"James, are you okay?" Kevin ran to catch up with me. "What is wrong with that guy? We all saw you tap out!"

"Kim, Wait up!" Hyun Joong called out from behind me. I was about to run up the stairs. I stopped and waited.

"He really has it in for you, doesn't he." Hyun Joong said with concern. He gently clapped me on the shoulder. "We'd better head to the nearest washroom to get changed for the rest of the afternoon. Are you sure you're fine?"

I swallowed hard, " I'll survive." It came out like a whisper. 

Both boys looked at me. "That's not a good sign." Hyun Joong raised his brow. "You can't sing like that."

We got changed and headed for choir practice. "Let me explain what happened to the old man...at least we've never caused any issues in his class. Might be able to get someone to look at you." Hyun Joong sounded just how  a caring older brother would be.

I tried to shrug it off. "I'll be fine." But even to me it didn’t.sound normal.

We managed to be some of the first students in the small auditorium. The old man was sitting at the piano.

"Good afternoon, Sinsangnim. May we have a word with you?"

"Kim, isn't it? " he asked over his glasses.

”Yes, sir. Kim Hyun Joong." He bowed.

"Make it quick. Rehearsal is about to start." He swung his body around to face us.

Hyun Joong went over what had happened, leaving out the fact that it was intentional.

The old man waved me over. "Let's have a look." I walked over him and squatted  down in front of him. He squinted at my injury and then gently felt my neck.

”Well, you won't be singing at tonight's performance, that's for sure... Hurts to talk I bet?" He inquired.

I was about to answer him when he raised his finger to his lips." Don't strain yourself... What was that idiot trying to prove anyway?...That he can beat a sixteen year old boy?...How dare he try to ruin my performance. Doesn't he realize every voice has an important job in a choir! ...Off you go! Find your manager and get that checked out properly. You..." he pointed to Kevin. "Go with him and explain what happened and then get back here, pronto!"

"Yes, Sinsangnim." He answered as we both bowed to him. Yeah, the old man was okay in my book.

Truthfully, I wanted to find my father and show him what that jerk did to me! But I couldn't with Kevin at my side. I had to settle for Yoo Ji Sung.

We asked one of the receptionist to call him at the main lobby. He told us he would meet us at the in-house clinic.

Kevin explained what happened including the fact that Hyun Joong stepped in to stop it.

"I'm sure it was just an oversight on Kang Sinsangnim's part." Yoo Ji Sung patted me on the back. "I will talk with him about it though, seemed a bit intense for a beginner level... He's new here. He has a bit to learn, too."

I want to say he shouldn't be learning at my expense.

Yoo Ji Sung told Kevin to head back, he would stay with me and see what the doctor has to say.

The doctor checked me out. He said I had a bruised larynx. He gave me an injection to help with the swelling and some ibuprofen pills for later.

 "I recommend you avoid any physical activity for at least 5 days and try to avoid talking for a day or two. Definitely No Singing for at least three days! Here..." He wrote down his orders and stamped it then handed one copy to Yoo Ji Sung and another to me. "If anyone has a problem with that, tell them to call me."

I grabbed my throat, "I have an important dance performance tonight! People are counting on me!" My voice came out like a whisper.

"I wouldn't advise it. If it hurts that much to talk. Jumping around and twisting it will be excruciating." He shook his head and crossed his arms." A Definite No Go!"

 "You heard what the doctor  said. You've been sidelined tonight." Yoo Ji Sung lightly squeezed my shoulder. "You understand, it is for your own good...right."

I nodded my head but I couldn't meet his eyes. Easy for him to say, but I doubt the others will see it like that.

Dam, Kang Bok Gu! He didn't just screw me but my whole dance crew.

Yoo Ji Sung looked at his watch, "Let's head down to the dance studio and see how we can salvage this." He held the door open for me.

They were just finishing their warm-up when we entered. All of my roommates and most of my dorm showed real concern on their faces. All but Yoo Ah In who was sneering at me, came over to see what was up.

Yoo Ji Sung went and talked to the dance instructors while the boys gathered around me.

"See...Look! That's how bad it is!" Kevin pointed to my bruised neck. "He could've been seriously injured."

The group all gawked at me. Most agreed, it looked pretty painful.

”Everyone gather around...So as it stands, James Kim will not be permitted to perform in tonight's performance due to his injury as per the doctor's orders."  He looked around the group.

"As we all know the saying 'The show must go on', these kinds of things happen all the time.  We just have to roll with it." Yoo Ji Sung stated the obvious. "Well, we took up enough of your time, back to work." With that he turned and headed for the door.

"Remember Kim! Absolutely no dancing. " He said over his shoulder as he left.