"I'm late! I'm late I'm late I'm late!"

Not today. I scuttle to get a bowl and the cereal. "Spoon." Pulling open the kitchen drawers,  "Where are the spoons?"
I run through the whole kitchen, every drawer, cupboard, the sink. "Couldn't of all just disappeared."

A pair of hands grip onto my shoulders. "Breath." He trails a hand to meet mine and guides me back to the sink. "They're right here." He speaks in a calming voice.

"Right!" I grab a spoon and yank the milk carton out of the fridge before I get pouring.

"Slow down." There's this soft squeak as he pulls up a chair. "What's the rush anyways?"
I gulp a spoonful down, " You know, I wouldn't be in such a hurry if somebody didn't get too comfortable." I bite on more cereal trying to finish it already without choking.

"It's not everyday I get to hold the world's most beautiful lady in my arms." He leans back in his chair, a smile etched on his face. That handsome handsome face. "Can you blame me?"

"Actually," I start sipping the milk from the bowl, "I can." Wiping the milk mustache I know I got, with the back of my palm like a cave woman. I grab the utensils and get them cleaned. "I have classes today and-"

"On a Sunday?" He's quick to interrupt, wait...

Blinking a couple of times to process it. "It's Sunday?"

"Yeah~"

It's Sunday? How did I miss this? Where did the week go?

No practice today.

Bringing the clean bowl and spoon out of the sink, I fill it up with more milk and cereal.

"Well now," I saunter right along to the living room couch and turned on some T.V. "I guess I'll just have to enjoy the day with the most handsome man on the planet, huh?" I glance over at the man, now approaching the seat next to mine.

"Aren't you lucky."

Now I wanted to laugh, but my mouth filled with fruity pebbles and milk meant I had to refrain myself.

"Hey, I forgot. I got something for us to watch." He says before heading upstairs and deep inside me I was hoping for the new Annabelle release, but not being possible, Just give me something chilling, please.

When he came back, I tell ya, I wasn't disappointed.

"UGH~ no!" I bury my head in a cushion.

"I don't see what's wrong, babe. You're amazing."

I pout, very pouty and with a deep breath, "I make it a habit not to watch any of my performances without a critical eye. This isn't something I want to enjoy watching." I get off the sofa. "Much more fun on the ice." I add, stretching my limbs a bit before heading back to the kitchen to put up my bowl.

"So you're not going to watch it with me?"

"It's fine, you watch. I'll just clean up a bit."

"You don't know what you're missing."

"Yeah I do." I whisper. "Oh, but don't get too comfy there. We have help out for the event later "

"What event?"

"The one Jumin arranged," scrub a dub dub. Washing with some suds. "The one you're hosting."

"Right. I need to get ready."

"What? We aren't supposed to meet up with everyone for several more hours."

"Princess, do you think I just wake up this good-looking?"

"From what I've seen- Yes."

He disappears back to the bedroom. "Do you want to do a facial with me?"

And that's how we end up doing our little spa session. Can I say he knows more about skin care than I do and maybe I happy for that.

"One more thing I forgot to mention." I shift a bit off the sofa, Zen still resting his head there waiting for his mask to dry, responding with a simple hum.

The door bell rings before I got to what I had to say. "I'll get it." Completely ignoring the fact that I might give the person on the other side of the door a heart attack, I get up and answer it.

"Where's Zen?" This woman just barges in, uninvited.

"Excuse me. Who are you?" Admittedly, the woman does look familiar, but-

"Zen, get up." She looks cross. Just plain out upset as she taps her foot, waiting for a reply.

"Oh, hey-"

"Don't 'hey' me. What is she still doing here?"

"Finally! Someone acknowledges me as a human!" They both turn to me. What? Bad timing?

"-getting a facial." Zen replies quite innocently. Don't smile, your face is going to crack.

The woman folds her arms, one hand rubbing her temple. "No, Zen. No."

"Oh, Min, this is-"

"Her Soon Bok." Well now. She offers her hand and I take it up.

"She's my manager." Hyun finally gets a sentence in.

"I've seen you before." I try to get my brain to work, but I can't put my finger on it.

