Chapter Text
By now, the constant click of the camera and the instructions from the entire staff were Mira's morning music; the flash was just another element of the routine, one she'd grown accustomed to as much as breathing. With her mind focused on doing a good job, she barely noticed how time passed with each new pose, vibrating with the praise that filled her ears. The photographer, Mr. Lee, was an old friend with whom she collaborated more often than Mira had ever expected, and given the quality of his work and the warmth he exuded, Mira was in her element
"Splendid as always, Mira!" Overwhelmed with excitement, he adjusted the camera to another angle and took the shot. "The camera loves you."
A smile blossomed on her lips, a sincere and small one that was enough to set the flash going off at alarming speeds. The crew moved away from the shots, but Mira kept noticing how they organized the next wardrobe change and the product she was to use to promote it: a pair of Gentle Monster glasses.
"Let's take a break before we continue."
Mr. Lee snapped his fingers and soon had people ready to help him.
"If that's alright with you, Mira."
"Sounds good to me."
They exchanged a smile before Mira left the area. Being helped by someone, she murmured a "thank you" before heading toward the break area. It was a modest place considering her tastes: a table with her favorite drinks and snacks, a comfortable chair to rest her back in, and an outlet to charge her phone.
Without hesitation, she grabbed her phone and quickly unlocked it. The first thing she checked was Bobby's messages, talking about a meeting first thing tomorrow to review job proposals.
Me
Would 10 a.m. be okay? I have to take Sussie for her annual checkup.
Bobby
No problem!
I hope Sussie passes her annual checkup without any problems!
Me
Thanks, Bobby.
Love you.
Bobby
Awww, love you too!
Mira sighed, staring at the conversation for a few extra seconds, the warmth seeping into her chest even though she didn't want it to. Bobby was important to her, in ways she couldn't imagine.
Once the work matter was settled, she switched to a certain app; the loading screen lasted barely a second before displaying the various posts, from colleagues' accounts to fan accounts, completely random topics.
She swiped her finger across the screen, scrolling up the app and skimming anything that caught her eye for more than two seconds. After a while, she stopped scrolling on a specific post: someone who had her as a favorite, talking about some new and worrying news that no one was taking seriously.
“Okay, I get it, we’re all super lesbians for Mira—but can we talk about the fact that it’s unbearable to be out in the sun lately? The news channels are talking about it, and nobody’s taking it seriously!”
Mira raised an eyebrow as she zoomed in on images from various news outlets. Both Korean and international news channels were emphasizing a problem with the ozone layer. Honestly, Mira felt a small tug of interest and concern; she already knew the world was messed up by pollution, but this was—
“Yoon-nim!”
Mira jumped at the insistent call to her right. The sight of her assistant immediately put her at ease, and she locked her phone—she could worry later—before turning her attention to the poor woman.
“I already told you that you can just call me Mira.”
The woman stood still for a second, adjusting her glasses before nodding awkwardly.
“Mira-ssi…” It was an incredible effort on Mira’s part not to roll her eyes. "You have a call waiting from Eomeoni-nim."
Mira has to take a deep breath to keep from smashing her phone or growling at poor Hyunjin, who's just doing her job. She glances down at the table, slightly turning one of the snack boxes to make it look right.
"Tell her I'm busy."
"I already told her, but she insists it's urgent."
"Then tell her I'm at the hospital, I don't know, I just don't want to talk to her."
Hyunjin opens her mouth to say something, but closes it a moment later, checking her phone screen before nodding awkwardly. Mira feels sorry for the poor girl; she's only been working for her for a few months and knows how exhausting her mother can be when she wants to be.
But Mira really didn't want to talk to her. And delegating these things to Hyunjin was for the best.
The phone vibrates impatiently for the next five minutes; She has a pretty good idea who it must be, so she just silences them and leaves them in the middle of the table after a few attempts.
When Hyunjin returned, she looked like she'd lost ten years of her life.
"Taehyun-nim asked about you an hour ago; he wants to know if the dinner for tomorrow is still on."
"Tell him yes," Mira's shoulders relax at the mention of that name. "At the usual restaurant."
