CHAPTER 6 - The Mirror on the Wall

Miseo and Haneul lounged on the couch after their weekend trip, still dressed in their comfortable travel clothes. Miseo was scrolling through her phone while Haneul watched a video on Instagram.

"Hey, who's that?" Miseo asked, pointing to the screen. "She looks familiar."

Haneul glanced at the video and sighed. "That's Ji-Eun, one of my old dance friends from high school."

Miseo studied the girl on the screen, remembering her face from the high school yearbook. She was wearing a tight, black leotard with sheer tights and glittering stilettos. The girl moved gracefully to the music, her long hair swishing behind her. "Wow, she's really good," Miseo admitted begrudgingly.

"Yes, Ji-Eun was one of the best dancers in our class," Haneul said wistfully. "She could do anything with her body and make it look beautiful."

"And here I thought you were the best dancer back then," Miseo teased, nudging her roommate playfully.

Haneul just shrugged. "Ji-Eun was a different level. Plus, I'm not even sure if I want to be an idol anymore," she said softly.

"What?!" Miseo exclaimed, sitting up straight. "It’s only been a week! Why would you give that up?"

"I don't know..." Haneul mumbled, staring down at her hands. "I guess I just feel like it's not worth all the stress and pressure anymore."

Miseo grabbed Haneul by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. "Listen to me," she said sternly. "You are an incredible dancer. You can't throw away your dreams because you're feeling down after one weekend."

Haneul looked away, tears welling up in her eyes. "But what's the point? I'll never be as good as Ji-Eun or all those other talented girls out there."

Miseo scoffed and let go of Haneul's shoulders. "Girl, you need to snap out of this pity party right now," she said firmly. "You have just as much talent as any of them - maybe even more! You passed last week’s evaluation with flying colors! Remember?"

Haneul wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and nodded slightly. "You're right, Miseo. I'm sorry for being so negative."

Miseo smiled and hugged Haneul tightly. "That's what friends are for," she said warmly. "Now let's get you back on track to becoming a K-pop idol!"

As they pulled apart from their embrace, Miseo glanced down at her phone again. She couldn't help but notice that Seungwon had sent her another flirtatious message while Haneul was busy watching the video. Her fingers hovered over the screen as she debated whether to reply or not.

"Hey, is everything okay?" Haneul asked, noticing Miseo's distracted expression.

Miseo quickly tucked her phone away and **** a smile. "Yeah, of course! Just thinking about all the amazing things we're going to accomplish this week," she lied smoothly.

Haneul grinned back at her friend. "I can't wait!" she said excitedly. And with that, the two roommates cuddled up on the couch and spent the rest of the evening planning their future as K-pop idols - unaware of Seungwon’s secret flirtation with Miseo.

---

The next morning, Miseo and Haneul arrived at the dance studio for their regular practice session. The other trainees were already stretching and warming up when they walked in.

"Alright everyone," the instructor called out as she strode to the front of the room. "This week we're going to work on dancing in heels."

Miseo perked up at the mention of heels, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Haneul, on the other hand, paled slightly at the news.

"Remember, ladies," the instructor continued, "dancing in heels is all about balance and control. Keep your core tight, your knees slightly bent, and don't be afraid to use your arms for stability."

Miseo was surprised that this week was a different instructor, but also not surprised, given the nature of this week’s topic. She grinned mischievously at Haneul, who looked a bit nervous about the announcement. The two girls quickly slipped into their practice clothes and lined up with the others.

“Oh boy,” Miseo said under her breath to Haneul as they walked over to the rack of shoes. “This should be fun!”

Haneul shot her a nervous glance but tried to put on a brave face, grabbing a pair of heels and slipping them on. The stilettos felt foreign against her feet, and she wobbled slightly as she stood up.

The music started playing - a fast-paced K-pop track with a catchy beat. Miseo immediately took off, moving gracefully across the floor as if she was born to dance in high heels. Haneul, on the other hand, stumbled slightly and had trouble keeping her balance.

When the first part of the song finished, Haneul was heaving with exertion. Miseo was also exhausted, since she never had to move like that in heels. However, she was nowhere near as tired as Haneul.