"Yes, we met at the photoshoot. In-su had recommended you to us. I'll get to him later."

"Isn't your manager a man, Zen?"

"The male that your referring to is my assistant. I have him take care of all the small trivial matters, but I see it was a mistake."

"I'm guessing your here because of me, right?"

"Yes and no. I'm here actually to give Zen his final warning, if he doesn't shape up and take his reputation and me seriously, I'll have no choice but to resign as his manager."

So yeah, it's about me, but you want to make it about you. That's cool.

"I just need a word with Zen real quick." I pull him into the kitchen and talk it out with him. That he promised he'll take his work seriously, even if we're... you know. He understands, but he doesn't want to see the obvious solution.

"Listen to her. I'll stay over at my brother's until we can figure something else out or until everything's properly cleared up."

"Minette, this again? You know you don't have to leave."

"If I don't leave, how will you miss me?" I joke, but that sad face is not very compliant. "It'll give me a chance to soften the news to my brother." I take his hand in mine. "Plus, it's great for us to have space to reorganize our priorities. The last thing I want is to get in the way of your dreams, Hyun."

"And what if you are my dream?" Sweet and to think this, even with all that green face mask on his face.

"You can have more than one dream. Plus, plus, we're supposed to be focusing right? On everything we've worked on so far to achieve?"

"We'll still talk?"

"Of course. All night?"

"Whatever you want."

~°~

◇3rd Person POV◇

The theatre is a buzz with life and excitement. Crowds of people shuffling around to find their seat. Excluding Jaehee, Yoosung and Mc, who managed to scud all the way to the front in no time.

“It's finally time!" Minette cheers taking up the empty space next to Jaehee.

"Where did you disappear off to?"

"I searched around for a couple of minutes, I thought I lost you guys. "

"You need be more careful. You're height makes it difficult to spot you in large crowds."

She's short. One day she stopped growing and that's how it's been since. Being reminded of the physical trait, however, has her puffing her cheeks with a little pout.

The long face she has glows after hearing someone calling out Zen's name, as she whips her head to see if she can get a pre show glimpse, but turns out it was just someone swooning over her unproclaimed boyfriend.

Days. It's been days since Minette's seen her knight and it hasn't bothered her as much, but she wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to brighten her day.

With a sudden alleviate in mood, "I can't wait to see our special acting Prince, I'm going to shower him with so much support he's gonna have to beg me to stop.”

“Still feeling bad about not being at the Women's rights campaign?”

“Yes.” c'mon Jaehee, did you really have to bring it up.

"Hey, now that I think about it Zen's been talking a lot about you in the chats."

"Yoosung, you're supposed to be on a tech suspension with me, you've been cheating?"

"She's all he talks about." This is discrete?

"I am concerned-"

"ShushShush! The play's starting!" To say that we wasn't interested in what Zen wrote during their chats, is a lie. She was curious, but she couldn't let the others know in the fear of starting up the topic again.

Did he tell them?

Her and Zen had never decided to disclose their relationship, neither did they decide to keep it a secret, so Minette was kind of on a cross roads. She was fine with everyone knowing, but would Zen be fine with it? Maybe, but she rather wait till later to ask him.

The play is going exceptionally well. The crowd silenced by the actions and dialogue luring them in with every scene. There's action, which surprised Minette even more. She's only seen bits and pieces of this theatrical genius, and seeing all come together. It's like watching actual events taking place, as if this was real, not an act of fiction. Zen's lines, his movements had everyone charmed and under this illusion that played so well with their hearts and minds.

It's nearing the end now and all she can think about is meeting up with him after it's over. She grabs the paper bag, embedded with a brand she is familiar with, climbs the stairs and walks out the doors. Following a short maroon carpeted path that led to the bathroom.

Her looks was the last thing she would ever worry about, but things have changed. She wants to look pretty. She wants him to look at her and be enthralled by her beauty. So she fixes small curls of her dark brown hair and wrap them around her finger, restoring the lively bounce they had when she left the house.
She stares at her reflection, the dark liner around her eyes a bit shaken, due to her lack of practice, cresented around her almond eyes. The pink red of the lipstick she choose to compliment her peach toned skin.

