Fast Pace👣MEANIE

1

The song wasn't even let to finish when a finger pressed the cassette button and placed the melody to a stop.

"There's still something missing." Mingyu deadpanned, and upon hearing this, Wonwoo gave his dance partner an apologetic smile. He lost count of how many times he heard Mingyu say that sentence and how many times he tried to apologize to his partner telepathically.

"I'm sorry for keeping you." Wonwoo sincerely told Pinky, his unfortunate partner. It was way past studio hours yet the three of them are still there in the spacious room trying to make their program work. If would have been fine if there were at least some progress with their dance routine, but as long as the three of them are concerned, all three of them knew that there wasn't even a hint of improvement since they began.

"It's fine. I have nowhere else to be in anyway." Pinky answered with a smile, reaching for the towel hanging on one of the chairs near them, next to where Mingyu is sitting, to remove the sweat forming on her forehead.

"We should call it a day." Mingyu said, and although Wonwoo wasn't even near satisfied with their performance, he nodded in agreement. He kept his poor partner long enough and there's still 8 weeks before the competition. Everything will be alright. Yeah right. From the looks of it, it would be a miracle for him to actually make everything alright. The very opposite of what the boy sitting infront of him is capable of. The very same boy who they'll be competing with. Why the said boy is helping him, Wonwoo doesn't know. Still, a little help wouldn't hurt. It does a fair amount of damage on his pride one way or another, but as the saying goes, beggars can't be choosy. And right now, Wonwoo knew that he'll need all the help he could get.

"Okay. I'll see guys tomorrow, then?" Pinky asked, pacing her gaze on Wonwoo then on Mingyu to get their acknowledgement. Both answered 'yes' and with this, she gave them one last smile before making her way towards the locker room to probably change before finally going home.

Now, without Pinky in the room, the atmosphere took the turn for worst and the two of them became more awkward than before. Well, on Wonwoo's part, that is. Whether Mingyu feels equally awkward, he doesn't know. He just can't figure Mingyu out and they weren't originally acquainted to begin with. They can't even be considered friends or anything synonymous to that word, and truth be told, if it wasn't for that fact that Mingyu went up to Wonwoo during one of his water break to offer him help, they wouldn't be in speaking terms at all. Specially with them being from two different dance studios that never seem to get along even if both the owners deny it.

Wonwoo was sitting on the floor that day as he watch  chaos unfold inside their crowded studio when suddenly a tall boy made his grand entrance out of nowhere. Wonwoo was shocked of course. Scared even, when the tall boy went towards him. Everyone had their ear and eyes open for whatever is going to happen next. Heck, Wonwoo almost stood up and did a fighting stance, a move he learned in Uni.

"You have a nice form but it doesn't work well with tango. I'll help you with that." The boy said without any change in his expression. Wonwoo, not knowing what to do, stared at the boy dumbly instead.

"Meet me upstairs with your partner after you're done here." He said, before leaving the room. Wonwoo turned to Soonyoung in hopes of actually getting an explanation with what just happened but the other male also looked confused with his mouth hanging open. Everything happened too fast. He found out sooner after that, from the female dancers, that the boy's name was Kim Mingyu and is a year younger than him. They also added how good of a dancer that boy is, but Wonwoo didn't want to believe unless he witnesses it himself.

Wonwoo went though, after convincing Soonyoung that he wouldn't change studios just because a hot dude invited him. As if. Wonwoo loves their studio including the crew and pairs consisting it. It is one of the few places that could give him comfort. Not even his home could do such a thing. He isn't even sure if he could call whatever he has, 'home' in the first place. The apartment he's currently renting is more welcoming than the that horrible place.

"I guess I'll be going home as we-"

"Stay." Mingyu said just like all the other mono syllabic words he's been using for the past two days and it's starting to get on Wonwoo's nerves. The expression less face is also part of it and it took all the control Wonwoo has to not latch out on the boy infront of him.

"But it's getting late. You should be going home as well." Wonwoo reasoned out. Acting like the kind adult he should be even thought he wasn't even close to that. He just wants to get away from the boy.

"I'm not needed there." Mingyu said, averting his eyes and that was all it took for Wonwoo to flop down on the chair next to Mingyu, thinking, him too huh.

"Why are you helping me when we don't even know each other at all?" Wonwoo asked out of the blue, not really expecting the other male to answer his question seriously. Guessing that the most he could get out of the guy is a shrug with the possibility of being ignored still open. Either way, whatever Mingyu's answer is, he should be at least thankful.

The silence dragged out and Wonwoo already lost hope on getting an answer. Not that he's anticipating it. He just wanted to know why.

"Because your form is  beautiful." The younger answered and Wonwoo almost died then. Of what, he doesn't know, but he really did feel as if he almost died. Being praised as beautiful is a first for him that he didn't know exactly what to do. Trying to regain his sanity back, he coughed awkwardly and did a follow up question since he might be hearing things. Did he actually just got called beautiful? But then again, it's his form that was praised and not him. But then again, he is his form, so does that mean he actually got called beautiful?

"You don't say. Are you sure that's your reason?" Wonwoo asked again, boring holes on the hard concrete. Leave it to Wonwoo when I comes to these things, he just had to know more even if it means to be shamelessly nosy.

"Our studio is above yours and I always see you dancing. You stood out the most."  Mingyu explained leaving a very surprised Wonwoo next to him. Surprised of what Mingyu said and surprised that the younger actually spoke two sentences more or less.

"And that's why you're helping me?"

"Yes. And part of it is because I saw how stiff you are dancing that one particular dance. You were always on point that when I saw you struggling that day, without really realizing it, I was already walking towards you and offering you help. Sorry for shamelessly calling you out." Mingyu said, letting of a small laugh that caught Wonwoo of guard. Even with the dim lights, Wonwoo could tell that Mingyu is indeed blushing. So he could show human emotions after all, Wonwoo thought.

"It's okay. Actually, I should be the one that's thank you for trying to help me. I can't help it. I can't tango for my life." Wonwoo said and this caused Mingyu to erupt with laughter.

"You can tango." Mingyu corrected in between his laughs triggering Wonwoo's laughter as well. If this giant beside him actually believes he could pull it off, then maybe he actually could... with the help of God, all the Saints, and the prayer of his friend/co-dancer/block mate Jisoo.

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Lmao if there are mistakes on grammar and spelling, I'm sorry. I'm trying out a new writing style so if the sentences are confusing, tell me please.