After the whole breakdown and Nathan incident, things have been pretty quiet. So much so that it's beginning to bother me.

Practice, of all things,  has been tougher lately.

“Minette, focus.” The coach calls, as I nearly slam into one of the sidelines. I manage to swerve out of harm's way just in time. “Why don't you try that jump again.” I'm about to ready my position to do just that but,

“I don't see the point. We're just wasting our time.”
That one lousy comment throws me off balance and I end up falling over my own two feet.

A pain shoots straight from my ankle and Coach Hunter quickly skates over to me, “Is it broken?” he asks while trying to inspect, being very careful. I don't know how I keep doing this.

“I think it's just a sprain.” I reassure him.

“This is the third time in the last two weeks. You need to be more careful or you're not going to be in any condition to compete.”

“Do us all that favor.”

Okay, I admit. The last couple of weeks haven't been my best, and if I keep this up I might as well not compete. But seriously woman, if you have a problem with me, that's your problem. Like does she think I'm doing this on purpose or something? That I mean to be this bad? That I want to literally ‘break a leg’ when the competition is so close? I'm doing my best with what I have left.

But I don't say anything.

My mother hired this woman with full confidence and one intention, to get me better; though ever since she got here I haven't really been progressing much and her little pokes, well, It's not even constructive criticism anymore.
“Madame-”

“YOU!”

I look over my shoulder and find Coach Bridget stomping towards the rink.

Coach Hunter skates in front of her blocking her way.

The two, usually, cool, calm and collected coaches engage in a very loud discussion before Celest's coach steps aside to face me directly, a certain look of anger sets firmly on her face, “You must of done this.” It's shaky, her voice, but accusing nonetheless. “You wanted to be number one so bad that you got rid of her.” Maybe it wasn't just her voice, she was visibly shaking, but can she really believe that I had anything to do with Celest's disappearance? After everything, can she really believe that winning means so much to me that I'd go so far and  get rid of  the competition?

Well, sour crumbles!

She can think whatever she wants. Accuse me of whatever she's made up in her mind because I frankly don't care what she thinks. I don't care what anyone thinks at this point. And I sure as chocolate don't have to prove myself to anyone who thinks I would even consider doing such a thing to another competitor nonetheless my own friend.

So, you know what she can ramble on all she wants. She can have a fit. She can run around the city announcing this lie for all I care, but if she thinks it'll change anything, she's wrong. It changes nothing.

“Madame Alzbeta, I don't know why you put up with her. Your talent and experience is wasted here.”

“It's not that I agree with you. I've been planning this for a while and I have to say-" Madame's gaze turns to me. "- that you are a lost cause at this point.” Is she walking out on me?
“I'll inform your mother upon reaching home."

I was doing just fine without you, so big whoop. I push myself off the cold ground, almost stumbling because of the pain. “You do that,” is all I say as both the women exit the rink, leaving Coach Hunter with a concerned look on his face.

To my surprise, a smile quickly replaces his downturned expression.“I guess we're back to just doing it our way.”

And how can I not agree with that!

We put off practice for tomorrow to let my ankle heal properly before I try anything drastic, like skating. But for what it's worth, after Madame left, I couldn't help but feel like a load's been lifted because now I don't have  to be constantly looking over my shoulders.

Just before heading back I stop by for some groceries, knowing Zen, he isn't in the habit of stocking up for lunch, dinner or breakfast. He's more of a takeout, eat-on-the-go, kind of person, unless it's one of those days when he's not, but with him being as busy as he is lately, I highly doubt that today would be one of those days.

So, peanut butter, bread, eggs, orange juice, cereal, milk… that looks like everything.

After paying for everything, I stroll out the super market and head towards the bus stop, which isn't really that far, but I have to walk for a bit to get there.

As I near the bus stop I notice two women who keep looking my way, for what reason, I have no idea.
“That's her, isn't it?”
Min, don't. They're probably not even talking about you. I have to get off the idea that the world revolves around me. That everything wretched said is about-
“Ow.” I'm poked from behind and like really?
“Hey, this all happened because of you, you know that right?”

Ignore. I'll just ignore. I've had it up to the size of a bus with them and no way in this lifetime am I letting them get to me. People like them are so dense, so dense, SO FRICKIN’ DENSE that there really is no reasoning with them, so I'm not wasting my breath.

They go on and on about what I've done, how I am and what my existence can do, like seriously they used my existence! like breathing the same air can cause some catastrophic shift in the balance of the universe.

“Even if you two are together how long do you think it'll last, hm? Zen definitely is the type of man to go for the beautiful girls and what are you?”

“It's just pity dating. He'll realize what we see and dump you like the piece of trash you are.”

