," she explained.
• "Why don't I have my own jet?" Ida whined, making circles on the surface of her desk with her index finger.
• "Would you like one?"
• "I'm not sure," Ida said with a faint sigh. "I'm not sure what I really want," she murmured, making it difficult for Maki to catch.
• "Well, if you think you want one, it's possible," Maki answered. "With a dedicated worker like you, Ida, anything is possible."
• "It's not making me feel good, Maki."
• Maki took a breather, almost giving up on attempting to cheer up Ida. No matter how hard anyone tried, the woman's passion for working in the industry never returned. And no one could blame her either. It's disheartening to lose a loved one in one of the most dreadful ways possible.
• "Maki, I don't want to make a comeback just yet," Ida said after a while. "I don't want to come back knowing that I won't be able to fully offer myself. A highly distracted woman isn't who I am," she continued. "I need to unwind completely and forget about the problems that are holding me down."
• "You're saying that you won't be returning to acting for an extended period of time, aren't you?" Maki inquired, somewhat dismayed by what she had heard. "You know you can't do that, Ida, because the company won't let you," she explained.
• "How could they not?"
• "Because you are Japan's biggest actress, and you are the face of the company, and they profit a lot of money because of you. You understand that, right?" Maki asked, both eyebrows raised in concern. "If you fall down, everything in the company goes down as well."
• "Everyone is so worried just about themselves, aren't they?" Ida smiled bitterly, feeling the strain of carrying something that shouldn't be her primary duty. "How about me, Maki? Don't I matter as a human being? Do I only matter when I'm on TV?" she questioned.
• Maki pursed her lips, unwilling to simply answer the question for some reason. "What do you intend to do for a long time, anyway?" she attempted to interject. "Wouldn't you still look for something to do?"
• "Taking a leave from work would also involve some forethought, Ida. It's not something you can just decide on," she continued.
• "I do have a plan," Ida insisted, regardless of the fact that she didn't have a plan. It was just that she was the stereotypical obstinate, rich, and successful girl who refused to listen to anyone's opinion. "I'll be gone for a month," she continued, her subconscious mind doing all the reasoning.
• "For a month?" Maki inquired, evidently taken aback. "How are you going to spend that much time? Are you kidding?"
• "Ah," Ida exhaled, suddenly in need of a reason, prompting her to fizzle forth the worst thought that had recently entered her thoughts. "There's this mind-cleansing tour called Love-Free, and I have signed up, paid for it, and I can't back out," she explained, having to make up that lie at the end.
• "Love-Free?" Maki inquired. "That sounds completely made up."
• "I know, I didn't believe it at first, but it's true," Ida reasoned, sounding more like her father when he tried to convince her of the authenticity of that service. "I just think it's... exactly what I need," Ida replied, biting her bottom lip before continuing, "I mean, it's only thirty days, right?"
• "Yeah?" Maki could only murmur.
• "Thirty days in the open sea with no wi-fi," Ida faked a grin. "...all alone," she went on while feigning a laugh, "such joy! Don't you think?"
• "Ida," Maki remarked justly, "you're not sure about this, are you?"
• "I am positive," Ida insisted, "I want to do this."