The next day, Kaija was the first to arrive at the dance studio. She had her manager Esko to thank for that. He showed up at her door at 6 AM and wouldn't stop abusing the doorbell.
"Girl, you have no idea," he started rambling the second he stepped inside. "Word's spread about your performance at the vocal class yesterday, Kaija. Just one day, and now everyone at KE knows your name! My goodness, I got chills watching the videos. Everybody's talking about you in the group chats. Just imagine how big you'll make it after debut! You're making me a happy manager already." The rambling went on and on as he escorted her all the way to the dance studio.
Kaija covered a yawn, blinking slowly at Esko's words. She was still recovering from the shock of learning that her crush was a professional playboy, and that he'd be involved in her modeling training here at KE for the upcoming time. Good thing she had a boba tea with her. She savored the sugar kick, pushing the door open.
Antony was early today. He stood by the speaker, scrolling through songs on his phone. When he noticed her at the door, he shot her a displeased look, just the same one he gave her yesterday. "That's a horrible choice for breakfast," he said flatly.
This is exactly what I need to face you, Mister Bully, she thought, throwing a glare back at him. "I won't need much energy," she muttered, "you'll kick me out anyway."
Antony's face darkened. "Who says I will?"
"Are you not?" she gasped dramatically.
His glare only grew more murderous. "Do your warm-up before I change my mind," he growled.
Her mouth curled into a wry smile. She'd honestly prefer he just changed his mind and kicked her out. Just as she stepped inside, his irritated voice came again. "No drinks allowed in this room. Haven't you read the rules?"
A long sigh escaped her. Was this guy on his period or what? She tossed her precious boba tea into the trash can and started her warm-ups with a deep scowl.
When the time came, the teenagers from the day before didn't show up. "Where are all the kids from yesterday?" she asked.
"They already graduated. Yesterday was their last day."
She stared at him. So... he was basically saying she was the only beginner dancer left on this entire campus? That she was stuck in Beginner Dance with him? She dragged a hand down her face. "Alright, teacher. What do you want me to do now?"
"What do you know about dancing?"
"Practically nothing."
It was Antony's turn to fall silent. "What sort of dimension have you been living in until today?" he finally asked, tone dripping with mockery.
She shrugged. "The dimension where singers don't have to dance to have a career, Mister."
"Then I have bad news for you," his tone dropped, his hand turning on the speaker. "You won't have a career at all in my dimension. Now I'll perform a sequence. Watch me in the mirror and try to follow exactly what I do. Got it?"
"Sounds easy enough to me."
But boy, was she wrong. The moment the verse hit and Antony started dancing, poor Kaija kept flailing her limbs in every direction like a chicken about to lay eggs.
"What the hell was that?" he barked, turning off the music.
"You're just too fast, Mister," she shot back. "Goodness, isn't this supposed to be a beginner class? Can you show some mercy?"
"Imagine how much you'd whine if you ever got famous," he muttered, scowling. "Just like that ash-blond dirt head."
"Hey, excuse me," she frowned. "I'm nothing like that antisocial megalomaniac, alright? Just — please — for the love of God, slow down."
"Fine," he said curtly. "Watch me first. Then we'll do it again. Slower."
The music started again. When Antony began to move, it was as if he transformed into someone else. His face softened, his posture fluid, every motion smooth and effortless, like water.
Kaija stood and watched in awe, completely captivated. Earlier, she'd been too focused on her own clumsy steps to even notice how he danced. Even after he stopped, her mouth was still parted.
"You watched enough?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at her through the mirror.
She snapped her mouth shut and straightened her back. "Yes, Mister!"
"Stop calling me Mister. It's weird. Call me Instructor."
"Yes, Instructor!" she said, giving him a salute.
Another glare aimed at her, sharper this time. Then he sighed and replayed the track. "If you can't get it right this time," he muttered, "I'm kicking you out."
And yet, Antony didn't kick her out, no matter how many times she transformed into a chicken the moment the music started again. When the session finally ended, she collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air, her chest rising and falling heavily.
Antony stood over her, giving her a pitying look. "This is the level of stamina you get from having boba tea for breakfast."
"No, Instructor," she raised a finger weakly, "it's just you. You have no proper definition of what beginner means."
"Catch your breath, then get out. The intermediate class is coming in ten minutes."
A chill ran down her spine. She could already imagine what kind of devilish level that class was. Pushing herself up, she sighed. "Do you ever smile, Instructor?"
He stared at her. "What sort of stupid question is that?"
"The kind that's concerned about your mental well-being," she shot back casually. "You act like the whole world's your enemy."
His brow twitched. "That's none of your business." He turned.
"Wait," she called out.
He stopped. "What?"
She raised both hands toward him. "Help me up, at least."
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
Thirty seconds.
No response.
Antony just stood there, frozen, staring at her outstretched hands like they were ticking bombs, his lips twitching slightly.
She was about to give up and pull her hands back when he suddenly stepped forward, grabbed both her hands, and hauled her up in one swift motion. The second he was done, he let go like her hands were on fire, turning away so fast it was almost comical. His shoulders started trembling slightly.
Kaija frowned. Is this guy seriously that mentally off? He acted like she'd just infected him with something deadly.
"Hey, Instructor, you alright?" she asked, patting his back.
Antony spun around and barked, "Don't touch me!"