OKAY! YOU WANT TO SEE TRASH! LOOK IN THE MIRROR THEN!

“Oh.” mind you I've been looking ahead this whole time and continue to. And when I speak I make sure I sound extra sad. I breath in through my teeth and “In that case,” I shift, turning my head over my shoulder. “I shouldn't waste a second away from him, huh?” I had to. I just had to.

I turn back around and continue to wait for the bus. Just a few more minutes.

“You're right,” and that sounded a little too condescending for my taste.

Within minutes I understand, now that 'this' has happened to me.

I had my face turned for a second and now there's banana peels in my hair? gunk on my face! and a disgusting odor circling me like a ghost.

A car pulls up and then came a  flash."See how Zen likes you now that you've been exposed as the trash you are."

Man~

I just realize- The groceries.
All scattered across the ground well mixed in with the garbage.

My only choice right now is to walk back home, get cleaned up and take an uber to Zen's apartment before it gets too late.

You know, if I was famous I wouldn't have to deal with this. If even one person recognised me I wouldn't have to deal with this. But on the flip side, I would have to deal with other problems, at least  none of them will have anything to do with pulling old moldy green noodles out of my hair.

My feet are going to kill me in the morning. The rest of the walk home I think about the pros and cons of just removing the mask at my next competition which is a month and three weeks two days away!
I can't believe how time passed so quickly.

Once inside I focus on getting into the shower, and changed as soon as I can. On my way to the tub I noticed I shuffled  a couple of envelops on my way in.
I'll just grab them on my way back to the apartment.

I take my car and get there in thirty minutes flat. I park the car and sit in the apartment parking lot for some time. 
The contents of the envelope has me- well, I literally can see my hand tremble regardless of how hard I try to stop it.

This is no time to be weak.

Everyone has enough to worry about.

Closing my eyes, I take in a breath before shutting the engine off, locking the car and making my way towards the staircase.

Soon enough I get my keys in the lock and with one soft click, I'm in.

Now I just have to act natural, normal, like nothing happened, and-
"What's that?" My head snaps towards the door. "He's back early. What was I going to do?"
Oh right.

My legs catapults me a little too fast because next thing I know half my body is hanging off the back and the door opens.

"Minette, I brought home some- what are you doing?" What's so funny about that question is that there isn't a hint of judgement in his tone, in fact, he sounded worried.

"Uh, I dropped the remote back here. Just getting it." Brilliant!

"But the remote's on the table."

"Uh… uh, what did I drop then?" Double brilliant!

"There's nothing back here. Is everything okay?"

I sit back up straight. "Yeah… um, " I bite my gum. "I kind of panicked and rammed into your sofa, and well, yeah."
As expected he took it very lightly and I don't know why I was even on edge to begin with.

Oh, that's right. But it's not like he knows.

He begins heading for the stairs. "I'm gonna take a quick shower. I'll try to make it quick, wouldn't want to keep you waiting too long." I'm not sure if he's being flirty or considerate, but either ways-

"Oh," he back tracks from the stairs, rubbing the back of his neck, "Mc is kinda coming over." By the time he finishes his sentence he's already walked back to the sofa and leans in against the back, " Hope that's okay with you."

"Of course it is. I don't even know why you have to ask me?" When I say it, I mean it in a way to sound like- this is your home. You have every right to invite whoever you like. You didn't have to ask me.

"Thanks."

And then-

He turns to go, but stops midway towards the stairs.

Did he just? Just before he left he- Does he even know what he did?

- He kissed my cheek as he left and maybe for that brief moment when he stopped I wanted to imagine him realizing it, like he did it purely by accident. And even as he takes quick steps up the stairs, he's blushing with the cutest look of embarrassment splashed right across that perfect face. Just imagine.

I chuckle to myself at the thought and get scrolling through social media as I wait.

Not the best idea.

My heart sinks at the sight of a petite woman covered in muck. My eyes glued to the screen, studying every inch of her pitiful form. Why didn't I do anything?

I don't dare scroll down to the comments. My eyes began to sting, but I can't cry. I don't want to. Not over this. Not for them.

I toss the phone on the seat next to me, cross my arms and just sit and wait.

It's a constant battle between his fans and the people literally out to get me.

It scares me even more that I still have no clue to what they're after. I hug myself, feeling the hairs on my arms stand on edge.

A sudden ping from my phone makes me jump slightly. Reaching for the device.

The grip on my phone tightens seeing the same number from before. I immediately look around me, officially freaked out.

There was no text, no message at all, just a video. No way in heck I’m watching that.

But that’s when I started to think.

