Chapter Text
Furina was Fontaine’s glittering lie. Every day, she smiled into a lens. In luxury gowns, beneath perfect lighting, her voice rang like a melody in sponsored livestreams. She was adored – beloved for her wit, glamour, and her impossible charm.
And behind the screen, she was just a girl trying her best not to fall apart.
She hated the spotlight. She hated the attention. She hated to be surrounded by bodyguards to prevent stalkers and fans entering her personal space and her personal life. She needs to watch out for her figure or else there will be ridicule from the press, she needs to watch out what she will say or it will be taken out of context.
She needed to be flawless – perfect. And she doesn’t want to be perfect. Yet, as much as she doesn’t want to, Furina is forced to act the perfect image of the perfect actress.
Only one person knew that version of her.
Arlecchino. A woman who never cared for cameras, who belonged to smoke-filled cabaret lounges and velvet-curtained stages. She’s an idol from the North who put down the rest of the veteran artists in the charts like an avalanche. Her performances were rare, expensive, and haunting – the kind that left guests breathless and aching.
The contrast between them was maddening – and magnetic.
At first, they didn’t mind each other’s presence. They pass by each other in studios, parties, or award nights. But they kept stealing glances – until the day the two finally confessed their interest for each other. They met in stolen hours; in the hush of early mornings, in messy apartments; and sleepy, wine-laced kisses. It wasn’t long until the media found out about their relationship – and that further added to Furina’s burden. Now she must worry about the public stalking about her romantic life.
But thankfully, Arlecchino was there. Furina often said Arlecchino was the only person who saw her without filters.
But even that had its limits.
Especially when the scandal came.
One tweet. An anonymous account. Accusations of Furina sleeping her way into a brand deal, paired with forged messages and clipped recordings. The internet turned like wolves with blood in their mouths.
In hours, she lost thousands of followers.
In days, sponsors grew cold.
And Arlecchino? She didn’t say much.
Not when Furina sobbed on the bathroom floor. Not when she deleted half her posts. Not when she whispered, “I think everyone hates me now”. Not when she ended up having nightmares at night, daily panic attacks, and frequent breakdowns.
Instead, Arlecchino showed up with soup. Kissed her hair. Said, “You’ll get through this. I am here, Ma vie.” It was a gentle assurance, but Furina somewhat felt alone still.
The scandal was cleared, eventually. The truth emerged. The culprit, an influencer – pretty, sharp-tongued, and well-connected – turned out to be the architect behind it all. One of Furina’s fans delved deep into the issue and exposed the fabricated issue to the public which went out of control that led the culprit to finally come clean.
Furina’s followings came back, the people’s trust on her came back, and the hate was redirected to the culprit who doesn’t seem bothered with her mistake.
The culprit also happened to be someone Arlecchino worked with – a friend. Someone she followed. Someone she still followed and interacted with.
Furina noticed it late one night, after another dream where she was drowning in laughter that wasn’t hers. She lay awake in their bed while her lover was sleeping next to her. She scrolled on her phone screen – her thumb trembling.
And there it was – a post. A photo of the culprit smiling in a designer dress. And beneath it was Arlecchino’s profile that said “Stunning”.
Furina’s chest twisted. A quiet, aching betrayal. Not enough to scream about. Just enough to rot.
Why? Furina questioned in her head. Why is she interacting with her? Isn’t she aware that person mentally and emotionally exhausted me? To the point I spent nights crying and having anxiety attacks?!
“Arle.”
Arlecchino stirred beside her, voice tired. “What is it, Ma vie?”
Furina turned the screen toward her. “You still follow her. It’s making me uncomfortable.”
A pause. Then a sigh.
“She’s a friend,” Arlecchino muttered. “It’s not that deep.”
Furina sat up. Her voice was low but trembling. “She ruined me.”
Arlecchino rubbed her face. “Look, Furina. I understand where you are coming from but she’s my friend. Do not make me choose because I am not choosing anyone. I cannot just simply cut her off my—”
“You do not understand where I am coming from!” the lady screamed. “You don’t understand the pain! You know how her lies affected me and how she acted like it was nothing, and still? You… you’re still…”
The air grew heavier.
“I needed you,” Furina said. “Back then. I was falling apart. People sent me death threats. Brands ghosted me. I thought—I thought you were the one thing that made me feel supported and not alone.”
“I was here,” Arlecchino replied. “I held you through all of it.”
“But you didn’t stand with me. You brought me food, you hugged me, but you stayed silent. You love me, but you wouldn’t even press a damn unfollow button. You love me, but you won’t even support me amidst my pain. You love me, but you’re choosing friendship over the feelings of your girlfriend?!”
The silence after that was violent.
“I know it’s petty,” she continued, voice breaking, “but that woman orchestrated my worst breakdown. And you still… act like she didn’t do anything? I am dealing with my feelings on my own, I am dealing with everything on my own, Arle. And all I am asking from you is support—to show that you’re fighting with me. You said you don’t want to choose, but the moment you said you don’t want to cut her off… you just did, Arle. You chose your friend over your girlfriend. The same friend who caused me great distress.”
Arlecchino reached out, but Furina flinched.
“You’re not the one who lies awake wondering if it’ll happen again,” she whispered. “You didn’t spend nights crying uncontrollably—I did. You didn’t spend nights questioning why someone would do that to you—I did. You didn’t lose your voice—I did. And now I can’t even tell if I got it back. And all I am asking from you is the barest minimum a lover could do.”
The room was quiet – not peaceful. Just painfully quiet.
Mute. Furina thought, I became mute. And the only person I thought would speak for me… wouldn’t even break her connection with the person who hurt me. To stand by me. To choose her priorities. Maybe I am just overreacting. Maybe I am being too much. But is it way too selfish of me to ask my lover where her priorities lie? Aren’t I her partner? Aren’t I her girlfriend? Shouldn’t my discomfort concern her too?
Furina ended up sobbing.
I don’t even want to hear “You’re right, Furina” coming from her mouth. I only wanted her support. I only wanted to see if I’m her priority. I only wanted to know if I am important to her.
But I guess not.
Furina hoped her words made their way across Arlecchino’s heart. She’s not even asking for much. Seeing Arlecchino interact with the person who ruined her seemed like an act of betrayal – like the latter is okay with the idea she’s engaging with someone who caused Furina emotional and mental pain. Like, Furina’s concern and her feelings were nothing to her.
And in Arlecchino’s mind, it’s not her obligation on how Furina deals with her feelings. But that’s where she’s wrong. Furina is her girlfriend – they fight battles together, they deal issues together, they are each other’s support, and they are one the moment they enter the relationship. So yes, Arlecchino is obligated in a way she must show her support and show who or where her priorities are.
A simple compromise.
And as a lover, her priority should be the well-being of her partner.
Arlecchino didn’t understand where Furina was coming from. And that’s a fact that ruined Furina more – as her words made the actress feel even more alone in this battle.