Ben thought nothing could be worse than Daniel in his usual drill sergeant mode.

He was wrong.

With the National Dance Competition just a month away, Daniel had unlocked a new level of sadism.

If Ben had to describe it, it would be:

Daniel was no longer human. He was a dance-devouring demon in the shape of a college student.

Kai, the former embodiment of laziness, looked like he was one missed water break away from giving up on life.

Terrence, though always composed, had started rubbing his temples a little too often.

And Ben, he was doing his best, really. But the floor was starting to look like a great place to just… lie down and accept death.

Daniel, on the other hand, was thriving.

“Why does he have endless energy?!” Kai wailed, lying flat on the floor.

“Because he’s a freak of nature,” Terrence replied dryly, drinking water like an exasperated mother.

“You guys don’t understand,” Daniel sighed, tossing his sweat-drenched towel over his shoulder. “This is my calling. My life’s purpose. While you mortals struggle, I ascend.”

Ben, who had just finished barely surviving the latest round of practice, glared at him. “I hope you ascend to the hospital.”

Kai snorted. Terrence just shook his head.

Later that same day, just before the practice began again, Kai had walked into the studio cradling something in his arms like it was a sacred treasure.

Ben blinked. “Is that… a tiny guitar?”

Kai gasped theatrically. “¿¡Pequeñiiiiito?! This, dear Benedict, is a ukulele.” [Tiny?]

Ben squinted. “Looks like your guitar shrunk in the wash.”

Terrence rolled his eyes. “What did you do with your guitar now?”

“I didn’t do anything!” Kai huffed. “It wasn’t even mine. It was Abeoji’s. He took it back after deciding I was a disgrace to the noble cause of rock music.” He wiped a fake tear from his eye. “He said, and I quote, ‘You have no intention of forming a band. Therefore you don’t deserve a guitar.’ How unbelievably cruel!”

Ben chuckled. “You stay with abeonim?”

Kai nodded, adjusting the ukulele strap. “Yeah. Appa and Mirae, my yeodongsaeng1. Eomma’s working in the U.S. with my noona2, Keira.”

Ben blinked, surprised. “Oh wow. That’s far.”

Kai shrugged. “We video call a lot.” He strummed a cheerful chord. “You guys should come over sometime. I’ll make you instant ramen like a real host.”

Terrence groaned. “No thanks. Your house is too extravagant for my taste. Feels like I have to put on a tie just to use the bathroom.”

Ben laughed. “I’d like to, but maybe after the NDC.”

Before Kai could reply, the door banged open, and in walked Daniel, wearing something that looked suspiciously like he was about to take the stage in a historical drama.

Terrence raised a brow. “Seriously?”

Kai just gave an unimpressed strum.

Daniel shrugged, completely unbothered. “I came straight from a part-time gig. I was a body double for some actor in a commercial. Had to look noble and mysterious. Nailed it, obviously.”

Ben stared at him. “You say that like it’s completely normal.”

Kai yawned. “It is. Hyung’s always doing weird side gigs.”

Terrence added, “Last time it was for a perfume ad. He just walked around in the background flipping his hair.”

Daniel beamed. “And I got paid well for it. Don’t be jealous.”

With a chuckle, he clapped his hands and declared, “Alright! Time to suffer. Let’s practice, minions.”

Ben groaned. “Can’t we at least warm up—”

“Nope!” Daniel grinned maniacally. “The suffering is the warm-up.”

No matter how much Ben complained, he couldn’t deny that he was getting better. 

He could feel it in the way his body moved, the way the music started syncing naturally with him, the way his reflection in the practice videos looked different. He had improved more in the past five months than he ever had dancing alone in his room.

That thought alone was enough to keep him staying after hours, pushing himself, practicing till he was the last one left in the studio.

Except today.

“Joesonghamnida, haksaeng,” the security guard told him, tapping his watch. “I gotta close.” [Sorry, kid/student]

Ben sighed but nodded, grabbing his bag. It was only eight pm. The walk back to his dorm wasn’t long, but the streets were quieter than usual at this hour, giving his thoughts too much space to run wild.

Unfortunately, Ben's brain chose the worst topic to obsess over.

That almost-kiss.

The stupid, accidental, drunken, definitely-not-real, lips-barely-brushing, almost-kiss.

He had spent a week trying not to think about it. A week of avoiding Daniel's stupid face as much as possible. A week pretending he didn't remember the exact second their lips touched.

And yet… 

Here he was thinking about it again.

Ben stopped walking. His entire face flamed. He dropped into a crouch on the sidewalk, hiding his face in his hands like a man on the verge of a crisis.

“What the hell is wrong with me?” he muttered into his palms.

Since when did he… did he what, exactly? 

Want to — Want to kiss Daniel?!

His heart pounded against his ribcage. 

No. No. No. NO. 

Ben shook his head violently. He refused. He refused to let his brain go there. He shot up to his feet like a man possessed.

Focus. Dance. Competition. 

That’s all that matters. That was the only thing he should care about.

Ben clenched his fists.

This stupid, horrible, unwanted feeling, whatever it was, had to stop. There was no way he was going to let it get in his way. Not when he had come this far.

With gritted teeth, he started walking again, more determined than ever.