Winter Hearts

The Colour of Fear

Siana hadn't realised how close they were to the windmill - that it was in fact located on the same hill that the hospitality academy was located on. They reached the south eastern side of the smooth, rounded hill that seemed to have slid off the mainland and settled in the waters just west of Galaxidi. Because of the curve of the land, they were located opposite Itea in the large bay, and between them lay smooth waters only slightly rippled by a growing breeze.

They took the same road she and Leo had that other Sunday, but turned off before reaching the end of it and ascended, where they suddenly saw the mill atop the wide flat curve of the hill as they drove out of the cultivated pine trees and reached bare rocky ground.

Because the building was stout, it had a bellicose character to it, staring out at the bright blue waters and sunny sky like a sulking child. It was abandoned, or rather, was lacking maintenance, and she could see signs of people hanging out at the mill, with left behind scraps and old faded graffiti. Greek graffiti always seemed to be in either green or black out here in the smaller townships, presumably because the kids got a hold of them from their family workshops. She smiled. Kids needed distractions and they created them for themselves if they didn't have any.

The sun was still high in the sky, and they had plenty of time to take advantage of the bright light before it changed tones. They parked as close as they could and got out of the car.

"We'll leave everything here and come back down as we need it. I don't think we have to carry it all up there," Kkomae said as he and Min Seok began unpacking the back of the bus. Siana watched as they used the back floor tray of the car as a makeshift table, laying out bulky briefcases which opened up to reveal compartments of accessories like rings, necklaces and bracelets, all grouped together in little plastic ziplock pouches. Another larger case opened to reveal professional makeup, albeit only a few basic items, and hair styling products, a few scarves and caps and hats crammed into the bottom, coloured contact lenses, and brushes and a hairdryer. Min Seok flipped open a mirror that was its own standee, and put it between the cases so that people could check themselves in it. She gasped.

"Didn't you guys say you weren't really prepared?"

"We weren't prepared for this photoshoot, but we always travel with this stuff, especially if we're without our stylists or away for a long time. Anyway, all these accessories are plain, so that they can fit with any of our wardrobe or themes." Kkomae said as he pulled out a couple of foldable stools she recognised from the penthouse and set them up by the back of the car. They pretty much had a dressing room, and the open doors of the vehicle made for some privacy and enclosure around the back end of the bus.

Siana came forward to look at some of the jewellery, and thought that she recognised pieces that she had seen in fan photos of each of the boys.

"Aren't these their personal accessories?" She held up a dangling earring, a single stud with three inches of chain which ended in what looked like a tiny silver bullet, or a builder's plumb. She was sure she had seen Leo wear this many times.

Kkomae shrugged.

"We get sent a lot of stuff to borrow and to keep, some of it in multiple numbers. The boys may have shopped from what we have, or just mixed their own stuff up with it. It they left it there, it will stay there till they come back for it."

Siana was surprised. Just how much of their personal style was really their own, and how much was sponsored or provided? She supposed that if they liked a sponsored item, then it reflected their personal style. She also admired that they could trust their personal things would be kept safe till they came back for them.

She watched as Min Seok opened the rest of the tiny bags and laid out rows of bracelets and bangles and wrist straps, empty rings that jangled like coins into a small tray, and arrange studs and earrings, still on their tags and cards, into neat displays.