"I know, I have to go now. Bye, babe," Dior said as she stepped out.
"Bye," Hazel replied, watching her leave before quietly closing the door—though not without peeking through the small gap.
The moment Dior turned, she collided with someone.
Before she could fall, strong arms wrapped around her waist.
"Careful," Kaden said.
Dior froze as she looked up. Their faces were dangerously close, their bodies pressed together. Her hands rested on his shoulders while his grip stayed firm around her waist. For a moment, neither of them moved.
Kaden's gaze dropped briefly, noticing how close they were, and he slowly released her.
"You look more beautiful tonight," he said softly.
Dior blinked, flustered. "You too… you look extremely handsome."
The moment she said it, she covered her mouth, embarrassed.
Why do I keep saying things like that?
Kaden stepped closer, amused. "You're cute when you do that."
Her cheeks flushed deeply, and for once, she had no words.
"Let's go," he said.
They walked to the car together. Kaden opened the passenger door for her, and she got in. He walked around to the driver's side and drove off.
When they arrived, he stepped out first and opened her door again, extending his hand.
"Your hand."
Dior looked at him, then smiled softly before placing her hand in his. He returned the smile, and together, they walked into the restaurant.
One Week Later
Hazel's POV
A week had passed since Dior rejected Kaden's proposal, and things between them had grown distant.
At the dance studio, Samantha clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"Alright, everyone. The competition is one week away, so I'm giving you all three days off. You've worked hard, and you deserve a break. Rest well, eat properly, and take care of yourselves. I don't want anyone collapsing on the day of the audition. Do you understand?"
"Yes, ma," they all responded.
"You're dismissed."
Relief spread across the room as everyone began packing up.
Hazel turned to Dior with a smile. "This is great. You can finally focus on the ointment advertisement."
Dior nodded. "Yeah."
They left the studio and took a taxi back to their dormitory.
"So, how many days will it take?" Hazel asked.
"About three days," Dior replied.
Hazel hesitated. "I'll be alone… can I come with you?"
Dior paused, then shook her head. "I actually forgot to mention—we'll be shooting in Australia."
Hazel's eyes widened. "That's good. You'll get to visit your hometown."
"Yeah," Dior said quietly.
"Where's Damian now?"
"He's already in Australia. I'll meet him there."
Hazel nodded. "Where will you stay?"
"Everything is covered—flight, clothes, food, accommodation. And I'll still get paid."
"How much?"
Dior glanced at her. "Three million."
Hazel stopped walking. "Three million? For just three days?"
"I know," Dior said with a small laugh. "He said it's because of the stress and everything involved. Normally, it should have been around two hundred and fifty thousand."
"That's still a lot," Hazel muttered.
"I'm just grateful," Dior replied.
They arrived at their dorm and went inside. Hazel sat on her bed while Dior moved around, talking about everything she needed to prepare.
Just then, Hazel's phone rang.
She picked it up, glanced at the screen—and froze.
"Liam…"