She looked fake and she knows it.

She knows she's putting up an act. She's happy, yes, but worried. Every day marks a day closer to the competition.

She knew coming in today, she had to slap on a smile, but as time passes, and information on Celest builds. She can't help herself. Maybe, that's why she was so excited to see Zen.

Maybe he'll be able to help.

She sighs into the sink, agitatedly  clutching onto the edge, her head ducked between her shoulders as she thought. She huffs out a sigh, snatches the bag from the counter and walks towards the door.

This isn't for either of us. It's for them.

Before Minette could take a step forward, a woman walks in. Her hair like the inside of a husk of corn, her walk, confident.

"Rika, you came." Minette folds her fingers tighter onto the handle of the bag. Her body stiff from the encounter, but she smiles nonetheless, happy that she could come.

"Of course, I wouldn't miss it." For what was supposed to be a split second glance, had her staring at the mirror which portrayed two very different women.

And for that moment she can't help but feel a little bit intimidated.

"You look lovely today."

"Thank you. And you look beautiful as always." Minette is quick to compliment back. She swerves out of the woman's way. "I should get going. Enjoy the rest of the play."

"Wait."

And she does.

"Is something the matter? You look like something's troubling you."

"Oh, nothing." Minette inches closer to the door, much in a rush to leave. "Just a little tired." She lies.

"Oh, well then. Hope you get plenty of sleep."

"I will. Bye." Minette waves as does Rika but, almost robotic, if not completely rehearsed, with the same sweet smile she would have shown in any other situation.

Outside the bathroom, into the hallways, cheering could be heard. Is the play over already?

Minette rushed to a door that led to the backstage. "Hey, Jacob, you were amazing! And have you seen Zen?"

"Oh, right. He's in the dressing room. Go quick, he's going to be called out in a few minutes."

"Thanks."

She had no problem finding Zen's dressing room, thankfully everyone was going about their business. Minette knocks at the door, before letting herself in. Completely forgetting the fact that it is a 'dressing' room for a reason.

Minette greets Zen, as he's about to put his shirt on. Unfazed by the view, "You know you should really lock the door if you're changing. Anyone could have just walked in."

"I'm so happy to see you." He kisses the crown of her head before pulling her in a bear hug.

"I missed you too." she pays his shoulder and reels back. And she really can't stand it anymore."You were incredible!!!" She jumps and lodges herself onto the man, because let's be honest, that's the only way she'd reach him.

"I didn't see you in the crowd."

She realized she messed up. Her face was supposed to be the one that smile backs at him from the crowd, but she messed it up.

"I got held up in the bathroom." She nods, but realizing how that sounds. "I met a friend. I know, weird place to meet up, but yeah." She had nowhere to go from there.

"It's fine. You're here now and I can't wait-"

"Zen, we need you out in five minutes." Her Soon Bok voice calls out from the other side of the door.

They both could tell how that sounded, but she knew what being with Zen entailed.

So she put on that smile, because she is still ecstatic about his performance and most importantly about him, and pulled out a bouquet from the bag. "I got you these." Her smile widens seeing Zen fluster a little. She leans in and plants a kiss on his cheek. "Beautiful." It was new and it was strange for her, but she wants Zen to feel that she is here for him.

"You can join me, Mc and Yoosung. We're heading to the mall soon. It shouldn't take me more than thirty minutes to get done here." He offers.

"You guys go. Have fun. I'm actually going to the C&R building with Jaehee. I've been meaning to check out the development at his intelligence department."

"Okay, Be careful."

"You know I will. Talk to you later."

◇End of 3rd Person POV◇

~°~

"We've been tracking and receiving footage. Yet, fifteen minutes after tracking and-"

"The footage ends. They escape through a blind spot in the system." Jumin finishes up for Jaehee.

"So, we're back to square one?" I ask hoping this isn't the end.

"Not quite, our investigation team has been going through hours of footage from all the intersection routes that could have led off to." He's talking about once the video footage just ends.

I was hoping to get some new insight or something new that may have led us to where Celest might be being held...

My phones starts ringing, but there's no caller ID. I shake my head, beacsue this is too much. What do they want now?
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"CELEST!"

◇