Promise Flower

Let's Dance

A new year has started and I'm excited to begin my junior year as a photography major. Soon I'll be graduating and on my way to becoming a great photographer and hosting my own exhibits that even celebrities will want to go to.

Wishful thinking, but either way I'm excited to be that much closer to graduating and starting my career in photography.

"What are you going to do for your semester project, Mina?" My friend Taehyung asks. We met freshman year as photography majors and seem to have nearly every class together since then. He's become my best friend at the school and my wine partner when I need to let off steam.

"I don't know," I respond taking a bite of my bagel as we sit in the cafe that's conveniently located in the art building on campus. "Why would he put something so heavy on us like that and only give us a short time to decide on a subject?"

This semester our photography professor gave the class a project where we choose a subject and follow them throughout the semester. The final project is worth nearly half my grade so I know I have to do perfect on it.

"I don't know," Taehyung says. "But we have to figure something out."

"Ugh," I sigh struggling to think of an idea. "What about following one of the sports teams through their season?"

"That would be fine if we actually had any fall sports at this school," Taehyung huffs.

Our university is one of many (but few) that don't have a football team, or volleyball team, or any other Fall sport schools typically have. Sports are basically nonexistent until basketball season starts. Too bad we're not taking this class in the spring.

"Well shit," I sigh. "What about a series of self portraits where I document myself increasingly losing my shit as the semester goes on?"

"Let me know how that goes," Taehyung laughs. "I've got class, I'll see you later." I wave as he grabs his bags and heads off down the hall.

My next class isn't for another hour so I hang in the cafe a little longer before I decide to wander the halls to kill time. I always enjoy going through the halls of the art building and passing rooms where masterpieces are being created whether on canvas or through music. The music especially is my favorite.

As I'm strolling along I come to one of the dance rooms with the door open. There's a soft classical track playing and inside a petite figure is moving across the floor with fluid motions. His body floats seamlessly on the waves of the music and I almost want to pull out my camera to capture how flexible his body is. It's almost as if he's made of rubber rather than skin and bones. He makes a turn and his eyes meet mine.

"Mina!" He says with a smile.

"Jimin?" I say finally realizing who I had been watching.

Jimin and I went to high school together, and while we weren't incredibly close, we still had a few classes together and became friends. When we started college we would still run into each other from time to time since we both are majoring in the arts. I wouldn't necessarily consider him my "bestie", but he's definitely a cool friend.

"What are you doing here?" He asks pausing the music and waving me into the room.

"I was just walking around until my next class. Are you already busting your ass on a routine when it's just the second week of the semester?" I joke.

It's no secret that he's one of the best dancers at the school. He's been dancing his entire life and has won many awards. I'm sure the school was excited when they saw he wanted to attend here of all places as a dance student. But it's also no secret that he tends to be quite hard on himself. Pushing himself to his very limits for the sake of improvement. He doesn't know how to take it easy, but I guess it's hard to when he's trying to maintain his position at the top of the class, which is constantly being threatened by another great dancer.