Centre Stage~

Uncertainty

I laid flat on the floor. The last few beats of the song drowned out my pathetic gasps. I ran my fingers through my blonde hair, searching for any form of relief. My body screamed for a break.

Why aren't you good enough?

His words echoed around my head like a broken record. I sat up and moved over to my gym bag thrown on the floor and took a sip from my water bottle. The remnants of the song bounced around the practice room like it was begging me for one more run through. I didn't listen. Instead, I stared out of the studio window over looking the quiet side of Seoul. People walked below like ants scurrying. Like they have places to be.

Men in suits, glancing at their watches as they hurried off. Mothers pushing strollers and carrying a myriad of bags and emotional burdens, balancing them perfectly.

The coffee shop below glows with a yellow warmth welcoming any passer-by to enter. No one did. I picked up my gym back and said goodbye to the studio, an odd ritual that felt necessary. I locked the door and walked slowly down the steps towards the reception desk.

I smiled at the women who sat behind the computer, who only glanced at me and I gave back the keys before stepping out into the foggy, autumn afternoon. The wind whipped my hair around my face. I shivered and wrapped my sports jacket around me tighter hoping for some warmth.

My phone buzzed with a message. I opened my phone and noticed a mountain of messages from my collegues wondering where i was. My screen changed as i recieved a call from Allisa.

"Mira, where are you?" Her voice roared down the phone. I pull the phone away from my ear before finally replying.

"I just got out of the dance studio, what is going on?" I reply, slightly worried. I hear a sigh of disbelief before Allisa finally speaks again.

"What do you mean? Girl, Simon is so pissed at you! Do you not remember you are meant to be at work right now?" She continues speaking but i dont pay attention.

My mind races as I realise how much trouble I'm in with my boss. I glanced at the time: 5:16.

Shit.

I began to run towards a tall glass building that had been the bane of my existence since I started at the company. Allisa's voice still wailing down the phone. I cut her off and tell her to meet me at the entrance before hanging up.

I'm late again. There was no excuse this time. I hurriedly opened the large door, entering the building filled with white walls and floors that made it feel more like a psych ward than an electrical company.

The smell of stale coffee and waxed floors hit my nose. The professional atmosphere clashed with my dance practice outfit that stuck to my skin.

Office workers glanced at me with a sneer before turning back to their work and ignoring me. As usual.

I finally meet Allisa at our shared desk. She rushes over to me with a worried look.

"Simon is going to kill you if I don't first. And you aren't even changed?" She looks me up and down with a look of disgust and disappointment. She grabs my shoulder and guides me to the elevator saying something about a meeting with the boss.

I made my way to elevator avoiding eye contact with anyone as Allisa scolds me and prepares me for the boss' sudden meeting. We reach the elevator and the doors open making Allisa's voice trail off. In the elevator stood the last person I wanted to see. An angry man in a suit. My boss. Cold, stern and a stickler for being on time, the complete opposite of what I am. His face grimaces as he sees me before turning to smile at Allisa. She looks at me sympathetically before walking off leaving me alone with the beast. He makes room for me to stand beside him. I hesitate, dreading the inevitable. Taking a deep breath I step into the elevator and he silently presses the button for the third floor.