33 - Reveal

The stolen jewel was placed on a silky piece of fabric. Boss held it against her heart as if it were a newborn baby, "Zheng Tai took your beauty and your glory from me. But now that you're here, finally before my eyes, I can tell all is well!" The bluish tint of the gem shone on her widened eyes, "Yes, my darling, all is well."

I've never seen her so happy that she talked to inanimate objects. A rare view, indeed.

"She seems in a very good shape!" I whispered to Jieung-yong.

We four were in her office, standing straight, as we were witnessing Boss and her new baby.

"Yeah. Let's not bring up the pest who juggled with her precious gem."

I nodded.

"Miss, the mission was a success." Wei then proceeded to slam my back like a brute, "And the one carrying it out was Song-ho. Bullet shot between the eyes. A pro move, I would say."

Boss was overjoyed already, but that specific news seemed to send her to cloud nine. She smiled with all of her being. Not in that weird and creepy way I was used to. She was just... beaming with joy. Normally. The type of smile that made other people want to smile too. Was the Boss in front of me a clone or something?

"This is great, Song-ho! As a sign of my gratitude toward you, you are all the employees of the week!"

I wouldn't go to the White Room this week? I wouldn't starve again and scratch the door in despair and madness? I was in the same state as Boss: overjoyed. Thank you. Thank you! My heart beat faster, and a tear ran from my eyes.

Wei tapped my shoulders, "Ha. Sentimental. Told you."

"Yeah, no point in denying it," I chuckled and composed myself, "Thank you, Wei."

Jieung-yong, completely unaffected by the fact he wasn't going to face death this week, grabbed David's arms and said in a playful tone, "Where are we going this time? A villa? A spa?"

Boss shook her head, "No, none of those this time. We're going to the opérette of Paris!"

My heart beat faster, but not because of joy anymore. Quite the opposite, "What? Can't we go anywhere else?"

"For once, I agree with the coward," Jieung-yong said.

Wei Xiaojian crossed in arms, a sign of his reflection process, "Why not? This is the perfect place to nourish our spirit with the culture of this wonderful country. Isn't our duty, as inhabitants of France, to surround ourselves with the local masterpieces?"

"Couldn't have said it better," Boss said.

Of course, these two would agree. The masterpieces they wanted to see was nothing like Swan Lake or Nutcracker. They just wanted to spend time with Henriette and a masked dancer. Henriette would be overjoyed to see Boss, so no problem for them. Me, however...

"Je n'aurais pas pu dire mieux." Dit la Patronne.

*

Well, the positive side of all of this, was that I wouldn't miss my rehearsals for one week straight. That's what I kept telling myself as we were heading to the opérette. When we arrived there, Bienvenue and Charlotte were already on the stage. They waved at me.

I lowered my head, hoping no one made the connection between the masked dancer and me.

"Who are they waving at? It's our fist-time here, isn't it?" Jieung-yong asked.

I kept my eyes on the ground, not making any sound. Don't look at me!

Boss waved at them, "It was for me. I have to go backstage to do some stuff. Song-ho, come with me."

I glanced at her, catching a smile that was only meant at me. I understood: she was helping me keeping my dancing activity a secret.

We headed backstage, behind the back door, while the others sat, making themselves at home.

Henriette was backstage too, still in her normal outfit. As soon as she saw Boss, she jumped on her and kissed her on the mouth. Boss, far from being disgusted, returned the kiss with even more passion.

After an embarrassing moment where I didn't know where to look or do, Boss and Henriette stopped so they could catch their breath, "Let's go slowly this time okay? I missed you too, but first. Do you have any lockable doors in there?"

Henriette guided her to her room, before noticing I was there the whole time, "Hi, Song-ho!" They came into the room and locked the door, without saying anything more.

Well, I guess that was my cue. I came into my own room and began to change into my dancing outfit, trying my best to ignore the heaving-weight impact noises on the walls. When I finished, I came out of the room and caught Samira and Charlotte heading to the stage,

"You still have your mask on," Samira said, "Are you still nervous about something ?"

"I guess, yeah."

We walked on the stage, and what I thought would happen happened. Wei stood from his seat and climbed up the stage to speak to me.

"Hello. I'll be honest with you there, I'm very happy to see you again."

