019: BALLERINA'S LOVER

"I want to turn it into reality. I want to stop lying and really turn my lies into truth. I will turn it into reality so that I can proudly stand by yourside." 

- Joo Seok-kyung pov

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

019: BALLERINA'S LOVER

Eun-bi pov:

"Good night. . ."

I look at him blankly.

The two of us were quiet on the way to Hera palace.

At first, our hands felt antsy, feeling each other and looking at each other's hands till he suddenly grabbed mine and pocketed my hand in his coat pocket.

I looked at the other side to hide the smile on my face.

Our hands held each other like that all the way home.

"Uhh. . . Good night. . ."

I opened the door. I was about to close the door as I went inside when he called my name: "Eun-byeol?"

I turned to him, "huh?"

His lips touched mine for a second before pulling himself away.

"Good night."

I closed my door with a blank look on me.

The moment I reached my bedroom, I held my lips and smiled.

I ran to my bed and covered my face with the pillow.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!"

I shouted excitedly as I remembered how he confessed to me on the deck.

I shouted in glee some more before rolling on my bed and sat.

I giggled in delight as I lay on my bed again, cocooning myself and giggling like a little girl.

I immediately looked for my phone and called for someone. . . .

I just can't help but tell someone about this.

I have to call her.

She will be mad at me if I leave her out of this news.

Phone call:

Byeol: Eun-bi?

Bi: Byeol-ah. . .

Byeol: What's wrong?

Bi: Nothing, I just missed you.

Byeol: . . .

Byeol: I do too, but I feel like there is some other reason why you're calling me.

Bi: Byeol-ah. I know I promised to do my part in getting Seol-ah's justice, but. . . do you think it's selfish of me to be happy pretending to be you?

Byeol: Look, it's just a name. If you want, we can exchange names legally.

Bi: (giggle). Mom will freak out.

Byeol: how are mom and dad?

Bi: They're doing fine.

Byeol: how about you?

Bi: I. . . . . I'm Seok-hoon . . . . Seok-hoon's. . . . girlfriend. . . (My eyes closed tightly as I finally said it)

Byeol: . . . . .

Bi: I think. . . .

Byeol: . . . . .

Bi: hey! Say something. . .

Byeol: AHHHHHHHH! (screaming in glee)

Bi: shhhh!!! (I put my pointing finger to my lips as I try to calm her down).

Byeol: OM MY GOSH!!!!! FINALLY!!!

Byeol: I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT!!!!

Bi: don't you think it's a bit too much to be happy? It's even your name he's calling. What if. . . the one he likes is you. . .

Byeol: ugghh! Dearest, Seok-hoon never spared me a glance back then! So it's definitely not me he confessed too!

Bi: But he called your name.

Byeol: It's just a name! Unnie, it doesn't matter whose name he calls. What matters is whom he fell in love with. Is it the Eun-byeol he initially knew or the Eun-byeol now.

Bi: Really?

Byeol: Trust me! The one he likes is definitely HA. EUN. BI.

Byeol: My sister has a boyfriend!!!! (Screaming excitedly)

Bi: you're too excited!

Byeol: I'll send you a gift soon, I promise!

Bi: There's no need for a gift. . .

Byeol: Oh, please! Let me do this. Should I buy you guys a couple jackets or a couple shoes or maybe. . . . a couple phones. . .

Bi: Stop that. . . (I laid on my bed, listening to her chatter away)

Bi: How about you? Is there anything new there?

Byeol: You're trying to change the subject, aren't you?!

Bi: Is it too obvious?

Byeol: Hah! (scoffed) I am Ha Eun-byeol. The twin sister who's probably screaming and giggling on the inside right now.

Bi: I'm just. . . .I just. . . I can't believe it.

Byeol: Well! Seok-hoon is a good guy. But if he tries to do anything to you, I'm going to cut off his d*ck!

Bi: Hahahaha! I love you sis.

Byeol: I love you too!!! FOREVER AND EVER!

Bi: FOREVER AND EVER!

End of call. . .

I smile as I hold the phone close to myself.

. . . . . .

Seok-kyung pov:

I took oppa's phone while he was showering and put the photo I sent on his phone as his wallpaper.

I giggle in delight every time I remember his confession on the deck.

I skipped to my room after changing his wallpaper, giggling every now and then.

"Be thankful, brother."

I lay on my bed, taking my phone out, waiting for Seo-jun's message.

'It's his family's death anniversary, so I guess it's too much to ask from him, huh.'

I hope that he can tell me his story soon.

'I want to be a part of your life too, Han Seo-jun.'

What should I give so I can be a part of your life?

I rolled around, letting go of my phone and thinking about him as I slept.

. . . . .

Seok-hoon pov:

I checked my phone for any messages when I saw my wallpaper changed.

I smile as a photo of myself kissing Eun-bi's hands under the moon on the deck is saved as my wallpaper.

'It must be Seok-kyung.'

I smile widely while drying my hair.

I checked my inbox, but there's nothing there.

'It's our first night as a couple, but you're not even going to say good night?'

I frowned.

I went to the kitchen for drinks when I saw mom leaving dad's office in secret.

"Eomma??"

'Is she snooping? That's dangerous.'

. . . . . . . .

Eun-bi pov:

"Good morning. . ."

I smiled at my friends, who looked oddly depressed.

Everyone was noisy so early in the morning.

Min-hyuk and Jenny are making noise with the others, while the others seem anxious.

"I'm dead!"

Jenny looks very distressed.

I raised my brow at her, "Why're you dead?"

"It's our midterm next week!"

I guess no birthdays are exempted from the examination.

"WHAT!! Exam?? Next week?"

