#063
After lightly scanning the surroundings where people were singing along like a chorus, Jiwoon continued whispering back and forth with Yechan.
“Who does push-ups for a talent show?”
“Strength is also a talent.”
“Is your back okay?”
“No, I think it hurts.”
At those words, Jiwoon reached out and pressed firmly on Yechan’s back.
“Where? Here?”
Yechan grinned as he spoke.
“Do it more. It feels good.”
Only then realizing that Yechan was teasing him, Jiwoon raised his finger and pinched somewhere around Yechan’s waist.
“Ah!” Yechan arched his back and chuckled. Jiwoon lowered his head and pounded with his fist from below Yechan’s neck to his upper back as he laughed.
At the massage-like contact, Yechan pulled his chair back completely and turned his back toward Jiwoon. Jiwoon pounded on that back.
And how much time had passed? Jiwoon, who had been fooling around with Yechan, stood up from his seat when his name was called.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Yechan said with a subtle look in his eyes as he smiled. Though Yechan meant it sincerely, it sounded a bit different to Jiwoon.
The competitive spirit that had subsided over time surged up again. You don’t think I can do it, do you? It was the moment when Jiwoon, who had planned to do it half-heartedly and brush it off because it was annoying, became serious about the talent show.
Jiwoon went forward and stood next to the president. The president handed him the microphone. Breathing in and exhaling with diaphragmatic breathing like he did in the military wasn’t difficult.
Applause burst out in welcome, and Jiwoon, who had slightly raised the corners of his mouth, continued speaking. At his playful expression, Yechan rested his arms on the table and propped his chin up.
“Twenty-two years old, Marine Corps 1×××th class. That’s all.”
“Marine Corps! There’s probably definitely someone here who will go to the Marines much later than student Jiwoon’s class. You should show them well. Contact me if you’re curious about military life.”
“Cool!” someone shouted. Jiwoon grinned and said “Got it” into the president’s microphone. His small white face under his black hair was filled with a relaxed expression.
At Jiwoon’s words, the venue became noisy with half jeers and half cheers. Jiwoon definitely had charisma. He was the type that people naturally gathered around.
Yechan unconsciously clenched his fist tightly. The more people focused on Jiwoon, the stranger he felt. He was happy to see Jiwoon shine, but on the other hand, he kept getting anxious.
Although he was already slightly drunk, Yechan drained all the beer in his glass again.
Jiwoon, standing far away, also downed the 500ml glass the president had given him in one shot. The president continued speaking as Jiwoon put down his glass with a completely scrunched face.
“Now let’s see the talent show. Um… you didn’t submit what you’d do for the talent show? Let me hear it.”
As soon as the president finished speaking, someone started shouting that this round was a bust. Jiwoon pulled the president’s microphone and spoke.
“I’ll dance. Please play this song.”
The song Jiwoon mentioned was a hip-hop dance track by a male idol group that was popular a few years ago. Cheers poured out for the quite famous song. Someone who heard the song title also shouted “Awesome!”
When the president exited, the pub lights went out and spotlights shone on the stage. In the darkened, barely visible space, Yechan narrowed his eyes.
Jiwoon was looking down at the stage floor with both hands hanging quietly at his sides. His face lit by the spotlight and his arms with his black long-sleeved shirt rolled up stood out particularly white.
Yechan fixed his gaze intently on that white face. The song started with a whirring sound.
Jiwoon tilted his head sideways to match the vocals. Yechan momentarily held his breath at those languid eyes.
The music continued with thumping bass and splitting mechanical sounds. Jiwoon’s broad shoulders moved fluidly as he dropped one shoulder and knee to the beat.
“Waaaah!”
People started screaming. Yechan’s eyes widened as he watched Jiwoon’s arms and legs extend and fold back rhythmically while lowering his body.
Lee Jiwoon danced well. Despite his cold expression, his movements were passionate. His lips parted occasionally as he exhaled. His jet-black bangs swayed back and forth with every body movement.
“Kyaaaah!”
Screams could be heard from here and there. After a couple of measures, the rhythm suddenly got much faster. Jiwoon moved along with the splitting beat.
Yechan stared at Jiwoon blankly. Even though it was quite a fast song, Jiwoon matched all the speed. The steps covering the stage were almost too fast to follow with the eyes.
Jiwoon, who had spun his arms a couple of times, opened his mouth slightly as if out of breath. Yechan felt dizzy.
When the high-pitched part came, the bass pounded. Jiwoon, who had been dancing with power in each limb, moved as if sweeping the floor with his shoes to match the verse that went from high to suddenly low.
Jiwoon spread his knees inward and made a figure-skating-like motion, breathing in quietly. And that gesture soon connected to a movement that sharply broke waves from head to toe.
The venue became a frenzy of madness at the dazzling and intense dance skills.
Jiwoon connected countless steps in a flowing manner. It was quite a powerful song. The choreography, which consisted mainly of movements that lowered the waist and added bounce, looked incredibly cool even at a glance.
