Ballroom Fever - Ryeji

Yellow Hyacinth

3 weeks have passed.

Chaeryeong was slowly walking inside their empty classroom. They had 2 classrooms. The first classroom is for dancing, an empty four-cornered room with a wooden floor and a giant mirror on the front. The second classroom is just like any other classrooms, hundreds of chairs and hundreds of eyes gazing at one teacher on the front, basically a room for lectures and boredom.

Ryujin was sitting down alone while writing down notes about a new dance step that were introduced to them. She didn't notice Chaeryeong, because Chaeryeong entered through the door on the back of the room.

The thing that the two did for 21 days is date. They sometimes fight about small things that fortunately doesn't affect their bond. They got to know a lot about each other. However, they have been hiding their relationship for 21 days. They weren't confident enough about saying to their friends and families that they're dating. Chaeryeong's parents aren't a problem, but Ryujin's are.

"Ryujin," Chaeryeong called her girlfriend in a quiet manner. She didn't want to interrupt Ryujin. She knew that Ryujin is ill-tempered and she doesn't like the idea of getting strangled to death. Chaeryeong was holding something in her pocket. A golden necklace she bought, because it's Ryujin's birthday. However, it baffled her due to the fact that Ryujin is busy and working hard on her own birthday.

Ryujin looked behind and her mood immediately changed. "Ryeongie!" she happily shouted Chaeryeong's nickname. Ryujin wanted to stand up and greet Chaeryeong with a hug, but she was too tired and her body was glued to her seat.

Chaeryeong walked towards Ryujin with a grin on her face. "Happy birthday."

"Thanks," Ryujin replied. "By the way, I'm almost done. We can go on a date today. I don't have work since the manager told me to take a day off, because it's my birthday." Ryujin switched her attention to the pile of papers on her table.

While standing behind Ryujin, Chaeryeong gave Ryujin a hug by the neck. A warm and soft hug that made Ryujin feel free as she was encumbered by the stress she has been feeling these past few days. It felt like she was inside of a log cabin and she's facing a fireplace while humming to the rhythm stuck in her mind. "Lia and Yuna are actually setting up things at my house," Chaeryeong said.

Ryujin furrowed her eyebrows and tried to face Chaeryeong. "Why did you tell me that? You ruined the surprise." Ryujin pouted and crossed her arms like a baby.

Chaeryeong chuckled and gave Ryujin a kiss on the cheek. "You're such a big baby," Chaeryeong teased her. "I don't know where Yeji is. She said that she went to therapy, but when I called her doctor, he said that Yeji wasn't there, so I guess she's in my house right now."

"What does that have to do with my birthday?" Ryujin asked.

Chaeryeong broke the hug and said, "I want to tell them that we're dating."

Ryujin slowly faced Chaeryeong. Chaeryeong's straightforward decision made her heart beat faster out of anxiety. She actually wanted to tell her friends that they're dating weeks ago, but she kept on postponing it, because she was scared of how her friends would react and their friendship might crumble. "I-I don't know if that's a good idea," Ryujin said.

"Let's not hide anymore, Ryujin. It makes me uncomfortable when we lie to our friends and secretly go on a date. Let's be honest to them and your parents."

The last word made Ryujin even more nervous. A swarm of butterflies formed in her stomach and flew around and weakened her guts. Honestly, Ryujin doesn't know if her parents are fine with her dating. Her parents have trust issues just like her. "I-.." Ryujin was cut off when Chaeryeong held her hand.