Dance is Music Too (4)
Having changed into the outfit, I stepped out hesitantly.
"...Hey, Kim Naeun."
A deep black silk qipao. It split daringly all the way up to the top of my thigh with every step.
"Unnie... holy shit..."
Naeun's mouth fell open, nearly dropping her smartphone. She circled me like she was mesmerized, letting out endless gasps of admiration.
"This is it! Exactly this! It's the image I imagined for Invitation!"
"Imagined my ass... Why the hell do you even have something like this?"
At my sharp question, Naeun grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of her head.
"Hehe, well, it's one of the outfits I always wanted to try on stage someday. I've got tons of costumes and stage clothes at home."
"...Your tastes are unique."
"Come on, idols have to be obsessed with concepts, right? But..."
Naeun stared blatantly at my chest and waistline, then glanced down at her own flat chest with a dramatic sigh.
"When I tried it on, it just looked like a straight sack... But on you, unnie, it's like the outfit came alive. Wow, that volume... Ugh, jealousy is defeat, but I've already lost."
The moment I became aware of where her gaze lingered, my face burned hot.
"...Cut the bullshit and look in the mirror."
I put on a stern face and approached the mirror. Awkwardly lifting my arms, the white skin of my forearms gleamed under the light.
"Unnie, do that wave from earlier just like that. Lock eyes with yourself in the mirror."
Under Naeun's urging, I slowly moved my body.
It's just acting. For the music!
Slowly, I transferred the vibration from my toes up to my hips.
"Oh! Yes, perfect! That's it! Unnie, that line you just drew? Insane!"
Naeun clapped wildly, jumping up and down in place.
"This good enough? I'm exhausted."
"What? We've barely taken one step!"
Naeun shoved a fan at me.
"The most important part of Invitation is this fan dance. The delicacy of your fingertips, that teasing glimpse of your eyes behind the fan! Come on, let's try again?"
My hand trembled as I took the fan.
"Ugh, my head hurts... Too much info at once. Naeun, let's call it for today. Please?"
"Suck it up! Strike while the iron's hot!"
"I still have to finish the arrangement. What's the point of dancing if the competition song isn't even done?"
At my desperate excuse, Naeun waved it off casually.
"Oh, that? No worries. The CEO said he'd handle the arrangement himself."
"...What? What the hell does that mean? Kim Taesung?"
I stared at her, eyes wide.
"Ridiculous. He's a judge. Does it make sense for a judge to touch a contestant's song? Isn't that cheating?"
"Cheating? Pfft, you think?"
We were bickering in the middle of the practice room when—
Click.
Our heads snapped toward the door. There stood a woman in training clothes.
Velvet Night's center, Ria.
*****
The moment the practice room door opened, Ria's brows furrowed slightly. After a grueling day of schedules, she'd come to her private practice room for some solo time. But light leaked from inside, along with muffled voices. With a puzzled look, Ria stepped in.
The first thing she noticed was Kim Naeun standing in the corner.
Naeun?
A junior she'd spent four years with as trainees. Naeun had always missed the debut cut, but Ria respected her tenacity. Still, Ria's gaze didn't linger on her.
It locked onto the woman beside Naeun, bathed in the deepest red light.
"......!"
Ria's breath caught.
Han Jiyeong?
The one who'd shoved her out of The Spotlight. Ria had seen her face hundreds of times in photos and videos, but the overwhelming aura in person was beyond any screen.
She's beautiful.
Her first thought was pure, instinctive admiration—before any bitterness.
Her pale skin stood out even more against the deep black qipao.
"Sunbae! You're here!"
Naeun bowed a perfect 90 degrees, her waist folding like paper. Ria gathered her bewilderment and waved lightly.
"I told you to be casual when it's just us. We're the same age, Naeun."
"No way, you're still my sky-high sunbae who debuted first! Gotta show respect!"
Despite Naeun's cheeky reply, Ria's eyes stayed glued to Jiyeong. Jiyeong, clearly uncomfortable, fiddled awkwardly with the fan in her hand and bowed her head.
"...Han Jiyeong, right?"
