A Rose-Colored Dream; Soonhoon

02

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SOONYOUNG KNOWS A thing or two about dancing - when they're young, they have to learn set skills as part of their training (something about being more cultured?) and while some choose singing, playing an instrument, painting, whatever, Soonyoung chose dancing. He doesn't like to brag, but he's kind of really good at it.

So working at Pledis isn't stressing him out too much. He knows he can dance, he knows he can figure out choreography with the help of the other staff - but he's terrified that he might be a shitty teacher. If there's one thing he's learned throughout his way-too-long lifespan, it's that humans can be fucking mean sometimes. And, you know. He's sensitive.

"Nervous?" Jihoon asks him. They're walking together to the bus stop to get to work, and Soonyoung keeps wiping his palms against his pants. "You seem nervous."

"I do? Nah, I'm just ... I mean, yeah. I'm kind of nervous."

Jihoon smiles nudging him with his elbow. "You've got nothing to worry about, I promise. Everyone there is really nice. The CEO is kind of a knucklehead, but we don't have to talk to him directly very often, anyway."

"What if I'm, like, bad at my job?" Jihoon laughs.

"You won't be. I've never seen you dance, but I seriously doubt you would've gotten hired on if you weren't a solid match for what the company wanted."

If this were a normal situation, Soonyoung would be comforted to hear that, but this isn't. He knows that whoever's job it was managed to manipulate a few important people and get Soonyoung the job without any actual qualification needed - he's just hoping the same people who made that possible can also keep him from getting fired.

The bus ride is relaxing, though. If he just focuses on Jihoon's voice and takes in what he's saying, he can block out the more anxious part of his brain. Jihoon tells him about his coworkers, rattles off a bunch of names Soonyoung's probably not going to remember, says it's not too difficult of a job if you know what you're doing.

"So, what exactly do you do?" Soonyoung asks like he doesn't already know.

"Oh, I'm a producer. Nothing big, I just made it to the company a few months ago. I'm still working my way up."

"But you must be really good, right? You're still really young - I mean, you look young," Soonyoung corrects himself. Jihoon blushes a little.

"Er, twenty-three. I guess so, most of the people I work with directly are a little older, but if you're really passionate about something then you naturally improve faster and faster. I love what I do, which is what makes me, uh, good. I guess."

Soonyoung smiles softly. He thinks it's endearing how flustered Jihoon gets at compliments, and he's impressed, too. "You should show me some of your stuff, sometime."

"If I get to sit in on one of your dance practices, sure."

Soonyoung nods in a silent promise, and then immediately regrets it because - again - he might just embarrass himself completely. Jihoon looks content, though, sighing a little and settling into himself with a small smile playing on his face. Soonyoung feels nice, seeing it.

––

That nice feeling lasts for the rest of the bus ride, and even throughout the walk from the bus stop to the building, but it doesn't take long for that familiar anxiety to replace it the second they get inside.