Fragile Hearts: Unveiling the Fear of Love (Kentell)

Chapter 2 : Other three members

Ken.

As I stood in front of the bulletin board, scanning through the various event schedules, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Josh and I had successfully made it into the same dance team, led by the renowned choreographer Pablo. It was a blessing in disguise that we hadn't been separated during the audition process.

The team consisted of five members in total, all handpicked by Pablo. Josh and I were the newest additions, joining two other dancers who had been with the team for a while. The chemistry among us felt effortless, and I hoped that it would translate into our performances.

As I continued examining the bulletin board, I noticed that the other 13 successful auditionees were being distributed among the remaining dance teams. It seemed that there were specific teams recruiting from the audition, and I couldn't help but feel grateful that Josh and I had ended up together. It was comforting to know that we would lean on each other as we embarked on this new chapter of our dance journey.

I checked the schedule again, my eyes focused on tomorrow's event. It was the day we would officially meet our team members and begin our training. Anticipation washed over me as I imagined what the day might bring. I had always enjoyed the thrill of starting something new, the adrenaline pumping through my veins.

As I observed the schedule further, I noticed a note indicating that tomorrow's meeting would be held at a prestigious dance studio downtown. It was a place I had often admired from afar, never thinking that one day I would have the opportunity to step foot inside as a part of a team. The mere thought made me feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness, all of which I tried my best to keep hidden beneath my cool exterior.

However, hidden beneath my composed demeanor was a secret that only a few close friends knew about - philophobia, the fear of falling in love. It had shaped my interactions with others, making me cautious and guarded when it came to emotional attachments. Dance had always been my solace, allowing me to express my emotions without the fear of vulnerability. But now, being part of this team, I couldn't help but wonder if my philophobia would be tested.

Lost in my thoughts, I felt a tap on my shoulder, jolting me back to reality. It was Josh, wearing his characteristic mischievous grin. "Excited for tomorrow?" he asked, his eyes glimmering with anticipation.

I nodded, offering him a small smile. "Definitely. It's going to be an exciting new chapter for us, Josh. I can't wait to see what this team has in store for us."

Josh's eyes lit up even brighter. "Hey, speaking of celebrations, how about we have a little gaming session tonight to commemorate our success?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "You and your obsession with mobile games, Josh. But sure, why not? Consider it a reward for making it into the team. We can play for a couple of hours and then focus on tomorrow's meeting."

Josh's face broke into a wide grin, clearly thrilled that I had agreed. We had always had different interests, but that had never stopped us from being the best of friends. And who knows, maybe gaming together would help me loosen up a bit and let go of some of my guardedness.

We made our way back to our shared apartment, excitement bubbling within us. As we set up our game consoles and got comfortable, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Josh. He had always been there for me, supporting me and bringing out the lighter side of life.

As we immersed ourselves in the virtual world, competing, laughing, and teasing each other, I realized that my philophobia had momentarily slipped away. In the dimly lit room, surrounded by the sound of Josh's laughter and the clicking of our game controllers, I allowed myself to let go of my fears and simply enjoy the present moment.