Paper Dolls

Chapter 42

The library is surprisingly empty today. I hear the ruffle of papers and quiet footsteps of readers behind bookshelves but there are no voices. The ground floor is under maintenance today and the kids section closed, I have to weave through the blocked off regions to head for the lifts. 

I spot Hyeon's familiar dark wavy hair behind the glass window to our usual study room and rush inside to meet him. We promised to meet here right after rehearsals which should have been 7pm but it's now almost 8pm. 

He glances up at me from his phone but then his eyes immediately fall on Binna, who walked in right after. His shoulders tense and there's no mistaking the alarm on his face. 

"Umm who's this?" He asks quickly, his voice tight. 

Binna saunters inside, studying the colourful walls that are peppered with drawings of colourful dinosaurs and various trees. She then looks up at the bright orange sun that takes up the top left corner of the room wall, completely oblivious to Hyeon's heated glare. 

I take a seat across from him and shrug my shoulders in defeat. "She didn't allow me to leave the dorm by myself. Not after everything that has happened." 

Hyeon's eyebrows raise in silent question. If she's here then that means she must know about what we've been up to. 

I nod solemnly. "I filled her in the best I could." 

The betrayal on his face is evident but I didn't have much of a choice. Since Binna stuck her neck out for me earlier today, she's been insistent on learning my whereabouts now that it involves her. 

When I finally confessed to my secret investigation regarding Dalia's death, she'd insisted on joining us today, claiming she didn't trust Hyeon and that I shouldn't either. 

My mind, body and soul has already been depleted of all energy after the whole Jiho debacle and not to mention rehearsals. I had no energy to argue with a very head strong Binna, let alone try to stop her from coming with me when I said I needed to go to the library. 

Judging by the hateful looks from the rest of the girls, I figured having Binna by my side might actually be a good thing. At least JinJin can't accuse me of secretly dating anyone when I have Binna as my alibi. 

"The situation has been tense at Firefly and in the trainee dorm. Let's just say I'm far from everyones favourite right now." I smoothen down the stray threads that stick out from my sweater and smile at Hyeon gratefully. "Thank you for today. You literally saved my life." 

The corners of his mouth lift ever so slightly and I notice his shoulders loosen up. 

Binna scoffs from where she stands and then drags a chair out, before plopping down on it. "Saved momentarily. If JinJin doesn't kill you in your sleep." 

I notice Hyeon studying her, the animosity in his eyes quickly shifting to curiosity. "Who's this, JinJin? And why does she hate Jina?" 

The way he says the last line so incredulously makes me want to laugh. As if he can't comprehend why anyone would hate me. 

Binna waves her hand in the air nonchalantly. "Because Jina's been making waves in the media ever since Dalia passed away and now the news of Loona and Jina's friendship adds yet another thorn to her side." 

"So she's jealous of you." Hyeon murmurs, staring at me absentmindedly. It's as if he's plotting something in that genius head of his. 

"She's jealous of anyone who steals her spotlight." I add, folding my hands into the hem of my sweater for comfort. It's quite chilly in here today.