The sound of low footsteps against the ground and passing chatter accompanied Jisung as he made his way to the designated meeting spot with Yeji. Having decided to go to her, he sent her a quick message informing her of his arrival.
Lifting his head from his phone, Jisung arrived at the venue's entrance, where a crowd moved in and out. Food stalls scattered around the area and decorations highlighted the event within.
Seeking a less crowded corner outside the venue, Jisung scanned the area, looking for the familiar figure of Hyunjin's female version.
Before long, a saccharine voice reached Jisung's ears.
"Sungieeee!" The voice chimed, followed by excited footsteps.
"Yeji," Jisung murmured, turning towards the source. There, he spotted Yeji running toward him, a wide grin lighting up her face.
A small smile tugged at Jisung's lips as he saw Yeji, about to greet her when he stumbled backward, taken aback as Yeji tackled him in a hug.
"I'm so glad you could make it!" Yeji exclaimed, jumping in place as she held onto Jisung.
"It's already bad that my brother won't be able to watch, and now my girlfriend too," Yeji pouted, drawing a chuckle from Jisung. He couldn't help but find her adorable.
"I thought nobody would come and support me, but at least you're here!" she added, pulling away from the hug and latching onto Jisung's arm, swinging it playfully.
"You're quite excited," Jisung remarked, an amused chuckle escaping him, his eyes twinkling. Yeji was one of the few people who had that effect on him.
Yeji let go of Jisung's arm, taking a step back and gesturing to her outfit. "What do you think of our costume?" she asked, anticipation evident in her wide smile.
Jisung playfully placed his fingers on his chin, pretending to ponder as he scrutinized Yeji's attire, emitting thoughtful hums.
The top Yeji wore had a Nutcracker soldier style but with a chic, dominant black color and red accents. Paired with the top was a black skirt with Renaissance-like gold patterns adorning the hem, embellished with chains around the waist area. Completing the ensemble were thigh-high black boots and elegant gold accessories.
To complement the outfit, Yeji's long black hair with purple streaks was neatly braided. Her makeup was subtle yet accentuated her striking features.
"Hmm, turn around," Jisung instructed, and Yeji promptly obliged, twirling to showcase every angle of their dance costume.
"Are you guys a marching band or a dance team?" Jisung snickered, earning himself a swift slap on the arm from Yeji.
"Stop it! Just tell me if it looks good or not," she whined.
Jisung nodded, "It's cute, but really, it depends on how it fits the dance you're doing. What dance are you guys performing?" As they walked inside the venue, their conversation continued.
"That's for you to find out later. But I'll give you a hint; it's going to be classical with a twist," she said with a playful smirk, intending to pique Jisung's curiosity.
Jisung shot Yeji a narrowed side glance, to which she responded with a cheeky smile.
As they stepped inside, Jisung got a proper view of the venue. It was an open field with a stage in the center. The bleachers were already filling up, offering better views of the performance without the worry of the crowd.
Yeji gently held Jisung's hand to ensure he wouldn't get lost in the crowd, especially since he wasn't familiar with the place. Guiding him toward the stage, they maneuvered through the sea of people, aiming for a spot closer to the stage for a better experience.
After a while, they finally emerged from the crowd into a less crowded area.
Jisung wrinkled his nose slightly from the contact with sweaty bodies while making their way through the crowd, but his expression eased as they left that congested space behind.
They arrived at a section secured by a metal barrier and staff, restricting access to specific attendees.
"You take this seat. This area are for judges, special guests, families, or the closest friends of the performers," Yeji explained, motioning for Jisung to occupy one of the unclaimed chairs near the stage. Jisung quickly settled into the seat, glancing around the area, relieved to have a more comfortable spot. Standing amidst the sweaty crowd wasn't something he preferred.
"Anyways, I'll catch up with you later. I need to prepare since we're starting soon. Hope you enjoy the show, Sungie!" Yeji exclaimed, running backward to give Jisung a wave before darting toward the area where the performers were getting ready.
Jisung smiled warmly in Yeji's direction, softly murmuring, "Good luck." As Yeji disappeared from his sight, his smile instantly faded. His eyes lost their sparkle, and his lips turned slightly downward.
Noticing that the show hadn't yet begun, he reached into the small bag he carried. Feeling the box-shaped object inside, he pulled it out, revealing his black AirPods Max adorned with stickers. Placing the headphones over his ears, he connected them to his phone, allowing the music to drown out the unwanted background noise.
Now shielded from the clamor around him, he crossed his arms over his chest, one leg resting atop the other. He subtly swayed his head to the rhythm of the music playing through his AirPods Max, finding comfort in the tunes that cocooned him from the world outside.
