Jina hurriedly went for the door as soon as the bell rang. She slipped on her dolphin slippers and rushed for the door knob.

“Finally girls,” Jina pulled the door open. She shut her eyes immediately when she felt a bright blitz in front of her.

“Surprise, Unni!”

Instead of being surprised, Jina kept her eyes closed and covered her ears. She moved backwards and started to sweat.

“Don’t... don’t... the camera..”

Jihee gasped and quickly put the camera inside her bag. Daehee hit Jihee’s head lightly while scolding her.

“Unni, mianhae. I forgot your camera phobia, I’m sorry,” Jihee carefully approached Jina and gave her a hug.

“Aish this magnae always brings us trouble! Yah, Song Jina, forgive her once again, okay? I promise I won’t let her bring her camera around you again,” Daehee patted Jina’s back.

Jina slowly opened her eyes. Her frightened face started to fade.

“Unni, mian,” pleaded Jihee.

“Just don’t... ever do that again,” said Jina in a trembling voice.

Daehee helped Jina walk inside the room. “Look what you did, Jihee. Jina, sit here,” Daehee pointed at the sofa. Jina obeyed. “I’ll get you a drink.”

“It’s my house, why are you treating me as a guest?” asked Jina.

Daehee shrugged. “You look like you needed help. Yah, Jung Jihee close the door and come inside already, will ya?”

Jihee did just exactly what she was told to do and sat beside Jina. She put her bag away from Jina so that she couldn’t see the camera.

“Are you feeling better already?” asked Daehee after Jina drank her cold glass of water.

Jina nodded. “I’m okay I was just shocked with the sudden blitz...”

Jihee felt even guilty but her curiosity won over it. “Unni, forgive me for asking this but, are you that afraid of cameras? After what happened when you were still a little girl...”

This time Daehee hit Jihee’s head a little harder. “Ouch! Unni!”

“I told you not to bring that up again!” scolded Daehee.

“Ah, girls it’s okay! I won’t feel sick if I tell the reason why. I was predicting that you would ask that anyway,” said Jina.

Daehee and Jihee moved closer to Jina. “Really, Unni? Then, why?”

Jina took a deep breath. “I’m not that afraid of cameras, it’s just the blitz reminds me of...”

“Your mother?” asked Daehee, carefully.

Jina nodded heavily. “And how she died.”

Jihee went silent and wasn’t brave enough to ask any more questions. Daehee also was speechless.

“I don’t mind with people taking pictures of me from afar. Their blitzes don’t catch my eye if they are like a few meters away. But if they took pictures of me, from such a close distance, it just give me the headaches and bad memories. It’s fine without the blitz. It’s not the camera that’s bothering me. The blitz.”

“So it is called a camera-blitz phobia,” murmured Jihee.

Jina couldn’t help but laugh softly and nudging Jihee’s shoulder. “Yah, it’s because you’re so innocent and blunt that’s why I always forgive you! Next time if you wanna take my picture, take it secretly. Or turn the blitz off!”

Jihee saluted to Jina. “Aye aye, Captain! I beg you for mercy once again.”

Daehee rolled her eyes but smiled afterwards. “Hey Jina, I bet you asked us to come because you have no idea what you’re having for dinner, right?”

Jina shrugged. “You know me so well,” she said, winking.

~~~~~

“So, Hyo, warm clothes.. check! Handeupon.. check! Camera... check! We are so ready to go!”

Jaehyo stared at Kyung. “Do you really need warm clothes?”

Kyung grinned. “It’s gonna be cold, trust me! Especially when we’re close to the ice!”

“I wonder if she gets cold too,” mumbled Jaehyo.

“What?”

“Nothing,” Jaehyo grinned.

~~~~~

The ice rink was crowded. Jaehyo looked at how long the queue was and compared it to a queue of a huge concert. Pretty much the same. People were wearing hoodies, jackets, cardigans while Jaehyo was the only one with a long sleeved shirt, rolled up to his elbow.

“Yah, Park Kyung, I won’t freeze inside, would I?” asked Jaehyo, slightly being worried.

Kyung just let out a playful smile. “I told you. You should have brought at least one jacket.”

Kyung walked in front of Jaehyo. Jaehyo could already feel the chill from inside the ice rink. They made their way to their seat and Jaehyo was already rubbing his hands just moments after they sat down.

The MC finally started the competition after he read out the lists of the skaters. There were only 15 skaters available, each given 3 to 5 minutes to perform. Jina was 7^th.

“Ah it’s a long way to Jina’s performance,” sighed Kyung.

“Yeah and I am practically freezing already,” replied Jaehyo.

