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It was the seventh time on this day that Gunwoo apologized for stepping on his partner’s foot. Not fun being an apology bot at all but what could he do? It’s been a couple of days and they haven’t even gotten through half of the song yet.
Gunwoo felt a bit guilty for her bad luck in getting him as her dance partner. Everyone knew he have two left feet. He could picture in his mind what he needed to do but it’s very frustrating that his body does the opposite. The unlucky girl looked resigned to her fate but was kind enough to stay after school to practice with him.
Probably, this was also to her benefit. If they stumbled in the field demonstration, they would stand out in their class group and get laughed at. Then they’ll get bullied for the rest of their lives.
Gunwoo could handle it but he doesn’t know about her. Similar to him, she doesn’t have any friends at school and doesn’t talk to anybody except for class related activities. But unlike him, she always seemed like she’s about to cry.
He tried to convince their homeroom teacher if he could do a replacement project instead of participating in this event like what he did last year. But his teacher was so stubborn and wanted Gunwoo to cooperate with the class, said it builds character or something. But he can’t even practice with them until he get the steps right. What a load of crap.
“Let’s stop. We’re not making any progress.” They were actually getting worse. He closed the music app and turned the bluetooth speaker off. “I’ll try to make our homeroom teacher see reason by asking a different teacher for a supplementary project so we won’t fail this semester.”
“But.” Her voice was very soft though he could still hear her whisper because of the silence. “I would like to dance.”
“Don’t ask for a miracle. Everybody knows I can’t dance.”
“O-oh.”
The girl fidgeted on the spot. Her eyes were glued to the floor while Gunwoo dragged the tables and chairs back into their proper place.
“We could try again tomorrow.” The girl spoke with a wobbly voice. Please don’t cry. What would Chungwoo hyung say if he made a girl cry?
“Would that even help?” They will just waste time and energy they could be using in more productive ways. Like monitoring SNS.
“… a teacher.”
“Yeah. Perhaps the history teacher would like a new world map or—”
“No. A teacher for dance.”
Gunwoo sighed. “Our P.E. teacher already gave up on me.” And that man was the one who taught the students all the steps for this school program. Gunwoo felt like a wriggling worm whenever he was under that man’s piercing gaze, looking at him move his awkward limbs like he didn’t deserve having them.
And it didn’t stop there. That guy tried to correct him several times in class by personally pulling and pushing Gunwoo’s limbs into place like he was an articulated doll, but was mad that he was missing the significant joints to make it work.
The last time that teacher did it, Gunwoo cried out loud because he thought his arm would pop off of his shoulder. Then the P.E. teacher said Gunwoo has to learn on his own because he’s very delicate and sensitive, forbidding him to practice with the rest of the class because his mistakes will get in the way of their progress.
“Try a different one?” The meek girl asked, distracting Gunwoo from his bitterness. He looked at her with his head tilted to the side.
“But you’re already teaching me.”
She twisted her fingers and bit her lips while still looking down.
“I’m no good. I don’t know how to explain well.”
At least she’s aware. She didn’t really explain anything much at all and only did her dance parts in tears. Granted, he didn’t ask any questions either. Where does he even start in the first place?
“You really wanted to dance?” He strapped his backpack on and pulled the ends down to make them fit snugly. Though that made him wince so he slid off one of the straps from his shoulder.
She nodded at the floor and said, “The dress is gonna be pretty.”
“Oh.”
This girl was actually looking forward to it. Unlike him. But if they were going to do a project instead, she won’t get to wear the dress. Gunwoo looked up the ceiling and decided.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll think of something.”
...
...
He went to Testar’s dorm unannounced but the guards knew him so they let him through the gate after a fist bump. Gunwoo was hoping to see Seon Ahyeon hyung but apparently, he and most of the other members still had a busy schedule to do today. Only Keun Sejin and Cha Eugene were at home for finishing early.
...
...
“Waltz~” Keun Sejin made a weird face when he said that. Ugh. Great.
“Yes, hyung. It’s very difficult,” Gunwoo said in monotone while looking at Keun Sejin’s twitching face.
“But that’s for babies!” Cha Eugene, who was busy playing a console game in the open living room, yelled in reply.
Wow. So easy that toddlers could do it. What did he come here for, to get ridiculed?
He suddenly had a bad feeling about all of this. Maybe he could’ve asked Chungwoo hyung for tips later in a video call instead of going here. Then that feeling intensified when Keun Sejin hyung grinned.
“Why don’t baby Ryu Gunwoo show us hyungs what he have so far~” Then hyung gestured to the floor. Gunwoo wanted to roll his eyes at that remark but nodded instead.
He raised his arms like how he thought he would hold his partner if she was there and stepped forward. Then he tried to step to the side but his opposite foot tried to move there instead, it made him hesitate for a moment. He glared down and forced the correct foot away to the side and he stepped back.
Well, he tried to.
Instead of his other foot joining the previous one first, it skipped that part of the instructional step and moved back in advance instead. Gunwoo groaned and forced his body to correct itself again. Then when it was time to take a turn and rotate, taking his imaginary partner with him, his foot crossed and he almost fell but fortunately caught himself just in time.
“You…”
When he looked up at Sejin hyung, who held his face in his palm while his shoulders shook, Gunwoo lowered his arms and stopped dancing.
“I know I suck. You don’t have to stop yourself.”
Like a broken pipe, hyung laughed shamelessly loud after that. “You look like you were about to reprimand a body part!!!” Then he wiped away the tears from laughing so hard. “What did it ever do to you?! Oh my god. That was so good~”
Gunwoo frowned. Then running footsteps thundered on the floor coming towards them.
“No. No. No! You two are dancing, then dance studio! It’s proper!” Like a whirlwind, a very energetic Cha Eugene pushed the two of them out of the dorm.
...
...