What if it was Celest? Maybe this guy was holding her hostage and sent a video of her like in the movies. I’d better send this to Saeyoung so he can analyze the location before opening it. I was about to do just that when a message finally appeared right after the video.

For your eyes only.

Was all it said. I gulp feeling my stomach churn and palms sweat. Am I being watched? Here? I decide to just rip the bandaid right off and open the video.

Once it starts, it looks like it was security footage of a building. Isn’t that the C&R building?

I watch closely when all of a sudden a girl rushes out through the doors. I recognize her to be Mc. My eyebrows furrow in curiosity as to why she looks so, distraught.

Right before she got in her car there's an unmistakable figure that runs out right after. Zen?

"Y/N!" He calls out. Mc looks in his direction with tear filled eyes. "Please! Just hear me out!" Zen pleads. What’s going on?

"I think I've heard enough!" She shouts back at him leaving me in shock at how angry she was.

"Please, Y/n just come back and we can explain everything, I promise."

"Why should I?! So I can hear all those horrible things being said to my face?!" She keeps on wiping away stray tears but gave up. I keep watching, my eyes glued to the events that were unfolding before me.

"Y/n, we didn't mean for it to come out like that-"

"Okay, fine! So tell me, what would have been different, Zen." He stays quiet.

"Tell me!!" Y/n yells making her voice break at the end. There's a moment of silence.

"That's what I thought..." I could barely make out what she said. She slams her car door and walks right up to Zen. "I was just a tool for all of you! Just so you could get your so-called 'freedom'?! Well, I guess you all got what you wanted in the end now didn't you?"

Freedom? What is she talking about? As every second passes I was only more and more confused. But one thing was clear, Zen had a face of pure regret.

"Please, Y/n. D-Don't go.." He reached out as if to caress her cheek but she slaps away his hand.

"You guys just gave me a million reasons to leave and let you guys go, but I'll give you a chance to give me 1 good one to stay."

"Because I love you, Y/n!" He blurts out. I could literally feel my heart drop. I watch as Y/n stood there with wide eyes.

He… loved her?

Zen looked like he was 100% sure of what he just said.

Y/n shakes her head slightly.
"I'm sorry Zen, but that's still not a good enough reason. Goodbye." She turns around and starts walking back to her car.

"Y/n, please we can-" He grabs her wrist.

"Let me go, Zen!" She yells without looking at him. I can easily tell that his very soul shattered hearing her say that to him. He then lets go and watches as she left in her car and drove off.

Right after that the video finished, I don't know what to do.

It makes sense, Zen would… he would… she's beautiful, kind and has such a good heart. Of course he would have.

I shut my eyes for this brief second. My lips purse as I thought about it more.

"Hey, I-" and I see him. This man… "What's wrong?" I don't deserve this man. "Why are you crying?" Sh*t. He comes closer, a hand reaching for my face, but I scoot away, wiping that one stupid tear.

I'm so stupid. I'm the stupid one who actually believed he liked me. That he could like me. That he does.

"Min, you can talk to me. Did something happen today? Did you get another message? Is it about Celest?" Celest...? It's sad to think that this is what got me to break, and how insensitive is that? It's like a twisted little joke.

It's hilarious.

With a small shake of my head and thin smile, "It's nothing. I was just remembering something." I'm not about to make my friend's disappearance my excuse for this.

"If you're not feeling up to it, I can call Mc and can-"

"No, it's fine. I'm fine." I stretch my smile wider to look convincing. There's no reason why Mc should be affected by this. She needs her friends right now.

I'm not going to lie, this isn't working out. Firstly, the creep has probably been surveilling me ever since I got here. He's probably bugged the whole place for all I know. It's just isn't safe for either of us, and the longer I stay here the more difficult it will become.
I can't even acknowledge my friend's absence like a normal human being.
Zen's career was almost completely tarnished because of my mere presence.

This is all my dumb fault, so tonight nothing is going to go wrong.

You know what, all everyone ever needs is a really good friend. So, I'm gonna focus on that. I'm going to be the 'best' friend anyone has ever had.

And as on cue, the bell rings.

~°~

The evening got better as it went on. I had completely forgotten about the message from before and the movie was fantastic.

Before long, however, it got late and Y/n had to leave, though there was a little mishap involving popcorn, she left looking completely at ease and that's great.

I sink into the sofa, letting my muscles relax. Release the tension

Zen walks in to the living room with a cocky smile on his face and some keys that jingle, swinging around his finger.

I watch him and my brow raises, "What?"

"You wanna go for a ride?"

"Zen. Dear, sweet, Zen, I'm done for the day. I'm gonna hit the hay."

"C'mon, I still owe you a surprise."

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