Chapter Text
The bright, blue skies slowly turned gray while the outdoor shooting was on going. As the two idols were about to be ordered in another intimate pose, the sudden fall of rain had everyone scrambling to take cover, especially their equipment. With the sudden rush of rain, the shoot was effectively cancelled.
Mizi let her hands fall from his neck, as his hand let go of her waist. She turned away quickly, the urge to shower in scalding hot water tempted her more than ever. Her assistant rushed to her with an umbrella to escort Mizi inside.
Inside the dressing room, she is placed on a chair, facing a mirror. She could see half of her make-up washed up, and her hair slightly dripping wet.
It’s a rare sight to see herself look unkempt.
It almost made her smile.
The staff worked to quickly fix her appearance.
At least bother to give me a robe to cover myself. But Mizi didn’t voice this complaint.
Instead, she’s given a makeover for her next schedule.
When they finished, Mizi found herself looking at her persona, a mature and sexy woman. This is who she’s been built to become after all. If any traces of her image being slightly off would be a disaster to her career.
She could go for a cigarette right about now. Unfortunately, her manager just announced that they were about to head off to the next schedule.
———————
“That’s a wrap for the interview! Nice job everyone.” The producer announced. Everyone applauded and congratulated each other.
“It was nice getting to know you, Mizi.” The interviewer offered a hand to her which she simply stared at.
She isn’t as oblivious as others made her out to be. Of course she’s aware of the glances he’s been stealing at her chest from the start, and the way he had been focused on interviewing her rather than the other idols.
He lightly coughed, reminding her of his outstretched hand. When she looked into his face, she could almost make out a sleazy grin between his fingers. Her hand twitched, reluctant as she may be, he is a senior in this industry.
Right as her hand was inches away, another hand interpreted.
“I’m glad that Mr Seo invited me to his show again.” Her hand enthusiastically shook his, startling the man to quickly retrieve it away from her.
“You…” He grumbled, yet she merely grinned at his reaction.
“Hyuna unnie.” Mizi mumbled, shocked at her sudden appearance.
Realizing his annoyance, he forced a polite smile. “Yes, I am too but as you can see—“
Hyuna yawned and stretched her arms, hitting him clearly on the jaw. “Oh, I’m exhausted from the interview, Mr Seo. And from what I can tell, Mizi must be too. We better get going now, busy days continue for stars as ourselves.”
“Wait a minute —“
She grabbed Mizi’s hand which made him pause. Hyuna firmly says. “Goodbye.”
Mizi found herself being dragged away by the older woman who scolded her along the way. “Didn’t I tell you that when a shooting is done, you have to get away as soon as possible? That motherfucker was ready to have his way with you from a handshake.”
Her mouth opened, ready to defend herself. Mizi thinks she isn’t that clueless, she was just going to take his hand and then be done with it. Hopefully. As though somewhat hearing her thoughts, Hyuna shot her look that made shut her mouth.
Entering their shared dressing room, Hyuna let go to plop down on the nearby couch. Meanwhile, Mizi glanced at a window to spot the rain outside. As the last schedule of the day, there were barely any staff around to hover over them.
“It’s been a while since I last saw you.” Hyuna remarked, she gestured with her hand. Using two fingers, she put it on Mizi's figure then shrunk it next to the empty space. “Back then, you were this helpless rookie. Look at you, shining up the stage more than ever, and even landing an interview with a senior like me.”
“Unnie, will this last forever?” Mizi wondered.
“Do you want it to be?”
Yes. No. She didn’t have a definite answer. Not when this is the dream she’s been striving as a child, but it is now the reality stripping her away piece by piece.
“I’ll take a breather,” Mizi replied instead.
“Hey, it’s raining.” Hyuna pointed out, but Mizi ignored it.
That kid. Hyuna sighed. But she let her be. She hasn’t learned to free herself.
She found the nearest exit on the back of the studio. Seeing as there was at least a roof by the door, Mizi took out her pack of cigarettes. The wind blew strong, but regardless, she lit one after several attempts.
