The heart dance, as the song called for, was the kind of dance people did at clubs to show attraction toward someone.
But the funny part was—the most popular girl on the floor was sending hearts not to the guys around her, but to the short girl standing right in front of her.
"Ha! What are they even doing?"
This was the perfect example of tragic irony—dozens of guys circling like moths around the wrong flame. The girl who didn't seem to care at all was the one setting them on fire with every move.
"Damn, she's wrecking hearts left and right,"
Kay whistled, half-impressed, half-teasing.
The tall man next to him smirked faintly, an amused sneer tugging at his lips.
As the music faded, the girl who had become the center of everyone's attention walked toward the counter where they stood, probably to grab a drink.
But the closer she came, the more the man's posture stiffened—his eyes widened with something close to disbelief.
He abruptly rose from his stool, yanked off the hood that had been shadowing his face, and ran a hand through his disheveled hair.
"Uh—hey, hyung! We're up soon!" Kay called after him in alarm,but the man didn't even hear. He pushed past the crowd, eyes locked on her.
"Hey."
The low, resonant voice cut through the music.
"Mm?"
Yoojin turned, her heart skipping a beat at the familiar tone.
"Han Yoojin?"
Right in front of her stood someone she hadn't seen—or rather, had tried not to think about—for years.
Dongha.
He had grown even taller—nearly one-ninety—and his frame had filled out with solid muscle.
Gone was the lithe boy she remembered; what stood before her now was a man, effortlessly exuding confidence.
"Yoon Dongha?"
"Wow. Finally ran into you."
His sharp features—the clean forehead, straight nose, the double-lidded eyes framed by long lashes—were all the same, only more mature now.
The simple black hoodie and gray jeans somehow looked tailored on him, casual yet refined.
Yoojin, with her loose college tee and minimal makeup, suddenly felt awkward under his gaze. She forced a small, shy smile.
"How have you been?"
"Looks like I've been doing fine… But you—weren't you a little shrimp before? You've grown."
"Shrimp? Excuse me, that was the ideal height for a ballerina."
"Oh yeah?"
"Well, you've gotten taller too. And bigger. Are you still dancing?"
Ballet dancers were supposed to be lean on top, their strength hidden beneath form-fitting tights.
But Dongha's build was heavier—his upper body solid with muscle. It didn't fit the image of a dancer.
"Ballet? Nah. I do something else now."
"Something else?"
Yoojin's expression faltered.
The realization that he had quit ballet hit her like a wave of guilt.
Seeing her face fall, Dongha rushed to fill the silence.
"It's fine. I never really liked ballet that much anyway…"
He looked at her as if he had a thousand things to say, but she avoided his eyes and murmured,
"I see…"
"You look good, though. Studying hard, huh?"
He grinned at the logo on her oversized university sweatshirt—definitely not a Hongdae arts school.
"I worked hard."
"Yeah? You must've studied and hit the clubs often."
"What?"
"The way you had all those guys chasing you out there."
"What are you talking about?"
Yoojin blinked, genuinely confused.
She hadn't even noticed the guys who'd been following her lead earlier.
Dongha glanced behind her—every single guy had vanished the moment he showed up.
He looked back at her, eyes narrowing slightly.
The delicate slope of her forehead, the soft curve of her nose, those wide round eyes—all framed by porcelain skin.
The downy innocence of her teenage years had vanished; now, she was luminous in her twenties, glowing in a way that caught him off guard.
He stared a beat too long, throat bobbing, and finally chuckled under his breath.
"Can't believe you're the same kid."
Something in his teasing tone made her pout and laugh in disbelief.
Then he tilted his head and said softly,
"My team's up next. Wanna watch?"
"Really? Sure."
"Then grab a drink while you wait. Hey, bartender!"
He looked at her expectantly. The shelves behind the bar sparkled with bottles she'd never seen before.
Would it be weird to ask for beer here?
After all, the only alcohol she really knew was soju and draft beer from cheap pubs near campus.
"I… don't really know what to order. First time in a club."
Her lips, tinted a soft rose, pouted slightly as she spoke.
Dongha laughed, covering his mouth with one hand.
"Cute. All right, I'll get you something light."
He turned back to the bar.
"Bombay Blue Gin Tonic—extra lemon."
The bartender poured the icy gin into a glass, added soda, and topped it with three lemon slices.
Dongha swirled it gently and handed it to her.
"Here."
Yoojin took a sip. The cool fizz of lemon and gin spread through her mouth, sharp but refreshing.
"Wow, it's really good!"
Dongha chuckled. "Careful, it sneaks up on you."
"Okay."
From across the room, Kay gestured wildly at Dongha.
Dongha nodded back.
"I'll see you after the set."
"Mm."
He pulled his hood up again and joined the group near the stage.
The club's music began to fade, lights dimming until the space went pitch black.
Then—boom—LED beams shot out from the DJ booth as the bass started to thrum.
Six men stepped onto the raised platform in the center of the floor.
So that's what that little stage was for, Yoojin realized.
The DJ shouted into the mic,
"Are you having fun tonight?"
The crowd screamed in reply.
"Tonight, we've got some special guests—trainees from Entertainment!"
A wave of cheers erupted.
"They're debuting next year! Give it up for UNI-X!"
The entire club roared their name.
Under the sudden flood of bright lights, six young men stood in a line, each radiating charisma.
Clubs were meant to be dark—half shadows, half light—but now every face was exposed under the glare, raw and real.
Dongha, still hooded, kept his face hidden, which only drew more eyes to him.
The six scanned the crowd with confident, almost predatory gazes.
Instead of the performers being consumed by the audience, it felt like the opposite—the audience was being devoured by the stage.
Then a red laser beam cut through the air behind them, sweeping left and right.
The music faded for a breath. All six lowered their heads in unison.
Silence.
And then—familiar beats exploded from the speakers.
The crowd screamed as recognition spread like wildfire.
It was a famous idol track from a few years back.
Yoojin had heard it countless times at the café where she worked, but seeing it performed live was a completely different experience.
She wasn't into pop culture, not in this life or the last—ballet had always been her world.
But even she couldn't deny the energy radiating from that stage.
Her eyes shimmered as she watched.
"What's everyone so excited about?" she wondered aloud, half-smiling.
Kay took the lead, placing a hand over his chest and mouthing the lyrics as the choreography began.
Each member took turns at center, their movements crisp and magnetic.
They weren't just dancing—they were breathing rhythm.
Every line of muscle, every turn, every controlled motion sent ripples through the crowd.
And for the first time in a long while, Yoojin felt the spark of something she'd forgotten—the thrill of a stage alive with movement.