"Ms. Hae Won," called the host.

Miss Hae Won. Every time I see her, I can't help but think she's like a real-life version of 'Ursula' from The Little Mermaid! They could be twins separated at birth! It's like she took a masterclass in being a villainous sea witch.

Sinister. Unattractive. Pestering.

"예," ( Yes,)

"Would you like to give us your feedback?"

"Sure,"

I can't stand long speeches. They're like watching paint dry, but with more words.

Ms. Hae Won is about to start another marathon speech - is she getting paid by the word or what? I can't afford to doze off before my big dance number!

"All the pairs had their own creative ideas and did a great job, but the fire rings were particularly impressive. It was incredible to see how the students fearlessly spun the rings in their hands."

Those fire rings were seriously next level! I'm not sure if we can top that! Fingers crossed we don't get burned!

"So, we heard our principal, giving her feedback about the performances and now, we move on to the 10th and 11th graders performances!!" Declared the host.

Well, talk about a plot twist! I was all geared up for a marathon speech, but I guess brevity is the soul of wit after all!

"I glanced at Jesper and noticed his watch. It displayed 5:50pm, and our dance performance was scheduled for 6:35pm."Man! We still have to wait for that long, i just can't wait anymore" I muttered to myself but Jesper heard it.

"I can't wait that long either" Jesper replied.

As time went on, we kept comparing our dance performance to others, and I began wondering if we would win the trophy or not. "Keep your spirits up Yeha, stay positive," I reminded myself.

"We will win the trophy right?" I asked.

"Ofcourse!" Jesper's answer gave me a send of relief.

"Now Jamie and Byum woo will perform" Jesper reminded.

"I am excited."

"Same." Jesper added.

I nodded.

Jamie's enigmatic presence on the dance floor intrigues us all, with their hawk-like eyes keenly observing every sway, pivot, and twirl. Their meticulous strategy to outshine us on the grand stage fuels our excitement and eagerness. Rather than feeling threatened, we embrace the challenge, pushing ourselves to new heights of creativity.

As Jamie prepares to showcase their mastery, anticipation builds to witness their gravity-defying leaps and breathtaking spins. We stand ready, fueled by the spirit of competition, eager to match and surpass their every move. With each practice session, we refine our craft and add unexpected twists, preparing for the moment when Jamie takes center stage. The stage is set, the audience awaits, and all eyes are on Jamie, ready for the exhilarating showdown.

So, they hit the dance floor and our smiles turned into frowns faster than you can say "Cha-Cha Slide." Turns out my high hopes were as misplaced as my sense of rhythm! Reality check: they were dancing disasters!

Man, we were just watching their performance and it hit me how terrible they were doing. Seriously, no energy, no crisp moves. It seemed like they were just going through the motions without any passion or purpose.

Well, I may be her best friend, but I refuse to be the president of the Fake Compliments Club or the CEO of Fake Encouragement Inc. I'm all about keeping it real, especially with my friends.

"How was thier performance?" I asked.

"Horrible!" Jesper replied.

"True" I agreed.

I turned and looked towards the sky which gave me hope. Also the event was being held in an open area.

"Who is performing next?" I asked.

"Nam Seon Ho and Fumika Hayashi" he said in a dull voice.

"Oh, i really do want to see thier performance"

"Same" Jesper replied.

Trust me, this is the latest addition to our class fleet. Since they got matched up for the dance-off, gossip has been sailing around like crazy. But hey, Nam Seon Ho spills all the tea to me!

"There's nothing between us, we are just dance partners."
Seon Ho's voice echoed in my head.

They were actually doing quite well. They created a certain energy in the air that got everyone dancing along with them.

A crowd full of extroverts.

"There are performing well" I said for which Jesper nodded.

Nam Seon looked like a groom all set for his wedding, exuding a regal and opulent aura. On the other hand, Fumika rocked a chic black dress paired with stylish black heels. She had her hair tied up in a ponytail, with two strands framing her face.
She actually looked pretty.

Holy, it's our turn now!

I'm feeling super anxious right now because it's finally our turn to perform, and I'm totally unprepared for this since I have stage fright. However, I know I have to face my fear today and give it my all.

"Are you ready?" Jesper asked.

"Not really" i answered in a low voice which was barely audible.

"Dance with me as if the world doesn't exist" Jesper added.

The romantic ambiance was enhanced by the calming melody that enveloped the air. All eyes were fixed on us as we gracefully glided across the floor. Suddenly, Jesper gently tugged me back, and I found myself safely nestled in his embrace.

The rain came pouring down out of nowhere, causing Jesper's white shirt to become see-through. Even my sleeves and neck became visible, although my dress had three layers of fabric, so it wasn't as transparent as Jesper's.

"Dance with me as if the world doesn't exist." I remembered his words.

I tried to focus on the dance.

Suddenly Jesper came closer to my face, there was barely 1 inch distance his face and mine. His Black eyes met my Brown eyes.

His grabbed my waist and lifted me in the air and I did my dancer pose. Then he held my hands and stepped back as I stepped in the front.

My confidence levels were decreasing and I don't know why!

"We are doing pretty good" he spoke in the middle of the dance.

"I hope so!" I mumbled.

His encouraging me.

At the end he went on his knees and removed a rose out of his pocket.

This was not planned, what is he doing? I asked myself.

I grabbed the rose and we continued dancing.

The crowd was literally screaming upon thier lungs..

As soon as our performance was over, I went to Jesper and asked him about the rose thing.

"Why did you do the rose thing or step or whatever?"

