A powerful beat pulsed from the speakers as the advanced dance class ran through their choreography for the third time.
Sweat slicked the back of Minsoo's neck. He was tired, but his movements were still sharp and fluid, cutting through the music with professional precision. Each step he took landed on beat, and every transition flowed seamlessly into the next. Even among the talented and experienced advanced class trainees, Lee Minsoo commanded attention.
At the front, the dance instructor folded his arms, nodding along with the rhythm. As the song ended, he clapped his hands. "Stop! Everyone, take five," he called out. The trainees broke formation, panting and grabbing for water bottles and towels. But the instructor stepped forward, gesturing towards Minsoo and Li Xingyuan. "Both of you, especially during that last sequence, were right on point. Can you guys demonstrate it once more for everyone? The rest of you, watch their form and timing."
Catching his breath, Minsoo gave a polite bow.
"Yes, instructor." The redhead said respectfully.
Minsoo and Li Xingyuan moved to the center of the floor.
Li Xingyuan rolled his shoulders to stay loose as the instructor replayed the final thirty-second segment of the song. On cue, both launched into the sequence. Their reflection in the wall-to-wall mirror showed perfect lines: arms and legs moving in syncopation. One had a fierce focus in while the other had a more playful flair.
They didn't just dance; they performed, subtle charisma radiating from them even in casual practice clothes. Every twist and pop of their body hit the accents of the music flawlessly. When they executed the ending pose—the trainees watching broke into an applause.
Yejun let out a low whistle from where he stood, stretching on the sidelines. "Man, every time I see you guys perform, it feels like I'm watching a music show performance."
Li Xingyuan laughed and tossed his towel nearby over his shoulder. Meanwhile, Minsoo straightened, a bit bashful at the clapping. The instructor patted both of them on the back before turning to address the others about the next drill.
As the group dispersed for the short break, Yejun made his way to the duo.
"You keep that up and none of us will stand a chance," Yejun teased.
Minsoo wiped sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and smiled between breaths. "Oh, come on. I'm just trying not to fall on my face out there like everyone else."
Xingyuan snorted. "Hey, don't sell yourself short. It's hard to find someone keep up and match my energy when performing. Honestly, I'm kind of glad you're this good." He grinned when Minsoo arched an eyebrow in question. "It means I have another rival. Having someone at like you might push me to improve."
Minsoo chuckled, the praise making his ears tint red. "If you want me as a rival, you might regret it. I won't go easy on you."
"Oh, I'm counting on it. Just... maybe occasionally pretend to struggle so the rest of us feel better, yeah?" As he said that, he shifted his gaze to Yejun.
"Hey. What are you getting at?" Yejun crossed his arms. "Whatever, whether he pretends or not, I think we're all feeling the pressure. You've both set the bar for this class so high. Even the instructor looked like he was enjoying the show more than correcting us."
"Haha!" Li Xingyuan laughed heartily.
The trio kept talking until the instructor clapped his hands to gather everyone back to the floor. Yejun groaned jokingly, stretching his arms. "Yes, sir. Time for more torture."
Minsoo's eyes drifted across the practice room. Most trainees were chatting or prepping to start again, but one figure caught his notice. By the far wall, Hajoon stood alone, one hand gripping the strap of his duffel bag.
What drew Minsoo's attention was the way Hajoon's gaze was locked on them, on him.
Hajoon's eyes burned with an intensity that made Minsoo's smile fade. It wasn't just casual observation—it was a cold glare. Even from across the room, the resentment in Hajoon's expression was clear as day.
Minsoo leaned subtly toward his friends and spoke under his breath, "Don't look all at once, but someone's been glaring daggers at me for the past five minutes."
Xingyuan's eyebrows shot up and Yejun tilted his head.
"Who?" Yejun murmured, careful not to make it obvious as they followed Minsoo's line of sight.
At the far side, Hajoon realized they had noticed him. He dropped his bag, jaw tight. With one last withering glance in their direction, he turned around went back to his position.
Li Xingyuan let out a low breath he'd been holding. "Well, that's not subtle at all."
"Hajoon really has it out for you, huh." Yejun frowned. "Actually why does it feel like he has it out for every one."
