𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 || Minsung 💛

O N E

~🎭~

Nothing was worse than the feeling of being alone. But at this time, I finally felt at peace. The sun was beginning to set as I hoisted my back pack on my back, heading towards the collection of tents.

The Circus.

I'd always dreamed of joining the circus. Since a young age I've loved it so dearly. However, my parents didn't exactly approve of this. They never did. My sister seemed to be the only one to actually approve of my antics.

My sister was a bit older than me. About 15 years. When I was born, she mainly looked after me not cause she was forced to buy since she wanted to protect me from my parents. To protect me from what she'd gone through. Since I walked, my parents tried to have my life planned out for me. Failed at that though due to my sister.

My sister was in the circus herself, she brought me to every single practice. I started to show interest in Tightrope and trapeze. The owner of the circus had a soft spot for me and began to give me free lessons.

That went on till I was 20. I grew up in that circus but then obviously my sister was growing up more and more. She became focused on a family. And settling down. We grew further and further apart until my 21st birthday.

She had met a guy introduced by our own family, the one she claimed to have despised. She threw everything away at the circus and dragged me with her. I was torn away from my only happy place. The worst of it was my sister fled with her boyfriend to America. She took me out of my one happy place and then discarded me.

I cut ties with her immediately and this brings me to now. The minute I heard there was a circus coming to town, I left. I packed my bags and ran.

I panted as I came closer and closer to the circus. I could see the tents being set up for the last night. They were my one ticket out of here before they left for Italy.

Of course I tore one of their posters and stalked their social media. They were in Seoul for today and left for Italy in the morning. I had one chance for them to take me on. I saw their train on the tracks and I slowed when I reached it.

I stopped for a second to catch my breath. I hoped that they would accept me, despite not doing trapeze and tightrope for a year. I could still feel it deep inside my bones, just waiting to be ignited again. I walked cautiously behind the halted train and stepped foot into the fresh green grass. I noticed a few people glancing at me before a girl made her way over to me.

"Uhm? Sorry but the public aren't allowed here till night. Can I help you?" The girl was pretty and slim. Probably average height and a fairly deep voice. Her features were highlighted by the light makeup she'd applied. Her hair was the mix of a faint ginger and faded into a more blonde type of colour. It was pretty nonetheless.

"Yeah, do you by any chance know where the person who runs this place is? I think I read his name was uhm Bang something?" I stood there kind of awkwardly but she smiled widely suddenly.

"Bang Chan?"

"Yeah that's him."

"Mmh I do know where he is. Do you need to speak to him?"

"If that's possible, then yeah."

"Of course. Just follow me." She gestured for me to follow her which I did willingly. I slightly peeked at my surroundings, catching a glimpse of a trapeze bar in a tent.

"What's your name by the way?" She asked while leading me towards a small tent.

"Han Jisung. But Jisung is fine."

"Cool. I'm Yuqi."

"Nice to meet you." I laughed slightly to lighten the uncomfortable awkwardness that I felt.

"You too, Jisung. What exactly are you here for? Sorry I'm a tad bit nosey." She laughed.

"It's okay. I'm here for a job. I need to get away from this place."

"Oh why? I heard Seoul's a great place."

"Not exactly the place I guess but the people."

"Family troubles?"

"Right on."

"I get that, a few of our employees have the same issues."

I nodded silently as we stopped outside the tent. She pulled up the tent opening as she gestured for me to wait. Conversation burst out between another voice, easily identifiable as a male's one. Yuqi emerged eventually.

"You can go in, Jisung. I'm off to finish my job so good luck." She gave me a friendly pat on the back before jogging back to other employees.

I breathed in as I walked in slowly. I smiled shyly as a man sat at a small desk that was fairly neatly organised. A sleek laptop sat in the middle of it all.

"Hiya. Your Jisung right? Yuqi told me your name."

"Yes that's me. Sorry to bother you. You look busy but-"

"You're not bothering at all. Yuqi said you wanted a job." He raised his eyebrow.

"Yes that's right."

"Well, I'm Bang Chan. Chan is fine. I run and own this place."

"Nice to meet you."

"So why do you want a job here?"

"I want to get back into the circus and away from here."

"May I ask why? And how were you already involved in the circus?"

"I've been in the circus environment since I was born. My sister used to be in it and she'd take me with her. I started learning trapeze and tightrope from 3 until 20. I stopped lessons because of family troubles."

"So 17 years of experience and good teaching?"

"That's correct. I did trapeze by myself a little for a year after I stopped lessons but I haven't since my 21st birthday."

"You think you can still do it though after a long break?"

"I think. I just might need a little time to remember the ropes but I can feel it within me. You guys are my one ticket into it again. My one ticket is out of here."

"I see." He seemed to contemplate it.

"I can do whatever you need."

"We do have only one trapeze and Tightrope artist. It wouldn't hurt to have another would it?" He smiled and my face imitated a similar motion.

"Okay then Han Jisung. Do you wanna show me what you can do before I officially hire you?"

"Uhm yeah of course."

"Is that backpack with your trapeze kit?"

"Correct." I laughed as he closed his laptop and got up.

"Come on, I'll show you to one of our spare practice tents." I smiled giddily and grabbed my bag before rushing out the tent after him.