"I...Yeah, me too."

While he told me this, he was watching me with all the tenderness of this world. He was so sweet. So cute. And he was making me think weird things too. That was hell. Why did this have to happen to me?

"How can I call you?"

I had to find a new name. Anything.

"Call me Chihiye."

"Nice to meet you, Chihiye. I'm Xiaojian. But please call me Xiao."

"No... I-"

"I insist."

He then asked about what we were rehearsing for this time, and I told him we were working on a new arrangement of the Nutcracker.

"That's great. Hum... I wanted to ask you a question, but you're so stunning I kind of forgot what I was thinking about."

He scratched his head, looking at the ground. I've seen him embarrassed before, but these expressions were on a whole new level. At work, he showed me a part of him that as professional, confident, and strong. He had to show the example, as a Queen. Teaching me how to pull the trigger was enough proof of that. But here, that was another story. I could taste his weakness. And to be honest, I was enjoying it.

"Can I...Can I train with you?"

"You know the steps? I would never know you were knowledgeable about ballet, Xiao!"

"Actually, I know nothing. It's just a lame excuse to be at your side."

He was frank. And this part of him was typical and out of character at the same time. This particular context was special after all, "Why not? You seem funny."

He laughed in excitement. It was annoying. Fun. That laugh was twisting my stomach in undescriptive ways.

"That's your girlfriend? I thought you were actually gay," Jieung-yong said, "She's okay, but the lack of boobs turns me off. And she looks like the coward, so meh. Hey! Where is the coward?"

David slammed Jieung-yong's face, "Everyone has their own tastes. You can like flat-chested girls or more fleshy ones."

Jieung-yong sighted, "Or Turquoise ones."

David blushed like never. Then, they quarreled like an old couple. Wei-I mean, Xiao, told me to ignore them, "Don't listen to those bullies. I think you're..." He looked at me, head to toes with shining eyes, "You're marvelous."

Fuck. He had a hard crush on me, "That's bad. You'll get hurt if you keep coming to me. Forget about me. You don't deserve this..."

"What do you mean?"

I realized I said that out loud and blushed, "Nothing. Do you want to dance?"

During the rest of the week, I taught Xiao the five basic dance positions. He was, of course, incredibly incompetent and unable to remember one single of these iconic steps. David and Jieung-yong were having fun repairing Coach Isabelle's computer, and Boss and Henriette were showing each other the strength of their affection inside their locked room.

Then, something happened on Thursday night. I was sitting on the stage and drinking water to cool down from the rehearsal. This is when I heard Jieung-yong say to his best friend :

"You know, isn't it weird we never see Boss and the hijabi girl at the same time? Maybe, Boss's name is Samira, and Nadine Ndongo will be gone forever, the day she'll want to disappear from the Underground Word."

"You're crazy. Obviously, it's not her."

"Let's see if you're right. Look at what I've done."

He then showed him a gun with a taser instead of a barrel. Without warning anyone, he shot at Samira. An electrical blast came out of the gun, threatening to scar Samira for life if it doesn't kill her.

No! He couldn't do that! I ran toward her, hoping it wouldn't touch one bit of her skin. It didn't touch her, but I received all of the juice.

A flash of electricity bit my right flank, and my skin immediately smelled burnt. I crashed on the floor, wailing in pain.

Boss opened the backdoor, "Song-ho!"

"He's not here, miss. I'll be the one taking care of Chihiye." Xiao held me, and we went backstage.

He opened one room at random, found a bathroom, and placed me there.

"Let me see your wound." He approached his hands from my body, but he must have seen my panicked eyes because he stopped just before touching me. Don't worry, I'll be a gentleman." He then touched my red wound staining my White tutu.

"No, that's not it," I managed to say, "I'm so sorry. I never wanted you to learn it that way." I zipped off my dress and showed him my torso. He blushed profusely, then looked at me, confused.

I then took off my mask, which was the breaking point for him.

"Song-ho! How could you lie to me like that? You monster! I... I need to think for a bit." He then left me all alone.

Boss found me, put me in the car, and drove us home. She had told Henriette there was a cable problem.

The real culprit of this rebellion attempt would be sent to the White Room.

Mob doctors took care of me, then left me in my room to relax. Relax? My wheels wouldn't stop turning.