Watching Hyunjin type at lightning speed is comical—and slightly worrying; Mira promises to give her a good vacation—especially because of the way Hyunjin moves her lips, repeating the words Mira has already said. Somehow, Mira finds comfort amidst this organized chaos.
"Mira-ssi!"
And that was all she needed to get up.
Being the center of attention was all that mattered; with the change of clothes and products, family problems didn't reach her. Mira took a deep breath as the staff adjusted the spotlights and diffusers, following Mr. Lee's instructions.
This was Mira's world: spotlights, fashion, fans who loved her, people shoulder to shoulder who understood her. A manager who looked after her and an assistant who would give her life to do her job well.
Nothing would disturb Mira's world.
(...)
"After the meeting with Bobby, you have a photoshoot with ADERERROR to promote their new fall line until 5 p.m., and then you have dinner with Taehyun-nim at Mingles at 8 p.m."
Hyunjin followed her into the car, still reviewing her weekly schedule, only interrupting to add or remove items. Hyunjin's presence was like coffee in the mornings: it kept her awake and prevented her from dwelling on things she didn't want to think about.
The door closed, and they soon started driving home. The radio played softly, not disturbing her assistant's chatter. Mira rested her cheek on her knuckles and stared out the window as soon as there was a comfortable silence. She could feel Hyunjin's alert tension, but she had already told her to relax—always so rigid—so many times that it simply seemed pointless to repeat it.
The drive shouldn't take long; Without traffic, they'd arrive in thirty minutes at most. But, for some strange reason, there was more traffic than usual today. It was odd, too odd.
Mira couldn't help but listen to the radio while she waited for time to pass.
"Did you hear about the ozone layer issue? It's incredible that the numbers have increased in such a short time!"
"Incredible? I'd call it more worrying..."
"Come on, dude! You know how scientists are, exaggerating everything. They said the same thing years ago!"
"You're right, but..."
"Don't take it too seriously, man! We'll probably be fine next week."
Mira blinked a couple of times as the conversation drifted to more trivial topics. The traffic seemed to be at its worst because they were barely moving. And the sound from outside filtered through the closed doors, drowning out the podcast as if it had never been there in the first place.
"What's all that noise?"
Hyunjin frowned, confused, and tried to see what was happening out her side of the window, shrugging at the lack of clues.
"I think it's another protest," Hyunjin nodded at Mira's words, relaxing back into the plush seat. "You'll get to your apartment soon, Hyunjin."
"I'm really not..."
"Come on, Hyunjin, I know how exhausting it is to be my assistant."
Mira stifled a mocking laugh when she saw her melt even further into her seat. She wondered if it was because of the age difference or just because it was something new, but it was still strange to see her almost close her eyes in her presence.
"I guess you're right..."
"Of course I am."
They both shared a small smile, one of the few that felt like a non-work-related admission.
A tap on Mira's window startled her. She turned her head so quickly she was surprised not to feel anything tugged. The first thing she saw was someone's torso, too close to the glass to discern whether it was a man or a woman. It covered almost the entire window, but not for long, as the person seemed to notice and took two steps back, their legs trembling, as clumsily as a child learning to stand. Finally, she could make out their gender: it was a man who looked about her age. He wore a suit that Mira guessed was tailored, judging by how well it fit; only a watch and a wedding ring hinted at his worth.
In one hand, he held a poster, folded slightly at the right corner. Something was written hastily, desperately; the ink had soaked so deeply into the paper that it even distorted the surface.
"They has finally arrived, be afraid."
Mira slowly raised her gaze to the man's face: cracked, slightly grayish lips, sunken cheeks, and deep dark circles under his eyes that contrasted sharply with the pallor of his skin. However, what prompted Mira to step between Hyunjin and the window wasn't all of that. It was the emptiness in his eyes, as lifeless as a corpse's. A wide smile revealing perfectly manicured, white teeth, devoid of any emotion.
Even her parents or business partners weren't so devoid of emotion, but this guy seemed to be mimicking a friendly way of asking Mira out, rather than actually feeling it.
A shiver ran down Mira's spine: a warning. And Mira wasn't about to ignore it.
"Sungho, move."
"Mira-ssi, I could scratch the other cars..."
"I'll take care of it with my lawyer later, just get Hyunjin out of here, now"
There were a few seconds of silence before the driver seemed to agree, sighing softly and moving through the narrow passageways between cars while the other drivers honked furiously.
