She barely does anything, but they keep telling her she looks great. Soo-Ah can feel her eyelids flinch as she faces another round of flashes.
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"These look great! That's a wrap!"
She bows to the photography team and then the makeup artists.
"Thanks for today!"
She gives them her dubbed "Fairy smile". The men blushing a little and the women also smiling helplessly. Soo-Ah is removing her makeup when her phone starts ringing. It's Yuzu.
"Yuzu-kun, what's wrong?"
"When's your flight?"
"We got tickets together remember, Yuzu?" She answers while taking off makeup.
"Oh yeah..." the voice from the other side of the phone answers. There's an awkward silence.
-He's probably sulking because of his skate today- She thinks.
"Your skate today was...okay" Soo-Ah mentions.
"You were watching?" He sounds tired.
"Yep, I watched it with friends at a coffee shop for my break."
She hears him sigh at the other end.
-He must be tired and mad at himself- she thinks
"Want me to come over?" Soo-Ah asks, "I'm done with work today!"
She tries to sound cheerful.
"...Ok."
That's all Soo-Ah needs to hear before getting up and telling her manager that she would be staying at Yuzu's hotel. Her manager argued that it was too dangerous to go outside because of the number of fans outside. Soo-Ah reassures her manager saying that "it will be fine". Nothing had happened before so she felt confident in her safety. She bid Yuzu Farwell through the phone and gathered her stuff to leave. The moment she got outside she's greeted with fans that scream and squeal with excitement seeing her in person. The security guards link arms and form a wall around her to protect her chaos. She smiles and waves at her fans and the media, displaying a small smile.
Suddenly, she feels a sharp pain on her left arm and a pair of hands grab onto her hair. Someone had just stabbed her. She's in shock and at first, doesn't know what to do. The guards act at once when they notice and more forcefully lead Soo-Ah out of the chaos. Some fans realize what happens and start screaming and police show up to catch the culprit. Soo-Ah is finally safe and in a van, her manager brings out a first aid kit. Soo-Ah is in shock and the people around try to calm her down. She is finally calmed down after 10 minutes of coaxing and treating the wound on her arm.
-What happened...- she thinks -Everything was so loud and I didn't know what was going on...-
They arrive at the hotel Yuzu is staying in and drive to the private underground parking lot. The staff on the van slowly help her out and assist her in the elevator. When they arrive in the lobby Yuzuru Hanyu is already there. He stands there speechless for a second and then runs over.
"Soo!"
"Are you alright! I heard what happened!" He checks her all over and winces once he sees the slightly wrapped bandages on her arm. He furrows his brows and searches Soo-Ah's face for some emotion.
Soo-Ah doesn't say anything. She just stands there with a blank face staring at the floor. Her spirit seems to have left her and she seems to be deaf.
Yuzu sighs and putting his arm around her small shoulders, he guides her to his hotel room. Once the door closes and it's just them, there is a moment of silence.
Sobbing.
Tears.
Her shoulders shuddering.
She cries.
_________
Bzzzzz
"C'mon Soo...just this once, please...answer..."The boy in his teens whispers to himself.
His hands tremble over the phone screen. With each passing moment, he tenses up.
"Please answer" He repeats to himself.
The buzzing stops.
Silence.
"Junnie...?" A familiar voice plays out of the phone.
Jun-Hwan lets out a sigh of relief and clears his throat.
"Soo..."
There's a rustling on the other side. Silence.
"You...Are...Are you okay?" Jun-Hwan barely makes out the words. They seem to be twisted on his tongue.
Silence. Breathing sounds. Sobs.
"Yes."
-You liar- he thinks.
Silence.
"Everything will be okay," Jun whispers in the phone.
