If Ben could physically fight guilt, he would have gone twelve rounds by now.

Since Daniel’s injury, he had practically moved in with him, hovering like an overprotective mother hen. Terrence and Kai came by every day, but they had their own training. Ben, on the other hand, was stuck in a vortex of self-inflicted responsibility.

He fed Daniel. Brought his medicine. Changed his crepe bandages. Even massaged his stupid ankle. At this point, he was one step away from spoon-feeding him like a baby.

“Damn, Ben,” Daniel whined one evening as Ben forced him to prop up his leg. “You’re not my mom. You’re my hot caretaker.”

Ben nearly dropped the ice pack on his face. “SHUT UP.”

Daniel just grinned. He was still the same dramatic menace. 

But Ben wasn’t fooled. Because at night, when no one was around, Daniel wasn’t smiling.

And Ben saw it all.

The way he stared at his useless ankle as if it had betrayed him. The way his fingers clenched into fists when he saw videos of the other dancers practicing. The way he wiped at his eyes when he thought no one was looking.

On the fourth day, Ben caught him standing in his room.

Correction: Trying to stand.

Ben watched, horror-stricken, as Daniel grimaced, wobbling on his injured leg, arms outstretched for balance.

“HYUNG, STOP—”

But it was too late. Daniel swayed, his leg gave out, and Ben caught him.

There was a moment of silence.

Daniel wasn’t looking at him. He was staring at the floor, shoulders tense.

“…I deserved this,” he mumbled. “It’s probably karma.”

Ben felt his chest tighten. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Daniel let out a bitter laugh. “I always wanted to prove that I didn’t need my parents' money to make it big, but maybe this is divine punishment for my arrogance.”

Ben’s jaw clenched. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Daniel blinked at him.

“Do you think talent comes from money? That your hours of practice, the sweat, the bruises, the exhaustion, that all of it is because of privilege?” Ben’s grip on him tightened. “You didn’t get here because of your parents, Daniel hyung. You got here because you burned for it.”

There was a long pause.

Then, to Ben’s absolute horror, Daniel pulled him into a hug.

“…Thanks, Ben,” he murmured, his voice quieter than usual. “And stop blaming yourself. I never thought it was your fault.”

Ben didn’t move because suddenly his heart was hammering against his ribs.

He really has to chill before he loses the tiny shred of dignity he has left.

***

Meanwhile, Terrence and Kai were out for blood.

If Ben thought he was mad about Daniel’s injury, he had clearly never seen Terrence and Kai in revenge mode.

One fateful afternoon, just after Ben, Terrence, and Kai submitted their official absence forms for the National Dance Competition audition, they stepped out of the Students Affairs Office, only to be ambushed by a pack of Daniel’s admirers.

A group of girls and a few guys surrounded them, faces painted with concern.

“How is sunbaenim doing?” one girl asked quickly.

“Is his ankle okay? Is he coming to practice?” another added.

Before Ben could answer, a girl latched onto his arm with practiced ease, her voice soft and fluttery. “If he needs a doctor, I can help! My dad’s a doctor. Just say the word.”

Ben awkwardly tried to free his arm, managing a tight, polite smile. “He’s already seen one. They told him to rest.”

The girl’s pout turned into a gasp. “But the NDC is tomorrow! How will sunbaenim compete?”

Ben’s stomach dropped and flipped. He had no answer. The guilt settled heavily on his shoulders.

A few steps away, a cluster of guys lingered, watching the exchange like spectators at a drama.

Ben noticed one of them, stepping forward with too-smooth a smile. He slung an arm over Ben’s shoulder casually, but his voice dropped to a murmur just meant for him.

“If sunbaenim ever needs a more… reliable helping hand,” the guy said, tone layered with implication, “I’m very available.”

Ben froze. The guy’s eyes glinted with something far less innocent than concern. He did not even try to mask it. Ben’s stomach twisted with revulsion. He didn’t know if it was his protectiveness or something else, but he wriggled out from under the guy’s arm with a stiff, 

“He’s fine.”

The guy only smirked and backed away. Ben didn’t say another word. He pushed past the crowd, dragging Kai and Terrence with him before the knot of anxiety and fury inside him could boil over.

And that’s when they ran into him, the guy who had tripped Daniel. Ben could have ignored him. He could have walked away, but the idiot just had to open his mouth.

“Yo, how’s your sugar daddy? Still limping?”

Something inside Ben snapped.

“You will never measure up to the dust on Daniel hyung’s shoe,” he said, his voice trembling with rage. “So, of course, you had to take the dirty route to try and eliminate him.” He took a step closer. “Because that’s all you’re good for, dirty, desperate tactics, not talent.”

The guy’s face twisted in anger. “You little—”

But before he could finish, Terrence cracked his knuckles loudly.

“Try it,” Terrence said, smiling, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Even if Daniel hyung doesn’t compete, if you don’t shut your mouth, I will make sure you never dance again.”

There was dead silence. 

The guy gulped, turned, and left without another word.

Kai snorted. “Pfft, cobardes” [cowards]

Terrence dusted off his hands. “Yeah. Let’s go eat.”

Ben just stood there, staring at his two unhinged best friends.

“…You guys scare me sometimes.”

“Good,” Terrence said.

Ben blinked. “Wait, did you just slip into Spanish?”

Kai grinned. “Honestly, I’m more fluent in English and Spanish than Korean,” he said with a laugh.

***

Finally came the National Dance Competition.

IT. WAS. WAR.

The stage was set. The lights were blinding. The tension was suffocating.  The officials at the NDC laid out the first important rule 

• Ten participants from each university need to divide into teams of five. 

Ben, Kai, and Terrence were in the NDC waiting room and in need of two more teammates. But they were already prepared.

They didn’t care about being scouted anymore. They didn’t care about impressing the judges. They just wanted to destroy those cowards.

Terrence scowled with gritted teeth, “I swear if those guys so much as breathe near the second round.”

But just as they were getting into position—

Daniel appeared.

LIMPING.

All three of them froze in horror.

Kai nearly screamed. “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!”

Ben’s soul left his body. “YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE RESTING!!”

Terry’s eyes twitched dangerously. “Are you actually insane?”

Daniel just grinned. “What? Did you think I’d miss this?”

Kai clutched his hair. “YES! YOU LITERALLY HAVE AN INJURED ANKLE.”

Daniel ignored them. He took his place beside them, rolling his shoulders.

Ben was panicking. His stupid, reckless, brilliant senior was actually planning to dance with an injured ankle. 

HE WAS GOING TO DIE ON STAGE.

“You can’t be serious,” Ben hissed.

Daniel winked at him. “Just try and keep up.”