“all the good girls go to hell—”

Hwayoung had rules, work ethics that she cherished and made people as restless as Migyung follow them through even if they didn't understand why those rules were necessary. But in the late-night darkness, sitting in her room she cared for none. She was just like everyone else, a normal young woman in her early twenties trying to live her life as peacefully as possible.

A blunt hanging carelessly in her fingers, the other hand clutching a beer can, Hwayoung stared at the older chugging her alcohol as if it was water. “Will you tell me what you guys talked about?” she asked, taking a puff of her cigarette before sipping the cool beverage. “Damn, Migyung! I wish I could offer you more than just cigarettes and beer.”

The said woman snorted, choking after because the liquid went down the wrong pipe. The younger woman didn't move to help knowing it would be of no help and just finished her cigarette before pulling a third, maybe fourth one.

When she calmed down, she looked dead in her eyes and told her, “The old woman wants me to teach a bunch of kids who apparently look up to me. She also wants me to choose the leads myself if I choose to take the offer.”

Hwayoung shrugged, smoke leaving her mouth as she said, “I don't see the problem.” Migyung sighed, picking another can and taking a long swing of it. “The problem is my sister like always. She knows she can manipulate me into doing whatever she wants. She is not worthy to be Giselle.”

“And you say this because she is not a good dancer or you just can't let go?” Hwayoung questioned coolly, her blue gaze unwavering, unconcerned as the words jabbed her painfully in the heart. “Cut the shit, Migyung, seriously. Stop blaming everything on that bitch. She manipulates you because you allow her to. You are her sister as much as she is yours. If she has power over you, so do you.”

She knew that, of course, she knew that. More often than not, the side which she considered too bad told her to just walk away from everything Mijung, get in her face and yell, she was nothing. But she had always ignored that voice because that's not what good girls are supposed to do.

As if good girls are supposed to snort cocaine, the same voice sneered, snapping her out of her thoughts to see Hwayoung now just smoking without care. She had a habit of overdoing it after staying clean for about two weeks. But at least she managed to keep her head straight enough to get her work in the market.

“What do I do?” she let out after finishing another beer. “I can’t just quit. I don't want to quit this job and mess my mind completely by going there to teach.”

Hwayoung pushed her glasses up her nose, her eyebrows scrunched as she thought about it. “Well, I don't want you to leave either. I’ll honestly die without you,” she said with a laugh, making the other woman chuckle. “Give three days here and three days there, see how it works out. Just don't back out because of Mijung. Don't give her that satisfaction.”

As Migyung walked back to her apartment, she thought hard about everything and her decision. For the first two years of not being able to dance, her mind had been too cloudy to think about teaching. The most a ballerina or ballerino could stay on the stage was till they hit thirty-five, then they retired to performing on smaller stages if their bodies allowed or started teaching.

She had known she had it coming someday but not so soon. She was still in her prime save for the injury. She could dance well even with her bad knee but it was impossible for her to follow her previous sixteen hours schedule. It wasn't a problem of 'never being able to dance', it was a problem of 'don't put too much pressure on it'. The fate of every dancer it seemed.

"You like this bridge awfully lot," a male voice said, bringing a smile on her face as she looked sideways to see him leaning over the railing. "Don't pretend you don't like it. You come here a lot too."

"I don't like it," he deadpanned as he turned to look at her. "It's fucking cold out here. Damn, I need a beer or a cigarette. You have a lot of them, give one."

Chuckling, Migyung pulled out the white pack, pulling out two cigarettes, handing one to her friend. "That makes it a whole pack you owe me now, Park Heejung. You better give all of my cigarettes back."

The man only rolled his eyes as he lit up the smoke stick. They stood in comfortable silence, filling their lungs with the deadly smoke, both hoping that one day it would give them eternal freedom.

"I heard you went to the academy today. Hope my mother wasn't too bad to you," he said to his childhood friend after a long time. The woman shrugged. "She was how she always is. Do you also know why I went there?"

Heejung nodded, his eyes somber. "Mother has made it no secret that she wants the annual gala to be extravagant this year. A lot of guests from around the world will be attending, scouting. She wants to send as many dancers abroad as possible."

Migyung understood now why Hei Ryung was so desperate to have her teach. It meant big opportunities for not only the dancers but also the foundation. She also believed, Heejung wasn't here to do his mother's bidding, he was heir to his father's company after all.

"She told me whoever plays Giselle and Albrecht will have their futures set, something about those characters having to portray extreme emotions. That's why she wants you because you were so invested in Giselle. You almost became like her."

Migyung gulped hearing the last sentence but she decided to ignore it. "You are not here to convince me," she stated, looking out towards the river. Her friend mimicked her actions. "No, I'm not. I just wanted to tell you that I'll help you in whatever way you want."

"Mijung won't notice you if you do that," she said with a smirk. "She hates people who are close to me." Heejung shrugged with a wistful smile. "A man can try, Migyung. I'm not the same nerdy boy from school."

"You are still the same boy, Heejung. You just ditched the glasses and adopted those expensive suits. You are still a clown." The man couldn't help but let out a snort, hanging his head as he acknowledged her words to be true. But he had still changed over time and he believed the woman he liked would notice it.

"How's Heejae? She hasn't called me in a while," Migyung asked after another silent minute or so. Heejung had to roll his eyes hearing his younger sister's name. "Going through heartbreak. I'm sure she'll call you in a few days. And why do you wait around for people to call you? Just call them."

"Hey! You might be my friend's older brother but that doesn't mean you get to be all brother to me," she chided him with her eyebrows drawn together in a frown but couldn't hide the smile either. "Anyways, I'm sure you are not here to do small talk and finish my cigarettes. Just fess up."

The man sighed and turned his head to look at her. "I'm just curious about what you decide but looks like you are still thinking about it. But there is something else I'm curious about."

"What?"

"Are you dating?"

"So, you've finally lost your mind."

He smirked then, his eyes showing that he knew something. "Not really. I just saw something yesterday and wanted to confirm my suspicions. But seeing you deny it, you guys probably haven't reached that point yet."

"Whatever the hell you are talking about, it is clear to me that you have lost it," she said uninterested as he kept talking in circles. "Oh come on, just tell me his name. The guy who was with you in the park last night."

That made her smile fall and eyes widen. She might have only known Hoseok because Hwayoung was a big fan but she knew how big his name was. He was crazy famous and his fans were just as crazy.

"Did you see his face?" Her question made his teasing smile fall and a frown to replace on his lips. "No, why? Don't tell me? Is that the writer you work for?"

"What? No! That's not him," she explained shaking her head. "Anyways, it's not important. I need to go now and sleep or I'll kill someone. Bye!"

"Hey! At least tell me his name. I won't threaten him like the last guy, I promise," he called out to her as she hurried home. Laughing at the memory of him pretending to be her brother, she waved her hand in adieu and left him shaking his head.

A/N:

Those who are reading TBA know who Heejung is. But if you are confused, he is Hei Ryung's son and Park Heejae's older brother whom I introduced in the first few chapters. Hope it wasn't too confusing but he is an important character in this book.

Thank you for reading!❤️❤️