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It’s already 2 am and neither one of them wanted to admit it, but both were already exhausted from hours of trying to learn a completely new dance.
“Ziyi, we’re not making any progress.” Xukun ran his hands through his hair slicked with sweat and plopped down on the floor.
Xukun finshed the rest of his nongfu spring vitamin water and sighed, turning to look at the surprisingly quiet Ziyi. The taller boy was leaning on the practice room mirror, already half asleep. Xukun chuckled to himself and got up. Walking over, he poked Ziyi’s cheek until the boy’s eyes fluttered open and gave him a small smile.
“Sorry, Kun.. I know it hasn’t been easy.” Ziyi rubbed his eyes and stifled a yawn.
“You’re right, you’d think tango would be easier to learn, huh?” Xukun tried to muster a reassuring look but he was also at his wit’s end. Xukun’s dancing was self-taught. Then his dance training after becoming a trainee was mostly hip-hop and idol group choreography. On the other hand, Ziyi had 8 years of dance experience at break dancing. Neither of them knew how to tango. What had possessed Ziyi to choose this genre? Xukun wondered to himself. But deep down, he knew the reason. He had once mentioned that he is the most confident when Ziyi was with him, and being the kind person that he is, Ziyi would always go where Xukun went.
“Why did you choose tango, Kun?” Ziyi’s question pulled him out of his thoughts.
“I wanted to show everyone a new side of me.” Xukun shrugged.
“Well, tango’s really the way to do it.” Ziyi laughed to himself and Xukun felt his tiredness ebb away. Soon enough Xukun was laughing along, and their laughter filled the practice room. Xukun was tired, sore, hungry and Ziyi was probably feeling a lot worse but they were both happy.
--
Ziyi was tired. He had spent the better half of the day teaching Zhenghao how to improve his rap, then his afternoon filled with group practice, scheduled interviews, and finally his tango practice with Xukun. Laughing with him like this, his frustrations are immediately pushed to the back of his mind. Suddenly everything was about Xukun. Forgotten was the pain in his left hand that he hurt in a fall earlier that day. Gone was the nagging thought that after failing to grasp tango easily, maybe he’s not a skilled dancer after all. His doubts on his decision to once again choose to be on Xukun’s team is now replaced with certainty.
This place, this moment, this person right in front of him. There’s nowhere he’d rather be.
Xukun was still recovering from their random laughing fit, exaggerated by the fact that it’s past midnight, and everything seems to be funnier at this time. Acting on impulse, Ziyi moved closer and put his hands on Xukun’s cheeks. Xukun’s laugh stopped but settled into a small smile, leaning into Ziyi’s touch.
“Kun, I think we may have been practicing the wrong way.” Ziyi reached out a hand and helped Xukun get up.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, maybe we’re looking too much into the technicalities of the dance.. Let’s try again, but this time with feeling.” Ziyi declared, energized.
Xukun looked mildly confused but didn’t object. They’d give it a last shot before finishing practice, not wanting to return back to the dorms with little progress.
After starting the music, Ziyi walked towards Xukun with such intensity that he took a step back. Ziyi grabbed his hand and pulled him back to position.
The music swells and they move from backsteps to sweeps, promenades to scissors. Xukun trips on his own feet but is quickly pulled up by Ziyi.
Xukun is less enthusiastic during the rest of the dance and as he makes more and more mistakes, his focus wavers and Xukun stops the music.
“Maybe we could call it a night? I think we’ll be more productive tomorrow” Ziyi suggests. Xukun being unsure of himself was a rare thing, and Ziyi didn’t like the sight of it.
Xukun almost relents but calls for a last dance. Ziyi agrees but knows the uncertainy in Xukun is still there.
--
Xukun didn’t want Ziyi to see him like this and regret his decision.
Ziyi seemed to know that Xukun needed one last reassurance, as the usually reserved boy gives him a quick kiss on the cheek. Barely touching, but the heat from Ziyi’s lips spread across Xukun’s whole face and soon enough his body felt on fire. The music is loud, but Xukun heartbeat is louder.
“Ready?” Ziyi smiled disarmingly as if he didn’t just cause Xukun’s thoughts to scatter everywhere.
“Yes, let’s try this for the last time.” Xukun huffs. “Tomorrow we’re getting Yanchen-ge or Chaoze-ge to teach us.”
fin.