Haven't updated this week, have I? Well here it is. Dedicated to Noellea-Daniels~ Hope you enjoy!
Noellea ran her brush through her long, golden hair and raised her head to meet her own gaze in the mirror, ice blue on ice blue. She was pale, as fair as any living here, but she still felt like a foreigner - she was, undeniably. Her hair and eye colour made all the difference. And the fact that she was Irish. And even though she was a true beauty envied by all back in her birthplace, she couldn't help but envy those with the beautiful ebony black hair and dark brown eyes. If only she was like them.
You see, she couldn't help but feel insecure. She and Chanyeol were keeping their relationship under wraps, away from prying eyes and sasaengs, but it was still dangerous. The sasaengs were sneaky, and hazardous people to be dealing with, and she knew that. Several times she was tempted to break up with him for his own good but he always made sure she stayed.
He would hold her close and stroke her luxurious hair lightly, and whisper soothing things into her ear. It comforted her, his presence, and then she would realise that she would be crushed without him.
But the question was him. Did he want her by his side? A girl who was beautiful elsewhere, but not here?
There was a knock at the door and Chanyeol appeared, leaning against the doorjamb smiling at her. Noellea's heart fluttered a little at his charming smile. This was what a few hundred fangirls experienced every time he smiled, wasn't it, she thought bitterly, a sad smile upon her face.
"Let's go, Noel," he said, his accent making her name sound so endearing. That was his nickname for her, Noel, after his favourite holiday: Christmas.
Her face lit up in a genuine smile as he came in and offered her his arm, clad in a fitting grey suit. She accepted the proffered hand, and together the two walked down to the lobby of the hotel. And it was then the moment was lost. There was a constant click of camera shutters, buzz of outraged fans and over excitable reporters stood there, anticipating him but not her. The reaction was immediate.
She shielded her head, as Chanyeol ushered her out with the help of the other eleven members of EXO forming a barrier. Though not native, she was proficient in the language, and tears prickled stubbornly at her eyes as the crowd threw rude remarks and prodding questions her way.
"What does Chanyeol see in her?" she heard a fan exclaim, furious.
There was a chorus of agreement amongst the rabble. "Yeah," someone added, 'she's not even pretty. She's ugly.'
There was that word she dreaded. Why wasn't her beauty appreciated here?
As she stumbled towards the van that was waiting for them, something sharp struck her head. She held her head in pain as she was ushered into the car, Chanyeol following her with a livid expression. It turned out to be a heel, hurled by an angry sasaeng, and now she felt a bruise on the side of her face.
Now she really wasn't pretty. She was ugly. There was going to be a hideous blue-black bruise in a day's time and it would be even worse.
A single tear fell.
Chanyeol reeled her into his chest, locking her in a soft embrace and rocking her back and forth like a child.
"I'm sorry for what they did, Noel. I can't believe them," he said, anger colouring his voice.
She curled into a defensive position in response, pulling her legs up and resting her chin on her knees. "I don't know about that, Chanyeol," she mumbled miserably, her blond hair framing her face.
She wasn't sure about anything now. She had always known that this might not have been quite real. It was all too good to be true, for Chanyeol to really fall in love with her. She wasn't pretty, she was no model. She was only Noellea.
"Don't listen to them. They're jealous that I only want you. You're beautiful, Noellea," he told her.
"But I'm only Noellea, nothing more. I'm not beautiful and you could have any pretty girl you want," she replied sadly.
"It's just because you're only Noellea, that I love you. I don't want those fake, vain people. You're beautiful Noel, you are. But you are also kind and selfless. That's why I love you."
He could tell her insecurity was starting to disappear again and he smiled in relief.
"But what about this bruise?" she said timidly, after a while.
Chanyeol felt resentment bubble inside him again for the fan who had injured her but replied as calmly as he could. "It doesn't matter, Noellea. You're still beautiful to me, and nothing else matters."
And she leant back into him, feeling secure and content once more. She was beautiful to him, and nothing more mattered.