It’s not Gunwoo’s first time in the studio. Chungwoo hyung and the others showed him all the facilities before like a fun little field trip. But he soon realized that being in front of a wall full of tall mirrors while dancing was very embarrassing. He wanted the floor to swallow him whole.
“Reflection is friend. Don’t be afraid!” Eugene hyung chirped beside him while doing the same waltz body position in the mirror. Cha Eugene looked so cool doing it though! Gunwoo just felt miserable standing next to the redheaded hyung.
They watched the choreography he had filmed secretly in class and the two men easily replicated the steps. While Cha Eugene inspected his posture in the mirror, Keun Sejin hyung skipped with light footwork around the dance floor like gravity doesn’t exist.
Wait. Why does it look so different when these two were doing it?
Then Sejin hyung spun and stopped with one of his arms stretched wide while the other one pointed at him. “Alright! I think I got the hang of it now. And I know what your problem is~”
So dramatic.
And why make it seem like he spotted some hidden answer to a puzzle? It’s obvious what Gunwoo’s problem was. It’s dancing. Period. But of course, these thoughts never stopped this hyung from firing away.
“You’re too stiff~ Your joints are locking up because you’re thinking too much about everything and anything. Annnd~ You even avoid looking at yourself in the mirror. What’s up with that?”
It’s not like they have mirrors like these in a school gym. What was he on about?
“Yes. He’s afraid. Be free. Let go! Dancing is so much fun!” Cha Eugene did several moves consecutively fast. No, its pretty clear those weren’t waltz anymore but Cha Eugene still looked like a badass doing whatever that was.
Gunwoo just stared blankly at the two.
“So… what should I do? I can’t dance. I can’t even finish a whole number without stumbling or stepping on my partner’s foot.”
Keun Sejin looked perplexed for a second then stroked his chin in thinking.
“Just study yourself in the mirror like I do, then compare. Do it pose by pose!” Cha Eugene hyung exclaimed out loud. Very loud. And Gunwoo doesn’t even know what that hyung said because it was in English, but at least he continued the rest in Korean afterwards. “If you look right, then you’re doing it right!”
“What?” Gunwoo got more confused. He doesn’t even know how to look right. Thoughts about the P.E. teacher repositioning his body resurfaced.
“Ah! I know~ Thank you Eugene!” Then Keun Sejin hyung lined the three of them in front of the mirror. They stood side by side, starting with Cha Eugene, then Keun Sejin, and ending with Gunwoo.
“We’re going to play a game using those steps as a guide~ Just follow along!” After Keun Sejin hyung said that, he signaled to the other hyung to start.
“Okay!” Cha Eugene sharply moved his arm to the first position, Keun Sejin hyung followed after a beat. Gunwoo froze when their eyes met in the mirror.
“Go on, baby Gunwoo~”
“… sure, old man.”
“?”
“!!!”
When he was done, Eugene hyung did the position for the other hand and Sejin hyung promptly mimicked it. Gunwoo copied them as closely as he could. They did the same method for the first step, and the second, and the third… until Gunwoo sort of felt a sense of rhythm and tempo with the three of them moving in order like this. Then they would repeat. Before he knew it, some time had passed and he was doing the box step without any hesitation. It felt quite nice.
The basics were repeated a few times more but then Cha Eugene decided to add in the more challenging steps.
“And then we turn!”
They were moving slow but panic still swept in. Gunwoo’s legs crossed—it was such a simple turn and already broken down to bite sized pieces, so whhhhhy—and he lost his balance again. Keun Sejin quickly grabbed him by the shoulder before he fell. Gunwoo managed to not make a sound but grimaced a little. It’s irritating that his shoulder was still sore.
“Are you okay?” Cha Eugene asked in concern.
“I’m fine, hyung. Let’s continue.”
The hyungs shared a glance then talked like they were doing a skit.
“Let’s take a break. Hey, Eugene, I’m thirsty~ Lets pick out drinks from the vending machine!”
“You’re paying, hyung?!”
“Of course!”
“Cool!”
The two were gone in a blink. They were probably getting annoyed that he still can’t get it right but don’t want to admit it in front of him. He should stop wasting their time. He thought about going home but…
He wanted to try just a little bit more.
Gunwoo looked back at the mirror and imagined the two men were there beside him. In his mind they moved like they did previously and he followed through. Then the turn came and he stumbled and fell. The P.E. teacher’s voice echoed in his head. So he stood up and did it again. And again. And again...
Ah. He have to apologize to his dance partner. Looks like she won’t be wearing the dress after all.
Gunwoo was lying on the floor when he felt something cold and wet touch his forehead. He opened his eyes to the two grinning hyungs.
“Apple juice!”
“Shall we try again~”
After some refreshments, the three of them stood in front of the mirror once more.
“Remember, just follow along~”
This was hopeless. He should’ve run when he had the chance. They started slow like before and after getting the rhythm down, the music started. Gunwoo froze for a bit when he saw one of the managers waving at them, then gestured for him to continue with the practice. And after going through a few box sets, he was expecting to tumble and fall but the turn never came. Cha Eugene did a completely different step and Keun Sejin followed with a smile like nothing was amiss.
“Wait. Hyung! You’re doing a completely—”
“Don’t think! Just pose!”
These steps were weird, though it’s very easy to follow. But it’s not waltz anymore even though the same orchestral music was being played.
“But how will I dance with the rest of the class if the steps I learn is different?”
Then Keun Sejin hyung playfully replied to his question. “We’re not dancing. We’re just playing a game, remember~”
These two…
Fine. He gave up and surrendered to just follow their every move. The music kept on replaying and they kept repeating the same weird but fun steps. They were doing a lot more hand gestures too. It looked kind of cute to be honest. At some point the hyungs were adding more and more steps that seemed somewhat familiar to him but he can’t remember where he had seen it. And Gunwoo followed without thinking much and moved his body accordingly.
