It did take half an hour to get rid of all the dye in Mia's hair. Her hair was back to its original color. Chocolate brown and wavy.

      "Your hair looks so good, very original." Roger complimented her. "What do you think Alex?" He turned to Alex.

      Alex stared at Mia, narrowing his eyes for a while and then he smiled. "He's right. This suits you way better." He wrapped his finger around the tip of her hair. "Why'd you dye it in the first place?"

    Mia shrugged... "I don't know, I was looking for a change and I thought that maybe blond was a good start. You know what I mean." She said, turning back to the mirror.

    "You guys give me a minute okay?" Roger said before leaving. "It's makeup time."

     "You know what would make it perfect?" Alex said to her.

       "What?" Mia frowned, looking at his reflection.

    "Taking off your contacts." He told her.

   Mia turned to look at him with a serious frown.

   "What?"

       "I can't see without my contacts. I can't take it off." She told him calmly.

    "I have a little something." He dug his hand into his pant pocket, bringing out a little box.

    "What's this?" Mia asked as she received the small box. She didn't hesitate to open it. It was a contact lens, but with the same color as her original eyes. Mia looked up at him. "What's this for?" She asked.

     "It's for you. I want you to be and look like the real you."

     "Alex this is —"

    "This photoshoot screams natural. And for you to be natural as possible, you have to remove every artificial." He said to her with a smile.

      "Really? Natural." Mia turned back to the mirror, assessing herself. "Yeah, maybe you're right." She nodded slowly at her reflection. "I should be me, the real me. Not the fake blond... but me." Mia smiled herself. She was going back to Italy after all, she needed to be herself. She was wrong, thinking changing one's appearance would erase the past but now she knew better.

   Mia carefully replaced her grey lenses with the new brown ones and then she turned to Alex.

     "How do I look?" She asked with a smile.

   Alex's breath ceased when he saw her clearly. It was like a dream! Sophie was clearly staring at him, like nothing had changed only that she wasn't the teenager he knew before. This Sophie was a woman now.

   Natalie entered with three other people. "Okay, the next phase is..." She looked at Alex who was tongue tied, looking at Mia. "Alex, you shouldn't be here, you should get ready. Our shoot starts—" Natalie halted her words as soon as Mia turned to her. "Holy shit." She was startled at the resemblance that she had to look forth and back at Mia and Alex. "Mi-Mia? Is that really you?" Natalie almost choked.

    "Oh my God." Mia seemed confused. "Are you okay?" She asked out of concern.

     "Yes. I just need a glass of water right now." Natalie said before taking quick steps out of the room.

     "Excuse me for a moment." He told Mia before leaving. 

     Alex quickly exited the room to meet Natalie. She was in another room doing some breathing exercises to calm her nerves.

      "Alex! Mia... She's... What?! She looks so much like her!" Natalie said still feeling stunned.

     "I know. I know."

   "Oh jeez. It's kinda scary you know. It's the spitting image of Soph—" Natalie was overreacting.

     "It's clearly obvious okay? Before everyone starts thinking that there's a big deal, go out there and let's wrap the shoots up."

     "How can you handle this so calmly? You're not affected?" Natalie shook her head. It was so unlike Alex. "You should be freaking out like I am, but you're not."

     "Maybe cos I'm more mature?" Alex said, earning him a bad eye from Natalie. "Okay okay, enough with being so dramatic. You have a shoot to prepare for Natalie." He said to her. It wasn't the right time to tell her anything about Mia and Sophie. Maybe after the whole shoot and all, he'd tell her.

     "Alright fine. I'll go." Natalie inhales and exhales deeply.
✴✴✴✴✴

   David opened the door to Ryan's room, he sees Ryan seated by the bedside. "Have you seen Mia?" David asked Ryan. He'd been looking everywhere for her. "I went up to her room and she isn't there."

     "I'm guessing she's with Layla and Alex." Ryan said to him. He was busy on his laptop with work.

   "Okay thanks." David said taking his leave.

    Layla entered shortly after David left.

    "Knock knock." She said with a little smile on her face.

    Ryan looked up at her. "Layla. What are you doing there?"

      "Can we stroll for a while? I know you're busy but I'd like to talk to you." Layla said. She wasn't tensed anymore, this time, she was more relaxed.

      They journeyed around the beach for some minutes before Ryan decided to speak.

    "Layla I know you want to say something, why don't you say it." Ryan started. "Go on and tell me what's on your mind."

      "It's been a while since we went for a vacation alone. Just us." Layla started to say. "I miss those times Ryan."

   Ryan nodded... "Mi-tech takes most of my time." He stopped, turned to Layla. "Layla, I'm sure you didn't bring me here to talk about vacations."

     Layla turned to him. "What's happening to us?"

     "What do you mean?"

   Layla sighed... "Is there really a chance for us to make our relationship work? Or... You just wanna give up on us." She said to him.

     "You want the truth." Ryan exhaled, placing his hands over her shoulders. "Layla I can't bring myself to hurt you. You've been so good to me and I'm such an idiot for hurting you. I'm really sorry, I wish I could love you the way you want." He held her hands in his. "But you see, it's not that simple. If only I knew that things would turn out this way, then maybe I shouldn't have given you high hopes." He told her plainly.

