For the better part of an hour, my mind stubbornly strayed to the choreography student no matter how much I tried to reel it back to the present. I couldn't release the idea that maybe people were too intimidated by his mask to ever truly reach out to him. His hawkish eyes intruded my thoughts as I recalled how they held me captive in class, the way he ruthlessly pointed out my mistakes in front of everyone. Still, my heart twinged at the idea of him being alone even amongst thousands of peers.

It was unclear how much of my wonderings were out of pure empathy and how much stemmed from my untamable curiosity. On the one hand, I did feel the urge to be that person who actually tried. On the other, though, was a deep desire to learn more about him - not of an innocent intention, but a selfish one. He had singled me out for a reason and I needed to do some investigating. If I did manage to grow closer to him somehow, I hoped to conclude whether he was the writer or not.

"So you got paired with Jangmi?" The huskiness of Namjoon's tone finally snapped me back to reality.

Jungkook nodded, running his tongue against the inside of his cheek, "Our professor didn't even hesitate to put us together. It was a little weird, actually."

"She must've thought you two looked good together," Yoongi said casually.

Jin, Namjoon, and Jimin scoffed in synchronization. Taehyung was unaffected, bored even. Jungkook, however, was peering at me thoughtfully.

"I guess I can see it," he tilted his head, eyes plastered on my face. "What do you think, Jangmi?"

I was tempted to falter - to let his directness faze me - but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"I don't see it." I shrugged, noting the flicker of disappointment on his face.

"Anyways, I've heard that class is supposed to be one of the easier ones for your major. You better enjoy it," Namjoon advised, a smile spreading across his lips.

I nodded, "I'll do my best."

"You sure you can keep up with Jungkook, though? He's one of the top students in his year. You're just a newbie-"

"So what? Just because she's a freshman doesn't mean she can't dance." Jimin was quick to come to my rescue, though I didn't need it.

"That's not what I-" Yoongi was cut off again.

"Jangmi's a great dancer," Seokjin stated, that familiar protectiveness making an appearance.

"Guys, it's fine. I appreciate you sticking up for me but Yoongi's right. Jungkook was amazing at the showcase. I'm new here and I'm not the most familiar with contemporary. It might be hard for me to keep up with him sometimes."

For the second instance that night, my words placed a lingering silence upon the room. Jungkook was the one who eventually broke it.

"I'll make sure you do well with me."

His words were the most sincere I'd heard from him so far. His eyes held no hidden emotion beneath their depths. Only a genuine desire to help me succeed.

"Thank you," I softly replied.

The remainder of the night flew by, filled with random conversations and the occasional bickering. Nothing in particular stood out to my investigative observation. Tones of double meaning, secretive glances, subtle shifts in expressions - there were none to be found for the rest of our time in the opera house.

If anything, they seemed to warm up and accept my presence. Guard still raised, I did my best to converse enough to appear open and comfortable. If I wanted to cross them off my list of suspects, I needed them to trust me, which began with me feigning my own trust towards them.

I asked questions. I gave them my attention. I answered their own inquiries, though I was careful to not overshare. Whirling through my mind was the thought that I was being too careful. Or, perhaps, not careful enough.

By the time we were all standing to leave, I felt that I'd succeeded in earning the first level of trust with most of them. The males made it clear to me that I was welcome to meet up with them any time, and I had the strange sense that I'd been taken under the wings of angels, unknowing if they belonged to light or darkness.

A single detail stuck out to me as we snuck back out of the abandoned theatre. We'd scaled up the tarnished ladder one at a time, crouched past the narrow walls and quietly exited through the small door, then Yoongi had turned around and swiftly dug into his pocket, pulling out an item that spiked my suspicion.

A key.

How he'd gotten his hands on the single key that led to the restricted opera house was beyond me. I wanted desperately to question just that, but as he returned it to his pocket, his eyes pierced mine like daggers. Fearing that the sharp edges of his glare might actually cut me, I held my tongue.

After silently following the group out of the building, Jimin and I bid them goodnight. Unsurprisingly, my cobalt-haired companion insisted on walking me to my dorm, which I gratefully accepted.

Just like before, Jimin opened the door first and scanned my room for any sign of an intruder. Once he deemed the space safe, he pulled me into his chest.

"Get some rest. I have a busier schedule tomorrow but just text me if you want to try finding a time to hang out."

"Okay."

"Goodnight, Jangmi."

Then he left and I was alone.

Instinct drove me to check my nightstand, my drawers, under my pillows - anywhere that a note might've been lurking. My pulsing veins only calmed when, after several minutes of searching, I found nothing. I could rest. Perhaps there would never be another note. Perhaps it was a one-time prank and nothing more.

And so the blissful, fallacious lie I told myself lulled me into slumber.

~

I rose with the sun. Daybreak gifted me a refreshed mind, bringing clarity from the night before. I allowed myself to rest from the suspicions that had been keeping me so on edge. It was unlikely that I would run into any of the men from yesterday, considering my classes alternated throughout the week.

My first two classes went by smoothly, with no familiar faces, no strange occurrences to be found.

