Hoseok: 13 August Year 22

Jimin and the girl were standing at the center of the practice room. They prepared to dance, and the five seconds of silence before they began felt infinitely long. They began the first steps as the music flowed through the speakers. It was the choreography that I had practiced with the girl a while ago. I sat on the floor of the practice room and watched. 

 

To be honest, it was really hard when I first learned that I couldn’t dance for some time because of my ankle. It was frustrating that I could only watch other people dance and not do it myself. As I helped Jimin practice and saw him grow as a result of it, I realized something. I realized that not being able to dance myself wasn’t a big problem. I realized the me that had previously always danced no matter what could be happy.

 

When Jimin was dancing, I couldn’t overlook even a small mistake. Jimin would sometimes subtly miss the timing or his movements were smaller than expected. Every time that happened, I would stop the music and inspect his steps one by one. The things that I used to think were just mistakes when dancing together seemed different to me now. Rather than trivial mistakes or inexperience, it had a distinct feeling. Of course with me it’s different, but for Jimin there’s his own timing and expression. That’s how Jimin was shining and dancing in a way that moves hearts. 

 

The music ended. Jimin’s dance ended too. I saw that Jimin was shining, full of excitement and happiness. She was standing next to him. She would leave to a foreign country soon. We suddenly met each other’s eyes. I gave her a thumbs up, and she smiled really big. It was strange. She didn’t look even a bit like my mother. I don’t remember my mom’s face that well, but why did I even think she looked like her? Some part of my heart suddenly hurt. My ankle, which still wasn’t better yet, ached.

 

@shootinghearts_