Her

“1, 2, 3, 4, 5~, 6, 7, 8, 1—“

The counting stopped when Hyorin lost her steps to the beat and fell.

“Hyorin, you have to not speed up to the beat but let your body move with it like a reflex,” Lee Sem stated as Hyorin pulled herself back up again. “Hyoyeon!”

“Y-Yes!”

Can’t she call out my name in a nicer manner so that I won’t jump out of my socks next time?

“1, 2, 3—“

Hearing the numbers and claps from the teacher, I thought no more but to break my body movements towards each beat, catching onto the steps immediately.

When she had stopped, she nodded in approval and looked back to Hyorin, “Do you see that Hyorin? Hyoyeon instinctively danced to the beats.”

Yes, Lee Sem. As a teacher, I see how you’re teaching a student to hate me even more—yes, keep adding fuel to the fire Sem, because I can feel Hyorin’s dark aura creeping behind me.

“Okay, that’s it class. Remember to practice your moves.”

I couldn’t help but to smile to myself when everyone, including the teacher was patting my back and complimenting me as they exited the studio.

I DID WELL TODAY. OH JOY.

It wasn’t until I heard Hyorin’s grunt, did I remove myself from my own happiness and turn around to see her on the ground again. Rushing over to her, I wanted to help, but she slapped my hand away and got up herself. She wiped the sweats from her forehead and repeated the same mistakes in the dance steps.

“You can’t do it like that,” I spoke as I began to show her the correct way. “You have to let your body move smoothly to the beats rather than forcing it to be in sync with the music.”

Noticing the glare that was directed to my eyes, I wanted to avert the danger of this scary woman and began walking away but unknowingly, I felt the clench on the back of my hoodie, only to find out that it was one of her stubborn child-like behaviors.

“Can you … can you help me …” She muttered under her breath and diverted her eyes from the embarrassment.

“Say again?” I scoffed and placed my hand beside my ear to ensure the accuracy. “I can’t hear you~”

“AISH, JUST HELP ME! I’M ENTERING A YOUTH TALENT COMPETITION AND I NEED TO SING AND DANCE, AND YOU’RE THE BEST DANCER I KNOW, SO JUST HELP ME!”

Should I feel complimented or fearful that she’s yelling at me?

“Why don’t you ask Eunhyuk? Since you love him and all~” I teased but she slapped my arm in response.

“Are you stupid? Eunhyuk oppa has better and more important things to do than to teach me!”

“And you’re saying that I’m just this no-life person?”

“Yah, Eunhyuk oppa has to juggle work with school in order to survive all by himself! I don’t see you doing that!”

 I ended up agreeing to her for that last line. There was no other reason to refuse.

“Okay then! Let’s start!” She clapped her hands as if she were the teacher and looked back at the mirror.

I assumed that this time, she was trying to perform a body wave since she just looked like a stick, wanting to copy a worm.

This is going to be a loooooooong lesson.

Him

Classes were completed and break time was finally present. Donghae and I were walking through the halls and had seen the intermediate dance class finish their lesson as well. My eyes were attracted to that direction.

“Who are you looking for Hyuk ah?” Donghae asked as he chewed his heart shaped jelly. “Hyorin?”

“Huh? Y-yeah, Hyorin is who I’m looking for …” I lied, trying to cover it up by drinking a bottle of water.

“Unless …” Donghae spoke and wriggled his eyebrows as he grew closer towards me. “You’re looking for Hyoyeon?”

I withdrew the water from my mouth, splat onto his face.

“What’re you talking about? Are you crazy? Why would you say that?”

 Annoyed, he dried his face with his towel and sighed. “I was just joking Hyuk ah … aish … you didn’t have to react so badly …”

“I WASN’T THINKING ABOUT HER!” I yelled.

“What?”

“Um, what?”

“Are you okay today man?” He questioned suspiciously as he placed his palm on my forehead. “Wow, you’re turning hot.”

I shook him off. “It’s because it’s a hot day today, and I … I need a break.”

I stormed off quickly and paced faster through the halls.

Dance. I need to dance. Dancing will distract my mind from thinking about her.

Her

“Hyorin … can we take a break now?” I groaned as I grew tired of watching her dance.

I mean, it’s kind of funny when you see people fall over ten times, but after the eleventh time, it just seems to be sad.

“No! I have to make everything perfect!”

“But I’m hungry …” I whined, and patted my growling stomach.

Poor stomach, I will feed you soon enough.

