JUDE
"When do you think I can see the dance studio and the recording studio?"
I am walking with Andre back to the van to take us home.
"You wanna go check the dance studio now?" he asks me.
"Are we not supposed to go back?"
"We are free to do what we want to do if we are free. This is the part of life I will miss when we debut," Andre says as we pass the van, and he takes me down the street.
"Why?"
"Well," he waves a cab down. "First of all, sure we are known now but not very much. We can still walk around without having to disguise ourselves. Then we can do what we want, go wherever we want and be normal. That shuts down when we debut. It's in the company laws."
We get in a taxi, and Andre tells the driver an address. "How come we don't have a dance studio at the house?"
"There is one."
I can only look at him in confusion. "Then why are we going the opposite direction?"
"Because this is where the guys like going. We have another studio. It's larger and better, and we all prefer it if we are being honest."
"They aren't there, right?"
"Why are you scared?" Andre smiles, and I only shake my head.
"No, I am not. Why would I be?"
"I am not supposed to tell you this, but they are throwing you a welcome party tonight."
That makes me laugh. "You suck at surprises."
"Yeah, they were hiding it too but zein let it slip out," he bites his lip, looking outside.
The cab takes us to the company's practise studio, and andre pays for the cab before we make our way inside the large building.
"I am glad I carried my key card; otherwise, otherwise we would have to call them," he says.
"I don't have a phone."
"Woo will give you one soon. We have to have them to avoid getting in the socials, but I think they will allow us to have our personal phones back soon enough."
I don't ask any more questions as we take an elevator and he presses to the fifteenth floor. Following Andre once we alight, I feel excited to see where I will be dancing in. I haven't danced in a while and I can't lie and say I don't miss it.
I just didn't have the privilege to do so anymore. But now I do.
We open the door, and inside, the music is loud, but my eyes find the two guys dancing on the floor to ceiling, full width mirror. They move so effortlessly that you would think they are floating.
They don't notice us, and I take my time to just observe as Rex and Miko dance, making my jaw drop at how magnificent they are. Rex is the king of the floor; he is smooth, and his style is relaxed, making it addictive to watch him. Miko? Miko is the god on the floor.
There is a reason he is the main dancer and choreographer, and it's easy to tell.
He is hypnotizing, demanding you to watch him and not look away. His moves are sharp, but his body is flowing with the music, becoming one like a river flowing. The way his eyes flash makes me know he is enjoying and losing himself in the experience. He is giving his all, finding solace, taking what he needs.
There is an energy to it, energy that he brings forth, even in the videos I watched of him in the morning. Watching him now, I see that I wasn't wrong. He is a god when he is dancing. He is demanding, judging, and calling. He is bending all the rules and making himself the law.
I have never seen anything like it.
I must have been too drawn in because I don't notice when the music stops, only when he stops dancing, sweat clinging on his skin and breathing heavily, do I snap out of the web miko has woven.
His eyes lock with mine through the mirror, and he grins, turning to look at us.
"You guys came!"
"Well, if I had known I would be having such an esteemed audience, I would have pulled my secret moves," Rex smirks as he takes a bottle of water, throws one towards Miko who snatches it so effortlessly before taking one for himself.
"Dude, don't you get tired of flirting?" Andre flinches away from Rex when he makes a move to hug him. "You are dripping with sweat, gross!"
They start running around, which makes Miko and I start laughing. "Hey, I am glad you came."
"I was curious where the magic happens," I respond as I walk over to the glass wall to look at the view of the city.
"So what do you think?" he follows m, taking a small towel to start wiping himself with it.
"It's nice, I love the view," I mindlessly respond, pressing my face to the glass. I think I easily fall in love with cities so much.
"What about the dance? Is it good? We just added it to the choreo we will all dance to." Miko gulps down his water, eyes locking on mine.
"You were. I think you were amazing."
"Just amazing?" he smiles, tilting his head to the side, his voice dropping a note.
"Are you fishing for compliments?" I ask him, raising my eyebrows despite the smile etching on my lips.
"You got me," he looks away shyly. Such a contrast to the domineering look and energy he had a few minutes ago. "I just thought you would gush at me and fan all over me since you know..."
"Oh no," I groan, covering my face.
His laugh makes me peek through my fingers. "I am joking, I am joking!"
"Better be because that was a little too much," I admit as I walk around the big room. "Where did they go?"
"Probably still chasing each other down the corridor. Those two act like kids."
"Oh."
"I am starving. Wanna join me for lunch?"
"Sure, let me find Andre and Rex, then."
"Okay, let me shower quickly. I will be right back," Miko runs over to the door on the other corner of the room, and it closes behind him.
Just as he is gone, I hear screams and squeals before Andre comes running towards me. "Help!"
"Catch him for me!" Rex is behind him, sprinting full sprint.
"What-"
Andre pulls my body and shields himself behind me. Rex stops in front of me, looking at him with a devilish smile on him.
"If you tickle me again, I swear I will kill you in your sleep!" Andre shouts, peeking from behind.
"Yeah? Is that a promise, little one?" Rex taunts him, making a darting move, and Andre screams a little.
"Don't call me that."
"Guys, I think we can all come to an agreement. Let's end this war," I pipe in, offering my mediation services.
"He started it! He took my best beanie, and he is wearing it as we speak!" Rex points at Andre, who only looks at me innocently.
"My hair is a mess. I didn't know what to do!"
"He should pay for that!"
"You don't even wear it!"
"Okay, I think you have to give him something of yours to wear and then call it even?" I ask Andre.
"Fine! If he promises not to tickle me."
"Rex?"
"I promise, if he decided to give up the orange hoodie for a day." his smirk makes me think he has had his eyes on the mentioned cloth for quite some time.
Andre groans, seemingly backed into a corner before he mumbles a fine.
And just like that, the war is over.