POISONED YOUTH: TWISTED

CHAPTER 49

It's the first day of October, and the long-awaited day of the end-year ballet competition. For the participating ballerinas, weeks of practice had finally led to this moment, and the excitement backstage was impossible to hide.

Yeoreum and Yeji were no exception. They had been taking pictures of each other at every corner, from every possible angle and in every possible pose, with the flashes of Yeji's camera seemingly following them everywhere.

"Wherever I go, pose," Yeji said cheerfully as she leaned against a wall rack.

"Whatever I touch, pose." She immediately placed a hand on an umbrella and struck a dramatic side profile.

"When the camera clicks, pose."

"Gosh, Yeji, how many more do you want?" Yeoreum playfully rolled her eyes, unable to stop herself from laughing.

"Did you capture enough?" Yeji asked, already reaching for the camera in Yeoreum's hands. "Stand there. I'm taking another one."

"But I already have so many."

"Nope. Not satisfied."

Yeji grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her toward a white wall where a framed painting of Odette, the Swan Princess, hung above them.

"Okay, one... two... three—"

"Wait!"

Yeji raised a brow as Yeoreum quickly straightened her gold top and adjusted the skirt around her waist.

"Okay, go!" She brushed her bangs into place and stepped back into position.

"One... two... three..." Yeji lowered the camera. "Perfect!"

Yeoreum immediately skipped toward her and clapped excitedly, already eager to see the picture.

"Girls! Gather around!" Head Mentor Jinri's voice echoed through the backstage area as she clapped twice, gathering the group of twenty-three dancers.

Yeji leaned closer to Yeoreum. "You good?"

Yeoreum looked at her friend and smiled. "Better than ever."

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"I thought it was going to be musical theater," Jisung mumbled as he crossed one leg over the other, casually eating popcorn.

"It's a typical ballet, Ji," Chenle replied, shamelessly reaching into Jisung's bucket even though he had an entire bucket of his own.

"Ah! Chen—"

"Shhh, kids. You're not the only ones here," Jeno interrupted, making Chenle snort.

"I'm not a kid," Jisung pouted.

Yeah. When Jisung said he wasn't a kid, then apparently he wasn't a kid.

The entire row was occupied by Dream's members and Yoonoh— Haechan being the only one missing.

Yoonoh was easily the most excited among them. After missing Yeoreum's performances four times, he was finally sitting in the audience again, waiting to watch the girl dance.