Chapter 5

 

The next day, I woke up in my bed at the early hour of six in the morning, feeling remarkably refreshed and eager for a session at the gym. The faint morning light gently streamed through my opened window, casting a subtle glow that temporarily blinded me. With a satisfying yawn, I rose from my bed and ambled toward the window.

 

As my fingers brushed against the soft fabric of the curtains, I welcomed the cool morning air, its gentle caress awakening a heightened sense of anticipation. With a subtle yet deliberate sweep, I revealed the world outside, exposing a lively canvas of life in progress. The streets below pulsed with purpose, a vibrant tapestry of humanity in fluid motion. Determined individuals, already absorbed in the cadence of their day, strode with purpose, each step telling a unique story.

 

Mothers walked hand in hand with their carefree children, their joy evident in their faces. Laughter from the little ones filled the air, adding a pleasant melody to the city sounds. A few cars smoothly passed by, their engines humming in rhythm with the waking city's heartbeat.

 

As I glanced across my neighborhood once more, I felt the need to stretch and ease the tight muscles that lingered since waking up. Stretching brought a sense of relief, and the subtle cracking of my bones echoed through the room, like a gentle morning melody.

 

Through the open curtains, I enjoyed this scene every day—a silent but enchanting observer of the daily dance of life, both in the visual beauty outside and the comforting sensations within.

 

I took an extra minute to detach myself from the lively street outside before tackling the task of fixing my messy bed. In the midst of straightening things out, it hit me—I had to be at work by 8 am. Glancing at the clock, my eyes widened; I had just 30 minutes.

 

In a rush, I changed into a simple white shirt and sweatpants. My job mainly involved assisting and watching the girls dance, so casual attire sufficed. A few minutes later, I bolted out of my house, hopped into my car, and hurried off to work. The streets, once a picturesque scene, became a blur as I raced against the clock.

 

******

 

"Thank God, you're here!" Jessi exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she noticed my arrival. With the speed of a cheetah, I sprinted towards her.

 

I let out a relieved breath, my expression still marked by worry. "Why? What's happening?"

 

Jessi scrutinized my haggard appearance, concern etched on her face. Meanwhile, the room echoed with the lively beats of an energetic song as the girls practiced for their upcoming mission. The rhythmic spikes from their shoes reverberated in my ears, making me cringe. God, I hated that sound—it sent an uncomfortable shiver down my spine.

 

Scrunching my ears, I averted my gaze to Jessi where she looked like wanted to laugh judging how her lips lit up. 

 

I asked, 'What?'

 

'Nothing,' Jessi giggled and threw a signal for me to follow her, to which I obliged. 'You looked like someone’s child.'

 

I rolled my eyes while fixing my messy hair and adjusting my outfit. I was sprinting towards the building, resembling a kid in pursuit of candy. Perhaps that's why Jessi giggled like a whale—because of my childlike state.

 

Upon entering the studio room, we witnessed the girls practicing their choreography. The room was a bit chaotic on one side, with bags and important items scattered around. Rona sat on the sofa in front of the studio glass, carefully observing the girls. It seemed like she had a keen eye for their performance.

 

We joined Rona, taking seats on the soft mattress beside her. The air carried the scent of hard work as we settled onto the sofa. Rona noticed us briefly, then turned her attention back to the girls' practice. While they watched, I pulled out my laptop to finish a project from my side gig in the tech world.

 

The room had a mix of determination and a bit of a musky smell. I took on extra tech projects because my current job's pay wasn't enough. It was ironic—once, I wanted to quit tech work, but now, as a manager in the entertainment industry, my income was far from what I earned before.In my past job, I made six figures, but as a manager, my monthly pay fell short. It somehow highlighted the challenges in the professional world.

 

The music echoed through the room, and the girls made some noise in the middle of their dance routine, but I remained focused on completing my task. The distractions were there, but I could handle them; I could think even if the surroundings didn't help calm my nerves. On the other side of the sofa, Jessi was twitching like a worm, especially during the powerful dance break in the song "Dope." This led to me rolling my eyes every time she came close to touching my laptop or anything else.

 

Rona noticed my intense focus and saw me using my laptop. She leaned over, her curiosity evident, and asked, "What are you up to?"

 

I spared a moment to glance at her, the music still pulsating in the background. "Just finishing up a project for my tech sideline. The girls' dance practice might be loud, but I've got it under control."

 

Jessi, who was still caught up in the energetic beats of the song, chimed in, "They're killing it with this dance break, right?"

 

I nodded in agreement, but my eyes were quick to dart back to my laptop, guarding it like a hawk. Rona chuckled at our contrasting reactions. "Well, keep up the good work," she said before returning to her observation post, leaving me to navigate the rhythmic chaos of the studio and my work.

 

I wrapped up the project after about an hour, coinciding with the girls taking a break. They settled on the cold studio floor to catch their breath, except for Kirsten, who unexpectedly sat beside me. Closing my laptop, I felt her warmth and caught a whiff of her sweat mixed with a hint of vanilla.

 

My two co-workers had left me alone on the couch when I was busy with the projects. Looking around, I noticed a shift in the atmosphere. The room felt more relaxed now, with the girls chatting and laughing. Jessi and Rona were in conversation on the other side of the room, leaving Kirsten and me in a quiet moment amid the studio's lively energy.

