It's Tomorrow, Little Thing

CHAPTER TWELVE (Myeon-Jin's POV)

Saturday

Bang A-Ri came up to me earlier, saying if I was really comfortable with performing MONEY by LISA. I had scoffed at her jokingly and said it would be fine. Because it really will be fine. My rehearsals for that dance were long but it turns out that I have such a creative spot for it. I honestly can't wait to perform it! <3

At the open grounds where we'll be dancing in a few hours, we set our stuff down by a few benches and then get to warming up.

I feel someone's gaze upon me so I look up and around. Jeong-Yi. That. . . blegh.

He walks over to me and grabs my arm.

"Watch it, punk," I say, gripping his wrist, forcing my nails to stab into it. "I'm older than you so back off."

"I need to talk to you," he says half-heartedly.

I roll my eyes and follow him anyway. He turns to look at me and explains this, word for word:

"Do you not feel good? You look rather pale. Do you need makeup? Hyung, I'm worried about you-"

"Park Myeon-Jin!" I glance over his shoulder to see A-Ri. She has her hands on her hips and an expectant scowl. "I need a word with you," she says.

I reply to Jeong-Yi's half-hearted convo starter with a half-hearted slash sarcastic smile and catch up to her.

"A few. . . well. . . a student is uncomfortable with you, a male, performing MONEY today. I'm not sure if any agreed with them." She fidgets with her nails, pitying me with a look of curiosity for an answer.

"I'm perfectly fine and I'm doing it. I don't care if some idiot on this team decides that a guy can't dance because it's what? Explicit? Feminine?" I cross my arms and gaze around the surrounding group. I see Jeong-Yi's eyes over this way and cringe. Why does he want me all to himself? How dare he try to "protect" me? I'm me and I'm doing MONEY.

"I'm doing it," I confirm. "If you change it up on me seconds before, I'm not coming back." I cross my arms and go by my stuff to continue my stretching.

A little bit before the show, one of the dancers had a bit of an attack but recovered and went on for the cover anyways. But now, I think I may become the second dancer to have an attack because my heel is bouncing against the pavement like a chopper's blades against the air.

Jeong-Yi and I have a duet together and before I was certain about his feelings for me, I didn't really mind it. The duet is not exactly subtle, and it's a little spicy. But now that I am certain about his feelings for me. . . now, I'm not so sure. But I can't back down because we're next.

He comes up next to me and takes my hand as the music ends. He holds our hands up as if we're in a renaissance classical piece and guides me to the floor as the other dancers disperse into the crowd.

We get into position, just as my eyes graze upon someone else's who I can't seem to have gotten off my mind for a while. But I'm sure he's not here. That's not him. How would he have heard about this anyways?

The music begins and the younger starts his part, circling me like the choreography was set on us. He grabs my hands and spins me around, throwing me to start my section as he dances on accented beats.

Today is a little different I will admit. Not just the atmosphere but the day itself. It's a little cool but the sun is out, and the crowd does seem tight-knit.

Finally, I hear the music dim into a street styled ambience, signaling the end of this hell. Jeong-Yi dips me and our shoulders collide but he catches me. Then, my least favorite part -because we're so close- his body is right up against the back of mine. It's one of those turns where you walk in a circle using one of your hips. Y'know?

But, after many discussions of deniance, his left hand goes down my hip and part of my bottom along with my thigh.

"Kim Jeong-Yi," I breathe. "What the heck are you doing?"

"Dancing?" he replies nonchalantly.

His other hand firmly grips my waist and I'm glued to him- or actually, he's trying to be glued to me. His left hand continues to circle inappropriately on my leg.

"Jeong-Yi!" I rasp, finally breaking and slapping him in the face, acting as if it's the dance- and not to be embarrassed, he improvs back. Rage fills my mouth, but I know that I don't want to remind myself of those horrible memories through swearing.

Finally, the music ends and we bow. But a familiar haircut catches my attention. They're turned their back to us but I can't help but feel hope and safety.

Four dances have passed and MONEY, covered by me, is the second to last, 'cause we're ending with a bhang!

Finally, I get out and do a bit of an intro, floorwork, a quick lil' twerk, nothing big and then stand to get into position. The songs starts and it goes by quick:

My classmates cheering and whooping whenever there's a great moment- and, not to brag: the whole song~

I finally finish and there are loud cheers and whoops. I smile and bow deeply, satisfied with my job.

When the show ends the public tells us good job and good luck in life and whatever, but I'm trying to get out of Jeong-Yi's claws.

But- not to my surprise he catches up to me and holds my arm.

"You did good today," he compliments, smiling brightly with his eyes almost disintegrating.

"Get off me, kid," I snapped. But he tightens his grip. "Kim-"

"YA! Park Myeon-Jin!"

I wince at the voice and see my Lord and Savior: Jeong Ye-Jun. I stay quiet and feel small as he approaches us. The younger one lets me go as Ye-Jun gets in the middle of us.

"Listen, asshole," Ye-Jun snaps. "Don't touch him. He clearly looked uncomfortable while dancing with you, creep."

The younger man scoffs and is about to talk but grabs my hand and pulls me all the way to his car in the parking lot wayyyy over the blocks of streets. He doesn't talk for that whole time.

By the time we get to his car, he's fuming with anger. Though he still opens my door and waits for me to enter it completely before shutting the door.

"We're getting some of your stuff out of your dorm. You're gonna live with me for a while," he explains as we exit the parking lot.

"Uhm, Hyung?" I ask.

He hums a response as we turn on the University's road.

"How did you know about the public performance?" I turn in my seat and glare at the side of his head.

"I'm Jeong Ye-Jun," he finally says. "I have ears and eyes everywhere. Don't get too cocky now."

"Ya!" But I cover my mouth instantly. "Wait- Have you let me talk to you casually all this time?!"

Ye-Jun pulls in front of the dorms. "That's how you talked when you woke up, so I let it slide since you were so scared."

I bite my lip and exit the car.