Jiwoon, who had been moving his lips as if singing along, suddenly scrunched his face at the highlight. At that moment, Yechan unconsciously bit his lip.
Jiwoon’s eyes, which immediately returned to expressionless, were still languid.
“Kyaaaah!”
Yechan realized that at some point all the girls around him had stood up.
The first verse ended. The song continued, but Jiwoon properly placed both hands at his sides and bowed at the waist.
The surroundings were chaos with squealing sounds. More than half had stood up, and the whistling sounds and cheers didn’t stop.
“Dance more!” At the voices calling out, Jiwoon showed his teeth and grinned. Then he quietly hid his body behind the president who was coming up.
Yechan’s face was visible over the president’s shoulder. Yechan was looking at Jiwoon with his head resting on the back of his hand and a somewhat dazed expression.
Looking at Yechan’s straight eyebrows and the handsome eyes beneath them, Jiwoon’s lips curved up. I won this one.
“Wow, oppa really killed it. Amazing!”
“Hyung, you were so cool!”
Praise poured out from those around Jiwoon as he returned to his seat. Only then did his head spin. The alcohol seemed to be hitting him.
Jiwoon, who was thirsty, responded with a casual “yeah” and then gulped down beer. As he was still catching his slightly labored breath, Yechan stared at Jiwoon with sulky eyes.
Jiwoon raised the corners of his mouth.
“Ah, what wish should I make?”
Yechan’s expression crumpled even more.
Jiwoon chuckled and looked at Yechan’s glass. The soju glass was clean.
“Let’s drink soju.”
“Hyung, are you going to drink soju?”
“Beer makes me full.”
Yechan picked up the soju bottle and filled Jiwoon’s glass. Seeing Yechan fill his own glass with alcohol too, Jiwoon raised his finger and touched it to Yechan’s glass.
When Jiwoon prevented the full pour and raised his own glass, everyone at the table picked up their glasses and quietly shouted “Cheers” together. Someone was giving a self-introduction up front.
Jiwoon, who had soothed his bitter mouth with water thanks to the soju, glanced at Yechan. Then he laughed looking at Yechan, who was still frowning.
“Why?” To Jiwoon, who asked only with lip movements because of the noise, Yechan answered sullenly.
“Because hyung dances too, too well.”
“I know.”
“When did you practice?”
“In high school.”
“You danced in high school, hyung?”
“On the school trip.”
“You still remember that?”
“Why couldn’t I?”
Jiwoon, who had good reflexes and was good at sports, answered as if it were obvious. Yechan was at a loss for words.
Jiwoon’s performance kept coming to mind. Jiwoon dancing was cool and a little, no, very sexy.
Yechan was displeased by the fact that not only he but other people had also seen Jiwoon like that. An inexplicable anxiety arose.
It was around the time he was thinking he wanted to manipulate not only the memories of the people in the pub but also those who had gone on the school trip with Jiwoon. Someone approached Jiwoon and started talking to him.
Yechan let out a long sigh.
In conclusion, twelve people asked Jiwoon for his phone number at the welcome party. Jiwoon sent them all away saying he could only give his number after getting closer.
Although there were two men among them who were interested in the Marine Corps, Yechan counted regardless of gender. And he graciously admitted defeat at the fifth person.
Jiwoon smiled broadly and was delighted.
During the welcome party, someone posted a video of Jiwoon’s dance in the messenger group chat. The group chat was noisy for a while with comments like his dance lines were crazy and he should debut. Yechan quietly saved that video.
The pub after the self-introductions and talent shows ended was chaotic with music, game sounds, and people noisily drinking and talking. The freshmen had already downed more than a bottle of soju each due to the sabal ceremony but kept passing around more alcohol.
By the time one or two people at each table were collapsing with their heads down, both Jiwoon and Yechan were also somewhat drunk.
“Hyung, your eyes are a bit red.”
At Yechan’s words, Jiwoon looked at his eyes in his phone screen and said nonchalantly.
“Sometimes this happens when I drink. It’ll be fine in a bit.”
Jiwoon put his phone in his pocket, placed his fist against Yechan’s cheek, and pushed it along.
“Your face is red.”
“Is it very red?”
“No.”
It was when Yechan laughed along seeing Jiwoon chuckle that someone came and sat in the empty chair across from Jiwoon. It was a beauty with wavy brown hair swept to one side.
“Hi, Yechan?”
The woman’s eyes stayed on Yechan. Though it was brief, Jiwoon read something in those eyes.
“Ah, noona. Hello.”
“Hello to you too. I watched your dance earlier.”
“Yes.”
The woman who greeted Yechan also acknowledged Jiwoon. At words he had heard dozens of times just today, Jiwoon lightly nodded and drank water.
Then the woman picked up a water bottle. And when Jiwoon put down his glass, the woman filled Jiwoon’s water glass. Yechan stared down at that water glass.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
