Chapter 5 The Moment The World Stopped

(Kieran’s POV)

“If you feel uncomfortable, just let me know sir. We will be leaving right away.” Hoseok said right when we entered the building. He was my personal assistant for a reason. Out of so many people out there, he was the only loyal one to me.

“It’s alright Hoseok, it’s a charity event, I should stay there till the event ends. Mr. Nial would feel happy.” Hoseok nodded and said nothing.

It was the moment I stepped out of the car when the media went crazy. Even if I felt annoyed all of a sudden, my face only gave a polite smile. I pulled my emerald green velvet long coat over my black suit, matching with my black leather three-quarter length gloves.

"Kieran Blackthrone!"

"Mr. BlackThrone, a few words?"

"Kieran — how does it feel to be home finally?"

They were throwing questions at me back to back, the camera flashes were more than enough to blind anyone, but I was used to it…even if I didn't like it anymore. My expressions were smooth, eyes unreadable, while Hoseok and the guards were fighting for their lives and Hoseok was repeating “excuse me, later please” like a mantra. I entered the hall with a faint smile. Some teenage ice skaters looked at me from above the terrace in awe.

I smiled at them and they started screaming their lungs out….jumping like Alina used to do back then. “Tonight is supposed to be simple for me. I’m here to give a favor to one of my charity institutes, and to make the trainees feel happy..that’s all! No mourning over my shitty self, no drama!” I thought.

I was finally able to take my seat in the front row of the judge, right in the middle, along with Mr. Nial, who was more than thankful to have me here. The stadium was full of energy, fully packed, and the bright lights were too much for my liking. But I was going to bear it all this evening. It is for the sake of children and their future.

Mr. Nial was giving me briefs about the whole event when his manager approached me.

“Mr. Kieran, so pleased to have you here, just wanted to inform you that there will be three performances..and you will be choosing winners from them. The fourth performance is from our Quad queen, as you might have read. ..Swan of ice. We have arranged that performance particularly for you. That will be the epilogue.”

She stated in detail, and I listened to her eagerly, nodding my head. “I’m glad to hear that, Miss Maria. I will do my best to do justice to the performers.”

I noticed how her cheeks blushed when I called her name, and she went away fanning her cheeks. I chuckled along with Mr. Nial at her response.

“She’s your biggest fan, Mr. Blackthrone.” He said, and I smiled, “Well, I can see that.”

The performance started and the competitors performed one after the other, keeping the audience in awe…making it hard for me to decide who owned the ice rink the best.

Still, after a lot of contemplation, I was able to announce the winners from three performances. For the rest of them, I gave them my autographs and took pictures with them, which made them happier than the winners.

"And now, for the final performance and as a thank you to our chief guest Mr. Kieran Blackthrone, please welcome our Swan of Ice with a warm applause!" The host announced with full energy, earning hooting and wild applause from the whole arena. I clapped and smiled, too curious to see who this performer was after all.

But then a girl in a very good shape appeared in the rink, head low, white and silver costume too fit to her body, making her look like an angel in the now dim, focused light. Her dark brown hair was tied in a tight bun with sparkles on it, and she was wearing the same white shoes.

She glided from the entrance to the center of the rink when she finally straightened her head ... And what I looked at, slammed something into my chest with harsh force. I forgot to breathe, and my smile disappeared when she made eye contact with me…those big hazelnut eyes, once full of life, were dull and sore now…she looked like she just cried, no! I know she was crying…I know how she looked when she cried.

Alina…my Alina was standing in the rink, she looked at me for a moment and bored holes in my soul. Then started her performance. She glided with the soft music that was supposed to be a sad performance, of a lonely swan…my swan!

My chest tightened at the sudden realization. The sadness and the tear-filled eyes she had weren’t the theme anymore…she was carrying it all in her soul.

“How heartbreaking…” I whispered more to myself. But Mr. Nial looked at me and smiled.

“Right? She was the best candidate for this performance…her personality matches so well with the theme and idea of this performance that we couldn’t think of anyone else.”

“What do you mean by her personality?”I asked with a ceasing heartbeat. Mr.Nial smiled again..too annoying, why the hell does he smile so much about her?

“She is like that by nature as well. Silent, distant, unapproachable. She often gets bullied for standing out like a sore thumb…sometimes she reacts and sometimes doesn't. She is just like that…mysterious, like a puzzle hard to solve…too silent!”

No, she isn't like that…she wasn’t like that…I didn’t raise her to get bullied by morons! She was the most chirpy, sassy, and too controlling…very colorful when I left her!

I looked at her in the ice rink where she did a full jump, landing gracefully on one foot, and started gliding again. Her gestures were delicate, telling a story of their own. I found it hard to breathe now, keeping my focus on her, controlling my tears from falling.

She did a second jump, then a third, then a fourth, like she was in a trance…making the audience go wild. I was barely contemplating my thoughts when she spun on one leg, very beautifully, holding her hands high, and then moved ahead and did a jump again.

And my breath hitched at the next scene. Her shoe blade betrayed her. She was in the air when her blade came off, hitting the ice floor, and she landed, barely managing herself, and crashed down…with a very loud thud. Her head hit the floor, earning the crowd’s collective gasp. I stood up from my seat, and at the same time, another blonde guy yelled her name.

For a heartbeat, she didn’t move ... and I didn't wait for anyone to reach her either.

Hell with everyone!

I stood up in a rush, ignoring the loud gasps and murmurs, the voice of Mr.Nial calling me back…and I descended the stairs in a flash, ignoring the officials, the security, and the cameras.

I hit the ice, crossing the distance in seconds.

"Alina," I called her name as if I would die without calling her. I held her unconscious frame in my arms and carried her from the rink, cameras firing like gunshots. “HOSEOK TO THE HOSPITAL, NOW!!” I yelled at him, pulling him out of the shock.

“On it, Boss!” He said and we rushed to my car,  the driver ignited the engine in a flash of light.

The media went insane over my behavior.

"Mr. BlackThrone, over here!"

"Kieran — is this your mystery romance?"

"Are you back together?"

The doors closed behind us. The noise cut off... Screw my reputation! For now, only one thing matters to me….Alina’s life!