Ridicule

Two days. That's all that stood between Aecha's show and Mia's impending doom. The pressure was a physical weight on her chest, each breath a struggle against the suffocating cloud of negativity that surrounded her. Hee Young's fans, fueled by righteous anger and seeking justice for their idol, had painted her as a shallow, petty vixen. At first, Mia had shrugged it off, her confidence a shield against their barbs. But the relentless barrage of hate was chipping away at her resolve. Cracks were starting to appear, as doubt seeped in like a slow poison. It wasn't just the online hate; her role as one of face the Aecha's collection added a whole new level of pressure. If she didn't fit the brand's image, if her reputation was tarnished beyond repair, she could be booed off the stage, a humiliating spectacle that would not only ruin her but also undermine Aecha's hard work and the fear of failing was a constant, gnawing ache.

     "Hey Mia, how are you feeling?"

Mia snapped out of her frustrated daze, meeting Aecha and Chin-sun's worried faces. 

    "Great, I guess," she muttered, shoving her backpack into her locker, her voice laced with sarcasm.

             "It's silly," Chin-sun chirped, oblivious to Mia's tone, "They don't know the actual truth. They're defending Hee Young, ruining your reputation!"

Mia's patience, already stretched thin, snapped. 

   "Just shut up and leave me alone!" she spat in English, her voice a low growl, and marched off down the hallway. Her friends' concerned calls faded behind her as she walked down the hallway. 

As Mia pushed open the door to the basketball court, a wave of scrutiny washed over her. Whispers, laughter, and a few pointed glares followed her every step. A few faces were twisted with malice, their eyes reflecting the venomous words that were sure to follow. 

She averted her gaze, her heart sinking as she headed towards the locker room. 

  "If I were her, I'd be so ashamed to show my face," one girl hissed.

     "Oh, I guess that's what foreigners do," another scoffed, "Just bully someone they don't like."

    "There, the foreigner thinks everything revolves around them," another chimed in, her voice dripping with disdain.

"Look at her clothes," a voice rasped,

 "So indecent."

Mia hurried, her steps quickening, desperate to escape the torrent of vitriol. 

"That's enough!" The head cheerleader, Hee Ran, declared, her voice sharp with authority. "We're a team. Let's put aside our differences and work together." Her gaze swept from Mia to Hee Young, a silent reprimand hanging in the air. Hee Young, her smile gone, simply nodded, but the glint in her eye betrayed a lingering resentment. 

Meanwhile, Sun Woo, lost in his own world, smiled with satisfaction as he crossed his arms, his clothes spattered with vibrant paint. He'd transformed the blank, white interior of his house into a vibrant, artistic home. The house, once a dull, sterile and white canvas of interior, now buzzed with color and personality,  Decorating wasn't easy, but the reward was immense.  Nayoung loved warm colors, while he preferred the cool, earthy tones. Yet, somehow, he'd managed to blend them together into a surprisingly harmonious whole. smiled, picturing a happy home filled with laughter and the chaotic joy of children. Maybe a girl, someone he could spoil rotten, or a boy who would grow up to be strong and independent. A sigh escaped him, though. Nayoung, with her demanding career, wasn't ready for kids just yet. He chuckled at the irony of ambitious women juggling careers and dreams. Just then, his phone buzzed with a call from a friend, pulling him back to the present.

Jimin, startled by the uncharacteristic silence in his office, looked up from his paperwork. Chin-sun, usually a whirlwind of activity and chatter, stood frozen before his bookshelf, her usual vibrancy replaced by a disconcerting stillness. Her hand moved mechanically, wiping down the same row of books, her gaze distant and unfocused. Her eyes, usually sparkling with mischief, were now dulled, their usual brightness extinguished. A wave of concern washed over Jimin. He knew something was terribly wrong.

 He approached her silently, his presence unnoticed. She stood there, oblivious, a picture of quiet melancholy. Jimin watched her, captivated by the unexpected beauty that lay beneath her thick glasses and seemingly geeky exterior. Her features, delicate and soft, held a hidden allure. There was an almost childlike innocence in her expression, an aura of someone who had weathered storms yet retained an optimistic spirit. Her sunny smile and incessant chatter seemed a carefully constructed facade, hiding the turmoil that simmered beneath the surface. He wondered what secrets she held behind those bright eyes. He couldn't resist the urge any longer. His fingers brushed against her cheek, surprised by the softness, almost like a baby's. Chin-sun flinched, startled, but her expression remained frozen, a mask of sadness . She was a creature of overthinking, prone to magnifying small incidents, letting anxieties cloud her judgment. Why was Mia suddenly upset with her? Was it her being boisterous at the moment ? Her tendency to be a bit too loud or maybe even annoying? Questions swirled in her mind, her usual sunny disposition replaced by a deep sense of unease.

Jimin gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. She couldn't see his eyes, but she felt the intensity of his stare, a silent questioning.

     "What's the matter?" His voice, usually calm and controlled, held a hint of concern, breaking through his stoic facade.  

   "Nothing," she mumbled, a forced smile tugging at her lips as she pulled away from his touch. Jimin let his hand fall, his gaze lingering on her. Chin-sun, sensing his scrutiny, quickly masked her distress with a feigned cheerfulness, launching into a rapid-fire monologue, trying to distract herself, and him, from her sadness.

Mia stood on the sidelines, watching the other cheerleaders practice, a palpable tension in the air. They had deliberately excluded her.  Her face, usually bright and animated, was now clouded with hurt and simmering anger.  

Practice stretched on, each passing minute amplifying Mia's frustration. Finally, as the session drew to a close, Hee Young called her over. A forced smile plastered across her face, Hee Young tasked Mia with a slew of tedious, menial tasks. Mia, boiling with resentment, reluctantly agreed. As the other cheerleaders left, their laughter and ridicule echoing through the court, a chorus of snickers followed Mia. The basketball team, oblivious to the drama unfolding, littered the court with their trash, finding amusement in their own antics. Mia's anger simmered. 

Mia finished her chores, anger still simmering beneath the surface, and headed for the locker room. As she approached the washroom, a chorus of giggles seeped through the slightly ajar door. She paused, her heart sinking as she recognized Hee Young's voice, followed by the sycophantic laughter of her minions

 Peeking through, she witnessed Hee Young and her clique huddled together, their faces lit by the soft glow of their phones. 

"I'm glad your dumbo of a cousin isn't here," one of them sneered. 

"Yeah, like she's so ugly and out of touch," another chimed in. "I still can't believe you guys are related?"

"Oh, Hee Young, you're so smart!" a third girl gushed. "You took that wreck of a foreigner in her place." 

"But how did you do it?" one of the others asked, her voice laced with curiosity. Hee Young, a smug smile playing on her lips, flipped her hair back with a dramatic gesture.