Feeling the soft silky fabric on her hand, Saeyoung couldn't help but admire the beautifully designed dress right in front of her. It was a dark blue off-shoulder knee length high-low dress with a rinestone belt and small sprinkles of glitter. The outline was simple but at the same time elegant, she couldn't believe that she would be wearing this during the competition.
Just by thinking about it, entering the competition with Soul's team feels like she's signing up for war against her own school. She felt excited but at the same time, nervous.
"You'd look gorgeous wearing that Saeyoung! Can't wait till' tomorrow." Yoon flashed a wink at the girl, trying to make her blush.
Saeyoung smiled at her. "Thank you unnie, but don't you think that somehow, me joining you guys is, I don't know? . . . . wrong? Because, I'm somehow betraying my own team? My own school for this?"
Yoon placed a hand on her shoulder. "Well not unless you get caught, obviously." she chuckled. "But hey! Like what Jeongseob said, the rules aren't specific and besides if you got caught, the whole team, especially Soul, will be taking the blame. So you don't have to worry about anything okay?"
Yoon gave Saeyoung a reassuring smile but her explanation failed to wash all of Saeyoung's doubts away. It was nice to hear that Soul and his team will be there for her if their plan didn't go the way they expected but if ever they do get into trouble, the girl won't help but blame herself for everything.
The competition starts tomorrow. The only thing she can do now is practice for last time, get rest, wake up early, move to the venue, get dressed and prepare herself.
"Alright into positions ladies and gentlemen! Let's all do the dance for the last time, then we'll call it a day. Remember tomorrow is the ballroom competition, so chop chop!" the dancers followed they're dance coach's instructions and gathered up at the center of the room.
"Okay, 3... 2... 1... Music!"
Sitting down on the chair her hand intertwined with her mother, the little girl leans her head to her mom's arm while she continues to converse with Himiko's doctor about her current condition.
"She seems to be doing fine. Although she may randomly feel some discomfort from time to time but with good treatment and control, little Himiko is going to be okay. She just have to learn on how to live with the disease."
Mi-yoo sighed. She took a glance at her little girl and smiled sadly. "Thank you doctor. We'll come back again next week."
"Of course ma'am. But if any case Himiko happens to mention or experience something out of the ordinary, please send her straight to the hospital immediately." he gave her a quick notice. "But hopefully she won't since Himiko doesn't appear to be showing any unnatural symptoms for over the last three weeks, am I right miss Himiko?"
The girl shyly nodded. Smiling at the little girl's cuteness, the doctor gently ruffled her hair. "Well if that's the case then I should get going now, I have another patient waiting for me down at the second floor."
Mi-yoo bowed as a small sign of appreciation. "Thank you so much Miss Song!"
"Anything for Himiko."
Slowly lying down her bed, she could feel the tightening of her chest once again. Himiko took little breaths then calming herself down with some water. She was getting used to this painful feeling and she doesn't mind living with it for the rest of her life but if she were to choose, she'd prefer having this disease gone for good.
All Himiko wanted was to do anything freely with no limitations nor thinking about dangers that might affect her health. She felt sad knowing that she couldn't be able to do those things so here she is now — homeschooled, no friends, can't venture outside alone and low-key suffering.
Her scrapbook, family and older brother are the only thing she has that could keep her company and make her happy.
Pulling her comforter over her, Himiko places both of her chest on her stomach, her feet close together as her head looks straight up at the ceiling with her hair neatly done. This was a position she'd go for every night looking neat and clean as she prepares herself for a deep slumber.
To be honest, going to sleep is what she fears the most.
Himiko's scared that once she finally closes her eyes, it's done. She won't be waking up the next morning.
"Thank you for everything. Mom, Dad, I love you. Onii-san, I love you. Goodnight...."
"What do you mean you won't be joining us at the bus? Girl, we're going to the same venue!" questioned Nina who over the phone with Saeyoung while she packs up her needed materials for today's event.
"I know but actually. . . . I'm already there."
"You're what? How come you already know where to go? Miss Yoo just blurted out the location a few seconds ago — hold this." Nina handed her bag and book to Ze Yu.
