Within These Shadows || Park Chanyeol/Do Kyungsoo || Book 1

15

November, 2018

Jay sat on the wooden furnished floor, stretching before starting practice. She knew her body would ache for a few days after practice that day, but it was kind of worth it. Stretching before dancing reminded her of days from nine years ago. Dancing had been a part of her life for eight years before everything came to an abrupt halt.

"Jayline-ssi, are you ready?" Gong Tae Pyung, Jay's instructor, entered into the studio.

"Ne, I'm ready." Jay stood up.

"Alright, let's go through some basic steps, shall we?"

"Yeah, sure."

Gong Tae Pyung started some basic contemporary steps as Jay was trained in contemporary. He showed the steps first, expecting Jay to go after him.

But Jay stood still, nervousness suddenly taking all over her. She could feel herself shuddering, her T shirt stuck to her back from sweat, feet were tingling, throat was dry as wood. Her breathing got heavy, and more and more uneven. She tried to move but her limbs seemed to be frozen at spot, unwilling to remember any past memories.

"Jayline-ssi, gwaenchanh-euseyo? (are you okay?)" Tae Pyung placed a hand on Jay's shoulder out of worry. But she suddenly jolted out of her thoughts and leaped a few steps away from her instructor, breathing heavily.

"Joesong-habnida! (I'm sorry!)" Her instructor held up his hands apologetically. "Are you okay?"

Jay realised that her sudden action had placed her instructor at an uncomfortable and an apologetic state.
"Joesong-habnida, seonsaengnim! (I'm sorry, teacher!) I didn't mean to do that. It's just...I thought I could start dancing once I took the initial steps. But, it's harder than I thought." Jay bowed apologetically.

"Gwaenchanseubnida (It's okay). I understand. Take your time." Tae Pyung smiled.

Jay leaned against the mirror and slid down. Memories of her childhood came flooding back to her. She remembered the first day her parents had taken her to a dance academy. Little Jay was only 5 then; but when she saw the dance instructor dancing ballet, moving like water, as though she was a fairy, Jay was mesmerised. Little Jay knew then and there that she wanted to be a dancer.

She remembered the day when she had won her first dance competition; she was 7 then. She was beaming with happiness; her parents had taken her to her favorite ice cream parlor and let her eat all the flavors she wanted. Falling sick the next day felt worth it to Jay.

When she was 10, she had gone to an international competition. Even though she had gotten third place, she was more than happy; so were her parents.

And when she was 13, everything stopped; as though someone had torn down the canvas where she had painted her dreams with so much care and love. She was thrown into this pit of despair where she was lost and all alone. No one could save her from that bottomless pit; not even her parents.

It took Jay years to understand that she, herself, had to be the one to save herself from that pit. And now that she had come this far, she was not willing to turn back or fall down again. She had to do this, for herself, for her mother, for Mae.

Jay wiped off the single tear that had escaped, closed her eyes, took a deep breath and stood up.

"I'm ready, seonsaengnim." She nodded her head with confidence.

*

PCY: Do you want to eat jjamppong?

ASM: O MA GAWD YESSSSS!! :D