“Any pointers?” Haneul asked Miseo, who had her hands on her knees to catch her breath.

"Don’t be afraid to go slow," Miseo panted out.

Haneul took a deep breath, with the goal to slow it down and maintain her posture as she moved through the steps. The second part of the song immediately began, and the trainees took their positions. Haneul knew she wasn't as experienced with heels as Miseo was, but she refused to give up.

"Good job!" their instructor praised after a few minutes. "Now let's try something a little more challenging."

The song switched to a slower tempo, allowing for more intricate footwork and turns. Miseo took advantage of the change in pace, showing off her flexibility with deep lunges and graceful pirouettes.

Although it was indeed slower, Haneul struggled to keep up, wobbling precariously as she attempted a spin. The movements strained and burned her muscles, as if she were doing a slow yoga workout. She couldn't help but feel discouraged watching Miseo's effortless performance, a far cry from her tempo-deaf experience last week. How did she pick it up so quickly?

Miseo noticed Haneul's frustration from the corner of her eye and decided to intervene before things got out of hand. "Hey, why don't we practice together?" she suggested cheerfully, skipping over to Haneul's side.

Haneul hesitated for a moment but then nodded gratefully. The two girls moved through the steps in sync, Miseo offering helpful corrections whenever Haneul lost her balance or mis stepped.

Before long, they were both dancing flawlessly in their heels - Miseo with her signature flair and Haneul with newfound confidence. The instructor clapped approvingly as she watched them, pleased to see the two friends supporting each other rather than competing against one another.

As practice came to an end, Haneul and Miseo trudged back to their shared dorm room. As soon as they walked through the door, Haneul flopped onto her bed with an exhausted groan.

"How did you manage to learn that so quickly?" she asked, staring up at the ceiling.

Miseo chuckled as she sat down next to Haneul on the bed. "Well, it helps that I have a lot of experience walking in heels," she said with a smirk.

Haneul rolled her eyes and playfully shoved Miseo's shoulder. "I mean for dancing, not just strutting around like you own the place all the time."

Miseo laughed again before growing serious. "I learned from last week that it’s not about being perfect, but just letting my body move and have fun with it," she admitted.

Haneul considered this for a moment before nodding slowly. "Maybe you're onto something there," she murmured thoughtfully.

"You should try that next time we practice," Miseo suggested. "Instead of stressing yourself out trying to keep up with the rest of us, just focus on enjoying the dance and having fun."

Haneul sat up and looked at her friend with a grateful smile. "Thanks for always being there for me, Miseo," she said sincerely.

"No problem!" Miseo grinned back, feeling a warm flush of pride at Haneul’s kind words. "That's what friends are for."

The two girls giggled as they collapsed back onto the bed together, their bodies exhausted but their spirits high with determination and friendship.

---

The following morning, Miseo and Haneul woke up early to head back to the studio for another grueling day of practice

“Let’s get started, ladies,” the teacher said briskly. “I want to see more confidence and precision today.”

As Haneul slipped on her heels, she could already feel the soreness in her legs and feet. Every step was a struggle as she tried to keep up with Miseo and the teacher’s instructions. It quickly became apparent that something was off with Haneul.

"What's wrong?" Miseo asked as she watched her friend struggle through some basic movements. "You're moving like a grandma who forgot to take her medicine."

Haneul grimaced in pain and shook her head. "I don't know," she muttered. "My legs feel so heavy and sore. I can barely lift them off the ground without wincing."

Miseo's eyes widened in realization. "Wait, did you do extra practice last night?”

Haneul sheepishly avoided Miseo's gaze. "Maybe... just a little," she admitted.

Miseo sighed and rolled her eyes. "Haneul, you know you’re not supposed to overdo it! Your body needs time to recover between practices or else you'll end up hurting yourself."

"I know, but I just wanted to get better faster," Haneul said, looking guilty. "I didn't mean to push myself too hard."

Miseo softened her expression and put a hand on Haneul's shoulder. "Hey, don’t worry. We're all in this together - you don't have to push yourself just to catch up. Everyone learns at their own pace, okay?”

Haneul managed a small smile and nodded gratefully.

