You thought this day couldn’t get any worse. Starting from waking up late to burning your toast and consequently being late to your first class of the day. But things just escalated from that. Your best friend, Mina, stood you up for lunch so you had to eat all by yourself which you were so not used to. But what could you do, Mina needed to rehearse for her dance so you let her be.

You groan in frustration as you walk around the pavilion just behind the rehearsal studios. What made this day the worse? Your singing instructor wasn’t happy with your final showcase plan at all.

“Sana, everything technical about your performance is almost perfect.” You brighten at her words. “But I’m afraid I didn’t feel anything from it. You just sounded like a corpse who could sing.”

Ouch?

You just bowed your head and continued listening to your instructor. “I know you’re capable of so much more Sana. Let me remind you that this showcase will comprise fifty percent of your final grade.”

You already knew that which was why you practiced every day and night just to perfect this song and came in here thinking you could finally amaze your instructor but apparently that wasn’t going to happen.

Your instructor sighs. “This is supposed to be a love song but it felt more like a eulogy. No, not even a eulogy because I didn’t even feel sad about it. I just felt nothing.”

You wince at her words. Okay you’re taking a lot of jabs already. “What should I do Ms. Sunmi?” Your voice cracks a bit and you hate yourself for that.

She places a hand on your shoulder before talking. “Let your emotions show Sana, nothing wrong will come out of it. I know it’s in there.” She turns then and starts fixing the music notes on her desk. “I’ll be expecting that in your final showcase. You can go now.”

You nod meekly and walk out of the room trying to stop the tears from falling. Lots of students were shuffling through the hallways so you decided to go outside. Hence your current disposition of rubbing your eyes forcefully and just walking around aimlessly around the garden.

Everything you did just wasn’t enough for anyone. Whether it was your parents who kept telling you nothing would come out of your dream to become a singer or your professors who could never be satisfied. What did you expect when you couldn’t even fulfill your own expectations? It was hard, putting yourself on your own pedestal. 

You were going to beat yourself up further till you hear the faint sound of a piano. You look around and realize you were already walking behind the classical music rooms. Something about the piano music pulled at you making your legs walk on their own accord. You find yourself peering through a wide window where a lone girl sat playing the piano. 

Her back was turned to the window so she couldn’t see you watching her. The girl’s petite fingers smoothed through the keys with such grace and ease. You recognize the song she was playing, Pachelbel’s Canon. You couldn’t help but smile, it was one of Mina’s favorite songs to dance to and consequently became one of yours too. You lean on the wall outside and just continue listening.

Mystery girl played it so beautifully but something was different. You weren’t focusing on her technique and obvious talent like what you normally did when listening to anything musical. You frown trying to discern what it was but that all disappeared unconsciously as you just continued listening to the song.

It brought you back to when your mom gave you a music box when you were younger. You remember opening it and staring in awe at the mini ballerina spinning to none other than Canon. You still had that music box and would open it at times when you just wanted to calm your mind.

The memory shifts to the time you first met Mina. She was dancing to Canon yet again. Mina was the embodiment of grace and elegance but you remember thinking of how pretentious she seemed at first. You chuckle because you then found out as you two became friends that she was actually just a shy girl.

You wish you could just keep listening to this girl playing the piano. You still couldn’t pin down what was different about how she played but decided to think about it more when you got back to your dorm. You finally stand up and walk away from the beautiful melody.

//

The opening melody of the song begins and you just feel your body naturally flowing to the music. You focus on your movements, making sure to perfectly execute them. A pointe here, then a spin, to first position. It was so easy for your body to perform, it was in your blood.

You then dance the closing and bow to end it all. The class collectively claps and you smile as you see your dance instructor, Mr. Taemin, clapping along as well.

“That was beautiful Mina.” He compliments and you couldn’t stop your smile from forming. “Your technique is superb but.” He pauses. “That’s it.”

Your frown at his words. “What do you mean sir?”

“You have technique pinned down but emotion? I couldn’t see nor feel any of that from you.”

Well that was unexpected. You couldn’t quite understand what he was talking about but just nod anyway. “I’ll do better sir.”

Mr. Taemin nods and you sit back still deciphering what was lacking in your dance. 

“Alright listen up everyone. We have a new student attending this class starting today.” Mr. Taemin’s voice snaps you back in class as you look at the new student. What you weren’t expecting was to be eye to eye with one of the most gorgeous girl you’ve ever seen in your life. 

