Kaija had always known artists were a different breed. Karl Hanski was a perfect example.
However, she'd never met a breed like this golden-eyed Antony standing right in front of her, glaring at her with those frightening golden eyes. Now Kaija started wondering if there was something off with her too, being one of them now.
"Listen," she said, keeping her tone as calm as she could, "if you need a therapy session, I could spare some time. I know some good therapists too."
Antony snapped instantly. "What the hell are you talking about? I don't need any therapy! Just get out of here! And don't touch me!"
Uh-huh. But didn't you just pull me up like, seconds ago? Kaija wondered, rolling her eyes. "Alright," she raised both hands in surrender. "Sorry if I offended you." She bolted out of the studio before Antony could scream again.
When lunch time came, Kaija didn't even wait for Esko to come find her. She went straight to his office. "There's something seriously off with my dance instructor, Esko," she started the moment she stepped inside, "I only patted him on the back this morning, and he screamed like I'd just stolen his virginity."
"Antony?" Esko gasped dramatically. "My God, Kaija, you touched him? I completely forgot to tell you... That's the last thing you should do!"
She frowned. "What, does he have mysophobia or something?"
"No, girl, it's just you!" Esko's voice rose. "Antony doesn't like women touching him."
"What kind of mental condition is that?"
"Nobody knows," he said, throwing up both hands. "Just don't touch Antony if you don't want trouble. He's already moody enough."
She sighed sharply and dragged Esko with her to lunch.
The restaurant was packed. But unlike yesterday when the two of them just settled in the corner and quietly ate away, this time, the moment they walked in, all eyes turned their way. As soon as they sat down, a few people approached. Some faces she recognized from the vocal training, others she'd never seen before.
"You were amazing," a guy said.
"You absolutely killed it!" another chimed in.
"Can I have a photo with you?"
She still didn't really understand why they were suddenly saying all that, but she nodded anyway. "Yeah, sure," she said, forcing on a professional smile as one after another came up with their phones.
Soon, her table was surrounded. The flood of compliments and endless selfies started to wear her out, and Esko had to step in to organize them into turns. Slowly she started realizing this sudden chaos was about the little performance she did yesterday at the vocal training class.
Then, a brown-haired girl laughed, saying loudly, "I've never seen Karl that speechless before."
"You really put him in his place," a redhead added.
"His peak is basically over now, and yet he still acts like he's king of the world."
"Pretty soon, you'll be more famous than him. I'm already feeling jealous of Esko here."
Her brow furrowed. That wasn't what she wanted to hear. Sure, it felt nice that Karl hadn't stopped her mid-song like he did the others. But the way he walked out afterward, she couldn't tell if he was impressed or just furious. And if she was being completely honest, she'd chosen that song partly because she wanted to impress him. Just like how everyone else present in that theatre hall wanted to impress a superstar like him.
Suddenly, the chatter died. Kaija was still boxed in by people, so she had no idea why. Slowly, the crowd parted to either side. The two girls who'd been mocking Karl turned around, and the color drained from their faces like they'd seen a ghost. Karl had been standing there without them knowing.
"You done talking?" he asked with a calm smile. His voice was calm, but the look on his face could kill.
The brown-haired girl jumped. "Karl! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean that!" she babbled, rushing toward him and bowing over and over.
The redhead followed, her voice shaking. "That's right! It's not what it sounded like, Karl!"
"Yada yada yada," Karl mocked, his tone dripping with contempt. Then his smile turned sharp. "Just a couple of stray dogs who've forgotten who their master is. Maybe it's time I find myself a new manager and a new stylist."
The two girls broke down completely, their voices trembling. "No, no! Please don't! I'm really sorry, Karl!" the brown-haired girl cried, clutching his arm. "Please forgive me!"
Karl looked down at her coldly, then yanked his arm free so hard she fell backward onto the floor. Around them, everyone froze in terror. No one dared to move or speak.
"You want me to forgive you?" Karl hissed, glaring down at the girl. Each word came out like venom. "Then kneel. And beg. Like the dog you are."
"Hey!" Kaija shot up from her seat. "That's way too much!"
Though she had no intention of easing his anger — had it been her being in his shoes, hearing those words, she too would have been angry as he was now. But the way he was getting back at the girls... that was way outside of her moral code.
Karl turned his murderous gaze on her, his voice dropping to a low growl. "Look who's barking now." He started toward Kaija's table, each step slow and deliberate. The crowd instantly cleared a path for him. "You think just because you sang my song well, you can talk to me like that?" he sneered.
For a brief second, Kaija wasn't sure if she should feel flattered that he admitted she sang his song well, or concerned that she might have just provoked him even further. She exhaled sharply, thinking hard about how to defuse the ridiculous situation.
"Listen, bro…" She raised both hands and said as calmly as she could, "are you into boba tea?"
Silence.
More silence.
Karl's face contorted. Rage turned into confusion, then into pure disbelief, before his fury returned full force. "What the fuck does boba tea have to do with any of this?" he roared in her face.
She covered her ears, wincing. "See, if you like boba tea, I can buy you some. As many as you want. I'll get you lunch too. You came here for lunch, right? You must be hungry..."
Karl's fists clenched tight, his whole body trembling as if he was fighting the urge to hit something. "I don't want your fucking lunch!" he shouted. "Two Earl Grey teas, white pearls, salted milk foam. fifty percent ice, fifty percent sugar!"