After what felt like hours of grueling practice, the teacher called for a break. Haneul collapsed onto the floor, her muscles screaming in protest and her feet throbbing with pain. Miseo sat down beside her friend, handing over a bottle of water as she spoke softly. “You’re doing amazing, girl.”

Haneul nodded, taking a long sip of water before replying. “I just wish my body would stop hating me for this,” she said with a rueful chuckle.

Miseo laughed in understanding, giving Haneul an encouraging pat on the back. “You’ll get there, I promise. We all have to start somewhere.”

With renewed determination, Haneul stood up and stretched her sore muscles before slipping back into her heels. She knew she still had a long way to go, but with Miseo by her side, she was ready to face whatever challenges came their way.

---

As Haneul rested in their dorm room, Miseo quietly slipped out and made her way to the dance studio office.

Miseo knocked softly on the office door before letting herself in. The dance teacher looked up from his paperwork and smiled when he saw her. "To what do I owe this surprise visit?" he asked, getting up from his desk to greet her.

"I was hoping you could help me with the new dance routine," Miseo said innocently as she approached him. She ran a finger along his chest suggestively. "I know how much easier it is when we practice together."

The teacher chuckled and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close to him. "Well, I'd be happy to give you some private lessons," he said with a wink. “But you know there’s a reason you have a different teacher this week, right?”

“Did they find out?” Miseo whispered with concern.

He shook his head, patting her on the shoulder. “I can’t wear heels.”

Miseo giggled and started stroking his growing bulge through his pants. "It doesn’t matter. I think we both know that's not the only kind of lesson I'm interested in right now."

The teacher groaned softly as she rubbed him harder. "You're insatiable," he muttered playfully before leaning down to kiss her.

Miseo parted her lips to let his tongue explore her mouth while her hand continued to work on freeing his hardening cock from its confinement.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps in the hallway startled them apart. They both froze as a group of trainees walked by, chatting loudly outside the office door.

When the coast was clear again, the teacher locked the door just to be safe before turning back to Miseo with a hungry look in his eyes. "Now where were we?" he growled.

Miseo grinned wickedly and sank to her knees on the floor in front of him. She quickly unzipped his pants and pulled out his throbbing erection, looking up at him seductively through her lashes.

"I was just about to give you a very special kind of private lesson," she purred before wrapping her lips around his shaft and sucking hard.

Miseo wrapped her lips around the teacher's throbbing cock and began sucking him with enthusiasm, taking as much of his length into her mouth as she could. Her tongue swirled around his shaft while her hand pumped what couldn't fit between her lips.

The taste of his pre-cum was salty on Miseo's tongue as she bobbed up and down on his cock, eager to make him feel good. She used one hand to massage his balls while the other continued stroking him in time with her mouth's movements.

Miseo could tell from the teacher's heavy breathing and moans that he was enjoying every second of this private lesson. She loved how powerful she felt, bringing a man like this to the brink of ecstasy just by using her mouth.

Just as Miseo felt him start to tense up, ready to release his load down her throat, the teacher suddenly pulled out and tucked himself back into his pants. "Wait!" he said breathlessly. "I forgot my satchel in the practice room. It has my condoms."

Miseo pouted for a moment but then nodded in understanding. They quickly straightened their clothes and snuck out of the office, hurrying to the studio down the hall.

The teacher's hands were all over Miseo as they moved through the empty space, groping her ass and kissing her neck. She could feel his hard cock pressing against her from behind as he pushed her up against a mirror on the wall.

Miseo moaned softly as she felt him grind against her while fumbling for the condoms in his bag. He finally found one and quickly ripped it open before rolling it onto his erect member.

"Goddamn Miseo, you’re so fucking hot," the teacher growled into Miseo's ear as he lifted up her skirt and yanked down her panties with one swift motion.

Miseo braced herself against the mirror as she felt him line himself up behind her. With a single thrust of his hips, he was buried deep inside her wet pussy.

The teacher continued pounding into Miseo from behind as she moaned softly against the mirror, trying to be quiet so no one would discover them. His thick cock filled her up completely with each deep thrust of his hips.

Just as Miseo felt herself starting to build towards an orgasm, they both froze at the sound of someone fumbling with the door handle outside in the hallway. They exchanged a panicked look before hastily pulling apart and straightening their clothes again.