-----
Minho and his team had just finished their rehearsal, and he was now scanning the crowd from the side of the stage, searching specifically for his two friends whom he'd threatened to bring.
A wide grin stretched across Minho's face as he spotted Changbin and Jeongin seated near the stage where the judges were stationed. However, Seungmin was nowhere to be found; he had mentioned being a bit late due to his part-time job.
While Minho and the others were aware of Seungmin's part-time work, they had no clue about the nature of the job. They had considered asking him, but sensing it might be a sensitive topic, they opted to wait for Seungmin to divulge the information himself.
As Minho continued scanning the crowd, his expression suddenly tensed upon seeing a familiar face.
'Hwang Hyunjin!' Minho thought to himself.
There, 'Hwang Hyunjin' occupied one of the VIP chairs, his head swaying gently to the music playing in his AirPods Max. Although his expression seemed blank, he appeared engrossed in the tunes, a detail Minho couldn't help but notice.
"What the fuck is he doing here?" Minho muttered through gritted teeth, feeling a mix of irritation and an odd admiration for 'Hyunjin's' presence, looking so fucking sexy even while doing nothing.
As Minho observed 'Hyunjin' with a comical stream of anger seemingly emanating from his head, a sudden realization struck him.
"Fuck, He'll see me!" Minho panicked, quickly stepping back, wary that 'Hyunjin' might catch sight of him from the corner of the stage.
"No, no, no," Minho muttered to himself, feeling a surge of panic at the prospect of 'Hyunjin' noticing him during their performance, especially since 'Hyunjin' was seated so close to the stage.
Gathering his resolve, Minho hurried over to where his team was, engaged in laughter and conversation. He singled out a specific member, tapping their shoulder.
"Hyung, what's up?" the person said cheerfully, maintaining a wide smile.
"Felix, could you... swap places with me for the performance?" Minho whispered, feeling a tinge of embarrassment for making such a request.
Felix's expression turned surprised, his eyes sparkling at Minho's proposal. "We could, but wouldn't that mess up the formation? I don't want any issues during the performance..." He explained, sensing guilt creep in as he noticed Minho's dejected expression in response.
"We do have the same set of movements, so I guess it won't cause too much trouble...?" Felix added, his uncertainty evident. He was reluctant to agree to Minho's request, yet he felt a pang of sympathy seeing how quickly Minho's face fell at the thought of refusal.
"So, you're okay with it?" Minho asked, his tone tinged with hope. Felix's original place in their formation was on the other side, out of sight from where Jisung was seated. Minho couldn't risk Jisung having a clear view of him in his initial position.
"I will if you spill the reason," Felix cheekily replied, prompting an inward face-palm from Minho.
'It's Felix, what did I expect?' Minho thought to himself.
"Well, you know I've got this annoying cough, right? I just don't want to draw attention if I start coughing uncontrollably, and your current position could help me hide, even if just a little," Minho explained, hoping his excuse sounded natural. Felix was his final option. He knew the others wouldn't be keen on switching, given the variations in their choreography.
Felix playfully raised an eyebrow at Minho's explanation, making Minho gulp nervously. Eventually, Felix nodded, slinging an arm around Minho in a friendly gesture. "Hope your cough doesn't mess with your performance, hyung," he said, giving Minho's back a reassuring pat.
"Anyway, ITZYNCH is about to perform. Let's watch from the side!" Felix added, seizing Minho's hand and not giving him a chance to protest as he guided them to a vantage point for a better view of ITZYNCH's performance.
-----
Sounds of cheers and applause reached Jisung's ears through his headphones, signaling the commencement of the event. He removed the headphones, neatly stowing them back in his bag, focusing his attention on the stage as the event's host made their entrance to kick off the proceedings.
Jisung tuned out most of the welcome talk, only perking up when the host announced "ITZYNCH," recognizing it as Yeji's team.
He settled comfortably in his seat, preparing himself to witness the performance, his excitement evident in his movements.
Soon, the members of ITZYNCH emerged onstage, all dressed in matching outfits. A wide smile instantly spread across Jisung's face as he spotted Yeji. He reached for his phone, capturing shots he intended to send to Hyunjin later.
The crowd erupted in enthusiastic cheers for the team. Jisung wasn't usually the type to cheer loudly, but when it came to someone close like Yeji, he couldn't resist. He rose from his seat, shouting out loud.
"FIGHTING HWANG YEJI!" His cheer echoed, and he chuckled softly as he noticed a smile tug at Yeji's lips upon hearing his cheer. Her expression soon shifted into one of intense focus, demonstrating her professionalism and dedication to the performance.