Another step was added where they had to make a heart shape using their hands and had to raise one foot up. Then suddenly, the music changed completely to K-pop. The two hyungs continued dancing, repeating the completely different dance routine but this time they danced with its true bpm, bringing the cuteness factor to the max. Gunwoo froze, realization had hit him like a train.
It was POP☆CON. He was duped into dancing the popcorn song meme to the tune of waltz. The cursed manager, who changed the music, giggled in the corner at his reaction.
Cha Eugene called out to him. “C’mon, Gunwoo, don’t stop. Let’s dance!” Hyung’s a monster for killing it even with this joke of a dance.
And when Keun Sejin hyung had a good look at Gunwoo’s face in the mirror, the guy completely lost it. Hyung couldn’t even stand up straight from cackling so hard.
Ah. What was his life even?
With a blank expression, Gunwoo continued to follow the simple movements he could easily recall because they’ve been repeating it slowly for several times over. Though his awkward limbs did the cute popcorn dance with no energy at all.
When Keun Sejin hyung looked back again, he fell to his hands and knees and laughed even harder. “Your face! Pfft—” The man was pounding the floor with his fist. “Popcorn dancing Tibetan fox—hahaha!”
The man really had no shame.
Gunwoo imagined himself at the school program dancing to POP☆CON while his classmates danced to waltz around him. Goodbye Ryu family. Hello mental facility.
The catchy beat that gets stuck to your brain like a deadly disease was finally done. Gunwoo stopped making a fool of himself and headed for the door.
“Wait! Where are you going?” Eugene hyung shouted.
“I’m going home.”
“No. Stop~” He could still hear traces of laughter in Keun Sejin’s voice. Then that hyung wiped the tears and sweat away from his face with a shirt and heaved deeply to catch his breath. Then in a much more serious note, he said, “Congrats on finishing a dance routine!”
Gunwoo’s eyes widened. He danced ‘till the end of the music!
“Hey. We’re not dancing, we’re playing a game, remember?” He mockingly told Sejin hyung with a straight face.
“And your shoulder.” Keun Sejin hyung continued, ignoring anything else that Gunwoo had said. “We should take a look at it.”
...
...
They accompanied him to the hospital and it turned out that his shoulder muscle was pretty badly bruised. There’s nothing really wrong with it. It wasn’t even that painful, just irritating. It would heal if left alone. When the hyungs asked where he had gotten hurt, he said P.E. and that was the end of it. Then they brought him home.
Not that it could affect practicing waltz if he really wanted to continue. They weren’t going to dip their partners like how professionals do anyway. But he could finally convince his homeroom teacher with the medical certificate he got.
But what about the girl? She’ll probably be given the same kind of project because there wasn’t anybody else free to partner up with her. If that’s the case, she won’t be able to wear the dress at this point.
Hm. POP☆CON to the tune of waltz. He cringes just thinking about it. But…
Thanks to those two hyungs earlier, he felt a little bit uplifted. Maybe… maybe there was still something else he could do.
...
...
There was a time in the past when Gunwoo wasn’t a part of anyone’s family yet and his future was uncertain. Even through foster care, money was pretty much a problem. So he did odd jobs here and there that a kid could get away with, and one of the seasonal jobs he did was singing carols with an adult choir group.
He gets a considerable amount of allowance from it, food was always great, and he would receive additional gifts that he would sometimes trade or sell. And the overall atmosphere with that group was satisfactory. It was such a good haul that he kind of missed going there.
Anyway. Everyone said he could sing very well. They gave him the high parts as highlight of their songs and people liked it. They also like to invite him every now and then, pushing him to become an official member of the children’s choir, but he always refused. He doesn’t like being asked about his parents. It’s a hassle plus he doesn’t want to deal with spoiled brats in the children’s choir.
Their comments about his singing doesn’t feel like they were just saying positive things just to be nice. It felt as if they genuinely like his voice. Rethinking back to that time gave him a little bit of confidence.
With that sentiment in mind, he researched songs that would nicely fit waltz. He mainly wanted to convince their homeroom teacher with this compromise, so he was also keeping the theme in check that would be suitable to her taste. They may not become a part of the class’ field demonstration but his idea was still a performance with a classmate. He hoped that argument was enough to be considered.
...
...
One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three.
Gunwoo was in his room, quietly and softly singing potential songs he could turn into waltz while he kept the needed beat in check by tapping his foot to the floor.
He already went through several of them while imagining the steps of his dance partner. It’s a very common time signature and there were a lot of good songs to choose from that could also suit the tempo. But he just couldn’t find the right one.
He yawned and stretched. It’s already way beyond past midnight. He glanced at WeTube recommendations influenced by the songs he listened to for the past couple of hours, and clicked a thumbnail that caught his attention. Then he felt something in his gut.
The lyrics. The theme. That aesthetic of the music video. Even though the song, a debut song, was not successfully strong during its day, nostalgia will work as a positive for this performance. He tried singing it to the tune of waltz.
One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three.
He felt his lips curl up.
Even if only a few people from the audience does remember it, waltz surprisingly fit the song. In a manner, the essence of waltz had sprinkled more magic onto it. Gunwoo grinned. Its perfect.
...
...
Morning, some time before class, he told his dance partner about what they could do instead. She seemed worried and skeptical. But when he did a sample of the song at recess while doing the box step—in a secluded part of the school, her eyes sparkled. By lunch time, they were too hyped up to eat so they tried to practice at the rooftop instead.
They both began to alter the steps and the choreography a little bit, throwing ideas between themselves, which was a significant improvement from how they usually interact with each other. They haven’t really deviated from the original dance steps that much, but his partner have more exaggerated footwork and wider arm movements to do unlike before.
Like encircling Gunwoo as he sings rather than Gunwoo turning both him and her. He’s basically just following her by facing his body this way and that, and throwing out an arm when its suitable while his legs sorta follows the box movement to keep in rhythm. This left more work for his partner but she seemed alright with it. In fact, she was happier.