     "Don't talk like that. It's all my fault, maybe if I fought away the feelings I won't be feeling this way. I'm really sorry for being hard on you these past few days. I knew from the beginning what I was to you, I was being hardheaded thinking I could change you. I wanted to be the girl who was gonna change your mind, open your heart, and maybe be the one you love." Her eyes gathered tears. "I was one of those people who believed in fairy tales and I wanted to be the hero... But now I guess," she shrugged. "Someone else beat me to it." She gave a sad chuckle.

     He wiped her tears with his knuckle. "If for anything, you're one of the best things that ever happened to me." Ryan hugged her.

     "Thank you so much. I love you so much." She said, hugging him tightly.
✴✴✴✴✴✴

    David walked into the dressing room. "What's going on... Whoa." He saw the drastic change done on Mia. "Il mio amore, is that you?" David's mouth hung open.

     Mia glanced at him while she was getting all dolled up for the photoshoot. "Hi. David where'd you go?"

     "I had to take care of a little something. How'd you end up here? Did someone force you to do this?" He asked her.

     "No. Natalie needed help, so I volunteered to be her model." Mia said to him.

     "Il mio amore, you look so beautiful. Absolutely stunning." He said to her.

  "Thank you." She said, blushing.
✴✴✴✴✴✴
  
    Natalie and Alex started the shoot, while Mia got ready. She was dressed in nude color bodysuit and very simple make up to look natural as possible. After all, the theme of the collection was NATURAL.

     Layla and Ryan were also present in the room. On Ryan's part, he was totally mesmerized! He couldn't take his eyes off her.

     "You were amazing." Alex twirled Mia around. 

     "Thank you! God, I thought I was gonna have a heart attack because I've never done this before." She said, giving Alex a big hug.

     "You should come around the studio sometime, you're a model, it's in your blood." Natalie smiled, tapping Mia's back before leaving.

      "Il mio amore! È stato fantastico, tesoro mio." He said, opening his arms for her. (That was fantastic my sweetheart)

     "Grazie David." (Thank You David.) Mia hugged him.

   "You slayed in every picture." Layla too said. "You were awesome that no one would ever think this was your first time on set."

     "Thanks Layla." Mia smiled... "Alex, did you see my phone?" She asked him.

    "It's in the dressing room, you want me to get it for–" Alex was cut off.

     "No no. It's okay. I'll get it thanks." She waved off her hand before proceeding towards the dressing room. She quickly picked up her wraparound floral dressing robes on the chair, wearing it around her body.

   She had just reached the stairs when she heard Ryan call out to her.

    "Oh Ryan." She watched him catch up to her.

   "Hey." He smiled at her.

    "Hey." She returned the smile. She watched him continuously stare at her without saying a word. Mia cleared her throat, breaking the awkward silence. "Um... Yo-you wanna tell me something... Or...?" She smiled tugging her hair away from her face.

    "Yeah!" Ryan cleared his throat. "You were great and... You-you look so... So... So..."

  Mia nodded in anticipation as she waited for him to say something.

    "Different." He finally said.

Mia gaped, that wasn't what she was expecting to hear. "O-okay." She kept on nodding. 

    "No! I, I um... I mean you changed, a good change. I love the change. It suits you and you..."

   Mia stared blankly at him. "Right."

   "Mia you're magnificently beautiful." He finally said to her.

    "Wow." She chuckled. "Grazie mille." She thanked him in Italian.

   He frowned. "Grazie mi—"

    "Grazie mille. It's thank you so much in Italian." She smiled.

     "Oh." He made a face of realization.

     Mia heaved a happy sigh... "You know what? I'm really happy. I like seeing us like this. This peace between us, I like it. We could have been great friends you know." Mia said to him. "If I hadn't been so stubborn and hotheaded, maybe things would be so different." She shrugged. "But I guess life has it's own plans for us."

     "We could still make up for everything with the little time we have." He said to her.

    Mia only smiled for she knew was leaving in two days. She wasn't gonna tell him about it. She planned on moving on with her life in Italy forgetting him permanently.
...................................................................

  It was evening, after the tiring shoot and touring around the whole island. Mia came out of her bathroom, dialing David's number.

     "Hello David?"

         "Sup!"

  "David I need a favour. Something's wrong with the tap in my room, the water isn't coming through. Can you call someone over to check what's going on?" She said to him.

     "Alright. Give me a minute, I'll get back to you."

     "Thanks." She said before hanging up. After almost three minutes, he called her back again.

      "Um Il mio amore, the plumber is gonna take half an hour to get to the condo unit I'm sorry. I can come check it out to see if it's something I could help you out with."

     "That would nice thank you."

    "You could use my bathroom for the meantime, I don't mind at all."

  "Really? Are you sure?" Mia asked.

   "Of course! You can ask Ms Marge for a spare key to my room. You have nothing to worry, I'm out here with Alex and Layla."

    "Thank you." She said before hanging up.