“I’m Hirai Momo. Please take good care of me” She introduces herself then bows to the class. Hirai, she’s Japanese. For some reason, be it her fashion (tank top and flannel, seriously?) or just how she carried herself, she screamed dancer in capital letters. Your eyes meet for just a second before new girl looks away. 

“Why don’t you show us a short freestyle for your first day Ms. Hirai?” You were expecting Momo to look nervous but she just nods and walks to the center of the room b with confidence. It was pretty amazing to witness, she didn’t look shy at all.

What amazes you more was this girl’s raw talent. She didn’t hold back even from the beginning as she danced to every single beat of the song. Her style was different from yours. While you danced with precision and technique, Hirai, on the other hand, dances unpredictably like she was choreographing the steps on the spot. Her style screamed young, wild and free, literally, as she doesn’t hold back dancing to Pentatonix’s cover of Problem.

It’s so opposite from your style but you couldn’t help but watch anyway. You’re glued no matter what you thought. She finally ends the dance and your gazes meet yet again in the reflection of the mirror. She catches you staring at her in awe. You shake your head, did she just wink at you?

“Bravo Ms. Hirai.” Mr. Taemin congratulates her. “Your technique is still raw but I could feel your heart out there when you dance. This is what I want to see from you all.” He points the last sentence to the class but you slightly felt like he was directly pertaining to you.

Class was dismissed and you’re still stuck in your head that you didn’t notice someone was approaching you till you felt a light tap on your shoulder. You look behind and realize it was new girl grinning at you. 

“Hi, I just wanted to tell you that your dance a while back was beautiful. You looked like the epitome of a black swan.” She cheerfully tells you.

You find yourself blushing at her words. “At least you think so. Mr. Taemin doesn’t seem to think the same way.” You chuckle bitterly.

“I doubt that.” She gives you a sincere smile. “I didn’t catch your name?”

“Oh right, I’m Myoui Mina.” 

“Myoui, are you Japanese too?” Momo perks at the possibility and you just chuckle at how she looked like a toddler who was given a piece of candy.

“Yeah, I’m guessing you are too?”

“I am! I’m sorry, it’s just really nice to meet fellow countrymen in a foreign country.”

“I get that. Anyway I have to go, it was nice meeting you Hirai.”

“You too.” You wave goodbye and head on back to the dorm. You were trying to dissect Mr. Taemin’s words but a certain peach haired girl was still currently stuck on your mind.

--

The dip in your bed wakes you up from your nap. You turn around and come face to face with Sana.

“Hey.” You utter softly, sleep still hanging from your words.

“Sorry I didn’t mean to wake you.” Sana replies but not in her usual cheery voice. You knit your eyebrows together already noticing something was off with your best friend.

“What’s wrong?”

At that, Sana curls even more on your bed and sighs. “I don’t know what I’m doing wrong Mina.”

You really hated it when Sana was feeling sad so you instinctively move closer and pull her head onto your chest. A bout of guilt was still present because of all the times you had to ditch her for practice. That makes you wince a bit. Sana being all alone left a really bad imprint in your mind.

“Tell me what happened.”

“What do you think of my singing Mina?” She asks in such a small voice. You’ve never seen Sana this deflated and that makes you want to comfort her even more. 

“I think you have the most beautiful voice ever.” At that, Sana slaps your arm.

“Be honest.” She pouts and you couldn’t help but chuckle.

“It’s true. I usually dance to your song covers you know.” 

“I know.” Sana finally gives out a smile. “Thank you for always being my number one fan Mitang.”

“Always.” You smile back. “So tell me what really happened.”

“Ms. Sunmi didn’t like my final showcase plan.”

You felt so incredulous with her words. “How could she not? You worked and practiced everyday for it!”

Sana gives out a hollow laugh. “Right? She told me that my singing was perfect technically but I looked like a corpse trying to sing.”

You couldn’t help but wince. “Ouch.” But then you realize that Ms. Sunmi and Mr. Taemin said almost the exact words. “I guess we both have the same problem.”

“What do you mean?” Sana raises her head from your chest and looks at you with a scowl.

“He told me he couldn’t feel anything from my dance even though my technique was perfect.”

Being the weird best friends you two were, you both ended up laughing about your current predicament.

Sana wipes a tear from her eye from laughing too hard. “We really are best friends huh?”

You laugh again because what she said was true. “Got that right.”

“So what do we do about it now?”

You shrug. “Honestly I’m still finding out myself. But I think I have an idea.”

Sana brightens up at that. “Dish.”

“So we got a new transfer student in class right? And I couldn’t take my eyes off her when she danced.” You think back to Hirai Momo’s performance again and it was still so raw in your memory that it felt like she was dancing right in front of you.

