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⸻⠀⠀⠀⠀𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑹 .ᐟ hello again, lux.

𝐓𝐖⠀·⠀slight references to mental health.⠀⠀⠀⠀𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓⠀·⠀1822.⠀⠀⠀⠀𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆⠀·⠀lux entertainment's headquarters, 2025.⠀⠀⠀⠀𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒⠀·⠀while walking through lux entertainment's headquarters, ji-ah is confronted for the first time by a unique figure from her past. with this encounter, she begins to wonder if she will ever overcome certain ghosts from her past.

⠀⠀⠀⠀When she was younger, Ji-ah used to tell herself the company corridors were like a fantastical never-ending maze she'd never be able to escape.

⠀⠀⠀⠀In her early years, as a trainee, this gave her some kind of reassurance. She had a permanent place, somewhere to go back to when things got too tough. There were familiar faces around, and her knowledge of the chaotic, unique, musical sea of the place helped her navigate it. If luck was on her side on a random day, she could occasionally bump into the artists she admired so much and exchange a few words. Feeling that sense of belonging. It was paradise, like Valerie at the beginning of the Czech film she once watched with Woonie, a lifetime ago.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Now, after so many years and so much had happened, walking around there still felt like an endless maze, but if she had to compare it to something, would compare it to backrooms. A nightmare. Those strange films and video games where someone is walking down the street and falls into a lost dimension, where there is nothing but silence, anguish and the presence of a monster lurking in the corridors, looking for a soul to devour. Never in danger, but never truly safe.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Always running around. No hope.

⠀⠀⠀⠀The sound of her high heels hitting against the floor helped her stay in the moment, keeping her mind from wandering so far away to the point of getting lost. No return. Either that or the amount of years of treatment and medication. Either way, she had made it through the day without going crazy. The meeting with the marketing team had been a success, and now only minor adjustments were needed to get everything ready for the album release. She would have preferred everything to be ready to go already; it felt like her hand had frozen when learned that it wasn't the case, as if Siberia had reached Lux's backyard just to personally visit her. But if that place had taught anything, it was to work with what she had been given.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Make a lemonade even when there are no lemons. Or they were rotten to the core.

⠀⠀⠀⠀— Alice, you always manage to get attention, don't you?

⠀⠀⠀⠀As much as the measured sweetness of the voice sounded politely friendly, it was as if she had felt a knife enter her back and was being pulled down millimetre by millimetre. Cutting her open in the middle of a fucking corridor. The sound of heels hitting the floor only reached afterwards. Ji-ah hated herself for a few seconds, noticing the flow of her own thoughts had made it impossible to be aware of her surroundings. To remember where she was and what that could mean.

⠀⠀⠀⠀If she had been more attentive, precocious, in the moment, she wouldn't have crossed paths with Mei at that moment.

⠀⠀⠀⠀— Mei, long time no see… — Should have said something else, sounded smarter and more attentive, but couldn't. Lost all the words.

⠀⠀⠀⠀— It's definitely been a long time, honey. — The space between them narrowed and now she could see that perfect smile, which haunted her for years, up close. — You're our personal troublemaker, you know that, right? Everything you touch or do, creates so many headlines... Whether they speak highly or poorly of you, they all talk about Alice, don't they?

⠀⠀⠀⠀The perfect smile was still there and Ji-ah's hands were clenched so tightly that she could feel her fingers were about to pass through to the other side, somehow, any moment now. There were only two smiles in that whole company she fucking hated and one of them was right there.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Drawn with expensive lipstick.

⠀⠀⠀⠀— It's a good thing we're in a place that allows us to express ourselves freely, isn't it? — Retorted quickly, mentioning Mei's quote from a recent statement, and for a millisecond was sure to see Mei's smile suffer a glitch. Very quick, tiny, but very delightful. — People have been really enjoying authenticity lately...

⠀⠀⠀⠀‘You should try it one of these days’, she meant to say, but preferred to keep things on the back burner. They would only heat up if the woman in front of her wanted them to.

⠀⠀⠀⠀— Of course! And given your condition, I imagine you have a lot... How do they say it nowadays? — She snapped her fingers, pretending to search for a word in the thin air. It came to her easily, like everything in her whole life. — Ah, a lot of personal lore to introduce to your fans. Let’s just hope the public is really interested in it, because few people care about surrealism, to be honest. It’s all very random and weird, you know?

⠀⠀⠀⠀Mei’s sharp eyes never left out of focus for a second, like a predator looking for reactions to understand if she was getting what she wanted. Close enough of a big bite. Alice had known how this dance worked for years; she was always seen as easy prey. However, during the woman's rather uninspired villainous speech, she reacted to almost nothing. She remained calm and serene, which was unlike her old persona, showing how much she had changed in the years of absence. She had confidence in her art, and no one else's opinion would change that.

