Chapter 8: Park Jimin doesn't dance.
Jungkook:
The end of the day. My phone beeps.
I pull it out of my pocket to check who it was. Clicking on my messages, I see it's from Hana.
Uh great. That means I'll have to go to my first dance practice alone. And with these muddy trousers. I don't even really know that many people yet either, so it's not like I could hang around with them there. I consider skipping for a moment, before I remember that Mum and Dad will be back home late tonight and I forgot my house keys. Crap. Guess I'll have to go to kill time. I text her back quickly before heading off.
I find the dance practice studio after asking a random student for directions, and walk through the door. The dance studio was kind of old looking actually, not what I expected. The floor was a little scratched, worn down by the years of dancing feet pounding, sliding and kicking at it. There's a small amount of students in there, guys and girls - I'd say around ten at most? One of the guys walks up to me and places a firm hand on my shoulder.
'Hey new guy right? Hana told me you'd be joining us,' he says, leading me further into the room. This guy is huge. I'm a tall guy don't get me wrong, but he towers over me like I'm a dwarf. Despite his height, he looks friendly, big eyes beneath his black hair and a wide, kind smile to match. 'I'm Han Yi ahn, I'm a senior here and I run the dance studio. Come anytime yeah? After practice hours this is a free studio so you can dance to whatever you want.' He tells me. I was kinda relieved that we'd be here with a senior rather than an actual teacher. I feel more relaxed that way. 'Just make sure you sort out times with the others when you want to use it. You're lucky, we've just started a new choreo,' he continues, 'you haven't missed much so you can catch up.' He claps his hands, directing everyone to come to the middle. 'Ugh, where is this punk? Is he late again?' I hear him whisper under his breath, cursing at the late student.
I greet the others, recognising a few of them from my classes. I join the group as Yi ahn begins to go over the choreo
I missed, and I follow along, watching his movements carefully in the reflection of the mirrored wall.
Just as we start getting into the routine, the door is pushed wide open, the late student staggering in.
'Sorry I'm late I-' he stops in his tracks, and stares at me.
Ugh...well this is awkward...
Jimin stares back at me, looking surprised. Looking out of breath really, sweat glistening on his forehead and neck. His hair was pushed back, some strands sticking to the side of his face. He wears a low neck tank top, leaving his arms and the top of his chest on full display. He wears black sweat pants and trainers to complete his look, and a gym bag hung across his body. He really does look like a dancer.
'Jimin!' Yi ahn calls. 'You're late - for the third time this week!'
'Sorry, I had to run home quickly to do something.' He explains panting, now trying to avoid eye contact with me as he takes off his bag, placing it on the floor and kicking it aside.
'Don't let it happen again okay?'
Yi ahn says firmly, giving Jimin a slap on the back and pointing to where he wanted him to stand. He then speaks to the class. 'Since Park Jimin here enjoys being late so much, he must assume he's an expert who doesn't need dance practice. So, as an expert you should know the choreo by now. Please demonstrate.'
Jimin glares at him slightly before walking to the middle of the room, the rest of the dancers spreading out around him to watch, me among them. Yi ahn walks over to the stereo, and presses play on his phone which connects to it. I see Jimin sigh, looking completely done with this class.
The music begins to play.
Honestly I wasn't expecting him to dance. I thought he would of walked out. But he turns, all of sudden, sharply yet elegantly, his body in tune with the song that was beginning to play. His eyes close as he dances. Everything was perfectly in sync, from his breathing to how his feet moved across the floor. Not one of his movements looks forced, but rather they flowed and followed onto one another - each one soft but far from subtle. His arms out stretch as he leans into his steps, turning and twisting this way and that inside the circle of people.
Everyone watches him.
How long have they known that Park Jimin was such an amazing dancer?!
I guess I underestimated him, thinking he wouldn't be that good. I feel as though every second of my life I had spent not watching him dance had been completely wasted.
Jimin:
The music comes to an end, and I take the final position. I open my eyes, remembering I'm once again in the dance studio. The class claps, and I stand up and brush myself down. Ha. Take that Yi ahn. I do know the choreo.
I can't help but feel a little accomplished, that feeling you get when the teacher, or in this case student leader, tries to call you out on something they think you don't know, only to be proved wrong. I look around at the dance class as they clap and shout their compliments. A little cluster of girls start giggling when I look over at them. I then lock eyes with Jungkook, who claps also. Ugh. Must he follow me everywhere?
Yi ahn walks over to me now, clapping slowly along with the class. 'Okay, okay Jimin, you got me.' He says defeated. 'Well done, I can see you're working hard. Guys please take after Jimin and follow these movements, okay?' He tells them as they all reply in unison with 'Okay!'
We begin the routine choreography, going over what we had learnt already and cleaning everything up.
I had never planned on joining a dance group. I had always loved dancing, and I used to be a part of the modern dance department in school when I was younger. Not that I ever told Yoongi, Namjoon or Hobi. They'd probably make fun of me for it. Instead I'd just go about threatening my classes. Anyone tells, and they have me to deal with. Simple.
Dancing was one of the things I actually had a passion for, and that was rare. School life just doesn't suit me, all the academia and rules. But dance has no rules. I can just do whatever I feel like doing, and make it into a performance. There's no simpler way to describe it then it just feels good. It feels natural and beautiful and I love it. It's just a way to pour a little colour into a grey lifestyle.
Once the class comes to an end, I take a seat on one of the benches at the back, tying up my laces that had come undone on one of my trainers. I pant - today's practice had really taken it out of me. Usually, today I would stay an extra hour or so when everyone had left to avoid going home. But I decided not to stay today, especially not when Dad was in such a state. That's why I was late in the first place, having received one of his drunken calls, gibbering on about all sorts of nonsense. I ran home as fast as I could, not even bothering to wait for a bus to see if he was alright, only to find him hunched over on the sofa watching TV.
Plus I don't feel like sticking around now that Jungkook's here. I don't know what is it about him, but I feel weird around him. I don't know what is is to be honest, but it's just a weird, kinda nervous feeling, as though I have to impress him or something? Which is ridiculous, obviously. Since when do I need to impress anyone? I scoff.
Speaking of Jungkook, he walks across the room and takes a seat next to me as everyone else makes their way out of the studio. I huff and continue to tie my laces.
'What is it Flower Boy?' I sigh, rolling my eyes slightly. I didn't have time for this.
'Hm? Nothing nothing...' He replies, sitting forward and leaning on his hands, pretending to look around.
'What do you want?' I repeat again, a little snappier this time. Just spit it out. Why are you here?
'It's nothing...it's just that, I wanted to say that - you did a great job today, you danced really well.' He tells me. I look down at his hands, knuckles pale as he clings onto the edge of the bench timidly. Weird kid. I sigh. 'Thanks.' I say bluntly as I stand up and pull my bag strap over and across my body, gripping onto it as I begin to walk off.
'Hey Jimin!' I hear him call out just as I was about to walk out the door.
'I thought you said to me earlier you had no hobbies? Nothing you were passionate about?'
I turn back. The nerve of this guy...
'Hey Flower Boy.' I begin, staring at him with wide eyes. 'You tell anyone and I'll kill you okay? I already have this class under an oath.
As far as you're concerned, Park Jimin doesn't dance - okay?'
He nods, the corners of his mouth slightly turned up into a small smile.
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