We all turned to Seok-kyung, who looked even more ghastly than Jenny.

'Is it so bad that next week's exam?'

"I'm sure we'll manage. We can all huddle up and study together if you are worried."

Jenny took my hand and looked at me with desperation.

"Help us, please?"

Seok-hoon took my bag from my previous seat and put it on the seat beside him.

"That's Min-hyuk's. . ."

"I'll find somewhere else. . ."

Min-hyuk stood from the table and shooed away a student in front of Seok-hoon's table. At the same time, Jenny also transferred and shooed a student sitting beside Min-hyuk's table.

I shake in disapproval.

"So, let's meet up after class later, and check where we should focus on."

"That's gonna be a problem."

I turned to Min-hyuk, who had just arranged his things on the table.

"Everything is my problem."

"Looks like you're gonna be Seo-jun's new buddy!" I smiled at him.

I turned my head to Seok-kyung, "Don't worry too much! I'll help you.".

We all took our seats when the teacher came.

Seok-hoon took my hand and gave it a light kiss on the back.

"Good morning." He whispered before fixing himself.

"Good morning."

. . . . .

Seok-kyung pov:

I keep smiling on the new group chat Eun-byeol made for just the four of us. Me, Oppa, Seo-jun, and her.

I like the exclusivity we have. It's like saying we're more important than the others.

"Jenny, you're doing wrong here, this should be here, and you have to divide the X to the Y and then. . . ."

Eun-byeol's been helping out Jenny with math, Jenny's weakest subject.

"Seok-kyung, what about your exercise?"

"I haven't. . . ."

"Do it now. I'll check it later, okay?"

I turned to Oppa, but he just turned his eyes away.

'This is how you're gonna do it, huh?'

. . . . . .

After our tutorial session with Jenny and Min-hyuk, Eun-byeol stayed behind to study with me.

"Here, watch me, okay?"

She didn't really say anything. She just explained each problem in detail.

"Are you listening?"

"Aren't you going to ask how I'm the top student when I can't even solve this problem?"

"Even if I did, it wouldn't matter. That's already in the past. I'm more concerned about your future."

"But. . . ."

"If you're feeling guilty, all you need to do is make an effort to change it. Study hard and try to really answer every question seriously, okay?"

"But I don't . . . ."

"Don't worry, we'll help you, I promise."

. . . . . .

Eun-bi pov:

Days passed by relatively quickly during the time we were studying.

Seok-kyung and I spent time together studying while Seok-hoon had the privilege of knowing how Seo-jun is worse than Min-hyuk.

I like these days.

Seok-kyung requested Seo-jun to play the piano for her while my pair became Seok-hoon.

Seok-kyung and Seo-jun started practicing together because of that.

They're gonna pair up for the practical examination, so they need more time to get used to each other.

"How's her current scores?"

I turned to Seok-hoon.

While I checked her current scores, he brought a tray of food and drinks.

"She still needs more practice, but I think if she gets used to answering more problems, she'll have no problem taking the exam."

He sat next to me as I showed him her current scores.

"She's smart. She easily memorized everything you tell her to memorize."

He leaned on my shoulder and held my hand as well.

"Thank you for always helping us out."

"Hoon-ah. . ."

"Hmmm. . . ."

"You know I will always be by your side, right?"

He sat up straight and looked at me straight with a severe gaze.

"I can't abandon my sister."

"I'm not asking you too, and I will never ask you too, either."

"Please wait for a bit more. When I know she's ready, when she's ready to face it, we'll do it together."

This time I leaned on him and hugged him tightly.

"I will be with you at that time. Let's all do it together."

He played with my hair as my head leaned on his shoulder, "Can I ask you something?"

"Hmmm. . ."

"I want to see you dance."

I left his shoulder and gazed at him with a confused look.

"You want to. . . ." he looked at me with expectant eyes.

I nodded to him.

We both went to my place, where my dance studio is.

"Do you have any requests?"

"Nothing! I just . . . want to see you dance. . ."

I left him inside the studio to change into something comfortable and wore my heels. When I entered, he was still where I had left him.

'This is probably the first time I'll show him something that is really mine. Something that belongs to me, as Ha Eun-bi.'

The song started.

I used a Giselle solo act.

It's the thing that I'm practicing right now.

It's also Yeon-seo's greatest performance.

I focused more on the madness part.

It's the core of this part.

How Giselle went mad from losing her love.

I stared straight at him as I danced.

'If I lose you. . . would I lose my mind as well?'

I closed my eyes momentarily, but instead of seeing him. . . .

The person I saw is Eun-byeol. . .

The thought of losing my sister makes me feel agonized, to the point of going mad.

The tears flowed in my eyes naturally at that thought. . .

And in the end. . .

I ended my dance with a slow and painful fall to the ground.

My eyes followed him as my performance ended.

He looked at me with tears in his eyes.

"Did I perform well?"

". . . ."

"You were. . . . enchanting."

. . . . . .

Seok-hoon pov:

She twirled around,

The way her hands sway in the air as her emotions clearly show in her eyes.

Our eyes locked with each other. . .

Love.

Agony.

Madness.

Death.

They say that great artists can make their audience feel the same emotions they are feeling in their performance.

She held her head and turned around in madness. . .

She cried with her eyes closed as if she was really going mad.

While she slowly fell to the ground, her eyes locked on me,

But even if it is my eyes she's looking at, it is as if her mind is flying around somewhere else.

"Did I perform well?"

I couldn't say anything.

How should I describe it?

"You were. . . ." I couldn't think of anything.

"Enchanting."

. . . . . . .

TO BE CONTINUED