Ria took a step closer. Jiyeong met her eyes.
Here it comes.
Jiyeong's mind raced. She knew the community reactions from her past and present lives. Velvet Night fans saw her as a thorn in their side, accusing her of chart sabotage and fan service bans. To Ria especially, she was the thief who'd stolen a spot painstakingly secured months ago.
As Ria drew nearer, Jiyeong clenched her fists instinctively.
Is she gonna slap me? I was a seasoned musician in my past life. Pretty junior or not, I won't just take it.
She watched Ria's every move, timing her counterattack. Tension made her swallow hard.
Whoosh.
Ria bent down, crouching low.
"Nice to meet you. Um... if it's not too much, can I call you unnie?"
"...Pardon?"
A dumb sound escaped Jiyeong's lips. Ria stared openly at her pale legs and face, continuing.
"Wow, up close it's insane. How's your skin this flawless? No pores at all? Unnie, what's your secret? Share your skincare routine? Pretty please?"
Ria's voice was so warm, her face lit up like a fangirl meeting her idol.
What? This reaction?
Jiyeong unclenched her fists, flustered.
A trap? Act friendly to lower my guard, then backstab? Or hidden cameras, faking it while hating my guts?
"Anyway, unnie, why the qipao? It's not practice wear, and it clings so tight—must be uncomfortable for dancing."
Ria touched the daring side slit curiously. Before Jiyeong could answer, Naeun jumped in with an explanation.
Ria nodded at Naeun's words.
"A reinterpretation of Kang Soyoung sunbae's Invitation... That's tough. The original's aura is so unique. And throwing a judge's own song as a mission? The network's ruthless. They're setting you up to get shredded against the OG."
Ria clicked her tongue, brushing dust off her hands as she stood.
She flashed Jiyeong a bright smile.
"Alright. I'll help."
"...Huh?"
Jiyeong's eyes widened at the unexpected turn.
"Why? Aren't you swamped right now? New song promotions—you must barely have practice time."
"Because I'm your fan, unnie."
"...Fan? Why?"
"'Cause you're gorgeous."
...Is this bullshit?
It made no sense to Jiyeong.
If it were me, I'd hate her for stealing my spot. What's with this girl? Master manipulator or just genuinely nice?
While Jiyeong reeled in confusion, Ria pulled out her phone and shoved it in her face.
"But unnie, do you do Insta? Let's follow each other."
"Uh, not really..."
"No way, no account? You're #1 on the charts!"
Under Ria's pressure, Jiyeong mumbled.
"I... have one. Made it back when the company told me to."
With that, Ria snatched Jiyeong's phone. Naeun piled on: "Me too! I wanna follow unnie!"
In seconds, their accounts linked seamlessly.
But the assault didn't stop.
"Whoa, the lighting and qipao are perfect. Unnie, one photo?"
"Ph-photo? Now?"
Jiyeong's eyes bulged in horror.
In this outfit? I never even take selfies!
Just standing in front of the mirror in the daring side-slit qipao was mortifying enough—let alone photos.
As Jiyeong backed away, Naeun pushed her from behind.
"Unnie! This is practice too! Manage your expressions like you're on stage! Chin up a bit! Hold the fan!"
"You too?!"
"Come on, unnie! Eyes on me. Tilt your head, gaze down at the lens. Yes!"
Ria dropped to her knees like a pro photographer, nailing the angles.
Overwhelmed, Jiyeong struck poses she never imagined: peeking eyes over the fan, accentuating her sleek leg through the slit.
Click, click!
After a solid half-hour, Ria grinned wickedly, satisfied.
"Wow... these came out perfect. No edits needed."
She swiped through, showing Jiyeong. The images were far more seductive and alluring than the mirror—Jiyeong flushed and turned away.
"Delete those... for my eyes only later."
"What? No way, unnie."
Ria wagged her phone playfully, eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Beauty like this belongs to the world! Public service!"
"Hey! You wouldn't...!"
Jiyeong lunged, but Ria danced away.
"Ria! Don't post it!"
"Don't worry, unnie! It'll go up looking like the prettiest thing ever!"
Ria's fingers flew across the screen.