The Love Score || Zhuo Zhi

37: Jesus Fu-Fudgeballs

I shut the door behind me, closing myself in the empty music studio. I had come here to practise on my own, without Yi Kai nor Li Jing around me. I'd always dance better in my own space and time, being able to feel my own pace and dance to the music without others judging me. Sometimes I wondered whether it would have been better if I didn't join the dance club. But if I didn't, I wouldn't have met Yi Kai, and I would probably be boring myself to death at home as well.

I played the clip once again, revising over the moves. I let the rhythm and the beats flow through my body, the choreography to be imprinted into my mind firmly. The past week had been tough and stressful with the constant stream of our termly exams haunting us around the corner. Textbooks and mock papers and notes and worksheets had looked to be never-ending. I was immensely overjoyed when it all had ended, and now I was using dancing as a way to escape from the stress that had bounded around me tightly during the past week.

I put my phone face-down and began playing the song, rehearsing again and again. The next tennis competition was about to begin in a while, and after that would be the Youth Dance Festival Competition. Whether I was placed as the main dancer, the side dancers or the backup dancers, I would still want to give it my all. I wanted to have the reassurance that I had danced and practised to the best of my ability.

After I was a little more satisfied with today's practising, I felt the need to do a bit of something of my own interest. Which was perfecting the K-pop choreography that I hadn't finished learning yet. I grinned a little to myself as I adjusted the speed of the video and started playing the video from where I had last left it off.

After going over the second verse of the song and another repeat of the chorus, I finally got to the long-awaited dance break that had intrigued me since I had first watched the dance practice video. I gave a backward glance at the door, mentally assuring myself that no one was outside. The movements of the dance break were a little more... sensual than what I would usually dance to. The last thing I wanted was a random student walking in watching me feeling myself on the floor.

After I was sure that it was late enough for most students to have gone back home already, I began learning the dance break. It was not the dance style I was used to, but that didn't mean that I hadn't danced to that style before. Several of other choreographies I've learnt all have had some level of sexiness involved. I danced to it naturally, as I would usually do. This particular dance break involved much floorwork, including lots of leg-caressing, body-stroking and body-waving. I only hoped to god that I wasn't looking like a worm with a seizure at that moment.

I finally got to the last section of the dance break, which ended up with my stomach flat on the floor. The music was so loud that I hadn't even realised the click of the door opening behind me. It was only until I heard a footstep echo around the music room when my eyes widened in horror and I nearly had a heart attack. I didn't even have sufficient time to scramble up from my awkward position on the floor and switch off my phone. To the person that had that glimpse of me attempting the dance break, it would seem as if I had been humping the floor.

I gasped, mortified as I spun around to meet Zhuo Zhi's eyes.

Jesus fu-fudgeballs.

I could feel the blood practically racing to my cheeks like an emergency alert being activated. I bit my bottom lip in embarrassment as I tugged on the ends of my shorts lower. I wanted the ground to swallow me whole and bury me under the school forever. Or use one of my hoodies to hide my face under so I could never see Zhuo Zhi's nor anyone's face ever again. I felt lightheaded as a thousand worrying thoughts flooded my head.

Right in front of the boy you're crushing on, too.

Not the time now, inside voice. And god no, I'm not crushing on Zhuo Zhi!

Zhuo Zhi was avoiding my eyes, his pupils darting around the room. His ears were also reddening with embarrassment as his hand went up to scratch the back of his neck. He had a sheepish smile on his face. "Uh..."

"What do you want?" I asked hastily, although my tone had made it sound like an annoyed snap. Realising this, I cleared my throat. "I mean, Senior, please don't think--"

"I'm here to collect mine and Jia Le's music books that we left here earlier!" Zhuo Zhi quickly cut in. He looked up from the ground to meet my eyes shyly.

"Yeah. G-go ahead," I stammered. Goddammit, Yue En! Stop embarrassing yourself!

Zhuo Zhi gave a nervous laugh as he made his way to one of the desks at the back of the studio, taking out two textbooks from underneath its compartment. I checked the time on my phone, realising that it was getting late and I should be going back.

"Why are you still here so late, Senior Zhuo Zhi?" I questioned as he was walking back to the door.

"I just ended tennis practice," Zhuo Zhi said.

"Ah," I said. "Uhm..."

"Yue En," Zhuo Zhi called out, making me lift my head to face him. His ears were still red but his expression looked firm. "Let's pretend that I never came here in the first place, okay?"

"Yes. Okay," I replied shortly. I played around with the hem of my shirt, giving him an embarrassed smile.

"Hey," he called out once again. He chuckled at seeing my guilty face, and with the music books tucked under his arm, he waved his free hand at me. The early evening sunlight was streaming through the open doorway, illuminating the room and obstructing a clear view of Zhuo Zhi. He was just a silhouette against the sunlight, although I could still make out the features of his smile. "Bye, Yue En."

I feebly waved back. "Bye-bye."

Zhuo Zhi turned away and closed the door. A second after he had left, I managed to properly collect my thoughts.

You know, Senior Zhuo Zhi had still seen you humping the floor. You know he's never going to forget that scarred image, right?

I groaned to myself, kicking the leg of the piano stool out of frustration.

☆ ☆ ☆

This one's a little short and random this time, but I'll be sure to lengthen the next one. AND THE SECOND-HAND EMBARRASSMENT FOR YUE EN I'M SCREAMING.

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~ Snowy ♡