CHAPTER 1

johnny sighed.

he looked up at the sky, grey and clouded, which perfectly resembled his heart at the moment.

as he blankly stared at the infinite gloomy stretch above him, he felt a raindrop hit his face.

great, he thought.

what a great way to end the school year.

with heavy steps, and a heavy heart, he dragged his feet to the entrance of the high school building, for the last time.

the raindrops falling from the sky reminded him of the endless tears he had shed the past days, in the quietness of his bedroom, hidden from any indiscreet eye.

he didn't want to leave that place. he loved living in seoul.

but his dad's job was more important than his own happiness, apparently.

and that's why he was going to attend his last two years of high school back in chicago, where he was born and spent the early years of his life.

don't get him wrong, he loved chicago as much as he loved seoul — if not even more — but he was a teenager now, and he had his friends and his everything there in seoul.

he didn't feel ready to leave them.

he had tried to talk it out with his parents, suggesting he could stay at his aunt's house for a while, before he maybe got a job in order not to be a burden anymore.

but nothing seemed to work. his parents had decided he was going to leave for america with them and nothing was going to change their mind.

so all johnny could do was grit his teeth and hide his sorrowful tears as he walked past the school gate, willing to enjoy his last high school day in seoul.

he soon spotted his friends a few metres ahead and quickened his pace, plastering a half fake smile on his face.

"hi, guys," he greeted, stopping right beside hendery and yuta.

"hello, buddy," yuta smiled to him, while hendery gave him a pat on the shoulder.

their conversations were usually lively, full of jokes and laughs, but that day... something just felt off.

and johnny couldn't stand it.

"yah! what are those long faces? it's not like i'm dead, i'm just going to be 10,500 km away, it's not that serious," johnny chuckled, a sarcastic tone clearly evident in his voice.

yuta giggled, "you're right," he said, "but we'll still going to miss your tall ass. right, hendery?" he turned to his friend.

hendery nodded, laughing as well, "now who's gonna keep me company during chemistry?" he whined.

johnny couldn't help but let out a soft laughter, shaking his head, "i love you, guys," he mumbled.

tears threatened to spill from his eyes, but he couldn't let that happen. not in front of everyone, and also because he didn't want to see his friends sad. he wanted to remember them how they usually were, laughing and joking together.

before he could say anything more, hendery threw himself at him, pulling yuta along.

"group hug!" he yelled.

the two elder boys chuckled, but hugged each other back nonetheless.

they were going to miss each other, so so much.

■□■□■

despite still feeling a weight in the pit of their stomach, the three boys decided to make the most out of that day.

since it was the last day of school, there were going to be various shows and performances organised by the students themselves.

so the three boys were now sitting in the auditorium, watching as a girl with short brown hair and golden round glasses finished singing her song.

everyone clapped and cheered in the room, before a new performance was announced, a dancer apparently.

johnny was mindlessly listening to the teacher present the stages, as he casually talked to his friends sitting by his sides.

then a not-so-tall, dark haired boy climbed up the few steps to the small stage of the auditorium. despite not sitting in the front rows, johnny could clearly distinguish his features: a cute little nose pointing upwards, a piercing look in contrast to his soft face.

however, it was when he started dancing that he truly revealed his personality.

his dancing was fierce and powerful, yet elegant and incredibly precise.

he molded the music to his own liking, his limbs smoothly flowing in the air, his body seeming as soft and light as a feather.

his ability was captivating, to everyone's eyes, including johnny's.

"who is he?" he murmured to yuta, as everyone clapped at the end of the performance. he mentally slapped himself for not remembering his name when it had been announced earlier.

"mh, i don't know his real name, but i think he goes by ten. he's thai," his friend replied with a shrug.

"he's really good, isn't he? i heard he won a scholarship to come study here this year," hendery added, scooting closer to johnny.

the latter had pure admiration in his eyes, and he slowly nodded, silently following the white dressed dancer with his gaze.

he was truly born to be a star.

■□■□■

the show had ended a while ago, followed by a generous reception gently offered by the school teachers.

the students were then free to go around the school halls, taking pictures together and celebrating the end of another year.

and that's exactly what johnny, yuta and hendery were doing, making silly faces at the youngest boy's phone camera.

"stick out your tongue!" hendery had just exclaimed when johnny raised his eyes from the lens and recognised ten waking towards them.

ten.

what an unusual name.

he wondered what his real name was.

johnny noticed how said boy was surrounded by both girls and boys, laughing and chatting with him.

he, however, looked the most at ease, still in his white outfit, walking through those halls like a hollywood star, unbeknownst to his own fame and charisma.

and johnny was honestly taken by surprise when ten suddenly lifted his eyes, fixing his gaze on him. and then winking.

the american boy felt blush rising up to his tanned cheeks, the feeling of being caught staring making him feel nervous.

he barely managed to put up a small smile, that ten quickly gave back before walking away.

"yah! earth to johnny!" yuta exclaimed right after, flicking him on the forehead.

"stop daydreaming, chicago boy! we need a good picture with you!"

"hyung is right, stop looking at ten," hendery added with a laugh.

johnny could only sigh and stifle a laugh as he posed for the next picture.

he was so going to miss those two.

■□■□■

however, it's inevitable that everything that's good comes to an end.

so in the blink of an eye, johnny found himself sitting on that airplane, seatbelt fastened and teary eyes.

he felt broken.

he relished on the happy memories he had made with his best friends during his last days in seoul.

not to mention, he couldn't stop thinking about that ten boy, wondering what could have happened if he had stayed in south korea longer. maybe they would have become best friends?

he would never know.

it's with that thought, and tears stained cheeks that he fell asleep on the airplane, only to wake up to a completely sunny chicago.

"c'mon johnny," he whispered to himself, "you can do it. you always do."

and he got off the plane.

a/n
hi ! i'm absolutely in love with this chapter and with ten's dancing, he's a king. fite me on dis👊

hope you like the beginning of this book and please look forward to the next chapter !!

see you,
-mic