“Oh. It’s because my dress is flowy. If I move like this, my dress will become more pretty!”
His dance partner became livelier and shared that her mom’s dress shop was the one making all the costumes for the class.
Well. Gunwoo’s just glad she doesn’t look like she’ll cry anymore. He’s also secretly happy with the reduced steps and did a small victory fist pump when he thought nobody was looking. No complicated turns for his legs this time!
Anyway. After polishing their routine a couple of days more, they were ready to present their proposal to the homeroom teacher. And his excited partner surprised him by bringing costumes for them to wear. They were decent enough even though the costumes weren’t one hundred percent done according to his partner. It’s a shirt in a vest for him and a dress for her. He doesn’t really know what would be different later on when they were completed. Gunwoo just shrugged and went to the cubicle to go change.
...
...
Other than a passing grade, it didn’t really matter to Gunwoo if they were both allowed to join the group or not. Probably the same with his partner who didn’t want to miss out dancing while wearing the dress her mother made. At best, they’ll not participate in the field demo but be graded privately by the teachers. At least, that was what they assumed. But what happened next was beyond what they expected.
...
...
They’ve just finished performing.
Why was their homeroom teacher looking at them with that kind of expression?! She was gushing and kept telling them how cute they were. Oh god. Their teacher was fangirling. How… freaking… embarrassing! It’s so humiliating that Gunwoo wants to go home. The girl beside him was shrinking like a turtle minus the shell.
Then the homeroom teacher called some of the faculty members and made the two perform once again. What the hell was going on?!!
After some time and several repeats of their performance, their still gushing homeroom teacher asked the P.E. teacher about what he thought.
Gunwoo gulped. The P.E. teacher’s eyes looked like it was about to shoot lasers. Was he really that angry that they altered the steps and choreography? After a few seconds though, the man clapped, then excitedly exclaimed that they still have time and told everyone that he has a few alterations that he would like for this class group to do.
“They’ll have to be convinced with this. We can still do it!” P.E. teacher had a fist up in the air like rousing a protest rally.
Convince who with what now?! This excitement was getting pretty weird and Gunwoo doesn’t know if he like it.
Then the crazy guy suddenly marched towards the music teacher. They talked in hushed voices while sneaking glances at Gunwoo. It sent shivers down Gunwoo’s spine.
“Two weeks. Give me at least two weeks. The music club will be able to handle it.” The music teacher was so determined. Was there such a club in this school?
“I’ll help as well!” The colorful art teacher chimed in.
“I’m counting on you!” And the crazy P.E. teacher sounded like a character in some action manhua. The other remaining teachers clapped and cheered, their homeroom teacher was the loudest.
“Fighting!”
What had he done? Did Gunwoo and his partner enter a room to an alternate dimension?
And so, Gunwoo and his partner were finally allowed to attend the next scheduled class group practice treated as VIPs. It was unbearable but they endured.
But before that...
...
...
Gunwoo was surprised to note that the so called music club was a bunch of adult misfits and not at all students from their school. They were long time friends who failed to have a breakthrough in the music industry, while some of them found the income to be unlivable since they didn’t become famous for it. Still, they haven’t given up on creating music. Not that he met all of them yet.
According to his music teacher, these mix of jaded office workers, tired part-timers, and hopeless unemployed individuals, who played music in their spare time, had enthusiastically promised to make the accompaniment piece after watching Gunwoo and his partner perform. They were briefed of the plan via chat and Gunwoo’s face reddened again when he realized he was filmed by the teachers.
“Okay, now, let’s do it from the top with the correct timing of breath this time.” His music teacher turned the recording device on before restarting playing the piano. After a few notes had passed, Gunwoo began to sing. He tried not to get conscious of the unemployed loiterer -ehem- musician on standby, taking a video of him. They were coaching him after all.
The teachers conspired to get Gunwoo excused from the rest of his classes and make this rushed recording, since no one wanted for him to lose his voice before the presentation and the class needed some music to practice with that fit the alternative concept asap. This would also serve as the template to base the final version on, which would take some time before it would be ready. Gunwoo was impressed that the music teacher already had this charming arrangement down after only a few days.
“Widen your mouth and take note of your diaphragm!”
“Yes!”
But, as he sang, Gunwoo thought about how mad Chungwoo hyung would be if it was revealed that he followed this forty-something music teacher into an underground pub to record a song in some shady homemade recording studio. Better not tell.
Also, it was already getting dark when the music teacher was satisfied and finally ended their session. Nobody would ever know how fast Gunwoo ran through a dark alley because of some unknown sound… except the music teacher who had to accompany him home.
No, he wasn’t scared of some cat. It was not a cat! It looked big. He doesn’t believe what the teacher said it was. The guy won’t stop laughing even as they got in front of the Ryu family’s household.
His teacher also asked his guardians for permission to let Gunwoo stay late on some days for further coaching and practice. He avoided looking at anyone of them as they talk.
...
...
The school program was an annual dance demonstration performed by groups of students in different levels out in the quadrangle. It’s just one of those old school traditions that deserved to be cutoff.
Given that the ground floor would be too crowded—they have to give enough space for the performers after all—most of the audience enjoy watching from the second floor balcony and above. It’ll be hard to see if they stayed on the ground floor, especially for the parents who wanted to take embarrassing photos of their kids for future blackmail material, but were obstructed by other equally awkward dancing students.
Previously, Gunwoo’s class had a simple, aka boring, rectangular formation. A common go to for other levels as well. Overall, it had nothing to showcase but the degree of synchronicity of the little dancing hellions. Gunwoo lamented the missed opportunity to be creative with this kind of stage. With an angle like this, they could—he shook his head to dislodge such useless thoughts out of it.
