"I heard she wanted to work here cause she knew Kira Atsui was here. She doesn't have any qualification to work in the fashion industry."
Lee Yuki turned his head slowly to face the girls and gave them a quick smile. The girls were giggling as they were happy that they finally got his attention.
"You don't need a fashion background to work as a manager. It's a dynamic industry, with the proper attitude you can learn about it pretty easily." His face and voice were as nonchalant as ever but they could not feel any friendliness coming from him.
The girls stopped talking.
Lee Changhyuk turned his head to where Shizu was. The milk girl was no longer there, Kumo Bell had also left to go on stage. Lee Changhyuk said nothing further and left.
People started to say hi and greet him as Lee Yuki had always been everyone's favorite, but for once, he did not return their greetings.
He was pulling a luggage and walking towards the wardrobe room at a very slow pace. The air around him was heavy. His eyes were empty as he tried to digest the situation that just happened.
"Did you see her face?"
"She thinks Kira still likes her!"
Lee Changhyuk shook his head with a frown on his face. He mentally tried to shut his ears from the noisy comments.
He had heard some little chirps about Shizu but he never really dug further. Working in an entertainment industry, he was used to hear baseless rumor.
If he had to care about every single rumors thrown at him he would never make it in this industry.
Shizu was undoubtedly the prettiest girl in Cheerful Youth. Tell Andy and Le Sucre's team to put a minimum touch on Shizu and she'd outshine the Goddess, Yui Shidoh, pretty easily.
She was also a professional who did her job really well. Jealousy was very common in this industry who worshipped looks, so Lee Changhyuk wouldn't be too surprised to hear one or two rumors about Shizu.
His mind took him back to the time when he met with the Yamada Twins and Kira Atsui awhile ago. He started to getting what that unpleasant encounter was about. He gritted his teeth.
"Those assholes.." He was cursing under his breath.
The filming started and everyone was on standby except for some people. The studio became very quiet and you could only hear the words spoken by those with mics on the stage.
But then he saw a model entered the wardrobe room. He recognized that figure, it was Erika Itoh. The rookie model who took Tokyo Runway by storm.
Not having the energy to play pretend in front of Erika Itoh- Lee Changhyuk leaned his back to the wall and waited outside of the wardrobe room.
CREAK
Shizu turned her head as she thought Andy was coming back with the luggage, but Erika Itoh was the one who entered the room. She was dressed as spectacular as ever, tight red dress that highlighted her busty figure. She took off her sunglasses and put it on her head.
Why was she here? The filming has started so everyone, including Kira, was definitely outside. Shizu was the only one in the wardrobe room.
Is she getting out? No? Oh I know! She must be here because of the peanut cookies!
Shizu clenched her fists but she tried to stay calm. Often, Shizu felt like she was being watched and always found Erika Itoh at the end of the straw. Erika was always glaring at her from afar and looked at her in a condenscending way whenever possible. She would deliberately flaunt her branded outfit and showed off her big boobs whenever they stood side by side (in some very rare occasions).
Shizu was sure that both of them shared mutual feelings: they disliked each other.
Erika Itoh was 15cm taller than her and was wearing high heels. It was annoying how Shizu had to look up now that they actually had to talk. The fox came to her den so, at least... She had to ask what she wanted, right?
"Hello Ms. Itoh. How may I assist you?"
"Let's be friends, I was wrong about you."
Shizu raised an eyebrow as she was not sure about this plot twist. Friends? Didn't she come here to scold me for the peanut cookies?
Shizu was about to open her mouth but tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling down Erika's face.
"I am sorry Ms. Katagiri. I didn't know that I was coming between the two of you." She broke down. The sobs punched through. Now that red, tear-rimmed eyes looked straight into Shizu.
Leaving the milk girl in shock that she slipped a hanger from her fingers.
"Excuse me?"
"Kira... He's still in love with you. Please let me help you get back together with him."
Shizu was at a loss of words so she paused a little bit just to give both her and Erika Itoh some time to think. Erika Itoh was like fireworks- she exploded here and there but it was not pretty.
"I'm not sure why you are doing this but Kira and I are.."
"Please... I am giving Kira back to you. Aren't you still in love with him?" Erika interrupted, tears were falling like a stream from her eyes, it always won sympathy from men.
Shizu was startled as she stared at Erika Itoh. Who's giving whom back? Who did she think she was?
Her lips were parted as she was trying to find the right words to answer her. She had never met someone who was as impudent as Erika Itoh. She must have gotten hit in the head. How dare she?
Shizu shook her head.
You could see a hint of disgust flashed in that brown eyes. She was not obliged to tell Erika Itoh anything.
The bass was blasted from the speakers. The music started playing loud. It marked the end of the shooting. It was one of Kumo Bell's hit song.
Lee Changhyuk closed his eyes and let his limbs fall loose, head tilting backward. His lips remained still.
His hands were shaking, he tried to fight the unseen knife that painfully stabbed his chest. The pain choked the breath from his body and short circuited his mind.
Was it Jealousy? Or simply anger? Lee Changhyuk could not decide, but his chest was hurting.
Just right when he was about to confess, he learned about her unrequited love.
He took a deep breath to clear his head. But no matter how deep he inhaled, it was never enough. The sadness flowed through his veins and deadened his mind.
Erika Itoh came out of the wardrobe room and left without looking back. She walked aggressively and put her sunglasses back on.
'I hate her. I hate her. I hate her. I hate her.' They kept repeating in Erika Itoh's head.
Lee Changhyuk just watched as her sillhouette walked further from the wardrobe room. The speakers were still blasting loud music. What a merry atmosphere.
His lungs heaved. He was dead curious about her answer.
Did the milk girl just say yes?
No, he should not speculate. He must ask her in person!
And what would he do if she said 'yes'?
I'll have to leave her..