Mira didn't take her eyes off the strange man, her skin prickling like a cat's as she watched him get smaller and smaller. She never stopped feeling his gaze, burning her like the sun itself until neither of them could see each other.
The tension was palpable after that; no one broke the silence as Sungho led them away from the busy avenue via a shortcut. Mira took a few deep breaths, trying to regulate the strange heartburn in the pit of her stomach.
"Hyunjin-a, are you okay?"
She squeezed one of Hyunjin's shoulders, too focused on her employee to worry about herself.
"I am!" The silly, repetitive nod banished the feeling of danger.
Mira relaxed once she visually confirmed Hyunjin wasn't lying. She sighed, remembering the stranger; if it weren't for those eyes, she would have thought he was as sane as anyone in the car.
What the hell is happening to the world these days?
"Are you alright, Mira-ssi?"
Sungho was looking at her in the rearview mirror, switching between the road and her. Mira took a moment to check if she was really okay and, aside from the acidity lodged like glue, she was still in one piece.
"I just need to rest."
And she was honest, because it had been a very long day and she still had to go see Taehyun. She thought about canceling for a second, but she had dragged it out so long that she knew he would end up going to her apartment to drag her out of the confines of his house.
"We're almost there."
"Take Hyunjin first."
Hyunjin tensed beside her, staring like a deer blinded by headlights. Mira crossed her arms when she saw Hyunjin fidgeting with her fingers.
"Don't even try it. I'd rather drop you off first and then go straight to rest."
Mira refrained from saying that they both needed it, but it seemed Hyunjin understood, because she closed her lips and looked out her window, murmuring something Mira couldn't quite hear.
Sungho changed stations, and Mira heard again about this year's high temperatures and the necessary precautions to avoid heatstroke. Her mind went blank for the entire drive to Hyunjin's apartment, a rather modest place that suited her perfectly. They said their goodbyes with a brief wave; Mira asked her to let her know if she needed anything and said she would call if there were any last-minute changes to her schedule.
On the way to her own apartment, Mira continued staring out the window as her mind replayed that encounter in traffic.
What did he mean by "finally arrived"? What had arrived?
And why should she be afraid?
As soon as they parked, the door opened and Sungho greeted her. Mira would never get used to having someone wait on her every move, but ever since she'd become so popular, Bobby insisted that someone accompany her, and of all the options, a chauffeur was high enough to avoid invading her privacy. Besides, Sungho had been a former employee of the family.
"Are you really okay, Mira?"
"I am, don't worry."
Sungho pressed his lips together, making the wrinkles deepen.
"Okay. Remember to say hi to Sussie for me and get some rest."
Mira rolled her eyes in affectionate exasperation, walking toward the elevator. The sight of her bed was far too tempting to linger and chat with Sungho.
"Yes, Dad."
"Good luck with Taehyun."
She would have asked how he knew about the dinner; however, it was obvious that Taehyun had told her.
Of course Taehyun would do that, even if Sungho was no longer employed by the family.
"Sure."
Mira leaned against one of the walls as the doors closed. It would only take her a few minutes to get to her apartment. She had to feed Sussie before going to bed; at least she could sleep for an hour and then get ready.
She brought a hand to her face, grateful in advance that she had removed her makeup before getting in the car. She didn't have the energy to do it now.
The sound of the elevator arriving at her floor brought her back to reality.
(…)
She turned the key harder than necessary before sliding the door to the side. The insistent buzzing from the bedroom had interrupted her morning routine and irritated me in the process. Water droplets ran down Mira's skin, indifferent to her annoyance, soaking the tiles she'd worked so hard to clean that morning. Mira fumbled for the towel and covered herself, ignoring the reflection, even though a shiver urged her to continue.
A door slammed in the room, but not for long: the vibration and ringtone from her phone quickly drowned it out. It had been ringing for over ten minutes. A custom-made ringtone just for them, one that used to help me avoid long, awkward conversations but now only made her more tense.
Firm strides carried Mira to the nightstand, where the phone looked like it was about to fall, and without hesitation, Mira ripped off the cord before pressing her thumb on the green icon. She repeated to herself that she could handle anything they wanted from her, from a scolding to demanding her presence at an agreement. Remembering her therapist's advice, she took a couple of deep breaths.
