Hell's Actor-Chapter 65: The Stylist

Hyerin and Averie were having a light dinner when the former spoke up.

"You look a little pale since you woke up. What’s the matter?"

Averie shook his head.

"Nothing."

"No, something clearly happened. Tell me."

"Just a nightmare."

In fact, that was not the case.

What he had experienced was anything but a nightmare. It may have happened in a dream or perhaps in a faraway world, but it was very real.

The shining blade that nearly slashed his face in two would have definitely killed him in real life.

Weirdly enough, he woke up before he could witness the clash of the pretender and the angel.

It was the closest thing to an actual battle between the forces of Heaven and the demons of Hell.

’I could have died again.’

That would’ve been upsetting.

Lucifer would have laughed at him, offering a chair at his poker table.

"By the way," — Hyerin pulled out a printed list from her bag — "we need to hire a stylist. These are all the candidates. We can’t delay any longer."

Averie took a look at the long list.

"It’s detailed."

The list had all sorts of information, from age to experience.

Hyerin handed him another printed list.

"They all have really good track records. What do you think?"

Averie read the list somewhat half-heartedly. The incident from before was still on his mind.

"Have you talked to them?" he asked.

Hyerin shied away in shame.

"One of them."

"Only one?"

"Yeah, well, I can’t let everyone know that we are hiring. If you like one of them, just say it and I’ll contact them."

’She makes it sound like we are buying a pet.’

"Will they accept just because we want them? What self-respecting person would do that?"

"We will hold meetings and stuff. If they don’t want to, we will move on."

"Okay."

Hyerin looked at him nervously.

"So, I was thinking that maybe we should interview the one candidate that I have already talked with before moving on."

She did not want Averie to misunderstand that she was playing favorites.

"How about it?"

"Sounds fine," Averie said.

He could not care less.

***

The next day, Hyerin showed up at Averie’s apartment early in the morning.

"Why are you here?" a sleepy Averie asked, rubbing his eyes.

He was in his underwear and socks.

The underwear was purple. It was magnificent.

"Put on something!" Hyerin yelled. "Why do I have to feel embarrassed because of you, Averie? Why can’t you feel shame for once?"

"What a prude," Averie muttered.

He even shook his head in disappointment just to frustrate her further.

"You are hopeless."

He invited her in, took a shower, and dressed up nicely.

"So, what’s this about? Why are we here today?"

"What do you mean? We decided to hold the meeting today with the stylist, remember?"

’Did we?’

Averie had no idea.

His thoughts were scattered, and he had trouble sleeping the night before.

"Alright, let’s go."

Averie expected to meet her at a cozy café. But instead, he found himself in Hyerin’s apartment.

He looked disappointed.

"This is not my kind of interview, I want you to know."

He would have appreciated a vintage table with a beautiful view to have a sandwich and coffee at.

"But here I am, in a poor woman’s apartment. What a boring place."

"You are boring," Hyerin muttered out of Averie’s earshot.

He had been there so many times, but still, he looked around the room and picked up a framed photo from the bedside desk.

"This is new."

It was him dressed as Asmodeus Binsfeld.

"This one was not uploaded on my Delfa account. When did you take it?"

She fidgeted around, afraid of being seen as an obsessed fan.

"You were talking with the director after a take. I just snapped it then."

"I see."

Averie took out his smartphone, yanked Hyerin closer, and took a selfie like one would with their pet dog.

"Frame this one." He sent her the picture. "Don’t be the sad old lady who collects pictures of her family with her nowhere in it."

Hyerin smiled shyly.

She had gotten so used to Averie’s crass way of speaking that she did not feel offended by the insinuation.

It was rare to see her friend do something nice. All his antics she put up with suddenly seemed harmless.

’Things have changed so much,’ she thought, reflecting on their journey so far. ’His decision to act may have been a blessing for me too.’

She joined him mainly because she wanted to help in any way she could, but it felt like she was gaining far more from this venture than she ever expected.

The bell rang, and Hyerin guided the guest in.

A stylish woman with sunglasses in one hand and a bag in the other entered.

She was taller than Hyerin.

She wore denim shorts and a green turtleneck.

She looked at Averie and breathed a sigh of relief.

"So, it is true."

"You thought I was lying to you?" Hyerin asked.

"Yeah." She scanned Averie from head to toe. "I thought you were going to lure me here, harvest my organs, and throw me in a river."

"You are horrible!" Hyerin yelled.

"I am Min-Ha Byun. It is so good to meet you," she said, ignoring her former colleague. "I am a big fan."

’This is the most normal fan interaction I have had in this life.’ Averie thought.

"I have wanted to work with you since I first saw your picture online."

’Wow, she is so not a freaky zealot.’

"I am sorry to even ask." The girl handed him a permanent marker. "Would you mind if I asked for an autograph?"

"Not at all. Where should I sign?"

"On my tongue, please."

Averie leaned in. "Sorry?"

"My teeth are fine too." The girl pointed at one of her central incisors. "This one."

The illusion that Averie had broke instantly. The girl wasn’t normal.

For the most part, the interview went well.

Min-Ha Byun was twenty-seven and had worked for over six years in the industry.

She had worked with actors, actresses, and even a boy group for a while.

She displayed her knowledge of current trends, which Averie could not care one bit about.

But she had his attention when she praised Asmodeus’s impact on fashion.

"I actually brought a few pieces with me." She pointed at her rather large bag. "There is a combination in my mind that would suit you way better than your current style."

’So, you know better than me?’ Averie thought. ’There is nothing bolder than a plain white shirt.’

He was willing to die on that hill. But still, he allowed her to make a fool of herself.

Once she was done, Hyerin had her mouth wide open.

"There is more to it," Min-Ha explained. "We need to add more pieces, but this is the gist of it. What do you think?"

"Min-Ha, was it? You are good."

Averie admired himself in the mirror.

’Perhaps this is what the new me needs. Gene Conti’s style needs to disappear for Averie Quinn Auclair to truly shine.’

If others weren’t around, he would have kissed his reflection.

He looked at Min-Ha.

"May I ask you one last question?"

"Yes, of course."

"What color underwear do you suggest?"

Before Hyerin could intervene, Min-Ha answered, "Purple, of course."

Averie shook her hand with a pure smile.

"Welcome to the team."

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