Your POV

I stay seated as I watch students race out of the room as if it was on fire. I chuckle to myself as I stay back to talk with Eric. When everyone is gone I walk up to him he seems to smile at me.

“So it’s true my dear love’s sister is here.”

Looking down at my hands I remember the last time I talked with my brother-in-law.

It was at my sister’s funeral just last year and it wasn’t a pretty day for anyone… well maybe my stepmother.

I in a deep breath at the memory as I ask,“How is my niece?”

He smiles, “She’s doing fine but she misses you. Maybe I should take her to your stepmother's.”

I quickly start shaking my head I say, “Don’t bother I’m under lockdown. I’m only allowed to leave the house to go to school and work.”

“Then I’ll just have to bring my daughter here for you can see how big she’s getting. Plus she really misses you.”

I smile, “I’d like that and I miss her as well,” I turn to leave but ask, “Do you think you can help me get on the school’s newspaper?”

“Why?”

“I’d like to get more freedom and reasons to get out of the house.”

“Yeah, I think I can do that.”

I thank him after I ask him where the practice rooms are.

I walk out of the room to see Taemin and Kai talking about something. I shouldn’t bother them since I have better things to be doing. So I look down at my schedule to see that this hour is my free block. I’m not sure how, but I make it around them without being noticed what I noticed.

I want to see the practice rooms. I remember Eric’s directions I seem to find my way to the rooms fast. The halls are empty except a bulletin board with times posted that people have the rooms. This hour the rooms seem to be open at least until someone decides to sign up. I guess these rooms won’t really be used unless they are real passionate about their dancing since the rooms at the end of the hall are being renovated, but they are unlocked still I suppose I’m not supposed to go inside.

Smiling I check the rooms to see that they are sound proofed, but still workers are only allowed to finish them at night or days that there is no school.

Looking in one of the room I see that the room was finished but all the mirrors weren’t setup yet. Looking around I find a work schedule to see that the workers aren’t coming back for another month.

An idea comes to mind to keep up with my dance.

I’ll have to ask Eric to help me with it to make sure it succeeds.

It’s my second week in my new school and I’m on the newspaper club. I finish my articles early and spend my free time dancing in the unfinished rooms. I keep an extra pair of clothes in my locker to make sure that I won’t get caught carrying a bag out of the house, to get the bag out of the house was a hard thing to do. I had to toss it out my window and then race out of the house without anyone noticing me.

Most days my brother-in-law brings my niece. Today is no different Eric shows up with my niece whom my sister named after our dead mother.

As I try to get a new move down Eric is chattering away about nothing in particular.

Once its down and perfect I start to speed things up adding in the other moves that I had just perfected. I’m getting warm in my shorts, tank, and vest with a hoodie.

My brother states, “Hwa Young, did you ever think to ask another dancer for help? You know to keep you up to date. What about Kai? I’m sure that kid would love to help you. I mean he loves dance and everything. So a cute girl that can learn fast and dance circles around him would probably make his day. I think he’d fall in love with you, too.”

I look at him as if he’s crazy, “Kai are you kidding me. Everyone may be scared of him but he is like the prince of the school. They follow him everywhere you have no idea of the risks I’d take especially since Nada and Hyuna are supposed to be coming to this school. If I’m found out,” I shiver at the memories of how I use to be punished.

“Hwa Young, your step mother can’t be that bad.”

I touch my arm since it has the worst of my scars where she had burned me by holding your arm on the stove.

Now she doesn’t beat me anymore.

No, instead her 2 daughters to do that for her.

Still the beatings don’t come as often as they did when my sister lived in the house, 6 years ago.

I know Eric is watching me touch my arm and how his eyes follow my movements worried for me.