“Alright, lets take a break for 10 minutes.” Park seonsaengnim said loudly and clapped her hand twice.

I sat on the edge of the stage and gulped some water.

Aigo, I have been practicing everyday but instead of making me feel familiar with the dances, I feel more burdened and nervous because it feels like my body has weakened day to day.

“Sunbaenim, gwaenchanhayo?” Jung Hee tapped my shoulder and I just noticed that she took a seat beside me.

“Oh.” I nodded. “Waeyo?”

She studied my face for a while. “Aniyo, it’s just that you look a little bit pale these days.”

“Ah, really?” I cupped my face between my hands. “I’m fine though.” I smile to assured her.

“Anyway, sunbaenim. You know that Park seonsaengnim’s birthday coming in eight days, right? We’re planning to give her a small surprise.”

Eight days? It means Park seonsaengnim’s birthday is exactly three days before the ballet concert. “What surprise is it?”

Jung Hee gestured me to move closer to her, so I did and she whispered the plan that the dancers have made for Park seonsaengnim.

“Eottaeyo*?”

“I think that’s a good idea… Count me in!” I agreed.

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I walked towards the lift in the corridor after I exchanged goodbyes with the other dancers.

“Are you going home alone?” I heard Dong Wook’s oppa voice behind me.

“Ani~ Cho- Kyuhyun-ssi will drive me home.” I replied.

Dong Wook oppa pressed the lift button and we both waited for the lift.

“Ah, I see.” He looked unsure, but then he asked, “Heoksi…are you two… dating?”

Dating?

“There’s no way I could date him.” I shook my head. “We are just… good friends, you know.”

“Good friends?” Dong Wook oppa gave me are-you-sure look.

The lift opened and both of us went inside. “But you do like him, don’t you?” He asked again.

I looked at him in disbelief. “Aniyo. Why should I- no, I mean, how can I like him.” I said. “I’d better like you.” I joked.

“That’s why.” He nodded. “You should’ve liked me.”

We both laughed, and that’s when the lift arrived in the basement. We walked to the parking lot and I spotted Cho’s car immediately.

Woah, he is here.

“You’re a little bit too excited to see your 'friend', Min Jung-ssi.” Dong Wook oppa said, giving me a suspicious look and it make me realized that I’ve just voiced my thoughts. Oops.

Dong Wook oppa escorted me to the car even though I asked him not to.

“Oppa, gomawo.”

But instead of replying me, he looked at Cho instead. “Kyuhyun-ssi, you’re lucky because you come early. If only you’re a minute late, Min Jung-ie would have gone home with me.” He joked.

“Oh, jinjja? But I don’t think she wants to go with you?” Cho back.

“Yah~ You two haven’t dated but you’re already making me feel bad.” He shook his head and pretends to be hurt.

I hissed and slapped him arm. “Oppa, you should go back now.”

“Arasseo. Go back safely, you two~”

“Oppa too, drive safely~”

Dong Wook oppa closed the car’s door. He waved a bit but we couldn’t wave back because the car’s window glasses are really dark that people outside couldn’t see anything at all.

“Why are the window glasses so dark?” I mumbled, but I guess Cho heard me because he replied, “Idols’ cars are all like that. To prevent the reporters stalking us.”

“Oooh.”

“Some reporters even sleep in the parking lots, so they could easily catch some celebrities who are dating.” He added.

“Jinjjayo? That’s scary…” I shivered. Then I thought of something, “Omo! What if they see me?”

“They wouldn’t. They don’t see me, I am in the car and I’m all covered.” He replied, and I looked at him carefully.

Cho is wearing a sweater, with a blue scarf that he pulled higher so that it can cover his mouth.

That sweater looks familiar. Wait, isn’t it the scarf that I gave to him for his birthday?

“Yes, it’s your scarf so please stop staring at me like that, Shin Min Jung-ssi.” He said, and I can see a smile on his face.

“Oh~ Yeoksi*, it suits you well.” I said proudly, still not taking my eyes off him.

“Gomawo… for the scarf. I really like it.”

“Glad you do.” I replied.

“Anyway, Shin, do you have any plans for tonight?” He asked, with eyes still focused on the road.

“Eobseo*, wae?”

“Eh…” He ruffled his hair. “Do you mind if I take you to my family dinner tonight? My parents want to see you.”

“Mwo?!”

Family dinner?

I must have looked really shocked that Cho shook his head and quickly explained, “No, no, even though I said it’s family dinner, it’s not a formal one. And it’s not in a restaurant. It’s just simply a dinner, at my home.”

“At your home?! Why me?”

“Because my parents want to see you.”

I looked at my watch. It’s 6:13PM. “So… we are going, now?”

“Yeah.” He nodded.

“Then… can we stop at a cake shop or a flower or a fruit shop? I need to buy something for your parents.”

“Oh? It’s okay, you don’t need to do that.”

“I need to!” I was about to slapped his arm, but he avoided. “It’s my first time visiting, how can I come empty-handed?”

“Arasseo, arasseo~ We’ll go to a fruit shop nearby.”

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CHO KYUHYUN’S POV

“Aish. This won’t do. Let’s go home.” I decided.

“I told you I am fine!” She insisted.

“The fruit shop’s ahjumma almost fainted too when you suddenly fainted in front of her just now. Is that what you call as fine?” I glanced at her and I see her biting her lower lips.

“But I took my pills already, I’ll be fine.”

I sighed. “Shin… stop being stubborn and let’s just go home.”

“But how about your parents?”

“I’ve sent my eomma a message saying we can’t come tonight. I’ll call them again later, no worries.”

“Tell them I’m sorry. I’ll pay a visit soon.”

I reached out my right hand and patted her head. “Geurae. Let’s pay a visit when you get better.”

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*Eottaeyo = how is it. *Yeoksi = as expected. “Eobseo = no / nothing.

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Merry belated Christmas to everyone <3