He could understand why though. The students already had to memorize dance steps while busily attending classes. And for the overworked teachers who won’t receive any reward for all their hard work in this school program, it would be very frustrating and time consuming to teach kids with short attention span about formations and complicated choreography. In spite of that, after the spectacle Gunwoo and his partner did, their class group formation and choreography had been changed completely.
At the start, before they got thrown out, he and his partner were assigned at the very back corner. Gunwoo took it to mean that their teachers hoped the audience will forget about them, or won’t even see them because they were just that bad. He agreed. But now its the opposite. Gunwoo and his partner was placed in the middle in the overall circular formation, putting the attention and emphasis on them.
Gunwoo regretted lighting whatever fire he lit among the teachers because of the scrutiny he got from his classmates. Because… the said few alterations were a lie! He could see the agony on his classmates faces each practice day and were definitely cursing him at his back. He believed that they’re just too tired from practice and classes to start bullying him.
Despite that though… this could be beautiful if done well. The dance was closer to a proper ball now and it was… pretty exciting.
Gunwoo and his partner got pretty lucky this time around too. They were mostly left alone in their place to do what they want and was minimally directed, except for timing them correctly with the group, and approving their little stage direction here and there.
The P.E. teacher would sometimes have a shocked expression when Gunwoo would do something but he wasn’t stopped, for some reason. The guy would just reorder the group a bit so that the stage will go with the flow. It was fun. The P.E. teacher seemed to be having fun too.
Still, he can’t help but be a bit suspicious about it though. What were the teachers trying to accomplish here? Why pour this much effort for their class now rather than before?
...
...
He ate, slept, studied for exams, and practiced. All he could do was troll a few Testar bashers to keep his sanity. Bonus points when he managed to get a hater cry into deleting their account. He was very drained to do anything else more significant. Which was not good at all!
And so, after a grueling couple of months and a half, he was so glad that the day of the presentation had finally arrived.
“I’m nervous. Are you nervous?” His partner whispered next to him. They were already dressed and was getting fitted with additional accessories and props by his partner’s mother.
Ah. The props were made—and some, like the wigs—were loaned by the art club. Or more widely known as the cosplayers of the school. Their club advisor, Gunwoo’s colorful art teacher, also does cosplay. And was helping around to get their classmates ready.
“You’re not nervous, you’re excited.” He gripped her hand tight. “Just think how beautiful your dress would be. And dancing’s fun, right?”
Her smile was brilliant. “Right!”
Right. He’s not nervous because he’ll be singing live while fake dancing to waltz. Gunwoo’s excited for this to be over with, so that he could get back to his regular life.
...
...
In a different part of the school…
Three cute animal mascots waddled through the school’s hallway. A brown bear carried small plastic bags of cotton candy while giving some to students and teachers they passed by or taken a selfie with. A blue bird held onto balloon strings and was also giving them away from time to time. And lastly, a red-orange stripped cat was eating one of the cotton candy.
“Hyung, more please.” Cha Eugene tried to pull a couple of bags hanging from the bear’s pudgy hands but the bear moved his arm away.
“No~ You ate the rest of the caramel popcorn you’re supposed to give away.” Keun Sejin ran—waddled fast behind the bird while the cat shuffled after him. The people walking around them giggled and took pictures.
“Stop it, you two. You might hit someone.” Ryu Chungwoo then added in a whisper shout. “Do you want to blow our cover?”
“Ah~ No, hyung.”
“I’m sorry!”
“Let’s just head to the second floor and find a good spot.” Then as Chungwoo moved, he didn’t notice someone coming out of the toilet. The person bounced on the bird mascot’s round belly and fell down.
“Sorry! Sorry!!” The three big mascots all tried to help pull the kid up. Then they got a good look at him. The most prominent feature was the cartoonishly long pointed ears, then the long black hair that almost reached the elbows, the fancy tailcoat suit, and lastly, Gunwoo’s narrowed eyes.
“!!!”
The three mascots quickly backed away. The bird silently offered a balloon, followed by a bag of cotton candy from the bear, but the cat pointed at Gunwoo and shouted…
“Elrond!”
The bird and bear dragged the loud cat by the arms and waddled away towards the second floor as fast as they could. When they took a peek, Gunwoo was called away by a teacher and the three sighed in relief.
...
...
“It’s still quite a shock, right? Hyung, your brother~ He’s pretty secretive for a kid,” Sejin said as he fanned himself. Wearing the mascot for quite a long time was hellish.
“Haha, that’s just how he is.” Chungwoo flapped the back of his soaked shirt. “I wouldn’t even know about today’s presentation if Gunwoo’s teacher haven’t informed mom about it. But I’m surprised you two went with me.”
“Gunwoo is young padawan,” Eugene butted in. He’s eating the rest of the cotton candy while half naked. Fortunately, they were alone in some classroom at the moment.
“Get some consistency in your fandom and wear a shirt on~” Sejin threw Eugene’s shirt that hit him in the face.
“Ew! Hyung! The sweat!”
“Of course, we wanted to see how he’s doing, hyung. We taught him how to dance after all~ Although, he didn’t came back!” Sejin wiped away his fake sad tears.
“Because you tricked him!” Eugene spun the sweaty shirt up in the air, trying to dry it faster.
“It was all in good fun! You had fun too~ Right, Eugene?” Sejin grinned and threw finger guns at their youngest member who pouted at him while still air drying the shirt.
Chungwoo looked back at the two in confusion. “When was that? And… mom said Gunwoo was practicing how to sing? They would sometimes hear him behind the bushes at the backyard but would immediately stop when he noticed somebody near.”
The two looked back with as much bewilderment as their leader, until they heard the announcement that Gunwoo’s class would be performing next.
“Alright guys. Suit up!”
...
...
The three decided to forget about the rented mascot suits and hid them somewhere. It’s just too hard to get back into it after breathing in fresh air. It was too hot and suffocating.