Kyung turned his head to Jaehyo. Jaehyo was shivering and his derpy face showed up. Kyung couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yah.. P-park K-Kyung... you’re s-so mean,” Jaehyo stuttered.

Kyung patted Jaehyo’s back. “You know you could go to the information center and rent some warm clothes. Jackets or earmuffs maybe.”

Jaehyo stopped shivering. Kyung raised an eyebrow. “You okay?”

Jaehyo gave a death glare to Kyung. “You should have told me earlier!” snapped Jaehyo. He immediately stood up and grabbed his things. “Be right back!” he said, replied by Kyung with a simple nod.

Jaehyo slung his SLR on his neck and walked towards the information center. The main hall was crowded with journalists and reporters, covering the skating competition. Just when Jaehyo was about to reach the information desk, some random reporter blocked his way.

“Hey you’re the new guy, right? Here, quickly write your name on this name tag and wear this. You better make use of your camera. The other reporters are busy taking shots of the game, we’re lacking of interviewers,” the guy said, handing over a name tag to Jaehyo.

Jaehyo blinked. His expression was blank.

“What are you staring at? Take this,” the guy shoved the name tag. Jaehyo took it, he had no idea what was happening. He was going to open his mouth and explain but he was cut off again.

“Ah! You have to do a brief interview on Song Jina. Song Jina, you know? Ice Princess?”

What the hell am I doing with... wait, Song Jina?

“Ah, I know her,” replied Jaehyo.

“Great! She’s in room 701. Here’s a list of the questions you should ask. Don’t forget to write em down. And take some pictures, okay! Then when you’re done, come back here.”

Jaehyo simply nodded and turned. He looked at the outfit he was wearing. His long sleeved shirt and casual pants did make him look like a reporter, moreover with his camera which was hanging on his neck. He opened the pen he was given and wrote his name on his name tag before wearing it again.

He walked along the corridor, eyeing each number written on the doors. He found room 701 and knocked on the door before entering it.

“Excuse me, we’re from XP media,” said Jaehyo carefully. He already noticed the media’s name from his own name tag.

A friendly figure walked towards the door. He smiled.

“Hello, I’m Siwan, the Ice Princess’ costume designer. You must be here for the interview?”

Jaehyo touched the back of his neck feeling quite nervous as he nodded.

Siwan then went back to the dressing table and tapped Jina’s shoulder. Jaehyo followed his eyes to where Siwan was going and the moment Jina was putting on her earrings, their eyes met through the mirror.

“Psst, there’s a pretty guy waiting for you to be interviewed. Hurry then I’ll help you with the finishing touch,” said Siwan.

Jina nodded and stood up. She walked towards Jaehyo. Jaehyo, who was stunned by Jina’s appearance -- make up applied and hair styled perfectly -- unaware of what to do. He bowed and greeted her formally.

“Annyeonghaseyo, Ahn Jaehyo imnida. I’m from XP Media and I hope you won’t mind if I bother you for a few minutes?”

I’ve been bothered twice already by you.

Jina looked around. It wasn’t the perfect place and time to act unfriendly. “Yeah, sure,” she said, giving a light smile.

Jaehyo’s heart skipped a beat. He awkwardly asked Jina to sit on the sofa across him before he sat on the lounge chair behind him.

“So,”Jaehyo suddenly went nervous and cleared his throat. “I.. uh, want to thank you for sparing some time to do this interview...”

Jina secretly smiled over Jaehyo’s edginess. Jaehyo asked a few questions and Jina decided to shake off her ‘Ice Princess’personality for a while. The interview turned out well, it took less than 15 minutes. Jaehyo finally thanked Jina and was about to reach for the door.

“Excuse me, Jaehyo-sshi?” called Jina.

Thump. Thump. Jaehyo’s heart beat suddenly felt harder. “Yes?” he answered as he turned around.

