Endless Tears: Chapter 3

Busan, 2006

3 years later…

I danced on the stage, in the hall. I moved my body along the music that I had in my mind. I swayed my body. I captured every bit of the stage. I made the stage as mine with my powerful and flawless dance move. Every part of my body was dancing, my hands, my legs, my head even my fingers. I finally stopped, as I heard a big applause for me.

“Hoya!” she shouted and whistled as she clapped and jumped from the audience seat. Yes, there she was, my one and only audience.

I smiled to her, waving my hands, gesturing her to come up to the stage. She gestured an okay sign, as she picked up her things.

I stood there, on the big stage all wet, as I was literally bathing with my own sweat, with my eyes closed. I was admiring the feeling of being a entertainer.

Suddenly, I heard a loud sound of bang from the audience seat, I was shocked as I searched for Hyemi who was nowhere to be found.

“Hyemi?” I called her name loud and the sound of my voice was echoing. “Hyemi?!” I shouted as I ran off the stage.

“Here, here,” she said, while waving her hand, which was partially visible in my eyes.

“Oh my god, are you okay?” I asked as I went to her place.

As I got there, I found her, struggling to get up. “Hey, help me,” she said, reaching out her hand.

I took her hand, and pulled her up. She brushed the dust from her uniform and smiled sheepishly to me.

“Did you just fall, again?” I asked, in disbelief. She shrugged and gave me a grin, I laughed at that. I ruffled her hair, making her annoyed.

“My hair isn’t your toy, dude,” she said, rolling her eyes while fixing her bangs.

“Yeah, right,” I said, sticking out my tongue to her. “Anyway, how was I?” I asked, excitedly.

She was making faces. “Just good,” she said, nodding a few times.

“Just good? That’s it?” I asked, disappointed.

“I was kidding, you silly,” she said, poking my head. “You’re as great as ever and getting better, that’s it,” she said, while making weird gesture with her arms.

“One day, I’m going to perform in front of the nation,” I said, determined with fist pumping.

“Oh my god, you have ambition! You’re growing up, man,” she said, acting all shocked.

I ruffled her hair again. “Big man, don’t play with my hair. You’re getting old that you’re copying grandma’s signature, huh?” she said, fixing her hair. “And, this is what I got for being short. How I wish to be tall as Hyojin unni,” she continued, whining.

“Stop it, you’re looking very cute and all childish,” I said, chuckled. “Hey, let me show you something,” I continued as I stormed and dragged her to the center stage, where my bag was located.

“Slow down, big man with long legs,” she said and frowned.

We went to the center stage, and I sat there comfortably as I grabbed my bag and searched in it.

“What is it? Important?” she said and sat beside me.

“Pretty important for my best friend plus my neighbor also known as my first fan to know,” I said and winked at her, as I continued my search.

She frowned. “Please, I’m not your first fan,” she muttered.

I finally found it, the paper that I need her to see. “Here it is,” I said, as I handed the paper on her lap.

“What is this?” she said as she lifted the paper and furrowing her eyebrows.

“Read it for yourself,” I said as I grinned.

I looked at her expression, she was looking all serious but half way, her face started to change expression and her lips curled into smile.

“Is this real?” she asked, as she turned her gaze to me, searching for my eyes. I nodded.

“You’re going to fill in this form and apply?” she asked again.

“That’s what I need you to help me with filling the form, because you have better hand writing than me,” I explained, as I rubbed the back of my neck.

She burst into laughing. “You’re sure funny,” she muttered between the laugh. “Sure, I’ll help you with that,” she said, winked.

“There’s another matter that I want your opinion,” I said, getting into serious mood.

“What is it? Besides the dance academy thing?” she asked.

I sighed as I lied on the stage. She turned her head and facing me. “Come on, dude. Tell me,” she said.

“I want to drop out after graduation,” I informed her, while staring at the spot light. “Do you agree? What do you think of that?” I asked her, facing her face, looking at her shocked expression.

She softened and gave me a smile. “Is that what you want to do?” she asked me.

“I want to chase my dream. You know how passionate I am about dancing. And, you know that I wanted to do this,” I said, as I sit up, facing her. “I guess, this is the way to achieve it. I can’t do it if I’m stuck here. I need to go Seoul. Because of that, I need let go and sacrifice high school,” I said, explaining.

“I’d support everything that you want to do. If this is what you want, then go for it,” she said, giving me a sweet smile.

“You’re probably the only one that support me doing this,” I said and hugged her in an instant.

“Damn, dude, don’t hug me! You’re sweating for god’s sake,” she said and pulled away. “Wait, what about your dad?” she asked.

Yes, she was right. That was my biggest obstacle, because no matter what, my dad would not allow me to.