Fortunately, Ryu Chungwoo was able to ask a wandering high school student to sneak and buy souvenir hoodies, caps, shirts, and face-masks that was sold by the school’s entrance for them to change into… after enduring squeals, autographs, pictures, and extracting a promise to not tell anyone they were here. They also received some snacks and drinks which they thanked the student for when they gave them their things and pocket change.
“Oh my god! I should have realized Ryu Gunwoo’s your little brother! He’s very talented like you! I’m actually his art teacher, ahahahaha—”
After that bit of a revelation…
Naturally, they didn’t believe that the teacher will keep their mouth shut but so far, no fans where going after them. The art teacher also found them a good spot after moving a few tall potted plants which also served as a barrier. The three finally leaned comfortably on the balcony.
After a few minutes, there was a call for everyone to welcome in Gunwoo’s class and the audience gave them a warm applause. Chungwoo got his phone ready to record.
...
...
An inviting violin sound started to play to set the mood. Small hooded dancers, coming from different corners of the quadrangle, skipped and pranced like whimsical fae towards the center. The hoods were pretty fancy and the kids looked like they were characters from a fantasy style story setting. They started to partner up, seemingly picking a random spot, then they’ll pose into a curtsy or a bow while waiting for the others to get into their position.
The piano trickled in when it seemed about half of the students were in. With the higher scale and thematic visual aesthetic of the stage, the notes felt like charming little fairy lights flying aimlessly… until they gained a sense of unity… finally settling into the familiar beats of waltz.
The violin would tease in a little bit of chaos, but the piano, now in a more logical scale, would still pull it back to the orderly ¾ time signature. Some of the audience clapped at that. It’s cute and clever. Chungwoo thought Raebin would be pleased.
When the dance floor looked filled, the dancers started to move again. The boys offered their hands to their partners and their partners took it. That’s when the audience noticed the figure at the dead center doesn’t have a partner and was still positioned in a bow.
The rest of the string instruments joined in to make a more vibrant tune. The figure at the center slowly raised his head but didn’t move, unlike the partnered dancers who were slowly forming into a two layered circle, dancing in time to the beat.
Like a playful tease, a recognizable motif started to play here and there within the structured music. The circular formation was completed just in time for the sound of a plucked double bass to come in and add a deeper color to the beat. The figure in the center lowered his hood, revealing his elven features and a long black hair.
“Gunwoo.”
“Elrond!”
“Fuck. Why didn’t he tell us he’s the star of the show~”
Then Gunwoo opened his mouth and sang in a soft but clear voice, surprising everyone including the three TeSTAR.
~At some point I realized
I am trapped in an imperfect time~
“Oh, he’s got an attached mic… wait, he’s singing live? My brother is singing live?!”
A cute little girl with chocolate brown hair, wearing no hood and no visible elongated ear props, had twirled out of nowhere and was outside the circular formation. Her dress, although still cute, were more neutral in color and not as glittery as the other girls on the dance floor. Going by the tale of the presentation, this little girl seemed human.
She was moving accordingly to the music but seemed lost. Eugene noted that when the girl was looking right, Gunwoo was looking the opposite way.
“Ooh! Meeting!” Eugene excitedly and repeatedly slapped the metal beam in front of him, which Chungwoo and Sejin had to stop by firmly holding their maknae's hands.
~In this relentless and ruthless maze~
The girl who was moving about found a space to go in, but the group in the circular formation closed in, seemingly trying to stop her. Gunwoo swayed as he sang…
~ Won’t you save me from this existence~
More thrilling musical notes poured in. The waltz beat was still prominent like a structured frame but the music was getting livelier, rendering an anticipatory feeling. The outer most circle opened up and the girl was able to go in. The elven singer spread his arm like an invitation.
~It’s withering away… gradually
In this little space inside~
“Hey~ Isn’t this MallangDalkom?”
~Won’t you join me…
Suddenly, as if the wind itself wrapped around Gunwoo, an echoey choral voice joined in.
~~My dear little flower~~
The rest of the formation opened up at the middle and the girl was able to finally reach the center. Gunwoo and the human girl looked at each other. The singer bowed and the girl curtsied.
The elven Gunwoo offered his hand but the girl didn’t take it. Instead, she dramatically clutched her skirt and stomped a few steps away, rudely snubbing him. Gunwoo looked dismayed at his still hovering hand and sighed exasperatedly. A subtle addition of notes in the music played as though assisting on the comedic touch and the three hyungs laughed with the audience.
And then the rest of the dancers around the two removed their hoods simultaneously, displaying an assortment of pastel colored hair and all have pointed ears. The crowd cheered.
The singer also turned his back at the girl, but by doing so, their overall formation was fixed. The rich music was back in full but it felt more suspenseful. A callback to an unanswered anticipation from before…
~I’m waiting for the day it will bloom again~
… bringing everyone to the crest. Then like a desperate call, Gunwoo spread his arms wide and sang in a very high note. A violin kept up with him, extending it…
~Please come and find me!
… then it dropped. The bass line took over. Piano chords felt like it was struggling but it sounded intentional and wasn’t bad to listen to.
The girl behind Gunwoo spun, her cute fluffy skirt bounced and twirled. As if aware of it, the rest of the musical instruments swirled, like the rest of the notes had fallen into chaos. The pastel haired dancers spun with their partners… some of them giggled and laughed, one of them even screamed… but a moment passed and the music found peace and calmness in waltz’ rhythm.
Drumming taps on a wooden surface and a rich cello sound poured in, helping to harmonize the melodic chorus of ‘Into A New World’ via waltz.
The dance proper began. The outer circle rotated in the opposite direction of the inner circle. The two figure in the middle changed positions by stepping away, then in, then away again. They were still facing away from each other. But all of the kids were executing the box type step successfully.