On the other line of the call, Saeyoung was already getting dolled up by the make up artist while at the same time, running out of excuses to use for Nina and her questions. She was feeling nervous by the second. "I-I have my ways alright? Let's just see each other here at Shin & Kyo's Performance Stadium."
"Do whatever you want. Bye!" call ended.
After finishing her makeup, Saeyoung rushed to the dressing room with Jieun. With Jieun who's already styled and ready to go, decided to help her friend. Zipping up her zipper, she dusted the end of her dressed and smiled on how it fitted Saeyoung well.
"Alright miss beautiful, let's show em' what we're made of!" linking they're arms together, the two girls strut out of the scene.
Cleaning her camera's lenses, Nina glanced at Adroit's female dancers cringing on how they look with all the makeup and glitter. Especially the theme and decorations that hung up around the room.
"What's with the look?"
"Nothing but disgust. Everything looks so... princessy ew." the japanese female commented making Songyee laugh.
Songyee pats her friends back occupying the seat beside her. "Oh calm down Nina, this will all be over soon."
"Hopefully. I just can't walk through a hallway full of sparkles and little pink designs with the security guards dressed as knights in shining armour. That's just terrifying."
"Let's stop from the drama and go out yeah? The competition will start in a few minutes and we need to find areas with nice angles to take pictures of our dancers — and... find Saeyoung." Songyee pulled Nina up to her feet and proceeded outside the room.
Wandering around the hallways, the two girls caught sight of a girl wearing a blue dress and a mask. With her eyes meeting theirs, she immediately went the other direction and avoided they're sight.
Looking closely, Nina could tell that the girl seems so familiar to her, she just couldn't tell who. She wanted to go right after her but Songyee snapped her back from reality and dragged her to the main hall. It was packed. There stood dancers from different schools, looking all neat and fancy.
"Another round of applause for Adroit Maneuverz!"
At the sidelines Saeyoung bit her lip, trying to hide the feeling of nervousness. Ni-ki's team just finished their number and they were already up next. While watching the performance, the girl couldn't help but see Takara and Ni-ki's chemistry, especially when they're solo part came up, it was just wow. Don't forget the ending pose, they're faces was soo close to each other they looked like they were going to kiss.
If she were a random student from another school, Saeyoung would have shipped them.
Feeling a small tap on her shoulder, Saeyoung spun around to see Soul. "Nervous?" he asked, but all she could do is nod. "Calm down or else you'd end up messing the choreography." Soul joked trying to tease the girl. "But hey, you don't have to worry about anything okay? You'll do fine and I know it."
On Soul's right hand appeared a small tiara comb. He gently placed it on top of Saeyoung's head. Now she looks like a princess. His princess to dance with.
"Contestant number eight, please enter the stage." said the emcee.
Soul held out his hand for the girl. "Let's have some fun?"
"Sure." she gladly accepted his hand and let's him guide her up to the stage. With her mask on and her eye on the game, she's hopeful she could finish the performance successfully.
Going up on stage, Nina couldn't keep herself tamed and carefully watch the girl with the mask. She just looked so familiar, Nina could tell that they knew each other very well. But with the mascaraed, it was quite difficult to tell. Using her camera, she zooms right in to the masked girl's face hoping she would have a better chance at guessing who it might be.
"Isn't that Minseo?"
"Who? The girl with the mask? Yep, that's her."
"Then why would she be wearing a mask? I mean almost every dancer here if familiar with her face."
"What if the girl isn't Minseo? And she was a fellow schoolmate at Hyevin?"
Taki shrugged. "Maybe? I mean who knows right? We could be wrong. We could be right. Endless possibilities."
"Any word from Saeyoung? We haven't seen her this morning and yet she said she was going to be here." Jungwon walked in. Hands in both of his pocket and his eyes focused at the stage eyeing the same girl that Nina was curious about. Like her, the boy could tell that the girl dancing on stage right now isn't Minseo. "Minseo is currently at the hospital, her leg got sprained or something so it's pretty clear that the masked girl is someone different."
Nina clicked her tongue. "Could it be someone we trust?"
The japanese boy snickered. "In this competition we trust no one. And besides, the girl must've been another Hyevin dancer taking Minseo's place, nothing special."