Settling back into his seat, Jisung immersed himself in the music that filled the venue, setting the stage for the team's performance.
As the performance commenced, Jisung's expression contorted in surprise, his doe eyes slightly widening. "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy?" he mused aloud, recognizing the renowned classical piece by Tchaikovsky, albeit with some modifications.
The song, instead of its usual elegant and graceful tone, was intense and infused with a modern element, fitting the more contemporary dance routine the team was executing.
A beat drop signaled a distinct change, leading Jisung to a realization.
"A hip-hop remix of Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy, huh," he remarked, a smirk forming on his lips in amusement. Crossing his arms over his chest, he ran his pierced tongue across his lips—a habit that surfaced when he found something intriguing. And right now, this unique remix had certainly caught his attention.
The dance continued, now pulsating with a more hip-hop vibe, drawing cheers from the crowd, especially two particularly loud individuals who happened to be seated near Jisung.
"STOP CHEERING, CHANGBIN! THEY'RE AGAINST MINHO HYUNG'S TEAM!" a voice scolded loudly.
Jisung clicked his tongue, muttering, "I doubt your team will be able to beat Yeji's."
Not long after, the performance came to an end. Being a supportive friend, Jisung gave them a standing ovation, clapping enthusiastically.
As the performers exited, Jisung settled back into his seat with a contented smile, spotting Yeji making her way toward him from the corner of his eye.
"Good job!" Jisung stood up to greet Yeji, but he wasn't prepared for her to leap into a tight hug that momentarily constricted his airways.
"Did I do well?" Yeji asked, releasing Jisung as she eagerly sought his validation.
"Yes, you were pretty good," Jisung replied.
"Great! Did you record me? My girlfriend wanted to watch me perform, but she couldn't come because of her injuries, so I wanted to show her a video," Yeji explained, prompting Jisung to retrieve his phone to show her the video.
"I do, but it's only snippets, not the whole performance," Jisung mentioned, handing his phone to Yeji so she could see the video clips.
"Thanks, Sung! This will do," Yeji exclaimed with a grateful smile.
"Anyway, I have to head back. Enjoy the rest of the event," she giggled, handing back the device.
"I thought I was supposed to support your team only. Now you're telling me to watch other team's performances? Wow, Yeji, I did not expect that from you," Jisung teased, raising his pierced eyebrows at her.
Yeji mockingly swatted Jisung's arm. "You know what? Do whatever you want," she retorted, walking away with a grin.
Jisung chuckled at Yeji's playful response and settled back into his seat, reopening his phone. With Yeji's performance finished, he didn't have much reason to stay engaged in the rest of the event.
-----
As ITZYNCH wrapped up their performance, Minho's team gathered for a huddle, encouraging each other to perform their best and ease any self-imposed pressure. Afterward, Minho returned to his spot in the corner, stealing glances at the crowd—and at someone who never failed to ignite his simmering frustration, reminding him of the humiliating turn his last date had taken.
Peering from the corner, Minho's eyes widened as he spotted 'Hyunjin' locked in an embrace with a girl. "Huh?" Minho uttered, observing the girl who seemed to be part of ITZYNCH, judging by her costume.
A sense of realization struck Minho, and he continued to scrutinize the scene, his gaze narrowing. The notion that 'Hyunjin' might already be romantically involved with someone, especially after openly flirting with Minho – or rather, Lina – during their date, irked him.
Minho pondered, "Maybe it's his sister?" His mind drifted to Hyunjin's statement from their last date, where he mentioned not having fallen in love yet.
Observing 'Hyunjin,' Minho noticed a chuckle escape him as the girl walked away. "No, his body language is different," Minho mused, attempting to decipher the situation. However, his observations were cut short when the host called out their team's name.
"HYUNG, WE'RE UP!" Felix's urgent call snapped Minho back to the present, signaling him to prepare. Their team stepped onto the stage, poised to showcase weeks of hard work to the awaiting crowd.
While onstage, Minho couldn't help but steal glances at 'Hyunjin,' who appeared more engrossed in his phone than in the impending performance.
Annoyance bubbled within Minho. 'I'll make your jaw drop and your eyes roll to the back of your head with our performance, Mr. Hwang,' he thought, a small smirk forming on his lips. He was determined to captivate 'Hyunjin' with their show, channeling his frustration into a fierce determination to shine on stage.
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ji's notes!
this chapter is my christmas gift for you all! ૮ • ﻌ - ა
anw, really love tchaikovsky's composition. we learned about classical music during 9th or 10th grade was it?? and i had that phase where i would listen non-stop to claude debussy, mozart, beethoven, haydn, chopin and ofc tchaikovsky 😭😭 (we focused more on these composers)