"Finally, you answer," the roughness of his voice vaguely reminded her that they were closer than she cared. "What took you so long, Mirinae?"
"I was showering, like a normal person after work," she rolled her eyes once she was seated on the edge of the phone. "Unlike you, who's dressed in five minutes."
There was a deep sigh from the other end of the line, and she had to press her lips together at the image of her brother pinching the bridge of her nose as she swallowed any insult.
"Mira."
The subtle change alerted her, and soon her back was as straight as a soldier's. She pressed the cold screen against her cheek, catching her breath at the gentleness with which he had called her.
"What's wrong?" When there was no response, her leg bounced repeatedly again. "Taehyun, what the fuck is going on?
As much as she didn't want to admit it, the fact that he wasn't scolding her for her subtle insult worried her far more than any dinner with their parents. The silence stretched on, and anxiety continued to rise in her throat; Mira could throw up at any moment. Taehyun seemed aware of this, because he cleared his throat.
"It's about our parents…"
Her shoulders slumped with obvious relief, and she couldn't help but roll her eyes. Mira stood up, ready to finish getting dressed and go to sleep, too tired for any business conversation.
"Is that why you called me? Seriously, Taehyun?" she huffed, amused yet irritated, as she walked toward her closet. "Couldn't you wait until tomorrow? You know I don't want to know—"
"They're dead."
Like a bucket of ice water, the news hit her from head to toe. Her steps stopped, and her gaze fixed on the closet door, just inches from grasping the handle. Another sigh escaped Mira, trying to stifle the pull in her chest. The vague memory of her childhood, handing drawings to her parents, filled her mind, and she had to expel it quickly before giving more weight to the pain in her heart.
"Of course, Taehyun," she said, the venom seeping into her words, searching for a retort to keep her afloat; finding none, her hand fell limply to her side. "Stop with the fucking jokes..."
"I'm not joking, Mira..."
A lump formed in her throat faster than she expected. She staggered to the side, searching for something to hold onto, and when she touched one of the pieces of furniture, Mira clung on as tightly as she could. She didn't care how things fell, much less that she was left naked in the sudden movement.
"How...?"
“There was a problem with one of our plane’s turbines and…” The tremor in her brother’s voice brought tears to her eyes. “They’re dead, Mira.”
The phone slipped from her hand, and she barely caught a glimpse of it shattering on the floor. Mira had waited so many years for this news, a little peace after everything they had said when she left that cold house, and now that she was finally receiving it, she…
Why is she crying?
Mira caught her throat with both palms and, pressing against the side of her mouth to loosen the lump that was stuck like mud, she inhaled sharply to get the air in. Thick tears slid down her cheeks, and the oxygen escaped her lungs; the spacious room now seemed as cramped as a locker, and the temperature dropped inexplicably.
The next thing she knew, she was a blur. At some point, she had stopped crying like a wounded animal and, unconsciously, put on something completely different from what she would wear that night. Sungho was already waiting for her downstairs with a distressed expression, giving Mira the space she needed. They arrived at the Yoon residence was much quicker than she had hoped, and Taehyun was already waiting for her at the entrance.
Taehyun looked just as, or even more, devastated than Mira: his eyes were irritated and swollen from crying, and his radiant confidence was overshadowed by the weight of the news.
The vague memories of her childhood came flooding back: afternoons running around the yard with Taehyun chasing her with a water pistol; her parents' slightly unrestrained laughter at the sight; the gourmet meals ruined because they were just kids. There were also the bad memories, when her relationship with them had changed as she grew older, and how Mira had gone from being a golden child to a mere pyrite lost in the mud of her own home.
Or perhaps that rainy night when she ran away from home, screaming that—
Mira hugged herself as she got out of the car; her eyes met her brother's as soon as she lifted her face from the gravel. Taehyun offered her a shaky smile, the one he used when Mira hurt herself and he didn't know how to comfort her. The way she turned to him was instinctive, hiccups escaping her lips.
