𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬

Chapter five

(Recommended song: control by HALSEY)

Jihyo woke up with a sense of foreboding, her dreams plagued by the unsettling notes she had found. The threat she'd received the previous days still gnawed at her, amplifying the pressure of the upcoming Olympics. Her morning training session was shadowed by a heightened sense of vigilance, her every move scrutinized by an unseen observer.

As she made her way to the rink, she noticed the usual group of skaters and coaches already gathered. Among them, Suho stood out with his usual cold and distant demeanor. He was engaged in a terse conversation with Jonathan West, their discussion marked by clipped tones and intense expressions.

"Morning, Jihyo," Clara said, approaching with a friendly smile. "Ready for another day of practice?"

"Morning," Jihyo replied, forcing a smile despite the lingering anxiety. "I guess so."

Clara noticed the distraction in Jihyo's eyes. "Everything okay? You seem a bit off."

Jihyo hesitated but decided to keep her concerns to herself. "Just a bit tired. It's been a long week."

As practice commenced, Jihyo noticed suho observing from the sidelines, his gaze sharp and disapproving. Coach Harris, on the other hand, was encouraging and supportive, providing jihyo with the positive reinforcement she needed. The contrast between the two men was becoming increasingly pronounced, and it only served to heighten Jihyo's unease.

After practice, Jihyo headed to the locker room, her thoughts consumed by the threatening note. As she opened her locker, she found another envelope, identical to the first. Her heart raced as she carefully opened it, pulling out a new note.

"You're not safe here. There are those who want to see you fail, and they won't stop until they get what they want. Watch your back."

Her pulse quickened as she read the note. The words were chilling, and the sense of being watched intensified. She needed answers, and the only person who seemed to have the authority and resources to help her was Suho. But approaching him was fraught with its own challenges, the last time she told him about the threats he didn't even care.

Determined to get some clarity, Jihyo approached Suho's office later that day. She knocked softly before stepping inside. Suho looked up from his desk, his expression as cold and guarded as ever.

"What is it, jihyo?" he asked, his voice clipped.

Jihyo took a deep breath, holding out the note. "I found this in my locker today. I'm starting to get really concerned about these threats. I need to know if there's anything being done about it."

Suho's eyes scanned the note, his expression unreadable. "This is serious," he said after a moment, his voice low. "I'll have security increase their surveillance and look into the situation. But you need to stay focused on your training. Don't let this distract you."

Jihyo nodded, her anxiety barely eased by his words. "I appreciate it. I just want to make sure I'm safe."

Suho's gaze was relentless, his demeanor colder than usual. "You're not the only one under pressure. We all have a lot riding on this. I suggest you manage your fear and get back to work."

Jihuo swallowed hard, trying to keep
her composure.
"Of course. I'll be careful."

As suho's gaze lingered on her, there was a brief flicker of something in his eyes—something that resembled worry, though it was quickly masked by his usual cold demeanor. Before jihyo could comment, Jonathan West entered the office, his face set in a grim line.

"Suho, we need to discuss the breach," Jonathan said, his tone brooking no argument. "It's a priority."

Suho sighed heavily, turning to jihyo. "We'll talk more about this later. For now, I need to deal with this matter."

Jihyo left the office, her mind racing. The threat was unsettling enough, but the sudden urgency of the situation suggested there was more going on than she realized. The atmosphere in the rink was tense, and she couldn't shake the feeling that there were secrets lurking beneath the surface.

Later that evening, jihyo was at home when she received a text message from an unknown number. The message was brief and unsettling:

"I see you're getting closer to the truth. Be careful—secrets have a way of destroying those who uncover them."

Her heart pounded as she read the message, her thoughts immediately drifting back to suho. The cold, unapproachable coach had a mysterious past, one that jihyo had only scratched the surface of. She recalled their earlier interactions and the brief moments when his guard seemed to slip.

With a renewed sense of determination, jihyo resolved to dig deeper into suho's background. She had to understand what was driving his behavior and why he was so intensely protective. The secrets surrounding him might hold the key to the threats she was receiving.

As she prepared for bed, jihyo's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at her door. Startled, she opened it to find Clara standing there, her face etched with concern.

"Jihyo, are you alright?" Clara asked, her voice laced with worry. "I heard about the threats and wanted to check on you."

Jihyo offered a shaky smile. "I'm okay, Clara. Just trying to make sense of everything."

Clara's eyes softened with sympathy. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. We're all in this together."

"Thanks," jihyo said, feeling a small measure of comfort in Clara's words. "I appreciate it."

As Clara left, jihyo closed the door and turned back to her thoughts. The threats, the secrets, and the looming presence of suho's hidden past all weighed heavily on her mind. The path to the Olympics was becoming increasingly fraught with danger and intrigue, and jihyo knew she had to navigate it carefully.

The road ahead was fraught with uncertainty, but jihyo was determined to uncover the truth, no matter where it led. The stakes were high, and the shadows of secrets and threats were closing in, but she would face them head-on, driven by her resolve to succeed and uncover the hidden dangers lurking around her.

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Short chapter ig but i was busy these days
Stay tuned for the next chapterss 😋.