In front of him sat hundreds of people.
Their eyes were piercing right through him as he stood, motionless for some time, in the center of the stage. The white and strong light of the projectors was blinding the boy, not helping in any way to reduce his rising panic. But he wasn't alone.
His colleagues and friends surrounded him, and friendship radiated from them despite their fierce eyes. Jungwoo felt his heartbeat slow down as the music started to finally adjust its pace with the bass vibrating in the floor.
When they began to move, the audience forgot to breathe and stared at the dancers as they moved their limbs in unison.
Jungwoo could feel sweat tumbling down his back. He could feel his muscles contracting. He was almost out of breath when the first part of their performance finally ended.
Limping from a violent sore muscle, he walked slowly backstage and was suddenly engulfed in a hug by his fellow Korean friend as soon as he stepped a foot behind the curtains.
He hugged back the man tightly and smiled in the crook of his neck.
"oh, man! You were so good!" Doyoung was ecstatic.
They had poured so much energy in learning the choreographies and repeating them over and over so that Jungwoo could perform with them as soon as possible that it almost felt surreal for both of the boys to have Jungwoo be a part of their team.
"thank you...". The seventeen-year-old couldn't help his wobbling mouth and his shacking knees as tears slowly made their way down his cheeks.
"oh no, baby! Why are you crying? Why are you sad?" Doyoung stared at him intensely, trying to comprehend his friend's sadness.
"I'm not sad, I'm happy." He smiled and wiped away some tears.
"it feels like the first time dancing and being myself in so long. I remember how hard it was for me here at first, but you were there every time I needed support or help. But I still felt like something was missing... everything is confusing and mixed up in my head... but I'm so happy to be here, dancing with you."
It had indeed been hard for the younger to change his methods at first.
"ugh... F- fuck! Doyoung, oh my god! Please, stop..." Jungwoo cried out loud. Panting and sweating, the boy put his hands on his knees and bent down a little, allowing himself to rest for the first time.
"oh, come on Jungie! This move isn't even hard!" Jungwoo glared at the latter as he said so and replied bitterly "go to hell, Hyung."
The other only laughed loudly and came closer.
"cheer up, Honey." He patted the sulking boy's shoulder with a grin on his face.
"I don't know why it's not working... I swear I used to be the best in ballet and I could have been professional. But now every time I try to do what you're telling me to, it feels like my body is too stiff and rigid to move the way yours do."
"that's because it is too stiff and rigid. We don't really know each other that well but I can tell you've got shit on your mind, and the fact you used to have a stick up your ass while dancing doesn't help." Doyoung chuckled, happy and satisfied with his joke, as Jungwoo hit his arm in frustration.
"what are you even talking about?"
"do you realize how straight your posture is? Have you never realized that your back is hard like fucking concrete?"
"oh, that..." Jungwoo whispered back.
And so after that night, Doyoung proceeded to help Jungwoo destress and get into the right mindset for their hip-hop oriented dances.
They worked countless of hours, disregarding the sweat, the blood and the pain, and then, they went into clubs, sometimes going back to their hotel alone, sometimes with people whose faces they could barely recognize in the daylight.
They grew closer, being for each other a support, a friend and a taste of home, and after months, Jungwoo danced almost as well as a professional.
After the other parts of the show, the dancers were finally free from work and headed to a bar in town to celebrate Jungwoo's first show.
The teenager's Ukrainian wasn't essentially the best but it sure had gotten better, now he could order things at a bar alone, and answer anyone who'd try hitting him up.
The big group sat around several tables, too many to fit around one, and soon the bar was filled with the sounds of their loud conversations and laughter and of glasses slammed onto the tables. Jungwoo was still underage but Doyoung let him take a sip of his own beer from time to time.
When the night reached its darkest, Jungwoo felt a little tipsy. When his friend turned and met his slightly flushed face, the older decided it was time for them to leave. After helping the younger up, they greeted everyone goodbye and left the noisy place.
The July night was still hot but a breeze blew on their skin from time to time as they waited patiently on the sidewalks for a taxi. The sky was full of stars and Doyoung loved the way they reflected in the latter's shiny eyes.
They climbed in the taxi and after few minutes, reached their hotel. Jungwoo clung onto the other man after he had paid.
Doyoung led them both to the younger's room. Jungwoo lay in his bed and Doyoung lay next to him for a while, waiting for the tipsy boy to fall asleep. He turned his body to face the latter and silently started running his hand through his silky hair.
With his senses almost asleep, Jungwoo could have sworn the older smelled just like Yukhei, and a smile slowly made its way on his parted lips.
YOU ARE READING
With No Words Said- Luwoo
Fanfiction[edited] Jungwoo misses his best friend. He's his neighbor too, but when doubts strike him hard, even the large road feels like a highway. He misses Lucas but he thinks he might as well just stop, too tired to keep it up. Yukhei, on the other hand...
