Autumn Angel | JHS ✔

.two.

"...five, six, seven, eight."

The music draws to a close and the small girls start to immediately chatter among themselves, having held in any conversation for the few minutes we had finished another routine.

"Great job today, girls," I say at the front of the class. "That's all for today. I'll see you next week."

The children immediately relax their postures and run over to the wall with their bags scattered along. Parents stand outside the large window, peering into the room to swoon over their young daughters. The children run out the door and their parents pick them up with smiles and kisses. Jackets are pulled over leotards and pins are released from scalps, allowing baby hairs to fall from buns pulled tightly in the back.

I wave goodbye to the last girl, the parents quickly grabbing her hand to lead her away. I've gotten used to the stares and the invisible bubble I always seemed to have anytime I went anywhere in Korea. As among the rare population in the nation with dark skin and curly hair, people giving me curious and judgmental looks was a given.

I walk over to my phone and press shuffle on my playlist reserved for dancing ballet. Gentle violin starts to waft through the air and I move to the center of the room, staring at myself in the large mirror.

And then, I relax; allowing my body to do whatever it pleases, keeping my posture straight, and allowing grace and sophistication to run from the top of my head all the way down to the elegant stance of even my fingers. Eventually, somewhere in there, when I'm on the ground and waving my arms, I just fall backwards and lie in the middle of the room, my eyes closed and my hands resting on my stomach. I feel my body start to sink into the black floor and violin notes surround me in a cloud.

I needed this. It had been awhile since I had just lied down to do nothing and think of nothing. Just as I feel myself about to drift away into nothingness, the door slams open and I jerk up into a seated position.

"Autumn! What are you doing? Get up, get up!"

I look over to the lean figure, covered in cargo pants and a muscle tee. I roll my eyes but force myself to stand onto my feet with a smile. "I'm tired, Jay. Give me a break."

"You always say that and then beg me to go hang out the next hour. Stop talking."

I grin. "What can I say? Ambiverted personality at its finest."

Jay walks over to my phone and removes it from its charger, cutting off the music playing from the speakers. "I actually can't hang out today, Autumn. I'm really sorry. There's another old friend I promised I would catch up with."

I scowl at him. "Who could possibly be more important than me?"

"That would be me." I turn around and immediately widen my eyes. He grins at me. "And so we meet again, Angel."

I open my mouth to say something but no words come out. Jung Hoseok.

Jay's head switches back and forth between us. I stare at the long-faced man, still grinning at me with all of his teeth and his hair now a light blonde. It feels like our encounter a month ago in America was forever ago. I'm suddenly very conscious in my leotard and tights. My thick hair is barely managing to stay in a bun and a thin black skirt is tied loosely around my waist.

"Do you guys know each other?" Jay asks.

"You could say that," Hoseok replies.

"No," I say. "We don't."

At that, Hoseok's grin somehow manages to grow.

"Do you want to join us for dinner then, Autumn? We could all catch up with him."