“I think she has the thing I’m lacking. Feeling, emotion, I’m not sure. All I know is that she has it.”

You look at Sana when the latter didn’t speak up and find agape.

“What?”

“Myoui Mina, do you have a crush?” 

You widen your eyes and suddenly feel really warm in your room. “N-no! If anything she’s more like my rival!”

“N-no.” Sana mimics mockingly and you roll your eyes.

“Whatever.” You turn away and hug the pillow beside you.

Sana instantly whines. “I was just kidding!” She knows you couldn’t stay mad at her and hugs you from behind. “I hope you’ll be able to find whatever it is you’re lacking Mina.”

You feel sleep coming back. “We’re both going to find it. Don’t worry Sana.”

//

Second.

This was the second time you noticed the same brunette girl standing outside your rehearsal room listening to you play the piano. The first time it happened was four days ago. You heard soft sniffling from outside the window. Normally you couldn’t take it when a girl cries but she probably didn’t know you were inside the room anyway so you decided against going to the window and asking why she was crying.

It was killing you to just sit there but the girl probably wanted privacy so you just hoped she loved the piano and played a song that was close to your heart. Pachelbel’s Canon, it was the first piece you learned to play and it never failed to lift up your mood. You were hoping it would transcend to the girl outside and make her feel better somehow.

You start playing the opening notes of this piece that was so close to your heart. It was easy, going through the piano keys. Alternating from different keys like they were an extension of your body. You didn’t have to think much when playing, it was like second nature to you already. 

You close your eyes and feel your heart opening up as the song progresses. You remember being so small before and staring at the grand piano in your grandfather’s house. You weren’t even tall enough to sit on the chair but your grandfather helps you up and sits you on his lap before playing for you.

Being the kid you were, you instantly clapped your hands as he played the same song you were playing right now. You tried pressing a key then and squeal when a note came out of it. That was the moment you knew you wanted, no, needed the piano in your life.

And you were right because eighteen years later you’ve become one of the youngest and most successful pianists in South Korea. You were even starting to make a name abroad and you were just excited for what the future held for you. 

To think that it all started with your grandfather and this special musical piece. You sigh as the song ends and feel your heart full with warmth and happiness. 

At the same time, you hear a rustling out the window and you turn subtly to see crying girl walk away. You didn’t fail to notice the faint smile on her lips as she left. You smile too because your plan worked and you were just glad she was feeling better. Pretty girls shouldn’t be crying unless it was because of joy. That was your life’s motto.

You were actually surprised when the same girl was at her spot two days later but you decided to pay her no mind. She probably still thought you didn’t notice her. You weren’t sure if she was sad or happy but you found yourself wanting to play for her again.

Claude Debussy, Clair de Lune. A smile instantly graces your lips as you play the first notes to the song. It was such a beautiful song and you really enjoyed playing it. You hoped crying girl wasn’t crying again and was enjoying your music instead.

A day passes and you bump into crying girl in the hallways. She was in an obvious rush and quickly apologized to you then went on her way again. You notice she dropped a clip of music sheets and you pick it up to give it back to her but she was already gone when you stood up.

Minatozaki Sana. That was the name printed on the music sheets. What a pretty name. You place the music sheets in your folder hoping you could see her again so you could return them.

One thing you realized even in just that short moment was how pretty crying girl was and you just stay rooted. You didn’t even notice someone was in front of you till the person snapped their fingers in your face.

“Ah! Chaengie!” You finally acknowledge her and she smirks back at you.

“Dahyun, why are you blushing?”

“Wh-what? What do you mean?” You totally knew what she meant because you could feel your cheeks burning but try to play it cool anyway. You’re lame that way.

“Sure, keep playing yourself Dahyun.”

You hook your arms together and pull her away hoping Chaeyoung would drop the topic.

“Co-come on let’s go get food!” You say too hastily.

Chaeyoung chuckles at your flustered state but walks with you anyway. 

“She’s pretty by the way.”

“Chaengieeee.” You whine but your ears are filled with Chaeyoung’s laughter instead.

//

It was your second week in class and you were already friends with everyone in class. Well almost everyone. You still couldn’t call a certain Japanese girl your friend. 

Quiet. 

That was what Mina was. She was very soft-spoken and rarely talked with anyone unless needed. It actually made her seem really cold instead. This usually puts someone off but not you. You were Hirai Momo after all and you were going to become friends with Mina no matter what.

The reason for this enthusiasm you still have no idea. It was just like something about Mina’s demeanor seemed off. Like she wants everyone to perceive her in a certain way. And something inside you just wanted to break that, to see what was beyond her cold and quiet façade.

