Frozen Memories➔ps.ff

Chapter 36

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Sunghoon stood in front of the mirror, his reflection staring back at him with a hollow look in his eyes. The lights from the dressing room flickered as they buzzed above, and the soft hum of activity outside the door reminded him of the world that never stopped moving around him.

But inside, he felt frozen.

His hands, despite the hours of practice and the rush of adrenaline from the stage, still shook slightly as he adjusted the collar of his jacket. His mind was a battlefield, thoughts colliding, none of them making any sense.

He hadn't expected this. He hadn't expected her.

Sarang.

It had been seven years, seven years since he last saw her, and yet, the moment their eyes met across that ballroom, it was like no time had passed. It was as if they were seventeen again, standing on the ice, promising each other things they could never keep.

He let out a slow breath, trying to steady himself. The mirror reflected the idol the world knew—a polished image of confidence, strength, and success. But behind the mask, the reality was far from the image he projected.

No one knew the real Sunghoon. No one knew what lay beneath the layers of fame, the rehearsals, the concerts, and the endless smiles.

He had traded his dreams of being a figure skater for this—this life, this relentless chase for perfection, for validation. But with every win, every stage, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had lost something far more precious.

His phone buzzed on the counter, pulling him from his thoughts. A text from Jay.

We're on in 10. You good?

Sunghoon glanced at the message, his thumb hovering over the screen before he put it down. He didn't have the energy for a conversation right now. There was only one thing on his mind, and it wasn't the performance waiting for him.

It was Sarang.

After the event, after their brief, painful encounter, he had retreated into his hotel room. He couldn't sleep, couldn't think, couldn't focus. Every time he closed his eyes, all he saw was her—her face, her gaze, the way she looked at him like he was nothing but a shadow of the person he once was.

She had moved on. He could see that in her eyes. The years had not been kind to their friendship, but that didn't make him stop wanting to know what had happened. What had gone wrong.

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration building in his chest. He didn't know why he was still holding on to this, why her presence had shaken him so deeply. They weren't the same people they used to be. They couldn't be.

The dressing room door opened, and Jay stepped in, his expression unreadable.

"You're up next," Jay said, his voice calm but firm.

Sunghoon nodded absently, standing up. He couldn't afford to let his emotions get in the way of his work. Not now. Not when the fans were waiting, when his team depended on him.

Jay gave him a long look. "You know, you don't have to carry all of this alone. I know you've been through a lot. But you don't have to bottle it up."

Sunghoon glanced at him, the words hanging in the air, unsaid. He wasn't ready to talk about it. Not yet. Maybe never.

"I'm fine," Sunghoon said, forcing the words out, even though they didn't feel true. "Just... let's get this over with."

Jay didn't argue, just gave him a nod. "Alright, let's do this."