Shadows of the Spotlight

Chapter 13

By the time I drifted off to sleep, the early morning hours had already begun to creep in. I'd spent so long scrolling through articles and videos, immersing myself in Arc's world, that I barely noticed how late—or rather, how early—it had gotten. My body was reluctant to stay asleep, though, and by 7 a.m., I was awake, my mind already ticking over the day's tasks.

I dressed quickly, feeling the weight of a short night's rest but also the twinge of excitement for what lay ahead. Unlike yesterday, when the hallways buzzed with hurried staff, the floor was quiet this morning, with only a few people milling around, enjoying their breakfast in a more casual, relaxed manner.

I grabbed a tray and filled it with two cups of coffee, my breakfast, and a plate of fresh fruit. I wasn't sure if Arc was still on his strict diet, but I figured the fruit would be a safe choice. Besides, after everything I'd read last night, I felt oddly inclined to make his morning easier in whatever small way I could.

I headed over to Arc's room and knocked, waiting for a moment. After a few minutes, the door opened, and there he was, leaning against the doorframe, looking slightly disoriented, his hair tousled from sleep. He blinked, clearly still half-awake, and I felt a pang of guilt for waking him up.

"Good morning!" I greeted him brightly, trying to bring a bit of energy to his groggy state. I held up the tray. "I come bearing coffee."

For a moment, he just looked at me, blinking as if processing the scene in front of him. Then, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips, barely there but enough to soften his sleepy expression.

"커피를 가져왔어요?" (You brought coffee?) he asked, his voice rough, low with sleep, but I could tell he was starting to wake up more fully.

"커피랑 과일도 있어요," I added, nodding towards the tray. "어제 하루가 길었잖아요. 조금 힘이 될까 해서요." (Coffee and some fruit. You had a long day yesterday, so I thought this might help.)

He opened the door wider, inviting me in with a wave of his hand and I stepped inside. Arc stretched, his movements slow and careful, as if his body were still acclimating to the new day. I set the tray on the small table by the window, but the surface was cluttered with some scattered papers and a couple of empty water bottles. I began to make some space, shifting a few things around to clear the way for our makeshift breakfast setup.

As I arranged the plates and cups, I glanced at Arc. "커피 마시기 전에 씻고 올래요?" I asked, hoping the extra time would let him shake off the last of his sleep. (Do you want to freshen up before having coffee?)

He rubbed the back of his neck, giving a slight nod. "응, 잠깐 양치하고 올게요," he replied with a small, grateful smile. "커피는 식으면 안 되니까 빨리 할게요." (Yeah, I'll just brush my teeth real quick. I don't want the coffee to go cold, so I'll be fast.)

I watched him disappear into the bathroom, and a small warmth settled over me. He seemed a bit more relaxed, perhaps still caught in that groggy morning haze, but there was a softness to him now that I hadn't noticed before. I shifted my attention back to the table, double-checking everything was in place and hoping that this small gesture might help him ease into another long day.

I took a moment to look around, and it was clear the room had descended into chaos. Clothes were strewn across the furniture, a trail of worn outfits leading from the table to the couch. The table set up neatly on the first day had transformed into a chaotic array of makeup products, hair tools, and scattered brushes. Piles of papers and documents were stacked precariously on the other table, competing for space with stray water bottles and leftover wrappers.

I recalled Jessica mentioning that the hotel staff wasn't allowed on this floor except to drop off food in the lobby, all for privacy reasons. So, it wasn't surprising that the place was left in such disarray; between the back-to-back schedules, there hadn't been a moment to breathe, let alone organize.