Swish!!!!
Hyewon's head turned with a loud friction sound.
"Don't be so hard on yourself! Honestly, you did what was right, right?"
"So... if you hit me on the cheek like this, will you feel better?"
"No~ Do you think I've finally let off steam to this extent?"
"J,I... Hey, guys, let's talk and not fight!"
"What the heck, you little beggar! Are you from Hive Yejung (S)?"
"Yeah, yeah..."
"Do you know why I hate people like you? Because you don't even know the topic and you can't tell when to get involved and when not to!"
"If you're mad at me, take it out on me. Why are you bringing it up on Jeon Jungkook? You're a typical 'strong, weak, weak' type of person, aren't you? And Jeon Jungkook, why are you so scared by such nonsense that you can't say anything?"
"Ah... that's..."
"Lee Hye-won, you're being nosy. You were the homeroom teacher earlier, and now you're even interfering with Jeon Jung-kook? Don't get involved in things that have nothing to do with you."
“Why do you not care? Jeon Jungkook is my partner. As far as I know, the first performance evaluation in the dance department is to prepare for the stage with your partner. If you cause Jeon Jungkook to have a mental breakdown and ruin the stage, you will take responsibility?!”
"It's really amazing."
"Hey, come see me"
"Wait, can't you see I'm talking to this girl?"
"S, Suyeon, I think you should watch your back..."
"Who are you, Miss! S,Senior..."
"Who are you? I'm Jaewon Lee, a sophomore, and this is my older brother, Juwon Lee, a junior. Since our senior introduced himself, should we introduce ourselves as freshmen too?"
"J, sorry. I'm Park Su-yeon, a first-year student. But what happened to my class..?"
"Did you come to see our youngest? Hyewon~"
"Why did you come? I'll see you when I get home anyway."
"I thought you might be like this~ Our Hye-won is not strong-willed and is rather delicate, so the oppas came to save her."
"I wonder if Yoon Ha-yeon's daughter will just take it?"
"J, wait a minute, Yoon Ha-yeon?"
"Oh, that's right, Park Soo-yeon and Park Jimin, your mother is ballerina Lee So-yeon, right?"
"N, how can you be Yoon Ha-yeon's daughter, a ballerina..."
"My brothers are going up now. Are you the type of person who will just sit back and take it?"
"See~ Hyung, what did I tell you? Lee Hye-won, that girl is secretly strong~"
"But I'm worried because you're the youngest."
"Okay, let's go up. Now, first years, listen carefully in class~ And Park Soo-yeon, try not to catch my eye as much as possible. See you at home later, youngest~"
After Jae-won and Joo-won came and went, the children in the class, except for Park Soo-yeon and Park Ji-min, noticed that the queen of Hive Preview had changed from Park Soo-yeon to Lee Hye-won and started to flatter Hye-won.
"Hyewon, you're pretty, your family is amazing, and you're top-notch. What are you lacking?"
"What are you doing after school? Do you want to go shopping with us?"
"No, shopping isn't my hobby."
"Then what are your hobbies?"
"Ballet. My hobby is ballet. I don't have time after school. The driver will come to pick me up and I have to go home. And stop asking questions and go to your respective practice rooms. The practical class is starting now."
Only then did the ballet majors hurriedly head to the practice room, carrying their ballet outfits, modern dance outfits, and other dance outfits. After everyone else in the class had left, Hye-won was about to leave, but Jung-kook grabbed her.
"Hey, Hyewon"
"Why do you have anything to say?"
"You just took my side, didn't you? Thanks."
"No need to thank me, but is that what you want to say?"
"Oh, Hyewon, do you want to be friends with me?"
"I'm sorry, but I have to decline. I don't have time to hang out with friends. I'm too busy practicing. Our relationship is nothing more or less than a performance evaluation partner."
"Your heart is so closed..."
"Huh?"
"I don't know why, but it's okay. I'll open the closed door, so even if you reject me, I'll keep bothering you until you become my friend."
"Well then, try to persuade me to become your friend. It won't be easy, but I'll go now."
Jungkook spoke loudly to Hyewon, who was walking away from him and heading to the practice room after saying what she wanted to say.
"Yeah! I'll definitely try my best to persuade you! I'll never give up, so please come over as quickly as possible~"
"Well... it's kind of cute."