One problem, it was easier said than done.  Mina was anything but approachable. One moment you’d try to talk to her and one second later she just smiles politely and makes an excuse to leave. It felt a lot like she was avoiding you but then again she was like that with most people in your class too.

The only time you could see through her front was when she starts dancing, just like now. You don’t even control your mouth going agape and just watch Mina dance. You swear you’ve never seen anything as beautiful as Myoui Mina in her element. Now you understood the black swan reference people associate with ballet dancers.

Myoui Mina was as graceful and elegant as a black swan. But also fierce and controlling as she switches up the choreo to a powerful contemporary piece. You don’t even feel embarrassed as you clap the loudest after she finishes her dance.

“Beautiful work Mina. You’re slowly working on my pointers.” Mr. Taemin compliments and Mina just gives a tight lipped smile. She probably wanted to hear more. It was such a Mina thing, how she could never be satisfied and would want to do even better. 

You smirk at your own thoughts. How could you even say that when you didn’t know Mina at all? It doesn’t feel like that at all though and it made the situation even more intriguing. You give Mina a thumbs-up and she just politely smiles again and even sits on the opposite end of where you were seated. Ah what to do with this girl.

Mr. Taemin’s voice brings your attention back. Oh right, you were still in class.

“Okay listen up. You all know about the final showcase at the end of the semester.” He announces. 

You learned that the university has this final showcase at every end of the semester where each class does a recital whether it be a play, a live performance, anything. And this year, Mr. Taemin chose to do a dance recital complete with a story and choreography done by himself. 

“So I’ve chosen the two leads for the play.” Your attention snaps back to him and you notice everyone eager to hear who got the lead roles. You weren’t actually aiming for lead role, you just wanted to have a decent one.

So of course you don’t realize your name was called till Jimin nudges you. “Eh?” You ask in the most Momo-esque way.

“Momo you’re one of the leads.” Jimin whispers noticing you blanked out just then. 

Momo, leads, okay it’s not adding up. Did Jimin just say you were going to be a lead? You were going to laugh at his face until Mr. Taemin speaks up again.

“Do you accept the role Momo?” He quirks his lips in a smile knowing full well how surprised you were about the announcement.

It was suddenly really hard to swallow but you do it anyway. “Y-yeah.” Smooth Momo, smooth. “Sure.”

Mr. Taemin just nods at that. “And for the other lead role I’ve chosen one of the best dancers in the class. Mina? Do you accept?”

Wait what? Your mind seems to not be processing all these information quickly enough but Mina’s voice slices through that.

“Of course Mr. Taemin.” Mina says with such confidence.

“Good, rehearsals begin tomorrow. All other roles will be posted later in the day. That’s it for now everyone.”

You’re still trying to piece out what happened as your classmates approach and congratulate you. You thank them but your head was still a foggy mess and didn’t even realize Mina was talking till she calls your name.

“Momo?”

“Huh? Uh yeah sorry what?” You look at her with big lost eyes.

Mina chuckles then and wow this was the first time you ever heard her laugh. Why didn’t she laugh more frequently?

“Are you okay?” She asks with a worried smile.

“Uh yeah, sorry. I guess I was just really blindsided by the whole thing. Who would have thought a newbie like me could land a lead role.” A hollow chuckle leaves your mouth.

Mina scowls at your words though. “Don’t say that. You’re really good you know. And I’m happy you’re my partner.”

Her words were so honest that it left you speechless.

“And maybe it is a bit intimidating with you but I feel better knowing I have a reliable dance partner.”

“Uhm, wow. Thank you, I guess.” Everything was happening too fast and it was hard to catch up. Especially when the Myoui Mina compliments you like that.

“See you tomorrow for practice then.” She says and leaves but not before waving and giving you a wink.

If Jeongyeon saw you right now she’d probably laugh her off because you looked like an idiot standing there waving at a retreating Mina.

Then the whole situation dawns on you. You were going to be dancing in front of the whole campus, with Mina. You don’t know if you should be happy or have a panic attack. You decide to think about it more later. For now, you needed food. Yeah, food was reliable. Food would never leave you.

You send a quick text to Jeongyeon asking her to meet up for dinner. 

I feel better knowing I have a reliable dance partner.

Mina’s words are stuck in your head as you walk to the café you and Jeongyeon frequent. You start to wonder if you were going to be okay.

Then you realize this was Mina you were talking about. The Mina who caught your attention from day one. And that alone gives you the comfort you needed. You slowly breathe in, one day at a time Momo.