Ballroom Fever - Ryeji

Blue Ribbon

Back to present day, 2021.

School recently started. My parents enrolled me to a school that is dedicated to performing arts. I felt even happier when I discovered that Lee Chaeryeong, my bestfriend who I met when I was in highschool, enrolled there too.

I was wearing a black jacket and black joggers and while I was walking inside our gigantic school, I breathed a sigh of relief while I reminisced about the past. Ever since my dad died, my life became more peaceful. It hurts to admit that my stepdad is nicer than my real father. But even though I hated my father, I still visit his grave once a month.

I reminisced about my bestfriend in elementary. When we moved to Seoul, I decided to not answer her calls anymore because I didn't know what to tell her. After a year, she eventually stopped calling me and I stopped thinking about her that I forgot what she looked like and what her name was. The only thing I remember was the blue ribbon I gave her when we first met.

I inhaled and sharply exhaled through my nose while looking around my school. I stopped walking for a moment and stood by a staircase. In front of me, there were a group of students dancing while their area is getting filled with rap music. They were all wearing a cap and white t-shirts. I was astonished by their performance as they were in sync and despite getting drenched in sweat, they still danced gracefully like there's no tomorrow.

Behind me, there was a group of girls talking. I was curious because one of the girls' voice sounded familiar to me. I took a glance and I saw three girls. They had black hair and they were wearing obnoxiously large shirts with black and white joggers. The one on the middle had short hair, on her right side is a girl with a small face, and the one on her left side is a tall one with big puppy-like eyes.

"Where's our classroom?" the short-haired girl asked. It was obvious that they were probably new to the school and are obviously lost.

"I think it's up there," the small-faced one replied and pointed at the staircase that I was standing by. The three of them walked towards the staircase and they talked about random stuff while they carefully placed their footsteps on the stairs that is made out of concrete.

However, their conversation was cut off when the short-haired one suddenly stepped on a wet area on the stairs making her fall. "Ah!" she yelled as she was on the verge of hitting the ground.

I sighed. It was very fortunate for the girl that I was observing them. I put my left arm on where her back was and caught her. If I wasn't there, she could've suffered severe injuries.

The short-haired girl slowly looked at me in the eyes. Her face seemed familiar to me that made me wonder. She was quivering while struggling to talk to me. "I-I.... t-thank you," she said and stood up properly. She covered her face that was turning as red as a cherry. She was obviously embarassed.

"Welcome," I said. "From what class are you?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Class 1-X," the one with a small face replied. They were in the same class as me.

I chuckled and I pointed at the big classroom by the group of dancing students. "There's our classroom," I said with a smile.

The tall one held the small-faced girl's hand and the hand of the short-haired girl. "That was embarassing," she whispered to the short-haired girl earning an awkward chuckle from her as they walked away from me. "So embarassing, Ryujin Unnie!" she said again.

My eyes widened a little bit as that name seemed familiar to me. "Ryujin?" I said to myself.

My thinking was interrupted when someone placed their arm on me out of nowhere that startled me. I stopped thinking about the short-haired girl and I looked at the person besides me who has their arm on me.