"Oppa…"
Her brother's face twitched at the nickname; He opened his arms toward her and held her as if she were all he had left. And in a way, she was. Taehyun's arms were strong, much firmer than she remembered, and they conveyed a warmth she had unconsciously longed for. He pulled her close to his chest, and Mira did nothing but curl up, burying her face in his neck as she let out soft sobs
Home. Taehyun was her home.
How could she have forgotten that detail?
Her hands finally gripped Taehyun's expensive suit, squeezing so tightly they both wobbled, but neither let go. She could feel her brother trembling, but she didn't hear him cry; he was simply holding on for her, and Mira sobbed even harder as she understood.
Her brother, her family, her home. He wasn't leaving her alone. Not this time.
"Mira…"
A soft hand rested on her back, stroking it in circles in a gentle attempt at comfort. The warmth she exuded was similar to Taehyun's.
"Jiwoo…"
Of course it was Jiwoo, who else could it be?
Mira quickly pulled away from her brother and faced Jiwoo's presence, her smile that didn't quite reach her irritated eyes. The hug was as instinctive as Taehyun's: they pressed together and Jiwoo whispered sweet, comforting words, the kind of words only she knew how to give.
Her perfume brought back memories she'd rather forget.
"Come on, let's go inside."
The interior was warm compared to the exterior, always as cozy as her mother liked it. The luxury was still there, just as she remembered it: maybe a few new paintings on the walls, but almost everything else was the same. The sofa she used to lie on for hours until Taehyun threw her to the floor now welcomed her gently as he settled her in softly.
Jiwoo disappeared down one of the many hallways and, when she returned, she was carrying tea: cinnamon, Mira's favorite.
The one she used to make for her every afternoon when she slipped away.
Jiwoo placed the cup in Mira's hands and settled down next to Taehyun, snuggling up to him. A delicate hand rested on his knee; the glint of his ring caught her eye. Mira followed the band with her gaze, memorizing every curve, and felt a pang of envy rise in her chest, just a moment before surrendering to Jiwoo's sweet gaze.
"Thank you…”
As she tasted the cinnamon, it was as if the last walls had finally crumbled. It was easier to process this new chapter with people who cared about her, who simply looked out for her emotions.
"Is the funeral tomorrow?"
Taehyun exchanged a glance with his wife: a silent conversation in which Mira was not included. Nor did she want to know what was going through her brother's mind.
"Yes, since there's no body..." he tried to explain, moving a hand more out of nervousness than clarity.
"There's nothing to wait for before embalming."
"Exactly..."
Mira sipped her tea to fill the tense, awkward silence, looking anywhere but at the couple.
"I suppose you're going to inherit the house."
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Taehyun turn toward her, but she didn't meet him gaze, too preoccupied with the missing presences.
What if the call she'd received that morning was an attempt by her mother to reconcile? What if she had answered? Perhaps Mira could have prevented this, perhaps she could—
"You should come to the probate."
Mira snorted with a bitter grace, setting her cup down on the glass coffee table.
"Do you really think our father would have left me anything?"
Watching her brother open his mouth to say something and then close it is almost funny, because she can see him desperately trying to find a way to refute her, but nothing comes to mind. Not even Jiwoo tries to intervene.
The atmosphere becomes tense once again, and rightly so: Mira doesn't remember her father calling her even once since that night. She wouldn't be surprised if he left her a mere 1,000 won, just to prevent her from suing.
As if Mira wanted anything he could offer.
"But maybe Eomma does."
Mira knows he's right and hates that he is; she hates having to dress up to go to a stupid probate hearing and see self-serving people who only care about money. Disrespectful people she'd bite if she had the chance.
"Mira, you have to go."
"No."
"Come on! We can make fun of our uncles!"
"Tempting, but no."
There's a brief silence, long enough for Mira to regret letting it go.
"Please?" He leans toward Mira, his lips pouting and eyes wide enough to evoke tenderness to invade her line of sight.
Mira makes a sound of disgust, turning her head away to avoid seeing that expression. Taehyun wasn't as cute as he used to be as a child.
"Fine!" she squeals, pushing him away. "I'll go, you win."
Taehyun lets out a victorious chuckle that quickly fades. Mira looks back at Taehyun, trying to intimidate him, but only receives a sweet expression.
"Whatever."
These were going to be the most exhausting days of her life, and Mira knew it.