Partners With The Badboy

Chapter 36

The day of the competition arrived.

Lay had explained that the competition was split into three phases and would take the whole day. First the preliminaries, where all the pairs that had qualified would perform their piece. Then the judges would choose 50 pairs to move on. The second phase is what the contestants call "The Chunk".

They call it The Chunk because it's the longest and worst part of the competition. Judging is harsher and contestants become antsy. If your minute and thirty second dance isn't fantabulous, don't even bother asking for your score. Only 25 pairs get to move on after The Chunk.

Then finally, the finals. The competition takes a two hour break, and everyone is allowed to go out, the audience stretches, whatever.

Once that was over, the final 25 perform. This usually takes 38 minutes, and with the judging included, maybe an hour and a half.

Then the winner would be announced. They would win the title, the trophy, and the prize money.

Sehun was losing his shit.

"Hannah, hold me before I completely lose it," he muttered under his breath so nobody but Hannah could hear him.

Hannah laughed softly and draped her arms around his neck. She buried her face into the crook of him neck, all while soothingly patting his back.

"You and Lay will do fine, trust me," she tried to reassure him.

Sehun inhaled deeply. "What if we don't? What if we don't win? We have to win, Hannah. We... the studio..."

Guilt stabbed her heart. "You guys got this. We believe in you, okay?" She sat him down on her bed.

They were both in her hotel room, alone, and waiting for the others as they got ready. Then, they would leave for the convention center.

Sehun leaned against the edge of the headboard, deep in thought. His fingertips tapped to an imaginary beat. Hannah just watched him; she didn't know what else to do.

She tried to talk to him, but his replies were short, so she gave up quickly. Sighing, she began to play Crossy Roads on her phone.

After about 10 minutes, loud rapping came from the door; it was Luhan.

"Ready?" He smiled at her, his eyes twinkling.

"Yeah, we are," Hannah smiled back.

~

"You guys could wait backstage, if you want. But when the show starts, you'll have to go to your seats," Lay said, his posture relaxed.

Lay felt and looked so much better than Sehun. He was loose, at ease. Well, only if he knew about the studio situation...

"It's fine, we'll wait in the audience now," Kris said, taking Arlene's hand.

Sehun nodded and walked away, not looking back.

Lay began to walk away as well, but Hannah called him back.

"I have a present for you," she said shyly and gave him a small bag.

Lay accepted it, smiling brightly. "Thank you! That was so thoughtful of you. I can't wait to open it!"

Hannah smiled and gave him another bag. "Can you give this to Sehun, please?"

He shook his head. "No," he frowned. Then he smiled again, "You give it to him yourself."

Hannah nodded and left to find Sehun.

~

Backstage was a mess. The stress and tension in the air could choke you.

She walked quickly through the crowded room, nimbly dodging strings of performers.

"Hannah!" Someone called to her right.

She stepped aside, not wanting to be run over, and looked for whoever called her name. It was Sehun, a friendly boy who Hannah was very fond of.

"There you are," Hannah huffed. She shoved the bag in his chest, suddenly embarrassed. "I got you something."

"Really?" Sehun asked. "You didn't have to."

"But I did, so just open it, please."

She watched him as he did so. His face, once solemn, broke into a grin.

"This is... this is awful. You're awful," Sehun laughed. He smiled at her sweetly, his eyes disappearing and forming smiles of their own. "Thank you." Then he reached into his jacket pocket.

"I got you something, too," he grinned cheekily.

He revealed a small, black, and square box with white ribbon on it. The ribbon had sparkly gold trim. He handed it to Hannah, and waited for her to open it.

She opened it, slowly. Underneath the lid was the same exact ring Hannah had pointed out to Sehun that night. It was only the girl's ring, though.

"You said it was stupid! And where's the matching one?" Hannah exclaimed, surprised.

Sehun lifted his hand and flashed his ring. Hannah was overjoyed.

"Thank-" Hannah tried to thank him, but was rudely cut off.

"Oh," a male's voice said from the left.

Hannah turned and saw a young boy, about their age, scowling at Sehun.

"Yale," Sehun sneered, his eyes narrowing.

"You're back."
"You still look like shit."

"Yale", whoever that was, his face contorted with fury as he raised his closed fist and brought it down in means to punch Sehun.

Hannah froze in terror as more people appeared at Yale's side.
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if you look hard enough, you'll see that there's a quick déjà vu moment there ;)

xoxo <3