Minsoo nodded slowly. "Well I mean, I get why he's upset. He wants to debut as badly as we do. And... considering the history between him and I, it's not all that surprising that I put him on edge." He tried to sound understanding, though even he felt unsettled by the open hostility in Hajoon's stare. "I just... didn't think it was that serious until now."
Xingyuan placed a hand on Minsoo's shoulder. "Just keep your head up, hyung. Don't let him psych you out. That's probably what he wants. If he sees you rattled, he'll think he's got an edge."
"Exactly. We've got your back. If Hajoon tries anything more, we'll deal with it, okay?"
Minsoo mustered a small grateful smile. "Thanks, guys."
...
Vrrr, vrrr.
"Huh?"
Damien was walking through the halls when his phone buzzed in his pocket. His class was on a ten-minute break, and he and Yuki had stepped out for a quick walk. He checked the screen.
It's Xingyuan...
He expected something forgettable—maybe another one of his flirtatious messages or funny memes. But this time, the messages were short. And serious.
Xingyuan: Hajoon's been messing with Minsoo's head. Just wanted to let you know.
Xingyuan: Talked to Yejun about telling you, but he seemed hesitant.
Damien read it twice. Then a third time. A surge of concern mixed with irritation coursed through him. His expression was calm, but his mind was anything but.
"Hyung? Everything okay?"
Yuki had picked up on his silence, tip-toeing to glance over.
Damien blinked and looked up. "Yeah," he murmured, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "I'm fine."
Yuki didn't look convinced. He tilted his head, studying Damien's face. "You sure? You look like you just got some really bad news or something." Then a small pout formed on his face. "If it was about changing the group chat name... I swear I already got an earful from Kian-hyung."
Damien almost smiled at Yuki's attempt to lighten the mood. Almost. He shook his head. "No, it's not that. And don't worry. I unmuted the group."
For a moment, Damien considered telling him. Yuki was a good friend—surprisingly perceptive for his age. But he held back. Spreading doubts about Hajoon could easily backfire—not just on him, but on Yuki and Minsoo too. The last thing he wanted to do was add Yuki back to Hajoon's watch list.
"It's just… something I heard about a friend," Damien finally said, choosing his words carefully. He hoped the half-truth would satisfy Yuki enough. "Nothing life or death, just someone maybe causing trouble for them. I'm thinking of how to help."
Yuki's eyes softened a little. "Ah. Got it. Well, if it's a friend of yours, I'm sure you'll figure it out. You always do." He offered a reassuring grin. "Besides, you're always almost ten steps ahead."
At that, Damien did smile, though only for a second. "Ten might be an exaggeration," he murmured.
Yuki chuckled, stretching his arms above his head. "Alright, five steps then. Still more than most of us. Just remember you're not alone, okay? If you need an extra brain—or an extra pair of fists—" he wiggled his own in mock threat, "I'm available. All of us gotta stick together."
The mental image of energetic, slim, and slightly shorter Yuki squaring up against someone like Hajoon made Damien huff a soft laugh. "Thanks, Yuki. I mean it."
Yuki kept talking, voice light and rambling, but Damien only half-listened. His mind had circled back to the message.
Protecting Minsoo wasn't just about friendship—it was a necessity.
If Minsoo crumbled… Just thinking about it made him clench his fists tightly.
This company needed him to succeed. Damien needed him to succeed. Selfishly, his whole plan would get harder without Minsoo's debut.
But it wasn't just that.
Damien hated manipulation. The way Hajoon got into people's heads—it made something twist in his gut. He'd lived through that kind of poison in his past life. He'd watched it ruin people, watched it ruin his family, watched it be excused, ignored, buried.
It made his blood simmer just thinking about it.
Now, what should I do?...
His thoughts were racing, formulating possible approaches. There were a few ways, and he'd make sure to choose the one that protected Minsoo best without causing collateral damage.
However, the evidence was already in the CEO's hands. If the evidence was verified sooner, maybe that would be enough. Maybe Hajoon would finally get what he deserved.
Damien hoped so.
Because if the company didn't move soon... he'd have to start thinking of alternatives.