"Just watch... watch me dance."
Park Seongji stood in the center of the room, the whispers of his classmates fading into a blur. He closed his eyes, taking a long, shivering breath. In the darkness of his mind, the dance video he had watched earlier began to play. Every frame, every flick of the wrist, and every shift in weight was etched into his memory with supernatural clarity.
"Start the music!" he commanded, his voice ringing with a newfound authority.
As the heavy bass dropped, Seongji's body moved. It wasn't the clumsy, heavy movement of the 'old' Seongji. This was liquid fire. Each step perfectly hit the beat, his moves even more fluid and sharp than the professional in the video.
Zoe's jaw dropped. The boy she had known as a shadow was now a sun, blindingly bright.
The climax of the song arrived, and Seongji executed a flawless final move, freezing into a pose that screamed perfection. Silence followed. A heavy, suffocating silence.
Seongji's heart hammered against his ribs. Did I mess up? "Did I... do some steps wrong?" he asked tentatively.
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
Sudden, thunderous applause erupted. His friends were cheering, and even the skeptics were stunned. Zoe was speechless, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and admiration.
"Zoe," Seongji breathed out, his face flushed. "Am I the right choice to be your partner?"
Zoe didn't answer at first; she was lost in his gaze.
"Zoe? Can you hear me?" he asked louder.
"Wh-what? Oh! Yes!" she stammered, her face turning pink. "I mean, after seeing that... I'm 100% sure we're going to win this competition!"
A wave of euphoria washed over Seongji. "Then when do we start?"
"We only have two weeks left," Zoe replied, regaining her composure. "We'll practice for an hour every day after school."
Every day... alone with Zoe, Seongji thought, a goofy smile spreading across his face. This is it. The glow-up was worth it.
[Later that day]
"Man, you're in your prime, Seongji!" Satoshi laughed, slapping him on the back.
"Unexpected moves, bro. Really unexpected," Minho added, grinning.
Hyunwoo nodded, "He's a different person now."
Seongji laughed with them, feeling a sense of belonging he had never known. "Okay guys, I have to go. Practice starts now!"
"Don't forget us once you're with your crush!" Satoshi teased.
"He won't," Hyunwoo said firmly. "He's known us since we were kids."
"I'll never forget you guys, trust me!" Seongji waved, running toward the practice hall. His mind was racing. If we win... if we actually win, I'll propose to her right there on the stage.
But as he reached the door, the air in his lungs turned to ice.
Inside the hall, Zoe wasn't alone. Standing next to her was a tall, athletic guy—Jake, the former partner who was supposed to be bedridden with an injury.
Zoe spotted Seongji at the door. "Seongji! Come here, I need to talk to you."
Seongji walked over, his eyes fixed on Jake. "Wait, isn't this your partner? The one who was injured?"
"Seongji, that's what I wanted to tell you," Zoe said, her voice dropping.
"Yeah?" Seongji said, forcing a polite tone. "Too bad, brother. I hope you recover fast."
"Actually," Zoe bit her lip, "Jake has recovered. He can dance again. And since... well, since our names are already registered together for the competition..."
"But you said!" Seongji's voice cracked, a sudden flare of anger rising. "You said I would be your partner! Now you're taking it back?"
"I know what I said," Zoe looked away, "But the registration... it's easier this way."
The rejection hit harder than any bully's fist. Seongji realized he was shouting and immediately felt a wave of shame. "I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled." He looked at Jake, then at Zoe, his heart heavy with a fake smile. "Go ahead. Practice. I'll... I'll see you around. Bye."
[The Encounter]
Outside, the world felt gray again. Seongji slumped against the cold stone wall, sliding down until he was crouching on the floor, his head in his hands.
"That was pretty brutal," a soft, melodious voice said from above him.
Seongji looked up. A girl was standing there, someone he hadn't seen before. Her eyes were sharp, yet mysterious.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
"My name is Rika," she said, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. She reached out, extending a hand to help him up. "Why waste those moves on someone who doesn't appreciate them? How about it... want to be my partner instead?"
Seongji stared at her hand.
To be continued...…