"Why are you getting so annoyed?"

"Why won't I?, You know right that now the whole school is going to make rumours."

Jesper explained that he did it because he was aware that the crowd would go wild once he did it. As for dating, he suggested that they could simply be honest with everyone and clarify that they did it solely for the dance performance, without any other intentions.

The excuse was stupid.

"It's not that easy to explain the whole school"

"Whatever" Jesper said while rolling his eyes.

"So, now the principal of our school who is 'Ms. Hae Won' will be announcing the winner of the competition." Announced the host.

"Yes, now I will be announcing the pair who will be taking the best performance of the year trophy with them" said the principal.

"So , the winner is ..........

'MOON YEHA AND KIM JESPER'," she continued.

I couldn't contain my excitement when I heard her voice, so I immediately jumped for joy and gave Jesper a big hug. Obviously as a friend, as I was overwhelmed with happiness and couldn't help myself.

"Jesper, we won!!" I screamed.

"I told you." he replied.

"I am just so happy!" I expressed.

"Finally! I am also extremely happy for us" Jesper added.

For us.

What happened to Jesper?!

"We would like to call Kim Jesper and Moon Ye-Ha on stage" The host requested.

We happily walked towards the stage to receive the award.

"We would like the principal to share a few words with us about the winning performance"

"Sure," replied Ms. Hae won.

"Their performance was truly impressive, as it effortlessly evoked a captivating romantic atmosphere. The execution of their steps was unexpectedly precise and dynamic, showcasing their exceptional talent. Moreover, their presentation and overall presence were simply exquisite. Despite the unexpected rain shower, they managed to maintain the same level of energy throughout their dance." Ms. Hae won continued.

"Thanks a lot ma'am" Jesper and I said the same words at the same time and later, we bowed in front of the heads to show them respect.

"You're about to receive the most significant and highly anticipated award of the year-the coveted 'best performance of the year' award!"

Now the award was in our hands, I may be acting very dramatic but I was happy about the fact that I was touching the award. We lifted the trophy up , high in the air.

"Kim Jesper and Moon Ye-Ha, would you like to say something?" The host asked.

"Yes!" Again we both said this together.

"I'll go first" I informed Jesper.

"Okay" He agreed.

"Thanks, everyone! I feel so grateful for this award, and I have to give credit where credit is due. If it weren't for Jesper, I wouldn't be holding this right now. Jesper really helped me gain confidence and conquer my stage fright. Also, Jesper played a huge role in creating half of the choreography for this dance. So, a big shoutout to Jesper!" I screamed the last line to which everyone clapped and cheered for Jesper.

"Firstly, I want to express my gratitude to all the heads, the principal, and all the students who are here today. Thank you so much! Yeha made a valid point, but I can't take all the credit. As mentioned earlier, I contributed to half of the choreography while the other half was done by her. Yeha herself played a significant role in deciding the presentation style and the song. So, Yeha, a big thanks goes to you too." Jesper said.

After our speech we went down the stage and sat back in our seats.

"Now, you can eat and leave the place". The host declared.

The three of us went through the different stalls that were selling food in the event.

I bought some 삼겹살,짜장면 and little bit of 간장게장. (Pork belly, Jjajangmyeon, gejang)

I looked at Jesper's plate.

Jesper took some 떡볶이, 콩국수 and 된장찌개. (Tteokbokkie, Kong-guksu, Doenjang-jjigae.)

"Oh! These food items are also available."

"Yeah, the stalls are situated at the end so, you have to walk a lot" Jesper explained.

"Oh!"

Jamie bought 곱창. (Gopchang.)

"Jamie, are you dieting?" I asked curiously.

"First of all, this is heavy for me to eat and secondly, I am thinking of going back to my house and celebrating your win" Jamie declared.

"Oh! That's a good idea." I replied and Jesper nodded.

We scarfed down our food like it was a race and zoomed back to Jamie's place to party it up after our victory!

Jamie quickly went towards the kitchen and brought 3 bottles of beer.

"Wash your hands, before heading towards the kitchen!" Jesper reminded, no ordered.

"We can celebrate with this!" she almost screamed.

"I don't drink." I declared.

"무엇? You have never tasted beer?" Jamie looked at me with her eyes widened. (What?)

J

amie and Jesper, unfortunately, have been burdened with the label of spoiled rich brats. Their parents reside overseas and make rare appearances, merely once a year, to see them. The rest of the time, they simply send money every month, allowing Jamie and Jesper to do as they please with it. It's disheartening to think that when their parents departed, Jamie was a mere 13 years old and Jesper was only 14. At such a tender age, they were ill-equipped to comprehend the complexities of managing finances. Regrettably, since then, they have been left to navigate the treacherous waters of financial responsibility without any guidance or instruction.

"Yeah,"

Who needs freedom when you have strict parents? Not me! I mean, sure, I can't do whatever I want, but at least I have the joy of knowing my parents are always there. I get to shower them with hugs, have daily chats, catch a glimpse of them every single day, and most importantly, I know they're real and not just a figment of my imagination!

"Just try once." Jamie insisted.

"아니, it's okay!" (No,)

"Yeha, just once!" Jamie pleaded.

I quickly took a sip of the beer.

"How was it?" Jamie asked.

"In the beginning, it was bitter but later, it tasted pretty good." I answered.

"Then, you can drink another sip." Jamie added.

"Yeah, okay fine" I said as I found the beer tasty.

"Yeha don't drink too much" Jesper warned.

"Nah, it's fine"

Jesper tried stealing the bottle from me when-