She fell to the ground again but stood up immediately to re-do the process. Even so, I could tell that her mistakes were decreasing and she caught on great with a proper body wave. I looked at her sweating image and her face showed so much determination. She’s a lot stronger than she looks.

“Hyorin, why not Donghae?”

She then stopped in the middle of her steps and showed me a confused look. “What?”

“You like Eunhyuk … but why don’t you like Donghae?”

“Why do you suddenly ask?”

“Answer my question first.”

She took a moment to think and took a seat beside me. “Well of course I like Donghae oppa … but it’s a different like you know? I like him more as a best friend whereas with Eunhyuk oppa, it’s a level more than that—where I want to be beside him all the time.”

“Hyorin likes Eunhyuk. She always had and she might end up being Eunhyuk’s girlfriend. When they become a couple, I’ll be the third wheel so eventually, I’ll be left behind … I’ll be all by myself.”

“Wait …” She spoke. “Don’t tell me that … YOU LIKE EUNHYUK OPPA TOO?! THAT’S WHY YOU’RE ASKING THIS?!”

:What are you talking about?” I asked in absurd. “Why would I like a monkey-faced guy?”

“M-Monkey faced?!” She gasped. “YAH! OPPA ISN’T A MONKEY. I’LL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT—“

Luckily, her phone interrupted her scolding.

“Ah, why dad~? It’s still early! … But I have to dance and practice more … Fine~ …” She then hung up her phone and seemed to be frustrated.

“I have to go home now. My dad’s at the front of the school to pick me up.” She said as she started packing her things up. “Same time tomorrow okay?”

I nodded at her arranged lesson but before she walked out, she turned back to me.

“I’ll have you know that Eunhyuk oppa is a wonderful person. You should be thankful that you know him at all.” She poked her tongue at me and left the room.

Wonderful my , what’s so wonderful about that stupid monkey.

I began packing my belongings and left the studio, only to see that it was already getting dark and the dancing department seemed to be empty. As I walked through the hallway, a bright light was catching my attention and so I arrived at the room unknowingly.

Curious, I opened the door gently to reduce the sound of the creak as much as I can and peeked my head in to see a person lying against the wall. It was only when I tip-toed closer did I grasped as to who it was—him. Dropping my stuff quietly on the ground, I squatted down in front of him.

His hair was drenched in sweat, but he looked peaceful with his eyes closed.

“Eunhyuk oppa has to juggle work with school in order to survive all by himself!”

“He must be tired.” I mumbled to myself. “I guess I shouldn’t wake him up.”

I took a spare towel from my bag and slowly but gently, wiped the sweat from his forehead. Gravity began pulling his head down to the ground but I quickly caught his head with both my hands. I held his face there for a moment and my fingers felt his soft cheeks.

“You’re a pretty cute monkey.”

In the midst of my smile, I quickly let go of his head and stood up in shock and my smile disappeared. I covered my mouth in surprise.

OH DEAR. I HAVE GONE INSANE—INSANE TO THE POINT, WHERE I CALLED A MONKEY-BOY CUTE. OH MY GOSH, MY TASTES HAVE GONE SO BAD.

He, in response, obviously woke up, and with a half-asleep face, looked at me.

“What’re you doing here?” He asked while stretching his arms in the air.

“W-Well I should be asking you that!” I managed to speak. “Do you live here now? Why are you sleeping here? If you’re tired then you should go home and rest you idiot!”

“You’re right.” He said as he stood up. “I have to be careful of where I sleep or else erts like you will attack me.”

“P-ert?!” I questioned in shock, but was too tired to argue back. “Whatever, I’m leaving!”

I picked up my bag but before I could take a step out of the room, his hand took a grasp of my wrist and I turned around instinctively.

“Wait for me,” He said. “I’ll take you home.”

 “T-That’s okay, I can go home—“

“—you’re not the only ert on these premises you know?” He mocked while I scrunched up my face at him.

For some reason though, I couldn’t decline his offer. I’m usually used to going home by myself but with him alongside, it might be fun. It’s this unknown feeling that I get when I’m around him—he’s annoying but at the same time, very comfortable to be with.

It’s times like these where I view him differently.

“With Eunhyuk oppa, it’s a level more than that—where I want to be beside him all the time.”

I just don’t want to reach to that level.

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a/n; Thus is the end of chapter 9. Hope it wasn't boring for you all~! D: There'll be another chapter next week, I can ensure you all :) Thank you all for subscribing, commenting and reading <3 Appreciate all of you!