The Reason ~ Chaerji

2

Third Person POV

They continued working together until it was late in the night. Their teacher told them they only had to stay for an hour at max because she didn't want to busy them even though it wasn't their job, but the two genuinely enjoyed each other's presence. Time flew so quickly. Chaeryeong felt this feeling in her stomach she hadn't felt since her parents passed. She couldn't understand what she was feeling, but for once it felt... good?

Suddenly, while the two were laying on the floor resting, Chaeryeong got a phone call, which startled the two and made her flinch. She got up and answered it.

"Ryeong? Are you okay? Where are you? Why aren't you back yet?"

Chaeryeong face palmed. It was Chaeyeon, whom she had promised she would stay the night with. It was now almost 10:30, 3 hours past the end of dance class, and she still wasn't back.

"Omo, I'm so sorry, Chaeyeon Unnie! Time got ahead of me. I'm okay, I'm still at the studio, helping the new girl with the dance."

"Come home now please, you and I need to have a talk about making promises to your sisters."

"Okay, Unnie, sure. See you," She said, hanging up, sighing, and turning to Yeji.

"Who was that?" Yeji asked her.

"My sister, I told her I'd be home by now, but I forgot, so she was worried," She turned to grab her stuff. She could change at her house.

"Oh, okay. See you tomorrow," she said, and Chaeryeong nodded and left.

Chaeryeong POV

As I got in my car, I didn't turn it on and instead sat in the seat, staring out into the lake ahead of me, the only thing blocking it a small railing 2 feet tall. I tried to push the thought of putting my foot on the pedal and never taking it off to the back of my mind. If I was going to die, it couldn't be because of a car, I couldn't do that to Chaeyeon or Chaemin.

I closed my eyes, sighed, and then drove home.

I parked my car and walked inside her house. It's already 11, Chaeyeon will get really mad at me, I thought. I heard a door open.

"Ryeongchae?" It was my big sister.

"Yeah, Unnie, I'm down here," I told her, resting on the armchair by me. She came down and stood on the last step.

"Why didn't you call? Or even text? You had me so worried."

"I know, I'm sorry. I would've, I swear, but I forgot."

"Chaemin was scared, too. She thought you got into an accident. You can't just do that to her, after everything." At the word accident, I froze. Then I could see it in my eyes, the flashing lights, the glass, all the trees, the people running around. I wanted it to stop. Why wouldn't it stop?

"Chaeryeong!" I heard her yell. She was sitting next to me now, hugging me close to her chest. I was crying.

"Hey, hey, it's okay, it's over, you're not there anymore, okay? Shh..." I tried to calm my breathing. Why am I crying like a baby? You're 19 now, and you need to grow up. This is so silly, so stupid.

After I was calm again, she spoke. "I'm sorry I brought it up, I shouldn't have."

"No, it's fine, Unnie," I said, getting up and going to put my things away and get changed.

"Have you eaten yet?"

"Yeah," I lied.

"Okay, go get some rest, hm? You've been dancing for 6 hours, right?" She asked, and I nodded and went to my bed in her room and fell asleep.

________

Third Person POV

When dance class rolled around the next day, Yeji was very excited. She couldn't wait to see Chaeryeong again. Before class, her best friend, Ryujin, called her to learn about the girls in her bestfriends new dance class.

"Sooo~~, any hot laydays??"

"Yaa, Shin Ryujin, stop it!!"

"Oh, c'mon, you know what I mean. Anyone??"

"Well, there is this one girl, Lee Chaeryeong-"

"No way? THE Lee Chaeryeong?!?!?"

"What?"

"This really cool dancer that got into a really bad car accident that killed both of the other people in the car, and she not only SURVIVED but got better enough to continue dancing!!"

"Woah, really?"

"Yeah, omo, if THATS who you're crushing on Hwang, you better give her to me."

"No way! Get your own fatal car accident-surviving dancer!!" Yeji said and hung up. She looked at the time. 3:38. Time to go to class.

When she arrived, she went to her locker and got ready. Shortly after, Chaeryeong entered.

"Wow, you're so early!" She exclaimed, setting her things down and starting to get ready. "I'm normally the first one here."

"I have nothing better to do, so," Yeji said, and Chaeryeong chuckled. Yeji felt satisfied. Something about the girl gave her the feeling that it was very hard to get her to do that. She felt like she accomplished something.

As more girls filed into the room, their conversation ended, and they prepared for dance.

"Girls, come!" Their teacher shouted, and they all listened. After warm ups, they started dancing to their music. Yeji got everything just as good as the others did, to their teacher's surprise.

"Wow, Yeji, you're doing great!" She told her student, and she smiled.

"Thank you, miss. Chaeryeong was a great help," she said, looking at Chaeryeong and winking.

Suddenly, Chaeryeong had a reason to look forward to these classes.