Then the choir were back again, providing lyric-less sounds as Gunwoo sings the chorus…
~One step, two step~
Then Gunwoo stopped moving around as he gestured and sang, while the girl with him continued on her track, encircling him, alternating between a twirl and a more wider step, likely to cover up space as fast as she could. It was like a mix of an altered box step but without a partner.
“I wish they had stage lighting for this,” Chungwoo muttered.
~The sound of you coming
It’s ringing in my ears~
The dancers in the circular formation started to travel. The inner and outer group switched places as they turned with their partners.
~Don’t hesitate, please
Just give me your hand~
Gunwoo reached out to the girl, and she reached back to him… piano chords smashed in tandem with every syllable of the next line as the singer puts more and more power into them…
~We’re into a new world now!
… but their hands never touched. The girl twirled again, flouncing away with the melody. Gunwoo followed the spinning girl by rotating in place with his still raised arm. While the girl spun, she fiddled with the attachments on her dress, in the process of untangling something.
The other dancers showed additional choreography, where the boys twirled their partners inward and under their joined hands.
Meanwhile, the girl with the elven singer, had undergone a transformational effect. Or rather her dress did. The gravitational pull of her spin pulled out the lighter and more shimmery material outwards. Her sleeves and skirt became longer and flowed with the wind. It was silvery white and the embellishments reflected the sunlight which gave off rainbow hues. Gasps of awe could be heard as the music reached another crescendo.
And then… BAM!
The music and the dancers stopped.
Then in a more gentler tone, the waltz with the same melody of the song emerged again.
~Come to me
Please… come to me~
The pastel haired dancers slowly began to move again, gracefully performing an alternating open roll with their partners, before letting their hands go, switching to a completely new partner.
Ever so slowly, the music was becoming more colorful…
~The melody of my love for you…
… and the choir softly backed up the singer, albeit hauntingly…
… continues~
The elven singer looked crest fallen as his elusive partner continued to evade him. The strings were quiet and the piano was calm.
Then in a highest key, the highest point of the song, the elven singer sang with the sad cry of the violin as it reached the bridge.
~Can’t you feel me?
At last, their fingers entwined. The soft and cheerful music was back as the elven singer rolled his partner into his arms.
Chungwoo felt Sejin hitting him repeatedly on the back while giggling. The video he was recording was certainly ruined.
~Your touch
Your warm touch~
The two central figure were doing their own alternating open rolls as the music slowly furled into the more richer and deeper tones…
~Wakes me up from this slumber
Like a flower in spring~
… then livelier once again, filling the dance floor with warmth.
The choir rose with the music… the girls passed under their partners hands, including the two figures in the center. All of them looked in sync.
~Ooh… ooh…
While the pastel haired dancers did a more complicated choreography that showcased a combination of different formations, Gunwoo just did a simple box step with his partner and sang while facing her.
~Come with me
Come with me~
They rotated on the spot like figures in a music box.
~To this dazzling new world~
He twirled her, his partner’s dress flows enchantingly as she moves.
~To a paradise
As I stay by your side~
The other dancers still kept up with their routine sets but this time, as their hands traveled up in the air, they also released flower petals. One of the overly-hyper kids just threw them up and away, and did it again after digging more petals deep in their pockets.
~Come with me
Please, come with me~
The pastel haired dancers twirled for the last time but was slowly spinning towards their original partners. Then they started with the basic box step again, their movements gradually becoming slower. Everyone in the audience took note of the fairly wide gap in the circular formation.
The elven singer’s partner let his hand go with a twirl, and then she ran out of the formation and into the crowd, never looking back.
The music slowly settled until a violin was the only one left, playing the chorus’ melody as a motif again. The elven singer faced the direction where the girl vanished with his longing anxious hand, as he sang the final line…
~My melody of love
For you continues~
Then he pulled out a tiara from inside his coat pocket and let it drop… As it hit the floor, the music stopped. By then the other remaining dancers were in a curtsy and a bow like at the beginning.
...
...
As the crowd cheered, the children waved their hands happily at the audience. Gunwoo’s partner ran back at the center and started to shake him while screeching. Some of the kids were throwing petals to each other’s faces. And some of them ran to their parents with their wigs off.
Other parents started to invade the quadrangle to take pictures with their costumed kids. In which the assisting teachers had to quickly follow them to escort the parents out. The other teachers tried to make the children fall in line, so that they could go out in an orderly fashion, but most of them just won’t listen.
“Ahhhhhh… that was great. That was… I’m honestly speechless.” Chungwoo replayed the video he recorded but it was shit. “Gunwoo’s so good! How… when?” Sejin was beside him taking a peek.
“I hope somebody uploads a better footage~”
Then they noticed how silent Eugene was and glanced at him. Then they stared.
“Ah, Eugene. Are you okay?” Chungwoo asked the crying maknae.
“It’s good. But it’s sad too.”
“Aww~ It’s alright.” Sejin rubbed Eugene’s back.
“Hyung.” Eugene sniffed and faced them looking lost and heartbroken. “Elrond got dumped.”
...
...
It’s finally over. Or so he thought.
The students were basically free to go home or wherever they want after their performance… except for their class. Gunwoo’s eye twitched as he remembered it.
The teachers made them go back to their classroom for a special announcement. After they’ve all settled down—some parents chose to stay beside with their tired kids, the vice-principal entered.
The old -usually- stern guy then told a long story about the school’s old history which might or might not have something to do with the school program. Then he reminisced about the school’s pasts achievements. At that point, Gunwoo was trying hard not to fall asleep, unlike his other classmates.
To summarize, the annual field demonstration was used to cherry-pick the best candidates for an inter-school competition about field demo dance but they’ve been losing for almost a decade. It made the board of directors say ‘Enough was enough!’ And stopped gathering funds for it.
The direction to which this announcement was headed to, woke Gunwoo up like a bucket of ice-cold water dropped on his head.
The old -and now emotional- stern guy continued on, telling them how all their hardwork had been recognized and reached the hearts of the board of directors that they decided to support the school once again to enter the competition. Then the vice-principal talked more in length about honor this and prestige that.