The third class was Dance Composition, essentially an introduction to basic choreography. It was a required course for all Dance majors and the smallest part of me wondered if I would find the masked student there. Instead, I found Taehyung.

He sat at the back corner of the otherwise empty lecture room, resting his chin in the palm of his hand, elbow on the black wood of the table in front of him. When his eyes found mine he didn't so much as blink, remaining still as he watched me expectantly. Without thinking, my feet carried me to the chair beside him.

"Hey," I greeted, my plan to gain his trust instantly firing back up.

"Hey," he mumbled as I sat down. Other students slowly filtered into the room. "So what did you think about last night?

"It was... interesting," I paused thoughtfully, "It was sort of surreal being in that place, but it was nice to meet all of you."

He hummed in response then said, "If you say so."

Frowning at his comment, I was preparing to ask what he meant when the professor arrived and greeted the class.

It was a simple introductory session, the hour fully taken up by reviewing the syllabus. Lectures would provide practical methods and techniques to apply when creating a dance performance. Each student would be responsible for employing those techniques to complete their final project, which was to choreograph a full dance routine. It felt similar to my contemporary class, only we wouldn't receive any help and we had no assigned dance partner. It was up to us who would perform the dance we created, and a full recording of the routine would be submitted for our final grade.

"In addition to earning a high mark, the student who creates the best routine will be rewarded with a featured spot in the winter showcase. This gets your name out there and will also look great in your portfolio. I hope that's incentive enough for you to put your full effort into this assignment."

Taehyung and I exchanged glances. Earning a spot in the showcase was a huge deal, especially for a new student. It would bring recognition and respect, two things desperately sought after in such a university.

I couldn't miss the blatant determination in Taehyung's eyes. They were blazing with that same challenging look I'd seen last night when he dared Jimin to ask him to leave.

He looked away in an attempt to hide just how fiercely he wanted to win that spot, but it was too late. He wanted it just as much as I did, and we were both fully aware that we had just jumped from acquaintances to competitors.

The class ended soon after, and I was free for the rest of the day.

I decided not to meet with Jimin that evening. The need to prove to myself that I could be alone without feeling afraid had kept me from reaching out to him. I went to the dorm on my own, walked in and checked things out for myself. My confidence grew at the absence of any note. I started to truly believe that the sender was already finished with his game.

Then I found it.

And like exploding glass, that foolish sense of safety was shattered.

~

The next morning, I beat the sun at rising. It was before dawn, the sky still dark as I got ready for the day. Dressed in a black leotard and sheer black mini skirt, I threw on some flats, grabbed my bag, then hesitated when my eyes caught the letter from last night.

My gut contorted painfully, bringing on nausea. I stepped out of the room and locked the door, choosing to forgo breakfast. It was too early anyway.

I walked through the empty courtyard near the center of campus, passing the large stone fountain on my way to the studio where our contemporary class was held. My plan was to get there early so I could warm-up and get some practice in before the period began. I needed to feel prepared, to feel sharp. I would see both Jungkook and Hoseok again, and they were the two I felt most wary of.

Especially after reading the letter.

The cold tile sent my steps echoing as I walked through the dance building, making a beeline for the same room I'd been in just two days ago. Assured by Jimin that the studios remained open for student use when classes weren't in session, I reached out and pulled on the door handle, exhaling in relief when it opened.

The room was dead. No lights, no music, all chairs stacked in the corner, the floor bare. I flicked the light switch on and went to the stereo to connect my phone to it. A looped version of Spring Waltz swirled through the speakers, breathing life back into the studio.

Once I'd swapped my flats for my pointe shoes, I walked to the center of the floor and did a few stretches. Soon enough, I was falling in time with the melody, letting the notes carry me.

I traveled to the paradise only dance could bring. It was a feeling I got from nothing else; a place where no worries, no fear existed. Dance guided me to an isle of peace and freedom, where my feet sang and my heart soared and my mind rested. The music that filled the space flowed around me like a refreshing breeze, kissing my cheeks. The ground beneath my soles became soft grass, swaying and urging me on.

I hit every beat with precision, rising and falling with the rhythm. I remained on my toes and began a bourrée across the floor. When I reached the center, I dove into several pirouettes, soon adding a fouetté to each spin.

I was in my element, floating through each movement with ease. The music and my body were one, connected in an unbreakable bond-

My breath hitched and I stumbled at a sudden tapping noise. Breathless and panting, I righted myself to look up at the source. My already racing heart skipped at what I found.

He was leaning against the doorframe, one long leg crossed in front of the other. Loose maroon sweatpants hung from his hips, a black hoodie covering his torso. Small silver hoops dangled from his ears and his mahogany colored hair framed those luminous eyes. His mask still veiled everything below his eyes, but it had been swapped for a deep shade of scarlet - matching the hue of my hair.

"Don't let me stop you," his slightly muffled voice came out just loud enough to overpower the volume of the song.

Collecting myself, I worked to hide the hints of fear that might've shown on my face. "Isn't that exactly what you wanted?"

He watched me without a word. His gaze was striking, binding my own eyes to his with an imaginary tether. Escape felt impossible.

"You're a skilled dancer."

