“Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike.”

― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

"Straighten your shoulders and be mindful of your knees," Migyung instructed calmly as she gave Yeonseo extra training before class.

"Relax your wrists and neck, let yourself feel the music and the emotions. Giselle dances for herself not for others."

"She is doing better than the last time I saw her," a familiar voice, just a bit different than hers, spoke from beside her. Migyung looked to the side and smiled at Mijung who was rotating her ankles, warming them up.

"She is, isn't she? She is a fast learner."

"With a big ego, yes?"

Migyung couldn't help but chuckle and Mijung cracked a small smile as well. The moments were rare when both sisters spoke like everything was alright between them. And both of them cherished those moments.

"You think she can defeat me?" Mijung asked, suddenly seriously as she studied the younger girl finishing up her routine.

Migyung shrugged. "I haven't seen you performing your piece to be certain but it also depends on what version you choose and how you execute it."

Mijung nodded, walking up to the music player and playing her song as soon as Yeonseo's ended.

"Watch me, Migyung. I'm going with the original version," she stated before she started dancing. And dance she did.

All of her motions were light, perfectly balanced and expressive. As the music started building, her movements smoothly changed from soft to aggressive, showing her pain and grief. As the music reached the climax, she danced as gracefully as a swan, letting everything out through her motions and her powerful but gentle moves.

When the music ended, Mijung did too, her chest heaving up and down but her face straight, showing none of what she felt. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she turned and looked at Yeonseo first. The girl had her jaw slack and her eyes wide and from the small distance she could see a light sheen of perspiration on her skin. It made her smile smugly.

Looking at Migyung, she raised one of her eyebrows and spread her arms out. "So, what do you think?"

Migyung smiled and answered, "You have always been a good dancer, Mijung. Your techniques were on point."

Her answer made Mijung roll her eyes and cross her arms as she scowled at her twin. "Don't answer me like my sister. Tell me as my instructor."

Migyung chuckled lightly and glanced at the door of the practice room. Students had started to arrive and so, she walked closer to Mijung, her smile falling and her eyes getting replaced by a blankness with every step. Mijung's smile fell too as well as her heart since she had never seen her sister looking so unfamiliar, like a complete stranger.

Migyung leaned close to her then, placing a hand on her shoulder as her lips came in line with her ear. "Yeonseo will win," she declared and pulled away, tilting her head as she observed her twin's pale face. "Do you want to know why?"

Not really, Mijung wanted to say but instead she gulped and whispered a 'yes'.

"Because she believes in what her version of Giselle does. Because she believes what her Giselle does is the right thing to do. Yes, she is not a match for you when it comes to perfecting the steps and technique, even I was never able to do that but you lack emotions, Miss Kim. Think over it."

Saying that, the woman patted her shoulder and moved to address the class while Mijung stood there stunned and reeling from her words. Migyung didn't pay much attention to her as Nathan soon arrived and told everyone that they were having a welcome party for Migyung.

The dancers were ecstatic and cheered loudly, thanking Nathan. Among the ruckus, no one noticed Mijung grabbing her bag and leaving the room except Yeonseo. She could still feel her heart beating faster in fear because she had finally understood what Migyung had told her the other day. She had been too egoistic to not see what she was up against.

The barbeque place was fully packed with dancers of varying ages. Conversations, food and drinks were shared freely knowing the instructors would be the ones paying for everything. The warm amber lights, the smiles on everyone's faces and the lively  atmosphere made Migyung loosen up and laugh with her co-workers and students. She hadn't been part of such a big group in a while but she had missed the feeling.

Taking the green bottle of soju in her hand, she poured it to her coworkers one by one, thanking them for making her feel welcome and treating her so well. When she reached Nathan, she grinned and put the bottle away and picked the water bottle instead.

Nathan smiled, nodding as he forwarded his glass and accepted the drink from her. She watched him take a sip and go back to his food and conversation right away. It amazed her how he didn't even flinch at the sight of alcohol because she was sure she would if someone showed her a syringe filled with heroin. It was the worst yet the best thing she had ever felt in the world.

“The temptation was high when I first made the decision to stop drinking,” Nathan spoke up suddenly, as if understanding her inner musings.

Filling her glass with the clear alcoholic liquid, he looked into her eyes and continued solemnly, “I relapsed twice and it was so so difficult, especially in gatherings like these but if you have people who support you and are willing to help you, you can do it. Just remember to not choose one addiction when letting go of another. That's not healthy.”

“I will keep that in mind, Nathan. Thank you for sharing that with me.”

“My pleasure, Migyung and you might wanna pick up your phone. Hoseok seems like a very impatient man,” he said, his smile growing bigger as he winked at her.

Her eyes wide, she turned to look at her phone and sure enough the screen flashed, announcing a missed call from Hoseok and it wasn't the first call he had made. Excusing herself from the table, she tumbled her way out of the little restaurant and leaned against the wall as she called him.

“I’m sorry, I am at this restaurant and the people are so loud. I didn't hear the ringtone. I’m really sorry, Hoseok,” she rambled as soon as she heard the phone getting picked up.

The other line was silent for a moment before deep chuckles filled her ear making her smile unconsciously.

“You don't have to apologise to me, Migyung,” he said, laughter still evident in his voice. “I just called you because…”

Silence again and Migyung had to pull the phone away from her ear to check if he was still on call. When she was sure the call wasn’t disconnected she prompted him to speak further, “Because?” 

“Just because. I don't really have a reason to call, I just wanted to call you,” he answered and she could almost hear a pout in his voice. It made her giggle.

“Are you drunk, Hoseok?” she asked, sliding down the wall till she sat on her haunches.

“No, not at all. I didn't drink tonight. Why do you ask?”

“Because I feel a little drunk,” she answered, looking down at her shoelaces that had come undone. “And my shoelaces are not done. I’ll fall if I walk, right?”

She heard him laugh once again before he cleared his throat to speak. “Yeah, you probably will. Why don't you tie them?”

“Because I will walk if I tie them. I don't think I should walk tonight.”

“I'll tie them for you, don't worry,” he said just as two hands came into her vision and tied her shoelaces.

Surprised, Migyung looked up and came face to face with the man she had been talking to on the phone moments ago. Unable to believe her eyes, she let go of her phone and pulled his face up to look at her with her hands pressed against his cheeks.

“Are you stalking me?” she screamed in the fairly crowded street.