"I have a feeling that the girl is someone we know. And I'm pretty sure you're all familiar with her too, and that is something I can guarantee us all. So let's just watch and see. . . ."
'Me Like Yuh' by Jay Park finally plays with only the masked girl and Soul dancing on stage. The way they flirted and smoothly played with each other while dancing, it was obvious that they practiced well because they're chemistry on stage really amazed the audience.
Seeing the girl's smile, Ni-ki couldn't hold himself and instantly borrowed Daniel's camera. Just like Nina, he zooms into the girl and focuses on her face. He took a few pictures of her trying to guess on who the mystery dancer is. Ni-ki has to admit, her smile looks so similar to someone he knows.
"I think I might know who she is."
"Who?"
"Seo Nari." Nina rolled her eyes at Daniel's answer. She wasn't even familiar with a 'Seo Nari'. That's impossible.
After hitting his shoulder, Nina went on and grabbed her phone. She scrolled through her gallery and showed her a picture of her and the girl in one frame. "Dumbass. It's Roh Saeyoung!"
"You're joking. . . . right?" Ni-ki doubted her conclusions, he didn't know why but it's either he couldn't believe that she was dancing for Soul's team or maybe it wasn't really her after all. But then again, Nina did say she was already here before them.
"She has the same facial features as Saeyoung, she shares the same eye color as her and her height really screams out that the girl really is her. All you have to do is look closely." Nina passed her camera to Taki zooms in to the girl for him to have a better view of her face. "See?"
Taki nodded. "You're right. I could see the resemblance."
Ni-ki hummed. He puts the camera aside sat down and loosens the tie of his tux. "It really is her." as much as he doesn't want to believe it but just by giving deep thoughts into the situation, he could tell it's her because there's no way any other girl besides Saeyoung would get that close to Soul. Secondly, this must have been the reason on why the girl is taking half days at school. Third, that's why he saw her at the dance studio with Soul and his team. To practice together.
Future Husband will love me right.
Ending the performance with the last pose, Ni-ki watched in disgust as Soul lifted the girl up bridal style while smiling at the judges. He couldn't believe this was happening.
It's an eyesore.
Thanking the heavens that her mask didn't fall off Saeyoung separated herself from Soul's team and sat on a couch in a quiet hallway. With her mask removed and no one around to see her, she sighed in relief that she could finally be away from people.
According to Soul and Jeongseob's plan, once the performance was finished, Saeyoung should run to the nearest restroom, remove her makeup and change into her uniform to lessen everybody's suspicion about the masked girl in Hyevin's Performance.
Currently, the girl was having difficulties in removing the straps of her heels. She never knew that it was sticked to her this tight. Trying her best to detach the strap, her hand was gently pushed away to the side letting the person detach it for her.
"Ni-ki?"
The boy did not bother to answer and just went on to help her with her heel. This scenario felt weird for Saeyoung she felt like she was some kind of Cinderella in an alternative universe but with the prince removing the shoe off for her not the other way around.
"You did well out there." he said.
"Thanks."
Successfully removing the heel, Ni-ki gave her a soft smile putting her off-guard. She just danced with his rivals and she couldn't believe he had the courage to smile at her like that, but it was a lot better than starting a fight explaining how disappointed he was. It was an improvement, to say the least.
Ni-ki cleared his throat. "You look beautiful by the way." his compliment made Saeyoung's lip part. She couldn't process what he just said, technically that was the first time she heard something positive coming out from his mouth after a month. It was a big improvement. A shocking one to be exact.
"You should go ahead and change." the boy grabbed her bag and gave it to her. "We'll wait for you at the main hall." he tucked some strands of her hair behind her ear and a pat on the head. Saeyoung nodded and ran to find the restroom but unbeknownst to her, the tiara comb that Soul gave her was quietly taken away by Ni-ki.
He hid the comb into his pocket and went out to his team. Even without the girl mentioning anything, Ni-ki knew that the piece of jewelry was given to her by his arch enemy.
Sitting on a bench outside the building, Soul got a call from his mother. He wondered why she was calling him when she knew he was currently at a competitions.
"Mom hello?"
"Soul. Himiko she's at the hospital!"