⠀⠀⠀⠀It was obvious that this didn't go unnoticed by Mei. Mei, who always knew everything. Mei, who was always two steps ahead. Mei, who knew the industry better than anyone else.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Mei, who helped create everything there was now. Whether good or bad.

⠀⠀⠀⠀— Real art will find its ideal audience. — She replied after a moment of silence, confident.

⠀⠀⠀⠀— Definitely! — Mei's pretentiousness didn’t go anywhere near unnoticed. — It's going to be a big year for fans. Did you know Sunny is also releasing an album soon? I heard the news the other day and got really excited...

⠀⠀⠀⠀Ji-ah shrugged slightly and immediately felt guilty for doing so. Mei smiled as if she had just won the lottery. Fuck!

⠀⠀⠀⠀— It's a shame she left Lux, you know? I heard from very good sources the album will be super artistic too, but more down to earth. Mature, just like her. — Her smile only got brighter, and Ji-ah could decipher the messages the older woman wanted to pass on. — Black Swan and Red Shoes as main inspirations, much closer to the audience. Everyone knows how much ballet screams Sunny. I can't wait to hear it.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Once again, silence fell between them, and this time Ji-ah had to admit defeat because that woman knew her so well and was capable of destroying her self-esteem even after so many years. After everything she had been through, Mei and Sunny were the shiny little beautiful pebbles in her old shoe.

⠀⠀⠀⠀She didn't need to search for words, because Mei was aware of her actions and how she had delivered a checkmate to the other without even having to go very far. That was what hurt Alice the most, how she was always the easy piece to move on Lux's board.

⠀⠀⠀⠀— Just gossip between us, but some say the album is an open letter to Tiger. Do you think they'll get back together? — She spoke as if they were two friends chatting. — You two fought over him, didn't you?

⠀⠀⠀⠀The melodious giggle and perfect tone made Ji-ah's blood boil under her skin like a volcano so close to erupt. But she only sighed heavily.

⠀⠀⠀⠀— No. — Emphatically crossed her arms in front of her body. — Sunny thought we fought, thought, and the media...

⠀⠀⠀⠀— Hm… — Mei pretended not to understand. — Anyway, Tiger always was more suited to Sunny, if you think about it. I think they’re on the same level, they understand each other better. Although, after all the trouble he caused, well…

⠀⠀⠀⠀The way Ji-ah was looked at made her almost lose control. It was as if she was seen only for her fragility, for her personal moments of darkness and loneliness. She had worked on the idea of not being defined by these things for a long time, and yet it was difficult to put into practice. Even more so with Mei there, knowing exactly which buttons to push.

⠀⠀⠀⠀— Alice, I was looking for you!

⠀⠀⠀⠀It startled her to hear a third voice calling her, seconds before hanging up and giving Mei exactly what she wanted. A reason, even the smallest, tiniest, one, to revoke the supposed freedom Lux had given her to come back. Whatever that means. When she looked to the side, Chai was walking down the corridor cheerfully, with a clever look in his eyes that made her breath catch slightly.

⠀⠀⠀⠀— Oh, hi there, Mei. — He pretended only then to have noticed her there. — I’ve been looking for this one for quite a while. Always a master at disappearing!

⠀⠀⠀⠀He put his arm around Alice’s shoulders with such ease she didn’t know if she had blinked or, somehow, if her own body had cuddled up lightly against him. For some reason, she felt more secure like that. Less alone. Less small.

⠀⠀⠀⠀What the fuck.

⠀⠀⠀⠀— I need your help in the studio… — The lie was written all over his face, but it worked. — You know, Mei, Alice and I could be considered the McLennon of Lux!

⠀⠀⠀⠀— No way, Chai?

⠀⠀⠀⠀The boredom on Mei's face almost made Ji-ah laugh for real, simply because she was too lazy to deal with Chai's extroverted and lively personality. Truth be told, Alice felt the same way when they first met, but over time she noticed that there was something comforting about it. Her mind drifted off slightly as the two engaged in small talk, and soon she felt the young man's body carrying her away from Mei with such ease. Like he was handling paper.

⠀⠀⠀⠀— You're welcome, wondie.

⠀⠀⠀⠀His laughter and voice mingled at the bottom of her ear. She should have felt a shiver, but she only felt relief, nodding her head at him as if to say an ethereal ‘thank you’ suspended in the air.

⠀⠀⠀⠀His chatter took over, talking about so many subjects that she couldn't even keep up. And, honestly, she didn't even want to. She wondered how this boy had been her support, someone who saw her darkness without being frightened, who understood her deepest and darkest nightmares. Still, she felt unfair keeping him there, like a faithful puppy.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Truth be told, Alice knew she was using him. Chai and his light. Chai and his enthusiasm. She was taking advantage of everything he had to offer, fully aware she had nothing to give in return. It was terrible to think that, but she had no intention of changing it anytime soon. She had learned to be selfish, and after the situation with Mei, she needed every pillar available to keep herself standing.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Until she didn't need it anymore.