Chapter 2: Harper's Death

Click. Flash. Click click.

“Good, good-wait, arm a bit higher…yep, there we go”

Flash. Click. Flash.

“…and that’s a rap! Thank you everyone” Minho silently sighed in relief, quickly bowing to all the staff and scurrying off set to change, eyes still burning from the camera flash. By the time he had taken the elevator down and reached the lobby, his cell phone rang - he grinned when he saw the caller ID.

“Hey, Siwon-hyung, how are you?”

“Hey Minho, just wanted to know if you wanted to meet up for lunch to catch up? I just dropped in here for a little bit, I have a...photoshoot later. I’m going to be at that café a few blocks away, the one across from the pharmacy near the agency”

“Yeah, I just finished my set for the day, I’ll be there in about ten”

“Okay, I'm a bit further away, so I should be there in around twenty. See you soon!”, Minho chuckled and hung up the phone. He had always felt extremely laid back with Siwon despite their large . Siwon was what one would call a veteran in the business. Even at forty-two he was giving many of the younger and fresher models a run for their money – his longevity truly was a testament to his prowess. Minho looked up to him, even idolised him.

The tall man stepped out of the building, shivering at the rain and the sudden chill. He popped open his umbrella, tugged his scarf tighter around his neck and face, and slipped on his sunglasses. Keeping his head bowed low, he swiftly made his way down the busy road, nails digging into his clenched palm, hoping that no one would recognize him again.

Amongst the bustle of the common city goers and traffic, a sharp and shrill voice managed to pierce the thick haze. Even as Minho quickened his pace, head slung even lower, the voice kept getting louder and louder -

                -pa.

            -oppa.

    -inho oppa!

“Minho oppa!” The model clenched his jaw and quickly sneaked a glance over his shoulder. . That silly fan of his (was her name Jae Hwa?) had proved to be a persistent smear on his public and private life for the past few months, and it had gotten to the point where legal action had to be taken. And here she was waving her arms frantically, soaked to the bone, and swiftly closing the few hundred metre gap between them. The restraining order obviously did not deter her. Minho pressed forward and pushed through the crowd, brow knitting tighter at every single ing sentence coming from their mouths.

           Is that the model?

           He looks familiar.

           Choi Minho?

The tall man suddenly perked up, scurrying across the busy intersection just before the walking sign turned red. He turned around and stopped, grinning at the running girl who had not made it across, still a little far off. He was about to turn away but something pulled him back– why wasn’t she slowing down? The walking sign was red. He looked at the busy traffic between them, back at her, and then to the zipping cars again. No. She wouldn’t.

The girl blindly darted across the road, and then in came the chorus of beeping horns and gasps. And then he saw it, and he knew. In that second last lane, that old rackety speeding car was far too fast and far too close.

Minho’s instincts screamed and he dropped his umbrella, darting across to grab her away. He reached out, long fingers just brushing the fabric of her dress, and in that sliver of a moment, time stilled. He noticed things in these small seconds that he never had in the past few months he had seen her. The outside world became awash with static, and it was only him and her caught in this other world. She was actually quite beautiful even with her running mascara, her round eyes glistening with a tinge of fear, but mostly hope; and she had delicate hands, outstretched to meet his. He noticed that she wore a dress that seemed oddly familiar to Minho, and then he realised – it was that very same dress that the female model Soo Joo had worn when they had a joint shooting together for Harper’s Bazaar. The concept was ‘Death’, he remembered, which was something he would save her from.

He gripped her dress and pulled her in, quickly spinning her around to push her to safety. Suddenly, the static of the outside world began to crumble and in came the heavy onslaught of the cold rain that drenched him, the loud beeping, and the screech of tires, a thump, a shout, and then multiple screams. Did she make it?

---xXx---

Jinki silently frowned as the door bell jingled, singling a new entering customer – a giggling couple, he bitterly mused. The brunette returned his attention to the elderly man in front of him as he took his order, quickly scribbling it onto the note pad. The heavy shower and cold weather brought in a sea of customers, looking for a spot of warmth in the café and also in their frothy cappuccinos. His hands were getting clumsier and clumsier on the register, and even though his tiring body eagerly awaited the ending of his shift, his heart didn’t, because he knew he would be coming home to an empty apartment again.

The door jingled again. Jinki looked up, and froze a little. The tall man that entered was really a stunner, even if he was panting, dark hair mussed and sunglasses askew, scarf hanging limply from his broad shoulders.  Everyone else seemed to notice, too. The man slipped into a seat a few tables away, removing his wet jacket. As Jinki approaching him, the other customers hunched over and crowded with their friends, whispering.

           Is that the model?

           He looks familiar.

           Wait, I think I recognize him. It’s Choi -

“Welcome, and good afternoon. Are you ready to order? Mr-”

“It’s Mr. Choi” the man shot him a tired smile. The smaller brunette couldn’t help but feel a small smile tug at his lips in return. He certainly had a charming charisma to him, and Jinki couldn’t help but be enthralled by it. 

---xXx---

Author's note

Hey guys! I am so sorry that this chapter is out so late, I could give you many excuses, but really it was just me being a lazy ignorant poop who lost the original of this chapter and could never get this version quite up to par to the original. I struggled so much with the beginning of this chapter, which I still dislike, and nothing is beta'd as well hahaha~~~ Anyway! I plan big things for this story, and I hope I will be able to see through it till the end. 

And let me just say that I am really so honoured that I got six upvotes for my first chapter! It didn't even have in it hahaha *hugs you guys* I can't thank you enough!