Yes, Miss Manoban

CHAPTER 07

Joshua should be heading home at this hour. Or, back in his office doing his reports ‘coz he knows very well how CEO Jung wanted incident reports on things as grave as an artist’s audio getting leaked. For press releases or for suing—whichever is urgently needed.

But yeah, he just had to take a quick detour to one of the practice rooms. He just had to snoop around and be all weird. So, as he opened one room, it was just like opening Pandora’s box…

“Holy sh—”

His hands went straight to his mouth as he watched a girl dancing gracefully to the sound of music. Each movement of her arms flowed in-sync with the music's ascensions. Her legs seemed to go on for days as she took one step after another. She lifted them at ease like it was part pf her daily routine to do splits in the air. His jaw almost fell of when she did a crisp turn then bent her back like there was no bone to connect it to her legs while her arms were raised, pointing back. She looked like a... the... that white elegant looking bird displaying her wings or something. The woman looked breathtaking.

Was she a trainee? An artist?

The music went on for another minute and every step she made took his breath away. It was like watching the music itself as it moved. Like she herself was made for the song—

Suddenly she fell after a sharp turn. It startled him that instead of standing back up, she threw something towards the mirror. It shattered.

Wait. Did she just damage the company's property?!

"Wh—"

The door suddenly burst open and for some reason, he hid behind the folding chairs like an i***t. Why was he even hiding?

"Assie!"

CEO Jung rushed towards the girl he didn't notice was already crying.

"Assie... it's okay," his boss said calming the girl down. "You'll get it soon. I know you will."

"It's not! I won't! It's over!"

Seeing as how things are looking, Joshua silently made his way towards the exit— careful not to get caught. It seems like a private matter between the two so its best if he gave them some privacy.

As soon as he reached the elevator, he let out a sigh. The girl was amazing. She was... perfect. But who was she? And why was she so mad—scratch that, frustrated?

Then his phone dinged. It seems like the drafts just came in.

Looks like it's going to be a long night. Good thing he has Serena's vlive to keep him company.

-

"It's just the trauma. Her legs are a hundred percent fine, Mr. Jung..."

Astrid sat there silently as Asher threw her a quick glance before turning back to the doctor.

"We've ran some tests—even an MRI, to check and her injuries are completely healed," he explained further. "My guess is, your sister's suffering from PTSD. I recommend for her to check with a psychiatrist—"

"I'm fine," she cut the doctor off. "I just made a wrong turn and got frustrated. I must've just twisted it a bit that's why it hurt. It's nothing. I know I'm f*****g fine so I don't need to see a shrink or whatever."

She stood up and walked out of the damned room.

She knows. And she doesn't need anyone to help her. They can't help her. It's a memory forever etched inside his brain and no amount of f*****g therapies can alter that. There's no way. And she can never dance again. They're all a bunch of liars.

"Assie—"

"Let's just go, Ash," she said calmly. "It's late and you need to rest. You shouldn't be outside at this hour especially in a hospital where you can get infected by whatever air-borne virus this place has. I'm fine so don't worry about it. You know how I fast I lose patience—"

"Assie, please listen to—"

"I said I'm fine!" she snapped shocking her brother. She immediately realized her mistake and apologized. "I... I'm sorry, Ash. I just... I'm fine, okay? Please stop worrying about me and just focus on your recovery."

Asher was about to say something but he stopped himself. Instead, he heaved a sigh and wrapped his arms around his baby sister.

"If you say so, Assie. But please... if you're not okay, tell me," he pleaded. "I'm your brother and I'm supposed to protect and take care of you."

"Before me, you should take care of yourself first, oppa," she argued. "Now that I'm here, I'll take over the company for you. I contacted some people I know in New York who specializes in cases like yours."

Asher Jung chuckled and playfully messed up his sister's hair.

"Okay." He then placed his arm around her shoulder. They headed out to the car waiting for them.

He prays to see her smile again. A smile full of life before he leaves. At least one last time before his sickness beats him out.

-

Astrid closed the door to her room. She waited until she couldn't hear her brother's footsteps anymore before breaking down.

Tears fell on her cheeks one after another as she sat by the door with her forehead resting on her knees. She tried her best to recover. She tried so hard to be able to move her legs again. She suffered too many falls to be able to dance in front of an audience again. But that damned image kept popping inside her head. Like it's there to remind her that she's a failure. And that she'd never be good enough again.

That damned accident took everything from her.