One: You’re Gonna Miss Me when I’m Gone
The crowd stayed silent as the judges panel huddled in conference, gathering over the contestant’s placements. For the International Fashion Stylist competition, their complete and utter silence was a very large problem. Given the fact that they had already been convening for several minutes, that made anxieties and anticipations far worse.
Sunnie Yu bit the tips of her nails, watching the large screen over the catwalk. She was just waiting for the pitch black glass to light up with the flamboyant colors that made up their announcer Coco. As it was, the slew of people in the crowd murmured in discontent. Surely the decision couldn’t be that difficult.
This month’s theme was prep-chic. Did I capture that look or was i too busy focusing on outdoing the other stylists? Sunnie nicked her fingertips against her teeth and she winced.
A gentle hand on her shoulder eased her worry away like a painkiller to a headache. She looked up to see Dominic gazing tenderly down at her, his eyes round with pride as he gently rubbed her shoulder. Sunnie offered him a weak smile before lacing her fingers with his and giving a shaky sigh.
“I know you did just fine,” he reassured. “The outfit was stunning per usual. How could the judges not love it? I know I certainly did.”
“You’re just saying that,” Sunnie murmured, her bottom lip twisting between her teeth.
“Never,” Dominic assured, “You’ve worked so hard. The panel will surely see that and reward you.”
Staring up at him, Sunnie took in the sight of his warm emerald gaze. His eyes were vibrant like a forest at its height of life, and they were just as inviting too. Their gentle glow only added to the warm hues of his tanned skin and light tawny hair. And despite the intimidating sight of his pristine pressed suit jacket and trousers with his wrinkle free shirt—he came off as nothing but welcoming.
A surge of confidence overpowered her. She smiled brilliantly—next to Dominic Bourgeois, she could do anything.
Renée came pushing through the crowd along with the model who’d show-cased the outfit for the event. Leave it to her trusty assistant to find her amidst the overflow.
“Renée,” Sunnie joined the two, pulling away reluctantly from Dominic’s warmth and reassurance. “Any word?”
“Other than the judges are taking their mother-loving sweet time?” Renée huffed. “Yeah. Felicity says they’ve made the vote and are getting ready to tell Coco the decision.”
The invisible breath Sunnie had been holding escaped.
“The judges should just announce your name already,” Renée crossed her arms, nodding to herself. “Your outfit was the best one out there! The winner is pretty obvious to me.”
Laughing sheepishly, Sunnie shook her head. “There was a lot of good competition out there today. It must’ve been a close call.”
“That being said,” the model piped in, smiling graciously. “I felt practically dominating out there today, Ms. Yu. Regardless if you win or not, your outfit held a lot of passion and skill.”
“She’ll win,” Renée pressed.
Sunnie’s stomach tangled into a tighter knot.
The giant TV screen buzzed to life, and Coco boisterously announced herself into everyone’s presence. She proceeded to commend all eight stylists for their hard work in the competition. Everyone’s skill had been undeniable. It had been a difficult choice. Such a wide variety of options.
Coco announced the third place with zeal, praising the new coming stylist for ranking so high. She paused however, and stared blankly at the card in her hand. She opened her mouth momentarily before immediately shutting it. The great Coco was never silenced. Finally, the normal gregarious behavior was returned and clearing her throat, Coco announced the silver winner—Sunnie Yu. The crowd oohed and clapped, while Linda Pulchra of Spain was announced for first place.
For Sunnie, the world moved in such a way as if it were muted and then forced fast forward on a remote. She stared at Linda Pulchra, who’d been brought up to the catwalk. With long auburn curls, bright hazel eyes, and a slender hourglass figure she herself could have been a model instead of a stylist. Practically glowing, Linda accepted the crown and bouquet of roses with elegance and grace. She was radiant.
A sob choked past Sunnie’s lips. Everything had been at stake because of this contest—at least everything that had mattered to her. And she lost.
“H-hey,” Renée cheeped, her hands held over her chest, face unsure.
“I’ll meet you at the winner’s party Renée,” Sunnie whispered, already leaving. “I need a moment.”
It didn’t take long to escape outside. With the paparazzi preoccupied with their lovely winner, Sunnie was able to stow away to the balcony overlooking the city. A trembling exhale quivered in the air and the tears slipped over her cheeks. The questions echoing in the auditorium hall had been torcherous. Sunnie Yu’s two-year streak broken, comment? Will Bourgeois continue to support Yu after this year’s loss, comment?
The familiar black suit jacket appeared in her peripheral and the tears spilled harder. She wiped the back of her hand across her nose and persistently stared ahead. With the loss, she would refuse to look at him.
“I’m sorry it had to end this way,” Dominic whispered, his voice cracked and pitched a little. “I’m sure you will win next year.”
Sunnie hid her face in her hands, listening to the residual fading of his footsteps on the tile.
When she met up with Renée at the winner’s party, Linda Pulchra added to the news of her win. With the excitement at its peak, she gathered more tabloids and reporters, her joy radiating off of her perfect form in even more perfect rays. There at the very end of the party, in front of everyone, Linda Pulchra announced her engagement to Dominic Bourgeois.