 

After a while, Kirsten suddenly rested her head on my shoulders, seeking solace from the intense practice they had just endured. It gave me a strange sensation, but I tried to ease into the couch, making sure she felt comfortable.

 

"Can I just take a minute to relax on your shoulder?" Kirsten murmured as she caught her breath, moving her head against my shoulders while scooting closer to mine. "We're friends now, right? Considering what happened the other day..."

 

I reminisced about our moments together yesterday, which brought a smile to my face. "Yeah, just lean and relax on my shoulders. I've always got you."

 

As Kirsten nestled closer, I couldn't ignore the warmth and the subtle connection forming. The studio's energy seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the quiet intimacy of the moment between us.

 

In the midst of our quiet exchange, I noticed Ling, one of the girls from the dance group, staring at us with a gentle smile. It caught me off guard, and for a moment, I wondered if she had been observing us the whole time. She looked like she found something heartwarming in the scene.

 

I smiled back at Ling, acknowledging her presence. Kirsten, still resting on my shoulder, followed my gaze and saw Ling smiling at us. There was a brief, unspoken connection between the three of us—a silent understanding that transcended words.

 

Kirsten chuckled softly, breaking the silence. "Looks like we've got an audience."

 

Ling, still wearing a warm smile, approached us. "You two make a cute pair," she remarked, her tone filled with genuine warmth.

 

I blushed a bit, caught off guard by Ling's observation. Kirsten, on the other hand, grinned playfully. "Well, what can I say? I've found a comfy spot."

 

Y/n let out a small laugh, breaking the brief tension. "Well, I guess coming to the gym is a good idea if you're after some extra comfy shoulders," I joked, trying to add a touch of humor to the situation.

 

Ling joined in, her laughter ringing through the studio. "Yeah, who needs a couch when you've got friends with comfy shoulders, right?"

 

The lighthearted exchange continued, and soon, all three of us were sharing laughter. Kirsten, slightly embarrassed or perhaps blushing, playfully nudged me. "Guess I found the secret to post-dance relaxation."

 

The laughter attracted the attention of the three girls, and they joined us, staring at us curiously. Latrice, with a raised eyebrow, was the first to break the silence.

 

"What's the catch? Why the laugh?" Latrice inquired, her curiosity evident.

 

Ling, always quick with humor, grinned mischievously. "Oh, you know, just discussing the benefits of having a comfy shoulder at the gym. Y/n here offers exclusive memberships."

 

The girls exchanged glances, and Latrice, still wearing a mysterious smile, teased, "So is this the part of the plan?"

 

The question hung in the air for a moment, leaving me intrigued.Kirsten, still chuckling, shot a playful glare at Latrice.

 

 "Shut up, Latrice," she quipped, but the mischievous glint in her eyes suggested that she was enjoying the banter.

 

I, still curious about the hidden dynamics of their exchange, decided not to pry further. The three girls—Ling, Kirsten, and Latrice—exchanged a look that hinted at some inside joke or playful teasing.

 

The tension dissipated when Audrey, one of the girls, broke in with a light-hearted remark. "All this laughter is making me hungry. Can we get some snacks or something?"

 

Emma, quick to seize the opportunity for some good-natured ribbing, teased Audrey, "Seriously, Audrey? Snacks again? You're turning into quite the glutton."

 

The room echoed with laughter, fueled by Audrey's mock protests and Emma's teasing. The group's dynamics were a mix of inside jokes and camaraderie, feeling more like a close-knit circle of friends than just dance partners. As they bantered and planned a snack break, I felt compelled to contribute, considering I was here to assist the girls.

 

"I'll grab the snacks, what does everyone want?" I offered.

 

“I want fries and a burger from McDonald's,” Audrey declared.

 

"Sure, fries and a burger," I said, noting down their orders on my phone. The other girls quickly chimed in with their snack preferences. Ling and Latrice opted for a BLT sandwich and a matcha latte. Emma wanted the same as Audrey, while Kirsten requested only an orange juice.

 

I gave Kirsten a curious look. "Just orange juice?"

 

“Yeah,” she replied, adjusting her hair. “Not that hungry, but I'm craving some vitamin C to replenish my energy.”

 

Y/n wanted Jessi to accompany her to buy the snacks, but Jessi, with a dubious excuse about being busy, denied her request. Rolling her eyes at Jessi's obvious avoidance, Y/n decided to go alone. However, Kirsten sensed Y/n's disappointment and insisted on joining her.

 

"Come on, I'll tag along. I could use a break anyway," Kirsten said with a friendly smile.

 

Relieved, Y/n agreed, and they headed out together. As they left the studio, Y/n discreetly texted someone on her phone, arranging for her Rolls-Royce Sweptail to be in the parking area. The sleek car awaited them, and they exchanged a few words before hopping in.

 

Kirsten's eyes widened as she saw the luxurious car, clearly shocked by Y/n's possession of such an expensive vehicle. She couldn't fathom how Y/n could afford it and speculated it might be from her past job's salary. Despite her curiosity, Kirsten chose not to ask about it, opting to enjoy the ride and the unexpected camaraderie that had developed during the snack run. The car glided smoothly through the streets, and their conversation continued, creating a unique bond between them.

 

They arrived at a store that boasted a diverse selection of snacks and foods from various countries, a place Y/n was familiar with, thanks to knowing the owner. Parking the