The sound of energetic music filled the studio as Serin led a group of young dancers through a routine. Her movements were smooth and precise, exuding confidence and warmth as she demonstrated each step. She clapped her hands, halting the practice momentarily to guide one of the girls who struggled with a turn.
"Keep your core steady" Serin advised, placing a hand gently on the girl's shoulder. "And remember to let your arms flow naturally. You've got this."
The girl nodded, her determination renewed by Serin's encouragement. Satisfied, Serin resumed the music, stepping back to watch the group practice. But her focus wavered as her mind drifted back to the events of a few days ago.....a memory that now brought an amused smile to her lips.
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It had been one of those rare evenings when all three siblings were together. Junghyun sat on the couch, his cold and stoic demeanor intact, scrolling through his phone. Inseo, on the other hand, lounged dramatically, pretending to be overworked, while Serin glared at him.
They had been talking about Taejung, debating ways to get him back to Korea.
"Taejung won't come just because we ask" Serin said with a sigh, her frustration evident. "I tried. He said he's busy with work and can't just drop everything."
Junghyun raised an eyebrow. "Did you really try, or did you just ask nicely and leave it at that? He's Taejung, Noona. You have to push him."
"Push him how?" Serin retorted. "He's my best friend, not some random guy I can boss around."
Inseo, lounging on the couch with one leg over the armrest, chimed in lazily, "We could try guilt. Guilt works wonders."
Serin shot him a glare. "I'm not guilt-tripping him!"
Junghyun smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You don't have to. That's what Inseo's for."
Inseo sat up, offended. "Why me?"
"Because" Junghyun said matter-of-factly, "he has a soft spot for you. If anyone can get him to come, it's you."
Inseo groaned dramatically, throwing his head back. "Oh, come on. Why does it always have to be me? I have my own life, you know."
Serin crossed her arms, her lips twitching with suppressed laughter. "You better get on with it, Inseo. It's about damn time you made use of those acting classes we paid for."
"What acting classes?" Inseo asked indignantly. "I was a natural!"
Junghyun snorted. "Yeah, natural at being dramatic."
After much cajoling, bribing, and a promise from Serin that she will take care of all the money it takes for Inseo to treat Ii Hyeok like royalty for the next month and to make up for the bullshit he pulled, he finally gave in.
"Fine, fine! I'll call him" Inseo grumbled, picking up his phone. "But don't blame me if he doesn't fall for it."
When the call connected, Taejung's familiar voice came through, cool and composed. "Inseo? What's going on?"
Inseo cleared his throat, summoning his best performance. "Taejung… I have bad news" he said, his voice trembling for effect. "It's… it's Noona. S- She's gone."
Serin's jaw dropped in horror. "What?!" she hissed, glaring at him.
Junghyun froze for a moment before bursting into uncontrollable laughter. His usual stoic demeanor shattered as he doubled over, trying to stifle his laughter but failing miserably.
"Are you serious right now?!" Serin demanded, her voice rising. "You told him I'm dead?!"
Inseo winced, holding the phone away from his ear and covering the microphone. "It's the quickest way to get him here!"
Junghyun, still gasping for air, managed to choke out, "This… this is the best thing you've ever done, Inseo."
Serin was about to launch into a tirade when Taejung's shocked voice interrupted. "What happened? How did she… what happened?!"
Inseo floundered for a second before replying, "It was… sudden. She asked me to call you and—uh—say goodbye on her behalf."
Junghyun, who had been trying to regain his composure, lost it all over again, collapsing onto the floor in laughter.
Serin stared at her brother in disbelief. "You're unbelievable" she muttered, lunging at him and smacking his arm repeatedly. "Fix this, you idiot!"
"Wait!" Inseo yelped, ducking away from her blows. "What if I told him Junghyun died? He'd probably thank the Moon Goddess and hang up!"
Junghyun froze mid-laugh, his expression darkening. "What did you just say?"
Serin took advantage of his distraction to shove Inseo harder. "You're insufferable!"
The chaos ended only when Taejung's voice broke through again. "I'm coming. I'll be on the next flight."
As soon as the call ended, Serin rounded on Inseo again. "You're going to regret that when he gets here."
Inseo shrugged nonchalantly. "It worked, didn't it?"
Junghyun, still trying to suppress his laughter, smirked. "It did. And honestly, Noona, that face you made when he said you were dead? Priceless."
Despite herself, Serin couldn't help but crack a smile. The room filled with the siblings' laughter, their joy palpable as they celebrated the news that Taejung was finally coming back.
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The studio was quiet now, save for the faint hum of the air conditioner. Serin stood at the center of the polished wooden floor, the mirror reflecting her thoughtful expression. The past month had been a whirlwind of emotions, revelations, and challenges. Her parents' coldness, Inseo's struggles with Ii Hyeok, and her complicated yet comforting bond with Kairan,all of it had taken a toll on her.
She sighed deeply, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. The studio, her sanctuary, was the only place where she could truly let go. Grabbing her phone, she connected it to the speaker system and scrolled through her playlist until she found her favorite song. The soft, lilting notes filled the room, and Serin closed her eyes, letting the melody guide her.
Her body moved fluidly, like leaves caught in the wind, graceful yet unrestrained. The music washed over her, pulling her into a world where nothing else mattered. Each step, each twirl, and each stretch of her limbs felt like a release, a way to untangle the knots in her heart. For those few minutes, she was weightless, free.
As the final note faded, Serin stopped, breathing heavily. A faint smile touched her lips, but when she turned toward the mirror, her eyes widened. Kairan stood casually leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his dark eyes fixed on her. The intensity of his gaze sent a pleasant shiver down her spine.
She smiled, brushing her damp bangs out of her eyes, and briskly walked toward him. "What are you doing here, Mister President?" she teased, her tone light.
Kairan smirked slightly, but as she got closer, her smile faltered. A dark red stain marred the inside of his collar, and there was a faint smear of blood on his neck. Her playful expression turned to one of worry as she reached out instinctively.
"What happened? Are you hurt?" Her voice was laced with concern.
Kairan caught her hand gently, raising it to his lips and pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. "It's not my blood" he said in a low, steady voice. "It belongs to the sinners. You shouldn't touch it."
Her cheeks flushed at his gesture, but her concern didn't waver. "What did the 'sinners' do?" she asked softly, searching his eyes for answers.
Kairan's expression darkened, his voice tinged with an edge of menace. "The sinners dared to badmouth a pure beauty, someone they had no right to speak of, let alone desire to taint. So," his gaze hardened, "I sent them where they belong."