The soft knit of the top smoothed out as Sunnie folded it and placed it with the others. A month had passed since the competition. She’d long since made her decision and was only stalling out the inevitable. Her things had been put into storage, her suitcase packed, the plane ticket bought. All that was left was to hand Renée the documents and head to Dominic’s family mansion for the last time. That was the part of her lan that she was scared of the most. But in order to move on, it would be essential and necessary. She’d mentally prepared herself. Nothing would stop her now. Nothing could stop her.
“Renée,” Sunnie called out, trying to find the best cheery tone she could muster. “Come here!”
Her assistant trudged over, sulking. Renée’s hands were shoved into her pockets and her eyes were cast to the ground. “Yes, boss?”
“Inventory’s been set for the next month according to last year’s sales. So hopefully you won’t have to go to the industry market too much for a while. Bills have been paid for this month, and I’ve left next month’s payments sealed away in the safe—they’re each in individual envelops.”
“Please don’t do this,” she muttered, rubbing her arms nervously.
Sunnie waved her hand nonchalantly. “If you’re worried about running the place, don’t be. You’ve always been capable of running your own shop.”
“It’s not that,” Renée exhaled, looking away. “I know you’re my boss, but over these three years, you’ve become my best friend too. I don’t want you to leave because Dominic was dumb enough to never make a move.”
“Oh Renée,” sighing, the shop keeper lowered her head. “Dominic supports this place financially…He’s our benefactor. That’s the reason I’m leaving. It would be awkward otherwise, not because—”
“Not because he’s marrying someone else?”
“It wasn’t even like that between us, Renée.”
“Me and everyone else who ever saw you both interact would beg to differ.”
Sunnie blinked before shaking her head. “It was only ever friendly between us when we weren’t being professional.”
Wanting to do anything to argue, Renée opened her mouth to counter, but Sunnie excused herself. She gave her assistant-now-shop manager and owner a warm embrace with encouraging words before rushing from the store. She wanted her departure to be a quiet affair and not a dramatic scene. So when she raced to the street and hailed a cab in a hurry, she told herself it was because she didn’t want to be late for her night flight. She would take the cab to her apartment then to the mansion. From there, she would only need one more ride to the airport. And the plan for the most part succeeded. The ride from the shop to her place and from her place to Upstate New York did not take as long as she had panicked it would. When she arrived before the silver steel gates of the Bourgeois mansion, the time had barely seemed to tick by.
The butler Godfrey answered the door when Sunnie had knocked. He greeted her with a sad smile and a pat on the head. He led her to the parlor, to which boh Dominic and Linda had been conversing in. When Godfrey announced their guest, both of them seemed rather surprised—although for different reasons perhaps.
“With that suitcase, you look like you’re moving in,” Linda joked.
To give her credit, Sunni had to admit that the other woman was trying to be amicable. The simple poke struck tense cord however. It worked the wrong way because this was going to rub the truth the wrong way.
“Oh don’t worry,” Sunnie chirped. “I’m moving away, not in.”
Linda stared at her. Dominic gaped.
“I’d heard from Renée that you were just going on vacation, not moving,” he stated, his voice holding the slightest and maybe imagined stutter.
Sunnie inclined her head. “I’m actually going to visit my parents while scouting out for a new place. So she wasn’t half wrong when she told you.”
“Where?” Dominic stayed at Linda’s side, but he leaned in, as if he were about to lurch towards her.
“Seoul. My mom is from there and my dad had moved there with her after she’d lived her with him when I was a kid.”
Linda whistled. “Seoul, that’s half way across the world Sunnie. And a completely different culture too. I didn’t realize you were Korean. Although with your last name, I should have guessed.”
She’d been prepared for a statement like this. Something that sadly when she was younger, she’d been ashamed of. Pulling out her passport from her purse, she handed it to Dominic who stared at it as if it were really written in Korean. Linda stood up to take a peek as well. Her hand slid along his back.
“My given name is Yu Sun Hee. When I entered the fashion industry however, I decided to go by Sunnie. It’s more appealing and a bit simpler too.”
“Sun Hee.” Dominic looked up, his green eyes wide as he numbly handed the passport back to her.
For once she didn’t have to worry about blushing; this time she didn’t feel that familiar blossoming warmth in her face when he gazed at her with confusion and incredulity.
“I wanted to say goodbye to you both as Sunnie,” she said, trying to look ahead with determination, exhilaration, ambition—everything that she was not feeling. “It may sound cheesy, but I want to get back in touch with my roots—and part of that is going by my name again.”
“This sounds like some sort of self-discerning journey,” Linda egged on, resting her head on Dominic’s arm.
“Nothing of the sort,” Sunnie laughed, staring away awkwardly. “I just need to find my groove again…and since Seoul is starting to rise in fashion trends…I figured that’s a good place to start.”
“What about your shop?” Dominic asked with a lame gesture of his hand.
“I’ve passed all necessary documents to Renée. She will be handling the store now.” She gazed back at them with a set expression. Be resolved. “Please, I ask that you continue to be gracious in my previous shop, Sterling, your support. Your partnership in this business meant the world to mean. And the continuation of it will continue to so.”
All Dominic did was nod and say goodbye.
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