The first exhale soothed the frown on her face. Her only temporary relief at that moment. The only way for her to cope with the reality she’s living in.
For now, the rain and the cigarette accompanied her.
And the whine that she heard.
Mizi pauses, the stick in her hand half-way through its life and continuously burning. Then, she heard it again.
It didn’t sound like a human, she was sure. Is it…an animal? She couldn’t tell which, but she looked around. Following the source of the whine, it turned out to be from the dumpster next to her.
The whining continued, and Mizi’s heart clenched at the possibility that it was abandoned. Shuffling close, she noticed on the other side of the dumpster a small creature lying down and shivering.
She gasps, her hand letting go of the burning cigarette to kneel down to cup it in her hands.
A rabbit.
Before she could question further, it whined again, then its breathing labored to which made Mizi panic further.
Pulling further into her arms and close to her shirt, she ignored the possibility of her manager who may scold her for sullying a sponsored product but at that moment, Mizi didn’t care.
Quickly, she went back inside the studio and into the dressing room.
“Unnie, help!”
———————
“Stop squirming.” Hyuna scolded the shuffling girl beside her.
“Sorry, I’m trying to make the rabbit feel comfortable.”
Hyuna had several questions. All of it concerned the rabbit in Mizi’s arms. When she heard Mizi screaming for help earlier, she was about ready to knock out that asshole of an interviewer but then she burst through the door with a rabbit in her arm.
How the fuck did she get a rabbit out in the pouring rain?
But this isn’t the time to interrogate Mizi, especially when it looked to be on its last breath. Yet, her junior continued to insist on taking it to the nearest vet.
So here they were, in Hyuna's car with a shivering rabbit which Mizi covered in a handkerchief.
When they arrived, Mizi didn’t bother to even get an umbrella as she rushed out the moment they parked by a small clinic.
When the vet took the rabbit away, Mizi didn’t realize just how wet and recognizable she was, it wasn’t until Hyuna put on a cap and forced her to lower her head to hide her face. That must be why the receptionist looked like she was about to have a heart attack at the sight of her.
“Calm down, there are other people here.” Hyuna reminded Mizi.
She took a deep breath, and sat down on the chair. That’s when everything just settled into her mind.
A rabbit, she panicked for a rabbit. Mizi wanted to laugh at herself for this.
But can you blame her? It looked like it was about to die if she hadn’t heard it.
———————
After what felt like a long while, the veterinarian finally informed her that the rabbit is now in a stable condition, only that she needed more rest to recover after being stuck in the rain for so long.
Mizi blinked. She didn’t expect the rabbit to be a girl.
She stared at the glass cage she was stored in, sleeping peacefully. Now that she got a closer look, she initially thought the dirt covered her fur, but it seems her fur must be black.
Cute.
The ears began to twitch, flipping back and forth slowly. Her eyes widened, watching as the rabbit was starting to wake up. She leaned her face closer to the cage, curious as a pair of purple eyes fluttered open.
Her mouth opened, letting out a series of oohhs at the sight. She didn’t know a rabbit can have purple eyes.
Mizi wanted to keep her.
Hyuna grabbed her shoulder, startling Mizi. “You know you can’t keep it, right?”
Her eyes narrowed, her lips pursing at the thought of leaving the rabbit here. She’s aware that she can hardly take care of an animal with how busy she is as an idol, and with no one at her home, the rabbit would be alone.
“But…it would be bad to just leave her here, who knows what they’ll do to her?”
“Mizi, we’re at the vet. Not at a slaughter house.” Hyuna sighs at the pleading look Mizi continued to give. She hadn’t seen that expression. Actually, this is the first time in a while that she spotted life into Mizi’s eyes again.
Her gaze went to the rabbit, awake but unmoving. Yet, her brows furrowed, Hyuna had this feeling that she was staring intently at her. How…odd.
“Fine, keep it. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Next time, you’re on your own.”
But Mizi merely beamed at her. Then, she returned to watching the rabbit.