Hye-won and everyone else arrived at the practice room, and the major teacher came in. Because the students were so sensitive to major classes, the major teacher selected only the most elite ballerinas from Hive Arts Middle and High School, and Park Soo-yeon conducted the class smoothly without saying a word.
"As you all know, your first performance evaluation will be preparing for the stage with your classmates. We'll give you plenty of time, so prepare diligently."
"Oh, teacher~ My partner is majoring in Korean dance. It doesn't really go well with ballet..."
"That's all just luck. If you think about it the other way around, it could be more refreshing than two ballet dancers performing on stage."
"Ah, yeah~"
"There's no use fussing~ If you do it well, it'll be harmonious, if you don't, it'll be awkward. It's up to you guys. That's all for today's class. Those who want to practice more can stay and practice, those who want to go home can go home, and I'm going now~ See you tomorrow."
"Ugh... I just bought some new toe shoes, and they're a bit sore... I need to go home and break them in."
"Hyewon~~~~ The brothers are here! Come out quickly so we can go home."
"Okay, just wait 3 minutes. I'll change my clothes and come out!"
When I got to the school gate, the driver was already waiting in his car.
"Miss, it's been a while. Are you here, gentlemen? Please give me your bag."
"Yes, it's been a while, sir. It's been almost 9 years since I've ridden in your car on my way home from school. My bag is fine. It's not heavy. And please address me more casually. I'm your daughter."
"No, this is more comfortable for me. Please get in, young master. I will make you feel comfortable."
"Hyewon, just take it, Knight, that's how you've always been."
"You're still the same, sir~"
dot
dot
dot
dot
"I've arrived. I'll open the door for you."
"Thank you for your hard work. I'll see you tomorrow when you get to school."
"Good-bye, young master."
"Yes, sir."
"Huh... Let's go home now... Are you ready?""Okay, open the door."
"Mother, Father, we are here."
"Okay, Lee Joo-won, Lee Jae-won, your father is waiting on the 5th floor, so go up and prepare for the test. Lee Hye-won, tell me what rank you got today."
"Hyewon was the best. Please praise her, Mom."
"Lee Joo-won, I asked Hye-won, or did you ask her? I went up and prepared!"
"yes..."
"Hyewon, you're Yoon Hayeon's daughter! Are you satisfied with just this?!"
"No, I'll work harder."
"People deserve recognition, and you deserve my recognition. Don't be satisfied with this. Work hard until you die. You too should go up to the 5th floor and take the test."
Hyewon's family holds surprise tests every week. Joowon is good at piano, Jaewon is good at violin, and Hyewon is good at ballet. Jaewon is better, but Joowon and Hyewon take the tests more rigorously thanks to their father, a world-renowned pianist, and their mother, a world-class ballerina.
"Lee Joo-won, Lee Jae-won, let's start with you."
"Stop it! This is so bad I can't even listen to it. The pace is uneven, there's no depth to the performance, and there's no improvement at all compared to last time!"
"I'm sorry, Father..."
"It's only natural to feel sorry, and you deserve to be punished! Next is Lee Hye-won!"
"Why don't you do your toe points properly?! Why are you moving so slowly? You should speed up to the music!"
Hye-won, who was practicing ballet with sore feet in her new, unbroken toe shoes, made the worst mistake of all: her ankles gave out and she fell.
"Ugh... ah... my ankle..."
"It's quite a sight. And yet you're so excited about being the top student."
"Because I didn't tame the toe shoes..."
"That's an excuse. Have you seen me wear pointy shoes? When I'm preparing for an important stage, I practice wearing pointy shoes that don't even fit my size. But it's not like they don't fit my feet, and I fell because I didn't break them in?!"
"I'm sorry, I'll try harder."
"Lee Joo-won, Lee Jae-won, Lee Hye-won, follow me."
"Father, please... I'll do better next time. Don't hit me."
"I'll take it for you. I'll take it for my siblings too. Please do that...."
"No... Father, I'll take it. Joo-won and Jae-won have a practical training session this week. I'll take it in their place."
"It's nice to have camaraderie among people who don't have any skills. Then, Lee Hye-won, you come in."
"yes..."
"No, Father, I'll take it instead."
