She was Tamed

“Byotchhhhhhhhhh!!!”

Jada had just exited the airport when an ear-piercing shriek greeted her. As usual, her friends were running fashionably late.

After a grueling 20-hour journey, Jada had just returned from a high-profile modeling gig in Paris. At that moment, all she wanted was to collapse into bed and sleep for hours, if not days.

But, as luck would have it, her friends were nowhere to be found. She waited almost an entire hour before they finally arrived.

“Shut up!” she snapped. “I’ve been waiting forever. Why are you guys always late? Did you spit or swallow?” she teased, putting on a face of mock irritation as she looked at the familiar, smiling faces emerging from the van.

The first to step out was Bambi. He wasn’t just Jada’s manager; he was her confidante, her gay best friend, and essentially the mother, father, older sister, and older brother all rolled into one.

“Jada, don’t be like that! You know I’m in a drought, and no one wants to water me because I’m completely penniless!” he whined, rolling his eyes dramatically and pouting his lips, painted with vibrant hot pink lipstick.

Following him was Jada’s real best friend, Honreta Perez—everyone called her Honey. More than just a best friend, she was a sister from another mother.

Behind the wheel was Edward, Honey’s older brother, and Jada’s number one fan. He was always tagging along on local gigs, hoping for even a glimpse of Jada.

“Hi, sis!” Honey chirped as she walked up to Jada, giving her a warm hug and a kiss on her cheek. Jada immediately wrapped her arms around her, but as they pulled away, she frowned.

“Where have you guys been? It took forever for you to get here! I almost flagged down a cab and went home myself!” she scolded, helping Edward load her bags into the van.

“Don’t ask, I’m pissed too,” Honey groaned, rolling her eyes. “Bambi went on a date with one of his boys, and that’s why we’re late!”

“Date? Where?” Jada raised an eyebrow, turning her attention to their pink-clad friend. “Tell me you didn’t do it at my condo?”

By this point, Jada was nearly melting in the unbearable heat. She could feel the sweat trickling down her back and the discomfort seeping in, so she climbed into the van to escape the sweltering air.

“Byotch! Stop pretending to be holy!” Bambi snapped as he entered the vehicle, but as soon as he saw the look Jada was giving him, he quickly corrected himself and threw up a peace sign.

“You’re disgusting!” Jada laughed, rolling her eyes. “Now I know why you smell like hospital disinfectant!” she teased, waving him away. “Shoo! Stay away from me!”

To anyone else listening to their exchange, they might think the group was a chaotic mess, lacking any semblance of decorum. But that was how they were—wildly unbothered by anyone’s judgment. They had their own rhythm and didn’t care who could hear them or how others reacted.

Jada hadn’t always been this carefree. She used to be more reserved, but that had changed over time. Even Honey, despite her playful edge, still clung to a certain degree of primness—something Jada had left behind long ago. It wasn’t that Jada was ashamed of who she had become; rather, she had learned to embrace her new, bolder self.

The change in her had roots in a past she preferred not to revisit. Something she never wanted to reflect on, but in a way, it had shaped the woman she was today. One thing was certain: she believed in the saying, “It’s better to be hated for who you are than liked for who you’re not,” and now she lived by that motto.

Despite their eccentricities, Jada loved her friends. They were her lifeline, especially when she felt adrift and unsure of which direction to take in life.

Jada and Honey were childhood friends, but they lost touch for years before reconnecting in middle school. They had been inseparable ever since.

Both came from affluent families, but when they decided to attend college, they left their parents’ homes without taking anything from them, except for the condo units gifted to them for graduation.

Honey first introduced Jada to the world of ramp modeling. Bambi volunteered as her makeup artist, while their other friend, Ada, became Honey’s assistant. Of course, all of this was done for free.

Once their earnings from modeling gigs increased, Jada and Honey hired Bambi and Ada as their assistants. Today, they acted as their managers and often handled the business side of things, including client meetings—something Jada and Honey both dreaded.

Jada and Honey had been modeling since they were in college. They both loved the work and with their shared passion for travel, they decided to stick with it.

Honey was nothing short of stunning. She had the kind of beauty that could make people stop and stare. Standing at 5 feet 8 inches, her body proportions were almost unreal, and her porcelain skin made her seem like a living, breathing doll. Many people believed she had the type of figure that other models envied, which is why she often landed high-demand apparel gigs.

Jada, also 5’8”, was thicker than Honey, but she proudly flaunted her curves, especially her legs. Those who met her often joked that she should insure them. While she didn’t share Honey’s pale complexion, Jada took pride in her olive-toned skin and never sought whitening treatments. She was flawless in her own right.

Back in college, Honey had a string of boyfriends—her relationships ranged from a school varsity athlete to a student council president, a law student, a restaurant manager, a fellow model, and even a politician’s son. However, none of them lasted longer than six months. That was why it was nothing short of a miracle that she and Kobe had been together for years.

As for Jada, she had only been in one relationship, and it was one she hoped never to cross paths with again.

Her first boyfriend had been a man who was supposed to be a love story for the ages, but unfortunately, their story was one of heartbreak. Unlike other couples, theirs wasn’t something to be proud of.

It was a story Jada would rather keep hidden, a part of her life she didn’t share with anyone, not even her best friend or the rest of her group of friends. Most importantly, not even he knew the true reason behind their breakup. Jada chose to leave it all in the past and that was how it would stay.

Jada and Honey met at the university they both attended. Since wearing a uniform is not a requirement at Saint Mary’s University, they can dress up however they want.

Jada, don’t doll up though, not like Honey. Most of the time, she dons simple clothes like fitted jeans, sneakers, and tees.

Honey, on the other hand, prepares her outfit the night before. She always looks good, she has to.

The same goes for the pinks. And that’s because they are targeting a couple of hotties on the campus.

Jada’s friends are all fun to be with. During their break time, they will hang out under the biggest mango tree on campus, the one closest to the gym.

Bambi and Ada treated that spot as their own, because why not? Hanging out there lets them see the sweaty abs of the university’s gorgeous varsities, daily.

Who won’t drool?!

Well, it’s not like Jada would drool over hot bodies. She’s used to seeing those back in the States. High schoolers there are comparable