   She quickly asked for a spare key to David's room. Taking her time, she showered.
✴✴✴✴✴✴

      Ryan walked into David's room to get a file from a drawer. While searching for the file, Mia opened the door of the bathroom. Ryan turned around, only to see Mia's naked body. Mia turned around to see Ryan staring at her. She yelped, trying to cover her privates with her towel. It was a little too late as Ryan had seen everything. 

   "Turn around you fucking idiot!" Mia snapped at him.

    Ryan abruptly turned around, raising his hand in surrender. "I'm so damn sorry. I didn't know you were in here. I thought no one was here." He tried explaining.

      "Okay get out!" Mia felt so embarrassed, she wanted to faint on the spot.

      "Sorry, it was my—" he wanted to turn around but Mia stopped him.

     "Don't!" She panicked. She couldn't look him in the eye after this. "Don't. Just walk out of here and don't you dare look back." She commanded. 

      "O-okay." He stuttered, slowly walking to the door. "I'm sorry." He opened the door and walked out of the room.

   Mia scurried to the door, slamming it shut. "How can you be so stupid, how can you be so stupid Mia." Mia was literally pulling out her hair, faking sobs. "You're so stupid!" She screamed to herself.
✴✴✴✴✴✴

      Mia panicked that she couldn't join the others out on the beach. She was afraid to face Ryan, not after what he had seen. It was too embarrassing. She just couldn't get her mind off the incident.

   The knock on her door made her halt her thought. It was David knocking. Mia opened the door halfway.

      "Hey! Il mio amore, what are you doing here? I've been waiting for you." He told her with a smile.

      "You see, I'm extremely tired. I don't think I have enough strength." She faked a yawn. 

      "It's too early to sleep. Come on. Just a few drinks okay?" He said to her.

      "But David —" she frowned.

   "It'll be fun I promise." He told her.

   She sighed with no choice but to follow him. "Alright, just give me a second. I'll get a jacket." She told him.

    Mia threw on an oversized black hoodie jacket, wearing a pair of denim shorts. When she arrived at the beach, Natalie, Layla and Alex were playing by the seashore, Ryan sat on the sand, reading through a magazine. She didn't want Ryan to notice her so she stayed with David who kept talking about the island.

    Mia's phone beeped. It was a message from Ryan.

      ... Memory deleted. All forgotten... I'm truly sorry.

    Mia heaved a slow sigh. She looked up at David and smiled.

      "You wanna go swimming?" She asked him.

     "Thought you'd never ask." David fist-bumped the air.

     She made sure to take off her hoodie before going to join the others in the water.
✴✴✴✴✴✴✴

   The six of them sat in a cabana, eating open fire steaks. They were seated in a circle.

     "This is the best steaks I've had in a while." David said to them.

     "It is really delicious." Natalie licked her fingers. "Okay guys, I have an idea." She smirked. "Let's play truth or dare."

   Ryan chuckled... "Seriously? That? Those are for kids Natalie."

    "I'll be fun!" Natalie giggled.

     "I agree with her. Let's spice things up a little." Layla grinned.

     "I'm in!" Alex supported them.

    "So am I." David nodded. He turned to Mia. "Il mio amore?"

    "Su-sure." Mia was sure about playing truth and dare. But there was nothing to be afraid of, right?

     "It's just you Ryan. You're outvoted." Natalie said to him. "Okay... We need a bottle." She glanced around.

     "Hold on, I'll get one." Mia volunteered as she stood up.

     "I'll go with you." David said standing.

      "You want me to join you guys, I could help—" Alex was about standing when Natalie pulled him back.

    "No it's okay. Besides David's with me." She said before leaving the cabana with David.

      "Can you give them a little space?" Natalie shook her head. "What's wrong with you?"

    "I only wanted to help." Alex rolled his eyes.

   "Babe, you should know when to back off." Natalie smiled, giving him a quick peck on his cheek.

   Layla chuckled... "You guys haven't changed a bit."
✴✴✴✴✴
   
     Mia found herself alone on the beach. "Where'd he go?" She glanced around to look for him. Suddenly a little boy walked up to her, handing her a rose flower with a card attached to the stem.

     "For me? Thank you." She said to the boy, who suddenly ran off. Mia read the italian card..

     ... Alla donna più bella che mi ha rubato il cuore...

      ... To the most beautiful lady that stole my heart...

Just then, another little girl came running to her. "This is for you." The little girl said in her tiny voice, presenting another rose to Mia.

    Mia collected the rose from her. "Awwn. Thank you so much." Mia smiled at her before looking at the card.

   ... Spero ti piacciano i fiori...

  ... Hope you like the flowers...

   Mia frowned, looking at the flowers, just when she saw David approaching her with another flower.

    "This is all your doing." She smiled, receiving the flower from his hand.

    "Do you like it?" He asked her with a small smile.

    "Yeah, it's beautiful. Thank you." She looked at the card but was unable to read what was written on it. "This looks like French, what does it mean. Je t’ aime?" She looked up at David, seeming confused.

     His smile broadens. "It's my language of saying, I love you." He said with all sincerity.

    Mia gaped, totally out of words. She could see how sincere he was.