“It’s truly surprising.”

“Hmm, Hoya and Cho Hee… Unexpected pairing, I must say.”

“I don’t even know how to react knowing my Hoya oppa won’t be dancing with me.”

Cho Hee stared down at her shoes as she heard every single word so clearly. Somehow or rather, it reminded her of those days as she stood in the mass crowd and heard their insults ringing around her. This time, it was just that words weren’t harsh anymore but the scene felt familiar. Too familiar.

“Get into your pairs already!” Jiyeon entered the studio and shouted loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Ne.” Everyone chorused before getting up and into their pairs.

“Kim Myungsoo reporting.” L said as he walked up to her.

Jiyeon giggled at his words and Myungsoo became embarrassed out of a sudden.

“Where is he?” Cho Hee thought as she scanned the studio to see many pairs in ready position already.

Then, Cho Hee felt someone slip into her left hand. Snapping her head to the side, she flung his hand away. Hoya looked at her in an amused manner before chuckling.

“Dance ready position.” He informed.

Cho Hee looked around and saw everyone already holding hands and in their dance ready position. Some people were looking at them with weird stares because of Cho Hee’s exaggerated reaction from before.

“Sorry.” She muttered as she hurriedly moved into position.

Hoya slipped his hands into hers once more and a slight smile crept up his face. Cho Hee bit her lips as she felt her heart race. She could feel her teeth sinking into her lips a bit more but she continued her ways. The feeling, she has to rid it before it gets out of hand again. However, it was futile. Her heart was disobeying her the more she told it to stop. It seemed to only listen to him now.

The music was taking forever to start and Cho Hee was close to creating a hole on the ground with her intense stare. The position between the two looked extremely awkward from a third person point of view. The two had held hands, arms spread apart with their body facing one another and Cho Hee’s head was down the whole time. She began to feel hotter at their close proximity and sweat droplets formed. A droplet of sweat dripped onto the ground and Cho Hee scowled. Lifting her head in response, she met eyes with Hoya’s. Looking down almost immediately, she cursed herself silently.  

Jiyeon frowned at the pair’s awkward position.

“Hoya’s pair! You’re supposed to look at your partner with longing and loving eyes!” Jiyeon reminded.

“So-Sorry.” Cho Hee mumbled.

Looking up nervously, Cho Hee met Hoya’s mesmerizing eyes. She could see her own reflection, her own face and her past. Those scenes came rushing back to her as she stared into his orbs. She wanted so much to pull away the gaze and stop remembering those scenes that haunted her since then. However, she continued to look at those eyes which brought her pain. As if on purpose, the well-fitting music started playing in the background.

“Because I won’t like someone like you.”

“But you are far from my expectations.”

 “It is freaking annoying to see you even uglier than before. And didn’t you hear them? Are you too stupid to understand that you don’t belong here?”

Cho Hee felt her nose sour at those hurtful memories stabbing at her heart once more.

“Yo-You’re crying.” Hoya pointed out as he stopped dancing.

“A-Ani. It’s sweat.” Cho Hee lied as she hurriedly wiped off her tears alongside with her sweat.

Jiyeon stopped demonstration and everyone else ceased in motion too.

“What’s wrong?” she inquired.

“Nothing. Sorry for the disruption.” Hoya apologized as he bowed slightly.

Cho Hee was taken aback that he apologized faster than she could.

“Alright then. Actually guys, you’re all doing quite… well so far!” Jiyeon complimented with a bright smile.

Everyone cheered ecstatically at her positive remark.

“But we’ve to work harder towards perfection, understood?” she added.

“Ne!” They answered her readily.

“Then now, it’s self practice time. Go master the next few steps before we come back to dance as a group.” She instructed.

“Okay.” The members replied.

With that, everyone dispersed into their pairs and occupied a space of their own. They were all deeply engrossed in perfecting the dance with their partners.

“You’re not focused enough.” Hoya pointed out.

“Sorry.” Cho Hee mumbled.

“Why do you always apologise so readily?” Hoya questioned with a hint of displeasure in his tone.

“Because I’m used to it.” She thought inside her.

“If you put in your 101% effort, there’s nothing to be sorry about. Instead of saying ‘sorry’ after everything happen, why not work harder so that you won’t land in the situation whereby you have to apologize?” he lectured.

She looked at him, speechless.

“Uhm, sorry. I think I got too carried away.”  Hoya realized as he rubbed his nape.  

“You’re right. There’s nothing to be sorry about.” She said with a slight smile.

“Errr...Let’s take a break and continue later.” Hoya said before walking off to get a bottle of water.

Minutes later, he returned with another bottle in his hand.

“You’re really different,” she couldn’t help but say it out as she took the bottle.

“Huh?” Hoya remarked in confusion.

“Nothing. Thanks anyway.” She said as she tried to uncap the bottle.

Her sweaty palm made things difficult and she made a face at the stubborn cap which refused to budge. Hoya chuckled at her cute response before taking it over. She was taken aback at his gentlemanly action. It had been quite some time since she felt like a girl. Since before, she was not exactly treated like one. During class events whereby everyone helped to move stuff, she would be made to carry many things. The guys offer their help to the skinny and frail-looking girls once they are done, but it was never her who received the help. They assumed she could handle. They always simply assume. Just like in the end, they assumed she was fine. They never bothered to ask her. Not even once.

“Here you go.” Hoya said as he passed her the opened mineral bottle.

“Thank you, Hoya oppa.” She thanked him and saw his eyes widen.

Gulping down the colourless liquid thirstily, she thought it tasted sweet.

“Let’s try again.” Hoya said.

Cho Hee got into the ready position for the second verse but Hoya was shaking his finger with a smile.

“From the start.” He ordered as he put his hand out with his palm facing up.

“O-Okay.” She answered.

Placing her hand above his hesitantly, he wrapped his fingers around hers.

The two hearts both skipped a beat, not due to the workout.

Author's Note:
Hello guys! I have updated another chapter and I hope you enjoyed reading this one. ^^
Unsure whether this is a good or bad news but 'Dear Diary, I am Fat' is coming to an end in probably less than 5 chapters' time. This story turned out to be longer than I've expected becoming one of my longest fics on hand. I took quite some time to write this chapter but somehow, it turned out to be quite short on AFF's page when it's actually more than 3 pages long in Word. :x
Anyway, thank you so much for all your support and please don't forget to comment XD!
Thanks for reading 'Dear Diary, I am Fat'!! ^^
ps. A big warm hug to those who upvoted this story. I never thought you guys would. <3 Gomawo!