"Hyewon, Hyewon!"
When I called Hye-won, the door was already closed, and she was being whipped by her father. Even as her daughter was being whipped, her mother Ha-yeon's expression remained motionless, sitting on the sofa drinking tea.
"Mom, Dad, please stop me. How could Hye-won hit that skinny kid? I'll take the hit instead!"
"Where did you raise your voice? If you had done it right in the first place, this wouldn't have happened!"
"Is this really Mom? How could someone called Mom...? Did Hye-won see her feet? They're so messed up that you can't even tell they're human feet. There aren't many toes with toenails attached!"
"What's the point of sparing your feet? Look at me. Even if you spend half your life doing ballet, if you rest a little, your feet will become this soft. If only your skills were good..."
Even while Ha-yeon was being questioned, the sound of the whip continued, and after 10 minutes, the door opened and Hye-won walked out with her hair disheveled and her body covered in bruises.
"How can you hold out like that bitch without screaming once?"
"If you scream or cry, Dad will hit you more. It's a waste of time. You should practice for at least one more minute..."
"Yeah, that's the mindset that Joo Won and Jae Won learned too."
"If there's a scar, it won't look good when I wear a ballet costume, so you guys apply ointment so that it doesn't get scarred. If you had done it well in the first place, this wouldn't have happened."
Hye-won hesitates only after Jong-won and Ha-yeon enter the bedroom.
"I'll definitely do it... I'll show you how to do it..."
"Hyewon, let's go to your room and apply some ointment first, okay?"
"Still, I'm glad my brothers are okay. If my brothers had been hit, I would have been in more pain... When I was little, my brothers took the hit for me. I can't stand to see my brothers get hurt anymore."
"It's okay, oppa. As long as you're okay, Hyewon, we're fine. So don't be the first to take the hit from now on."
"Sorry... I can't grant that request. You guys said you have training tomorrow, so go and practice quickly. I want to be alone too..."
"Okay, don't practice today. Rest. Your wounds need to stay still for them to heal..."
"Yeah.... Don't worry about me, just focus on your training tomorrow. If you don't maintain first place, you know it won't end well."
At that moment, Sooyeon's house was no different from Hyewon's house, with only cold air lingering.
"Why are you calling? I'm not feeling well today, so can't we talk tomorrow?"
"Now that I've heard everything, tell me the truth. Who is the chief?"
"Lee Hye-won is the second-ranking official, Jeon Jung-kook..."
"Which family are you from?"
"Mom, Suyeon isn't feeling well right now either..."
"Park Jimin, be quiet. You didn't even make it into the rankings. How can 4th place be considered a reasonable ranking!!? What do you lack? The best teacher, materials, and even school!"
"Talent... What she lacks is talent, Lee Hye-won and Yoon Ha-yeon's daughter."
"Yoon...Hayeon? Why haven't you heard from me for so long? Why now, at this most important time!"
"Mom, you were second place... Then what's lacking? It's talent."
"Then you lost to Yoon Ha-yeon's daughter?!"
Unable to contain her excitement at the mention of Yoon Ha-yeon, So-yeon slapped Su-yeon's cheek.
"He should have won!!!! He had to win no matter what!"
"Ha... This is so fucking sick! Why do I have to satisfy my mom's inferiority complex? Why! It's my life! Just stop worrying! Before I throw away ballet and everything."
"Then you should have been the top student!!!!"
"Mom, is Suyeon feeling good right now? Stop it! Why are you talking to Suyeon when you can't even do that?"
"Park Jimin, take good care of your younger sibling. I can tolerate everything else, but I can't tolerate losing to Yoon Ha Yeon's kid."
"Okay, let's stop for today."
Lee Hye-won and Park Soo-yeon, both raised in such homes, couldn't help but become more vicious and stubborn. Perhaps they realized too early on that the world of artists is one where you can't survive without being vicious and stubborn...?
So, to become the number one protagonist, they sacrifice themselves. They give up what they love, they sacrifice their health, they starve themselves until they collapse, they practice until they're exhausted, all in the pursuit of becoming the perfect ballerina. Even so, the world won't recognize second place unless you're first...
Even if I feel like I'm going to die, I have no choice but to endure
that is,Because it's the cruelty of art...