Oops, Love in Progress

Chapter 4: The Favor That Changed Everything

Hyunjin's grin was way too smug for my liking.

"No," I said immediately, before he could even tell me what the favor was.

He gasped dramatically. "You don't even know what I'm going to ask."

"Doesn't matter. My answer is still no."

Hyunjin pouted like a kicked puppy. "Come on, Haneul, you still owe me."

I crossed my arms. "I paid my debt with coffee, remember? That was the deal."

"Yeah, but that was just for the umbrella incident. This is a new favor."

I groaned. "Hyunjin, I swear—"

Before I could finish, a voice cut in. "If you two are done flirting, some of us have work to do."

Sunwoo stood a few feet away, arms crossed, watching us with the same unimpressed look he always had.

Hyunjin, being the absolute menace that he was, turned to Sunwoo with a wicked grin. "Oh, Sunwoo-hyung! Perfect timing! Maybe you can help."

Sunwoo sighed, clearly regretting his life choices. "I regret walking over here. What do you want?"

Hyunjin draped an arm around my shoulders, making me stiffen. "I need a partner for a trainee showcase rehearsal. And guess who just got volunteered?"

I shoved his arm off. "Absolutely not!"

Hyunjin clapped his hands together. "Perfect, thanks for agreeing! I knew I could count on you, Haneul."

Sunwoo pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't get paid enough for this."

Neither did I.

Chapter 5: Rehearsal Disaster

"You owe me big time for this," I muttered under my breath as I stood in the middle of the practice room, arms crossed.

Hyunjin, ever the troublemaker, grinned. "I promise I'll make it worth your while."

"That's exactly what I'm afraid of."

The dance instructor clapped his hands. "Alright, let's run the duet routine. Haneul, just follow Hyunjin's lead."

Follow his lead? Oh, this was going to be a nightmare.

The music started, and Hyunjin took his position. I hesitated, trying to mimic his stance, but the moment I stepped forward, I nearly tripped over my own feet.

Hyunjin caught me before I could crash to the floor, biting back a laugh. "Wow, you dance like a baby giraffe learning how to walk."

I smacked his arm. "Shut up and focus!"

We restarted, and this time, I managed to follow along—until Hyunjin spun me, and I stepped directly onto his foot.

"Ow!" he yelped, hopping on one leg.

The instructor sighed. "Alright, let's take a break before someone ends up in the hospital."

I groaned, rubbing my face. "See? This is why I work behind the scenes."

Sunwoo, who had been watching from the doorway, smirked. "You're proving my point."

I shot him a glare. "Feel free to jump in anytime."

Hyunjin grinned, patting my shoulder. "Nah, I think we're making progress. Slowly. Painfully. But progress."

I wasn't so sure about that.

Chapter 6: Dance or Disaster?

"One more time! From the top!" the instructor called out.

I wanted to die.

Sweat dripped down my back as I struggled to catch my breath. My legs felt like jelly, my arms ached, and at this point, I wasn't even sure I had bones anymore.

Hyunjin, on the other hand? Not a single hair out of place. He looked as fresh as when we started. Life was unfair.

"You okay there?" Hyunjin asked, grinning as he handed me a water bottle.

I snatched it from his hands, gulping down half of it before glaring at him. "No. I am not okay. I am dying."

"Dramatic," he teased. "You're improving, though."

I scoffed. "Says the guy who didn't just trip over his own foot."

Hyunjin snickered but didn't argue.

"Alright, take five," the instructor announced. "Haneul, relax your shoulders more. You're too stiff."

I collapsed onto the floor, my arms spread wide. "Relax, he says. How do you expect me to relax when I have to dance with Mr. Perfect over here?"

Sunwoo, who had been observing silently, crossed his arms. "Maybe if you stopped whining and actually focused, you'd be less of a disaster."

I shot him a glare. "Wow, Sunwoo-ssi, your encouragement is overwhelming."

"Just saying." He smirked. "Hyunjin's putting in effort to help you. You should at least try to keep up."

Hyunjin grinned. "See? Even Sunwoo believes in you."

I groaned and covered my face with my hands. "I hate you both."

Hyunjin patted my head like I was some lost puppy. "Nah, you love me. Now get up. We're going again in three minutes."

I let out a long, suffering sigh. This was my life now.