In a Split Second || BTS

Chapter 9

Translations:

"chérie" is French for "darling"

"Êtes-vous là?" is French for "Are you there?"

"ma ami" is French for "my friend"

"Je t'aime petite fille" is French for "I love you, little girl"

"Je t'aime grande fille" is French for "I love you, big girl"

"au revoir" is French for "goodbye"

"-unnie" is a Korean honorific used by females when speaking to a female older than you or an older sister

~ ~ ~

"Cherisse, mon amour, you are coming back to France for Christmas, yes?"

I plug one ear with my forefinger and close my eyes to tune out the gentle hum of fans' screams, muffled by the door and relatively soundproof walls. "Of course, Tammy – I leave tomorrow."

"Good. Cherisa has constantly been asking about you, and Madame Beaumont has already begun making preparations for our traditional feast."

A smile touches my lips. "Give Cherisa my love, will you? You are helping Madame Beaumont get ready for Christmas, right?"

Tammy scoffs on the other end of the phone. "Of course, I am. What else am I supposed to do to pass the time?"

"Work, maybe?" I comment, recalling Tammy's obsession over her work.

"As if. Have a soul, Cherisse – it is Christmas."

"It is also the busiest time of the year." I sigh and run my hand down my tired face. "You should have seen the line to get into CWN Hall."

"CWN Hall? Where are you right now?"

I groan and let my head loll back, my gaze flying up to the white ceiling. "I have no idea – I can't think right now. We have visited so many places in the past month that... Thailand."

"What?"

"We're in Bangkok, Thailand. It just came to me."

Tammy chuckles. "You need a break, baby."

I frown towards my phone even though she can't see me. "Before you say that again, remember that you are the one who forced me into this job."

"You are enjoying it, aren't you?"

"...oui. However, that doesn't change the fact that I need a break."

"Chérie, sometimes we all need a break." There is some shuffling on the other end of the phone and some muffled whispers leak through the speaker before Tammy's voice takes over. "Okay, I am going to hand the phone over to Madame Beaumont now. Be nice."

I giggle, wondering how Tammy can picture a world where I treat Madame Beaumont with disrespect. "You don't have to tell me twice."

"Cherisse, ma chére? Êtes-vous là?"

"Bonjour, Madame Beaumont," I say politely, grinning at the familiar sound of her heavy French accent. It is very similar to mine, but I still carry that touch of the rounded British tones engrained into my tongue.

"Oh, my love! We have not spoken in so long. Cherisa and I are so excited to see you for Christmas. Isn't that right, Cherisa?"

"I am so excited, Cherisse!" the little girl exclaims. Her lilting French is particularly adorable. "Please come home soon!"