Basically, Gunwoo’s class haven’t escaped hell yet. He thought briefly if it’s not too late to change schools.
After the teachers shouted, “Fighting!” He heard some of them talk about bonuses, resort holidays, and a possible pay raise. At least the music club got some sort of commission for the music. When he asked their homeroom teacher what would the class receive if they won, she cheerfully told him a big shiny trophy, medals, and bragging rights. He walked out of the room after that.
He hopelessly walked through the second floor hallway, looking for the animal mascots with recognizable voices. He thought they might still be here. But then a big hand covered his mouth—whole face at this point, and dragged him inside an empty classroom… where three familiar grinning hyungs waited for him.
Then it finally hit him.
Three of Testars watched him perform with the class while in disguise. TeSTARs watched him perform! Oh my god. They were there while he looked like a clown!
Gunwoo covered his reddening face while they showered him with teasing jokes and praises. He prayed for a quick death.
Then Chungwoo hyung pulled his hands away. “Gunwoo, I really enjoyed your performance. You were great!”
“You made Eugene cry~”
“I didn’t cry!”
“Let’s go out and celebrate. Tell me where you want to go, what do you want to eat?”
Gunwoo hugged his hyung to hide his still embarrassed face. “Let’s go home. I want to sleep.”
“Those ears looked horrible up-close~”
Gunwoo tore out the fake ears that was latex glued on him, threw it at the floor, and clung onto Chungwoo hyung like a monkey. “Chicken soup. Fries… Apple pie… sundae… …sweet and sour deep fri—”
He almost fell asleep sometime afterwards, murmuring foods he liked to eat. He doesn’t want to think about additional practice time.
“Hey, Gunwoo. Was it fun?” He doesn’t know who asked but he told them the truth.
“Yes.”
“Want to do it again?”
“… maybe.”
...
...
Gunwoo had a fever and was absent for a week. He wasn’t sick for all of it though but his guardians told him to rest, so he spent the rest pulling the grass in the yard when news was a bit slow online. Although his sore throat persisted and left him mostly mute for about three weeks. It worked for him because he doesn’t feel like socializing. After their school performance, people started to befriend him and his dance partner. It drained him so much. Lurking in the interwebs was always the best.
Later on, whenever he met Keun Sejin and Cha Eugene hyungs, he would always greet them with Tibetan fox expression because they would always bring up MallangDalkom, then segue it to POP☆CON, with Keun Sejin sometimes adding that Gunwoo picked ‘Into A New World’ because of the popcorn song.
When Chungwoo hyung finally asked what the hell was that about, Keun Sejin hyung pulled out a phone to show the rest of Testar of their dance session at the studio complete with audio.
Gunwoo shouted in shock and betrayal that he tried to elbow drop the very tall hyung. Keun Sejin just easily caught him in the air and carried him like a sack of potatoes. Then Cha Eugene, for some reason, would sometimes tell him, “This isn’t you. Calm down, Elrond. Have a snickers.” Or something like that.
Anyway. His class won the inter-school competition. They had cake. Not that it matters much or anything.
...
...
Credits for the audio version:
TTS: Clipchamp
music:
*[Lo-fi] Dust, or myst (Royalty Free Music) by 별 헤는 다락방 Starry Attic on Youtube
*[Lo-fi] Record your favorite space.. (Royalty Free Music) by 별 헤는 다락방 Starry Attic on Youtube
*【フリーbgm】まったりDAY【配信、作業、かわいい、ほのぼの、vlog】【2時間】−さりい− by さりい bgm on Youtube (pitched to 3 semitones up)
*[Royalty Free Music] Forgot my wallet by imataku Music on Youtube
*[Royalty Free Music] Strawberry ham bread by imataku Music on Youtube
*Bunnyhop [フリーBGM / FREE DOWNLOAD] by Kyatto on Youtube
*[Royalty-Free Music] Return Trip by Reo on Youtube
*【Copyright Free BGM】Milky Way Star by BeIN 비인 on Youtube
*Lullaby & Classical (Royalty Free Music) - "LULLABY WALTZ" by @nspiliotis 🇬🇷 BY BreakingCopyright — Royalty Free Music on Youtube
*Canon in D Waltz by tonyannmusic on Youtube
*【フリーBGM】夜の城下町のテーマ『Royal Capital-Night』【Fictional OST】 by なぐもりずの音楽室 on Youtube
*[Royalty Free Music] How about lunch by imataku Music on Youtube
*[Royalty Free Music] soft pancake by imataku Music on Youtube
*【30min BGM】Lemon Soda/ No Copyright BGM by BeIN 비인 on Youtube
*Romantic Instrumental Music (Royalty Free) - "Love Waltz" by Nikos Spiliotis 🇬🇷 BY BreakingCopyright — Royalty Free Music on Youtube
*김재성 (Kim Jaesung) - Dark Waltz [Vlog No Copyright Music] by Vlog Copyright Free Music on Youtube
*♩♫ Classical Piano and Orchestra Music ♪♬ - Ghibli's Waltz (Copyright and Royalty Free) by Ross Bugden on Youtube
*Waltz medley/Johann Strauss Jr/No Copyright Music-Royalty Free Music by No Copyright Music - Royalty Free Music on Youtube
*100分耐久【フリーBGM】 kawaii music ｢今夜のソーダ｣ 【雑談/ゲーム実況/ライブ配信/作業用/明るい/ほのぼの/かわいい】 by PorPorMusic on Youtube
SFX:
*chair-7047 by Pixabay
*record-scratches-31350 by Pixabay
*fastrunning-6306 by Pixabay
*Running Shoes Walk at Medium Pace on Carpet on Wood Floor by Sound Ideas - Topic on Youtube
*Footsteps Sound Effects | Footstep Sound by n Beats on Youtube