"X-O X-O, Kiss me, Don't say no"
Eun Ae's dreams are coming true as she secures a scholarship to a prestigious dance academy in Seoul. Leaving her hometown behind, she steps into a world filled with promise and challenges. Her parents' approval and...
The alarm blared at 4:30 AM, jolting me awake. I groaned, rubbing my eyes as I reached over to silence it. Today was the big day—the start of our dance trip. Excitement and nervousness swirled inside me as I climbed out of bed and headed for the bathroom.
I took a quick shower, and the warm water helped to wake me up. After drying off, I dressed in the clothes I had carefully planned the night before wide-leg green cargo pants, a white crop top, and a white cap. I finished the look with my white New Balance 530 sneakers. Standing in front of the mirror, I felt a rush of anticipation. This trip was going to be amazing.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I double-checked my room to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything essential. Satisfied, I grabbed my suitcase and headed out. Sun Hee was already up, practically bouncing with excitement.
"Good morning!" I greeted her.
"Good morning!" she chirped back, her eyes sparkling. "Are you ready for the trip?"
"Absolutely," I replied, sharing her enthusiasm.
We went to the kitchen to grab a quick snack before heading out. It was 5:30 AM, and we were scheduled to leave at 6:00 AM. I grabbed an apple and a granola bar, not wanting to eat anything too heavy.
"Do you have everything you need?" I asked Sun Hee as we gathered our things.
"Yep, all set!" she replied, lifting her suitcase.
We walked to the bus stop together, joining a crowd of excited students. The atmosphere was electric, with everyone chatting and laughing, eagerly awaiting instructions. A teacher's voice cut through the buzz, calling for attention.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen! We're thrilled you decided to join us for this dance trip. We're going to split you into four groups of seventy-six people each."
As names were called out, I listened closely. My heart sank a little when I heard that Sun Hee and I were in different groups. But my ears perked up when I heard my name called alongside Niki and Jake. Our chaperone, a kind-looking teacher, called out our seating arrangements for the bus, airport, and hotel.
"Eun Ae and Niki," the chaperone announced.
I glanced at Niki, who smirked at me before looking away. I felt a mixture of surprise and nervousness. Sitting next to Niki for the entire trip? This was going to be interesting.
Everyone found their partners, and it was time to board the bus to the airport. I took a seat next to Niki, pulling out my phone to listen to music on shuffle. As the bus rumbled down the road, I tried to focus on the music, but my mind kept drifting to the events ahead.
When we reached the airport, the excitement was palpable. I spotted Sun Hee and waved to her. She mouthed, "Are you okay?"
"I think so," I mouthed back, not wanting to admit how nervous I was.
