White T-Shirt

스물 넷

Jonghyun stands by the door to the auditorium, his hands in the pockets of his jeans. He has a cap on his head, and a mask on his face, he is wearing a plain white t-shirt over his black jeans, hoping to blend into the crowd.

It is Friday night, and he is waiting to watch the dance showcase. He is excited to watch Taemin, but more nervous about seeing Yeona. He does not want her to see him, and has made Kibum promise not to tell her that he is here. Jonghyun waits outside for Kibum to return, as he is currently inside trying to calm Taemin down before his show.

"You ready, hyung?" Kibum asks as he steps outside

"Let's get it." Jonghyun replies

Mustering up all of his courage, he follows behind Kibum as they enter the hall. They find seats in amongst the crowd, somewhere around the middle, Jonghyun hoping that he blends in, but feeling doubtful as he is seated next to the brightly-coloured dressed Kibum.

"Minnie is happy that you're here." Kibum says

"You told him?" Jonghyun asks

He instantly feels anxious at the thought of Yeona knowing he is here, he doesn't want to throw her off her game. Her words play over and over in his head, just like they have every single day since she left him.

I know I'm never going to be good enough.

"She wasn't there, hyung, she didn't hear me." Kibum replies

"Oh, okay, good." Jonghyun replies

He feels a bitter taste in his mouth from his lie, because part of him wishes she did know. His heartbeat pounds in his ears, his vision blurs just slightly, the hints of a panic attack beginning, not unlike like the ones he has been having frequently since Yeona left, but he attempts to regain focus as the curtains are drawn onstage.

The MC walks centre stage, holding a microphone in hand. Jonghyun recognises her as the main dance teacher, the head of the subject. After introducing herself as Park Hyojin, she gives a quick speech about how hard her students have worked this year, and explains the process for the choreography creation. Jonghyun has never taken professional dance classes, but has learnt the basics from his friends in his other music classes, so he finds the process fascinating, and so different from writing music like he does.

"I'd like to make a special mention of my two lead dancers, Lee Taemin and Jung Yeona." Hyojin begins

Jonghyun bites his lip, hidden behind his mask, hearing her name is sending him ever closer to spiralling. He knows that she doesn't want him, he knows that she will never want him, but he said he would wait, and he meant that he would wait forever.

He loves her.

The words mean just as much as they did the first time he thought them, the words he never got to say out loud to her. He loves her, he really fucking loves her, and he will wait for her, just like he promised.

"Taemin and Yeona have been top of their class, ever since they started. The pair have always helped me, taking time out to teach their classmates the harder choreography, giving me more time to work one on one with those who need it." she continues

Jonghyun smiles behind his mask, proud of the pair due to the words he is hearing. Yeona was always private about her dancing, though he knew that she spent hours a day in class, in the studio, which Jonghyun now understands was her helping her classmates, and not just herself. Taemin, he is unsurprised about, the boy always willing to help everyone, and loving to be kind.

"I am proud to be their teacher, and prouder to say that these two are currently one month into their traineeship to become idols. I wish them nothing but the best, and I hope the performance tonight will show to you all why they were chosen." the teacher finishes