𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬

Chapter seven

(recommended song: i know the end by phoebe bridgers)

The days leading up to the final round of Olympic trials were grueling, both physically and emotionally. Jihyo was pushing herself harder than ever, determined to rise above the chaos that seemed to be unraveling around her. But the threats, suho's coldness, and the mounting pressure weighed heavily on her mind.

After another long practice, jihyo found herself alone in the locker room, staring blankly at the rows of lockers. The rink was quiet, save for the faint hum of the cooling system. She was exhausted, yet her mind refused to rest. The thought of the mysterious messages and the shadowy figure from the previous day haunted her.

As she packed her things, her phone buzzed on the bench beside her. Another message. Her heart raced as she picked it up:

"You're closer than you think. Trust no one. Not even those closest to you."

Jihyo's hand trembled slightly as she read the words. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong—that someone was playing a twisted game with her life. But who? And why?

Just as she was about to leave, suho appeared at the entrance of the locker room, his expression as cold and unreadable as ever. The sight of him sent a jolt through her, a mix of frustration, fear, and something else she couldn't quite define.

"What are you still doing here?" he asked, his voice curt.

"I was just about to leave," jihyo replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "I got another message."

Suho's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't ask to see the message. "You need to stop letting these distractions get to you. Focus on what matters."

"What matters?" Jihyo echoed, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "I'm being threatened, suho! How can I focus when I don't even know if I'm safe?"

Suho stepped closer, his presence overwhelming in the confined space of the locker room. "You're safe as long as you do what you're supposed to do. Stay focused on your training and let the rest be handled."

Jihyo looked up at him, her emotions a turbulent mix. "Why do you care so much about my training? Why are you always so cold, so distant? It's like you're hiding something."

Suho's jaw tightened, his gaze hardening even more. "You think I'm hiding something, jihyo? You think you know me?"

Jihyo felt a shiver run down her spine. There was something in his eyes, something dark and unresolved, that she couldn't ignore. "I don't know what to think anymore. All I know is that this... this isn't normal. None of this is."

Suho's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of something—anger, perhaps, or frustration—just beneath the surface. "You don't need to know everything, jihyo. Some things are better left alone."

Jihyo's heart pounded as she met his gaze, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife. "You're not telling me everything, are you?"

Before suho could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor, breaking the tension. They both turned as Coach Lina entered the locker room, her expression concerned.

"Jihyo, suho," she said, her tone gentle yet probing. "Is everything alright? I thought I heard raised voices."

"We're fine," suho replied curtly, stepping back and putting distance between himself and jihyo. "Just discussing training."

Lina glanced between the two of them, her gaze lingering on jihyo, as if sensing the underlying tension. "Jihyo, if you need to talk, I'm here. I know things have been difficult lately."

Jihyo forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Thanks, lina. I appreciate it."

Lina gave her a reassuring nod before turning to leave. But as she did, her gaze flickered to suho, and something unspoken passed between them—an understanding that only deepened jihyo's sense of unease.

As jihyo gathered her things and finally left the locker room, her mind was racing. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to suho's story than he was letting on. And lina—was she just concerned, or was there something more between her and suho? The jealousy that had been simmering inside Jihyo flared up once again, but this time it was mingled with suspicion.

The next morning, jihyo arrived at the rink early, determined to clear her mind and focus on her training. But as she stepped onto the ice, she noticed something strange. A small envelope was lying in the middle of the rink, the white paper stark against the cold, smooth surface.

Jihyo's heart pounded as she skated over and picked up the envelope. It was addressed to her, but there was no name or signature. She opened it cautiously, her fingers trembling slightly as she pulled out the note inside.

"You're not the only one with secrets. Be careful where you tread. You might not like what you find."

Jihyo's breath caught in her throat as she read the words. The threats were becoming more direct, more personal. And the mention of secrets... Was this a warning about suho? Or someone else?

She stuffed the note into her pocket, her mind spinning with questions. As she turned to leave the rink, she nearly collided with suho, who was standing just behind her, his expression unreadable.

"What's that?" he asked, his voice low and commanding.

"Nothing," jihyo replied quickly, trying to hide her unease. "Just... another note."

Suho's gaze darkened, his jaw tightening. "You should have told me."

"Why?" Jihyo shot back, her frustration boiling over. "You've made it clear you don't care about anything other than my training. Why should I tell you anything?"

Suho's eyes flashed with anger, but he kept his voice controlled. "Because if you don't, you might end up in more trouble than you can handle."

Jihyo met his gaze, her heart pounding in her chest. There was something dangerous in his eyes, something that both frightened and intrigued her. "What are you not telling me, suho? What are you hiding?"

Before suho could respond, the sound of the door opening interrupted them. Coach Harris walked in, his usual friendly demeanor replaced with concern as he looked between jihyo and suho.

"Is everything alright here?" Harris asked, his tone cautious.

Suho took a step back, his cold mask slipping back into place. "Everything's fine. We were just finishing up."

Jihyo nodded, though her mind was anything but at ease. As she left the rink, she couldn't shake the feeling that the walls were closing in on her. The threats, the secrets, the tension between her and suho—it was all becoming too much.

And then there was the matter of suho's mysterious past. The rumors she'd uncovered, the hints of a hidden relationship... Could it all be connected to the threats she was receiving? And if so, who was behind it? Was suho really as cold and detached as he seemed, or was he hiding something far more dangerous?

As jihyo drove home that evening, her phone buzzed with another message. This time, it wasn't a threat, but an address—an old, abandoned skating rink on the outskirts of town.

"Come alone. You'll find what you're looking for."

Jihyo's hands tightened around the steering wheel as she stared at the message. This was it—the chance to finally uncover the truth. But was she ready for what she might find?

She didn't know. But she knew she had to go. And she knew that, whatever happened next, there was no turning back.

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Ik it's a short chapter but istg the coming chapters gonna be better🧘🏻‍♀️.

Thanks for reading!!
Cya the next chapter 🤍.