I really hope someone still reads this. It's been a while since I posted the last chapter. I try to finish this story in the next few weeks.

Chapter 11

She had read about stalkers, but up till now, they had belonged in a different, violent world. As much as she wrecked her head, she had no idea who would want to harm her. She tried desperately hard not to panic, but lately her dreams had been filled with unbearable nightmares. While awake, Suyi felt safer. The strong presence of Takeo, who always stuck to her side whenever she left home lately, calmed her. Still, she flinched as something touched her bare shoulder.

"Ah, sorry. Are you nervous, Suyi?"

"Yes, a bit," she lied without blushing or feeling guilty and smiled up at Eun-Mi. It was easier to let her make-up artist believe she had startled because of the upcoming concert and not the looming threat of some unknown person. But as soon as the other woman had mentioned the concert, the well-known stage-fright started to creep up on her. Only two more hours! She could already hear the crew outside roam the backstage area. The familiar ball of nervousness in her stomach was welcomed, since it kept her mind in the present.
She searched for Takeo in the mirror. Their eyes met, and he gave her an encouraging smile from his place next to the door. A soft tug on her hair snapped Suyi's attention back to Eun-Mi. The other woman had started to gather up Suyi's curls into a ponytail, like she always did before she applied make-up.

"Let's apply your armour, only two hours left after all."

"Armour?" Takeo's disbelieving voice stopped the make-up artist effectively from starting at all. To Suyi's joy, Takeo had started to chat more with her friend, even from his own initiation.
"Yes, armour!" Suyi turned around on her chair and crossed her arms on the back of it, to watch Eun-Mi walk over to Takeo. The smaller woman planted herself in front of him with great importance. She waved with the hairbrush in front of his face like a schoolmaster with a pointer. "For women, beautiful clothes and make-up are like an armour. We wear them to look our best, to protect ourselves from disparaging looks."
Takeo's face didn't change, so either he didn't understand Eun-Mi's explanation or he did, but was too polite to tell her what he thought about that comparison. Reading the straightening of her shoulders, Suyi could guess the appearance of a pout on her make-up artist's face. With a small chuckle, she leaned her chin on her arms. A few seconds of silent starring contest between the two adults trickled away, before Suyi decided to rescue Takeo.
"It's like your suit. You look important and imposing in it, which leads to other people having a higher threshold for bothering you. If I later wear that glittering dress and make-up on stage, I not only look better, but also more professional."

"You look good without make-up, too."

"Argh! He's not getting the point!" Eun-Mi's frustrated cry should have been heard to the end of the corridor, even with the door shut. Mumbling under her breath, Eun-Mi fake-stomped up to her, which once again made Suyi giggle. Was there a smile on Takeo's face? Did he just pretend to be slow on the intake? He did! Takeo had not just made Suyi a compliment, he had poked fun at Eun-Mi, too.
For whatever reason they had decided to start to banter like Ajussi and Regis did frequently, Suyi was glad for it. It effectively had taken all her thoughts away from the stalker and had even eased the stage-fright she could never fully avert, no matter how often she held a concert. And to top it off, Seira and Yuna would come into her dressing room before the concert. Yuna had been here every third or fourth concert, but for Seira it would be the first time in the backstage area, and for Suyi it was her way of thanking them. The free concert tickets for the rest of her friends did help, too. With them at her side and later in the crowd, nothing could go wrong.

"I'm so excited!"

"This isn't even Suyi's first concert you're visiting, Shinwoo."

"But it's the first one Rai, Seira, and Regis are going to see," Shinwoo answered Ikhan. Yuna smiled at so much exuberance. Of course, she felt happy and looked forward to the concert, but since she had received the picture with the warning of the stalker, she always felt nervous. There really was somebody closely watching Suyi. And he seemed to be dangerous. It scared her. At home or with her friends she felt safe, but alone on her way home she would feel vulnerable. It was a good thing, she never left Rais home late without an escort the last few days.

"It's so sad that Tao-hyung isn't coming."

"Yes, he didn't look sick at all, as we left yesterday evening. I hope it's not too bad?"

"We should bring him a CD and photos. For the headmaster, too. Right, Rai?"

This time Yuna smiled broader and more genuine at Shinwoo's and Ikhan's planning. A short look at her mobile phone and she grasped Seira's hand. If they wanted to visit Suyi before they concert, they had to hurry.

"We'll be back in a short while! Keep our seats free."

"Of course," Ikhan promised, while Shinwoo whined about not being allowed behind the stage. Suyi would have loved it, Yuna knew, but there were only so many people she could grant access to the backstage area. Shinwoo was loud and attention grabbing, no matter how much she liked him, Yuna could see why Suyi only wanted the girls to share some alone time before the concert. They all knew about the stalker. A reason more, Yuna had decided that she wouldn't lose a word about it. Suyi enjoyed singing, she loved her concerts. There shouldn't be even one single bad memory about this day, if Yuna could help it.

She held to Seira's hand until they left the crowd of the first people entering the concert hall. Only as the reached the side entrance to the stage, she let go of Seira's hand to search in her small purse for the backstage pass. Where was it hiding?

"Kids, you can't enter here." The security guard sounded irritated. They surely weren't the first girls who wanted to get behind the stage. Yuna rose her head to nervously smile at him, then she dipped her head back down to search for the pass. Why did she have to pack so much things into her purse?

"We are allowed to enter," she heard Seira calmly claim, and she admired her for it. Yuna herself always got insecure in situations like this, especially if the guy who looked down at them stood a head taller and radiated annoyance. Maybe it was a good thing. He should be able to keep people out who shouldn't be there.

Finally, she found the small plastic card that gave her access rights for the whole concert hall. The security guard had already finished with Seira's backstage pass and now scrutinized her card and then her face. She felt herself flush; it was embarrassing to be evaluated like this. Then the security guard nodded and stepped aside to let them pass.

"You're going to enjoy it," Yuna started to chatter. "It has nothing of the glamour you'll later see on stage, but it's so lively."

She couldn't tell if Seira believed her, but the other girl looked around, so Yuna assumed that she at least found it interesting. They would see Suyi and Takeo in the changing room. If she was lucky, she even might get to see Ajussi. If not for the stalker and the lingering worry inside her, this day could be perfect.

A kind crew member told Seira and her about a short cut to reach the dressing rooms. The corridor wasn't as busy as the area directly behind the stage. Yuna just was glad to have Seira by her side, or else she would have felt spooked.

"What do you do here?" A harsh voice called out to them from behind. She flew around to face the person, but she could only see a silhouette against the blinding light of a lamp above him. The anxious feeling turned into fear, as the person raised his arm. Yuna screamed.