“Can I have a word with you?”

~~~~~

Kyung lightly jumped from his seat when Jaehyo tapped his back. Jaehyo returned to his seat with an all smiley derpy face.

“YAH! Ahn Jaehyo! You freakin scared me,” said Kyung. “By the way what took you so long? And why aren’t you coming back with any jackets on?”

“Jackets?” asked Jaehyo. He forgot the main reason why he left the place. “Oh! Yeah the information desk ran out of jackets so I just went to the toilet and defrost myself before I came back.”

Kyung who had his eyebrows raised burst out into laughter. “Hahahaha! Defrost! Haha you’re so funny!”

Jaehyo just smiled and looked at the skater performing. “What number is she?”

“She’s 6! Jina will be in after her!” replied Kyung, being so excited.

Somehow Jaehyo felt excited as well but Kyung didn’t pay much attention. Kyung’s eyes were focused on the ice rink while he kept spazzing about how awesome the skaters were. He bragged about Jina being even more awesome but Jaehyo didn’t really listen to his spazzings. Jaehyo was lost in his own thoughts.

-- Flashback --

“So you’re actually a reporter?” asked Jina with her arms crossed.

Jaehyo and Jina were talking in a quiet corridor, away from the people passing by. Jaehyo awkwardly scratched his hair.

“As you can see, yeah.”

The two of them went silent. Then Jaehyo decided to speak up.

“I’m sorry if I made you feel bothered. Again. I’m sorry for always popping out wherever you are, it’s not that I plan to, but...”

“It’s okay.”

Jaehyo raised an eyebrow. “Pardon me?”

“This is the fourth time of our meeting, if I’m not mistaken. Though four times should be weird to be called a coincidence, I’d just think of this all as a coincidence.”

I’d rather call it fate...

Jaehyo nodded. “Ah, okay...”

“Somehow I think I should be responsible for your spilled drink. Is your camera working fine?” asked Jina.

Jaehyo blinked. His derpy face made Jina hold in her laugh.

“Is your camera okay?” asked Jina once again.

“Ah, yes, it is. It’s working fine...”

“Really?” Jina stepped forward and gently touched Jaehyo’s SLR. “Wow, it looks priceless. This must be a treasure for a reporter like you. I apologize for acting up that day.”

What is this? Is the Ice Princess finally melting? She’s showing her friendly side..

“It’s okay, no big deal, really,” Jaehyo tried to control his nervousness.

Jina nodded. “I was going to treat you coffee if you said an apology wasn’t enough.”

Jaehyo blinked. His thoughts were all scattered and he was speechless. All he could do was just blink.

Jina looked at the clock on the wall. “Ah, I should prepare. Thanks, Jaehyo-sshi, I’ll be leaving.”

Jina turned around but Jaehyo snapped himself back into reality. “Jina-sshi!”

“Yeah?” Jina stopped and looked back at Jaehyo.

“A cup of coffee would be a great complement to continue my interview,” said Jaehyo.

Jina raised an eyebrow. “The interview was to be continued?”

Jaehyo smiled. “How about, if you win this game, you treat me coffee and I do a further interview with you? Just consider this as your apology, if you still don’t feel it was enough.”

For a second, Jina’s eyes were so cold and stared deeply into Jaehyo’s eyes. Jaehyo wished he didn’t say those things and should just let Jina go instead.

“That sounds okay,” Jina’s cold eyes turned into an eye smile. She bowed and left Jaehyo alone in the corridor.

Jaehyo smiled and wiped his SLR. “I guess it wasn’t such a pain to see you stained with coffee,” he murmured.

-- End of Flashback --

The MC announced that the Ice Princess was next. Kyung clapped his hands excitedly and elbowed Jaehyo. “Yah! Uri Princess is next! Quickly teach me how to hold this!”

Jaehyo chuckled as he helped Kyung with his camera. “Hold it still! Control yourself and don’t shake too much!”

Jina entered the ice rink. The whole stadium went cheering. Jaehyo spontaneously covered his ears due to the massive fanboy cheering behind him.

“How could I stay still when I am supposed to spazz?” asked Kyung, almost panicking.

“Do you wanna take good shots?”

Kyung nodded. “Then obey,” said Jaehyo, briefly.

Jaehyo kept supervising Kyung with his camera. He lectured the ways of taking pictures but somehow got shushed by annoyed Kyung. Deep inside he was spazzing to himself about how awesome Jina was, and what Kyung said was all right.

Jina’s performance finally came to an end. She ended it with her signature death drop, a famous flying flip, which made the crowd woot even more.

“DID YOU SEE THAT?” Kyung was hyperventilated. “Did you see? Awesome, right?! WOOOHOO yeah baby Ice Princess you go girl! Freezing charisma woooot woot!!!”

Jaehyo gave a standing applause, trying to blend in with the audience. “Freezing charisma?” he mouthed while laughing to himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UPDATED~~~!!! this is a long long looooong chapter, isn't it?

kekekeke~ thank you for the new subscribers, i hope you're keeping up with it.

and to my fellow readers, thanks for always being there and encouraging me to update! i really wanna reply your comments one by one but kinda don't have the time to LOL

usually each chapter are titled "part 1" "part 2" and so on, right? now i decided to add a specific title for each chapter. starting from this part ^^ also changed the font to georgia! it's prettier kekeke~

so what do you think? keep leaving comments XD ♥