“comfort your way into
my heart—”

Migyung sat a bit taut as she watched the dance teacher prepare them tea. He had a gentle smile on his handsome face, his otherwise angular face softened by his long hair framing his face. She wondered suddenly, just how many of the new dancers had joined the academy to see Nathan. She had no doubt that he made all the girls swoon and some boys too.

“What were you saying about the experience?” she inquired, breaking the silence as he placed a cup in front of her. He smiled brightly, taking a sip of his beverage as he encouraged her to drink as well. Having forgotten her previous need in the face of intrigue, she picked the steaming cup and took a sip of the clear liquid only to grimace when the taste hit her tongue.

Nathan chuckled, placing his cup down on the table and asked, “You don't like chamomile?” Migyung shook her head, taking another sip to see if she could get used to the taste but coughed instead.

Shaking his head, his smile softened as he looked at the younger woman who looked so innocent as she glared at the cup in her hand and told her what he knew she was dying to know, “By experience, I meant after I had to stop dancing.”

She looked up then, tilting her head. “Had to stop?” He nodded with the same smile on his face and continued, “Ankle injury, I didn't give time for it to heal and I had to quit or I would have become a handicap.”

That sobered Migyung up, her lips forming an ‘o’ as she looked down at the cup in her hands. He wouldn't be the first dancer she knew of who had pushed himself to this extent, in the name of dance, passion, craze. It took a truly crazy person to dance till they died. Like Giselle.

“You don't have to feel bad for me,” he said, seeing her downcast face. “Others have pitied me enough to make me pity myself to the point I thought I will never walk again. It had me drowning in alcohol and smoke but it really isn't a good place to be. You should never pity yourself.”

She gave him a thin smile thinking if he only knew how different their situations were. But are they? The voice inside her wondered. Shaking the thought away, however, she asked, “What made you stop?”

At her question, he knew exactly what she meant and his smile turned melancholy. “My mom wanted me out of the mud. My dad had all but lost hope. Then one day, I found out she had cancer and it was like a wake-up call. I didn't want her to see me like that, broken and shitty when she was already in so much pain. That's when I decided I needed to get better and be the man she wanted me to be. Got myself in rehabilitation and attended church, group therapy. It really helps.”

She nodded, she already knew it helped, she just didn't want it. “Your mom?” He smiled brightly at her mention and pointed towards his desk and to the framed photos she hadn't noticed before. “Healthy as a horse. It's been five years and I’ve never seen her that energetic. Energetic enough to keep bugging me to get married and give her grandchildren to play with.”

That made Migyung laugh out loud surprisingly. Maybe it was his straight face or the look of complete horror in his eyes, nevertheless, it made him feel good to see the light in her eyes return a little bit.

“Do you not have a reason to let go, Migyung?” he asked once she stopped laughing, the smile on her lips dimming as her brain registered his words. She thought about his words, she really did. Her parents’ faces were the first thing that popped in her mind, the concern and shadows over their faces always worried her.

She thought about Hwayoung, the gentle soul that helped her get back on her feet and her life back on track in a way. She had told her so many things, shown her so many things. Then there was Hoseok who made her smile with his quirky personality and sometimes riled her up with his clueless, assuming habits.

The visions soon faded as Mijung’s hate-filled glower came in front of her and it was like she was set on fire. How had she even thought of trying to better herself when Mijung still continued to dictate her life wordlessly? She wouldn't be lying if she said she was actually scared of her own twin.

Shaking her head, her chest constricting, burning as if she had just run a marathon, she abruptly stood up. “I should get going. I have plans,” she mumbled, her legs swiftly taking her to the door.

“Why don't you come with me to the church this Sunday? I mean, I’m not forcing you, you can decide but it-”

His last attempt at talking to her was curbed when she said before leaving: “I’m Buddhist.”

Migyung was shaking badly and it took all her willpower to not pull a cigarette to stop the shaking. It wasn't the first time she had met an addict or a recovering addict and they had never affected her as strongly as Nathan did. There was something about him. Maybe because he was a dancer, just like her.

She didn't wait for the cab driver to give her the change, her feet made a mad dash for her apartment building. She wanted to stop feeling this way, the pain that seemed to radiate from her chest through her body. If it was the lack of the daily dose of narcs or Nathan’s smiling, happy face, she wouldn't know.

Her mind wondered though, what would it feel like to be clean again, to not be so dependent on the toxins that were shortening her life? She would feel pain, so much pain but she would be able to laugh. She loved the feeling when she laughed, she felt so light, so warm…

She came to a screeching halt when she reached the main gate of her apartment, however, it was the man standing there that had her stopping. She studied him for a moment, he had his head down, his hands in his coat pocket and the hood of it drawn over his head, effectively hiding his face in the dark. But she recognised him.

As if feeling her eyes on him, he turned to look at her, his lips pulling up into a bright smile as his lips uttered her name. “Migyung…”

Her lips wobbled, the same burning in her chest she had felt back in Nathan’s office returned. Before she knew it, she was running, a sob leaving her mouth just as her head hit his shoulder. Her hands immediately clutched the material of his jacket around his waist as warm tears ran down her face.

Hoseok stood still for a while, unable to process what was happening but a painful sound broke through his stupor. He realised with a start, she was sobbing, almost wailing. His arms immediately wrapped around her shoulders, her arms tightening around him even more when he returned her gestures.

Softly running his hand over her head, he whispered in her ear, “Cry all you want, sweetheart. I was not lying when I said I won't judge you. You can lean on me, you are not alone.” His words seemed to hit her hard and her cries intensified but Hoseok didn't mind. He was just glad he was there to help her.

He had known since the second time they met, she needed silent comfort and support more than sweet nothings.

A/N:

I want to know what you think about Hoseok and Migyung's relationship till now.
Is their chemistry visible enough or do I need to work more on it?
I mean, I know he wasn't present very much in the last few chapters but still what do you perceive?

Your comments and votes mean a lot to me so, please don't hold back from letting your thoughts known.

Thank you for reading!!