"Thank yo-"

"For a freshman."

I clenched my jaw, cheeks flaming in angry embarrassment.

Finally releasing me from his stare, he moved to the stereo and pressed pause, throwing us into a short silence.

"What are you doing here so early?" I asked, seeing that he wasn't really dressed for dancing. I also recalled Jimin's friends telling me that he never danced in the open anymore. Why doesn't he?

"It's not early. Class starts in fifteen minutes." He raised a thick brow, "How long have you been in here?"

"Fifteen minutes?" I echoed, eyes widening. Nearly two whole hours had passed, yet to me it felt like time had stilled.

Hoseok snickered, the sound surprising me.

"I remember that feeling," he mused, a hint of melancholy in his low tone.

"What feeling?" I asked.

"Where you get so absorbed in your dance that time just... stops."

Before I had a chance to respond, a pair of students walked into the room, effectively halting any further conversation we might've had. I glanced at Hoseok one more time, finding him doing the same. Not wanting to get trapped by his enticing eyes yet again, I quickly looked away.

Jimin and Jungkook walked in at the same time, both spotting me and immediately heading in my direction. Jimin looked happy to see me while Jungkook's eyes glinted in a sort of excitement.

"Hey, you're here early," Jimin stated, looking at me questioningly.

"She was dancing," Jungkook said after noting the perspiration on my brow and my undoubtedly messy hair.

Hoseok's heavy gaze was obtrusive. So much so that I didn't even need to check to be sure that it was on me. I did my best to ignore it and focus on the two in front of me.

"Yeah, I came a little early to get some practice in," I explained, earning an impressed look from Jungkook and a disappointed one from Jimin.

"You could've invited me, you know?" he said jokingly, though I knew he really would have been happy to join me.

"Next time," I promised.

Only a few minutes later, the professor showed up and had us get started on some warm-ups. We spent the first half of the class practicing more techniques, then in the second half, we were instructed to get together with our partner to practice a few basic positions. The goal was to grow more comfortable with each other, which I doubted would happen easily with me and Jungkook. There was something about him that kept me on edge.

Then again, you've been on edge ever since your first night here.

My heart rattled against my ribcage as Jungkook followed the professor's guidance, slowly coming up behind me. I stared at the picture of us in the mirror; a poised, solid-framed young man with midnight hair wrapping his arms around the waist of a smaller, rosy-cheeked girl with waves of scarlet running past her shoulders. Their eyes met in the reflection and a certain chemistry sparked between them.

I needed to break the strange tension that was building, so I did the first thing that came to mind - I started telling him about the project in my dance composition class. I went on about the entire competition, how Taehyung would be fighting for it, too. While we switched to a new position where we needed to face each other, I explained how badly I wanted to win that spot in the showcase.

Jungkook seemed entertained by my rambling, probably fully aware that I was just nervous under his touch. Either way, he amused me by showing interest in the project. He even said he'd help me with anything I might need.

Hoseok slowly made his rounds past each pair, stopping occasionally to point out an error that needed fixing. When he came to us, he did one gloss over and shook his head.

"Focus," was all he said before striding off to his next targets.

The class ended soon after.

"I'll see you later," Jungkook said before swiftly walking out.

I was working on taking off my pointe shoes when Jimin called out to me, already near the door.

"I've got somewhere to be, Jangmi. I'll text you so we can meet up later, okay?"

"Sure," I responded, not bothering to look up at him.

Finally managing to get both shoes off, I dug through my bag in search of my flats. My hands froze when a deep, smooth voice came from behind me.

"Jangmi."

Something stirred in me from the way he spoke my name.

I finally found my shoes and quickly slipped them on, standing so I could face him. It was only us in the room.

"Yes?" My voice didn't waver despite all the nerves that rushed through me.

"I have a... proposal for you," he said, slowly stepping closer. There was still a good few feet between us, but it was enough for me to make out the amber color of his irises.

"A proposal?"

I knew the fact that he was talking to me like this was unusual for him. From what I'd gathered, he made a point to avoid speaking with other students at all. I didn't know what it was that made him show an interest in me. Instinct told me to leave, but I remembered my plan and stood my ground.

"I overheard you talking to Jungkook about that project. I'm the best choreography student at this university. I can help you win." He watched my reaction carefully, his gaze steady and serious.

"Why would you help me? What do you want from me in return?"

"I want you to be my dancer."

I threw on my own invisible mask to hide the fear that shot through me. My heart kicked into a frenzy, my lungs constricted and my gut twisted in knots as I remembered the second note I'd found in my room last night.

Jangmi,

You certainly did not disappoint. All the waiting became worth it the moment I was able to see you in person again. You are truly more exquisite than the finest rose.

Oh, and I might warn you to not show these letters to another soul. I will find out. You don't want to force my hand, darling.

I look forward to our next encounter, my beautiful dancer.

Yours,

✗

• • •

A/N: heheh.

Thoughts?

Longer chapter than usual, so I hope you liked it! Let me know if you've have any theories going yet, I'd love love love to hear 'em.

Thank you all so much for 10k. I appreciate you a whole bunch ♡

See you in the next one!

March 23, 2020/