The Airport
Behind the Mask [Bangtan]Zhen and Jungkook were laughing a little too hard at a picture Zhen had accidentally snapped. She’d had it on sport setting, so it would snap a hundred pictures, to ensure she got the right one in case the performers moved. This one just so happened to have a great shot of V pelvic ing with a disturbing look on his face. V had asked Zhen to print it and send it to him so he could frame it, making her laugh harder. He’d even made sure to give her the PO box address for their dorm.
“We have to start heading home soon though.” Song Yi was explaining to J-Hope, who exaggeratedly groaned.
Just as Jungkook turned back to look at the camera, Zhen’s phone rang. She held up a finger, and he nodded in understanding. She put the camera around her neck and answered the phone as she moved out into the hall. “Hello?” She asked quietly.
“Zhen Ai? It’s Kim Yong.” Zhen sighed. Social workers loved to call at perfectly planned times. “Listen, your foster parents were filed as inadequate, so we put you back out onto the list, and it seems a family has offered to take you in until you turn of age.”
Zhen sighed again. He always said this. “When do I move in?”
“Tomorrow.”
“That won’t work, Mr. Kim.” He groaned on the other side of the line. “I have to go out of the country tomorrow for a modeling shoot. I’ll be back when the month starts, though. I’ll go back to the Chi house and collect my things anyways.” She swallowed hard. The Chi were nice enough people. They let her go out with her friends and do her job. But in reality when they told her no, she left anyways. They weren’t her parents.
Mr. Kim was silent for a moment. “Do you have a place to stay?”
“Yeah.” She would just go to Mallory’s. She had a spare key for when she had to take care of Kirby, and Mallory had offered for her to stay there whenever things got rough. She’d a guest room ready at all times. “Thank you. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.” She sighed, and hung up the phone. When she turned to move back into the room, Song Yi was in the way. “Uh-”
“They have to get back to their place, so I figured we should get going.” She said, starting down the hall. “The Chi won’t be mad you’re out this late, will they?”
Zhen shook her head. “Doesn’t matter anyways. I’m getting my things and leaving. They found me a new foster home. I’m just going to crash at Mallory’s for the night.” Song Yi nodded her head. This wasn’t the first time this had happened. Not even the first time that year. “Will you help me?”
“Of course I’ll help you. What kind of stupid question is that?” Song Yi asked, smiling.
The Chi hadn't even been awake when Zhen made it to the house. She and Song Yi had all of her belongings out of the house and in the car in a short period of time, and then they were on their way to Mallory’s. Zhen sat in the front seat, her sleeping teacup yorkie on her lap. “Kirakira doesn’t seem to care about the move.” Song Yi commented as they neared Mallory’s.
Zhen nodded. “She used to it.”
“I’ll keep your things until you get to the foster house, yes? It’ll just be easier.” Zhen didn’t fight her. She was too exhausted. She just grabbed the overnight bag that she’d packed and climbed out of the car when they pulled up to Mallory’s building. “See you tomorrow, okay?”
“Thanks again.” Zhen smiled and waved to her friend as she pulled away. Kirakira squirmed in Zhen’s grips as they made their way into the building. There was no one in the lobby, so Zhen got into the elevator and made it up to Mallory’s floor without interruption.
Mallory’s door was, oddly enough, unlocked. She made sure to lock it once she was inside and slipped her shoes off beside the door. Kirakira cried a little, and Zhen could hear Kirby moving around in Mallory’s room. She silenced her dog and hurried around the corner into the guest room. It was a wide space, entirely white and modern, and Zhen knew it well. She placed Kirakira on the bed and, bringing her bag with her, moved to the door that led to the adjoining bathroom.
The first thing Zhen did was fish through the bag and grab the small contact case. She placed it on the side of the sink and opened her eyes wide, reaching in and pulling out a single contact, which she placed inside of the circular case. When she looked back into the mirror, her left eye was no longer green.
She and Mallory had met at an expo for heterochromatic models. Both had an eye that wasn’t the color it was intended to be. Zhen’s right eye was green. Mallory’s left eye was blue. They wore the contacts to ensure, again, that their identity was hidden. There weren’t many heterochromatic models in the area. She closed the contact case and to
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