---

Miseo glanced at the teacher nervously, but he just mouthed "Stay quiet" before slipping out of sight completely. She quietly followed him into the storage room on the other side of the studio.

Miseo held her breath as she heard the studio door open and close, followed by footsteps. She peered through the opening of the storage room door to see who it was - and her eyes widened when she saw Haneul walking into the room!

Haneul had on a pair of high heels that clicked loudly against the floor with each step she took. She looked like she was deep in thought as she walked over to the stereo system, not noticing Miseo and the teacher hiding just a few feet away from her.

“Doesn’t look like she’s leaving anytime soon,” the teacher suggested.

Miseo stifled a moan as she felt him slide his hard cock back inside her tight pussy. She bit her lip to keep from making any noise while he began thrusting into her again, slowly at first but gradually picking up speed.

The two of them moved together in sync, trying not to make too much sound as they fucked against the wall of the storage room. Miseo could hear Haneul's heels clicking on the floor outside as she practiced her dance routine nearby - completely unaware that her roommate was just a thin wall away getting pounded by their teacher.

The teacher gripped Miseo's hips tightly as he increased his pace, his cock throbbing inside her with each powerful thrust. She could feel herself building towards another orgasm, her inner walls clenching around him.

Just as Miseo felt the first waves of pleasure washing over her body, they both froze at the sound of Haneul walking closer to their hiding spot. The clicking of her heels on the floor grew louder before stopping abruptly right outside the storage room door.

Miseo held her breath, afraid that even a single moan would give them away. The teacher kept his cock buried deep inside her pussy but didn't dare move for fear of making noise.

After what felt like an eternity, Haneul's footsteps finally retreated back into the main studio area again – and Miseo let out a shaky exhale in relief.

When the coast was clear again, the teacher continued thrusting into Miseo's tight pussy for a few more moments before pulling out suddenly. He quickly took off the condom and jerked his cock until he was ready to cum all over her beautiful face.

Miseo moaned softly as she felt the first warm spurts of his seed splatter across her cheeks and lips. She opened her mouth wide, eager to taste him as he emptied himself on her features. For a moment, they stayed like that, panting heavily as their heartbeats slowly returned to normal.

Then came the sound of shattering glass from beyond the storage room door – followed by Haneul’s furious curses echoing through the studio.

"FUCK!" she screamed, hurling one of her high heels at the glass with all her might. The heel went flying through the air before making contact and shattering the reflective surface into dozens of pieces.

Miseo’s eyes widened in alarm as she realized what was happening on the other side of the door. She quickly wiped the cum off her face before straightening her clothes.

“Wait,” he said, grabbing her arm gently but firmly. “Let me talk to her first.” Miseo hesitated for a split second before nodding in agreement.

As they stepped out of the storage room, Miseo and the teacher found themselves face to face with an enraged Haneul. She stood there shaking, her hands balled into fists at her sides while a pair of shattered high heels lay scattered around her feet, next to the shards of glass on the floor.

Miseo broke her promise and rushed over to her friend's side, ignoring the shocked expressions on the teacher's face. "Oh my god, Haneul, are you okay?" she asked urgently, putting a hand on Haneul's shoulder.

"NO!" Haneul snapped, shrugging Miseo off roughly. She bent down and picked up her other shoe before launching it at the broken mirror as well - sending even more shards flying in all directions.

"I can't do this anymore!" she yelled, balling her hands into fists at her sides. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she stared helplessly at the damaged mirror and scattered debris around her feet "I just can't get this damn dance routine! I’ve been practicing for hours but I still keep messing it up! I FUCKING hate it! I’m such a fucking failure!"

Haneul hugged her knees, crying softly. The teacher motioned Miseo to get a broom from the storage room, while he slowly approached Haneul. “Hey, it’s okay to be frustrated, but as your teacher, I know you’re not a failure.” He assured her sincerely. “We all struggle sometimes – even the best dancers have their off days. What matters is that you keep trying and don’t give up on yourself.”

Haneul looked up, hearing the words, but staying silent. Miseo returned with a broom and a dustpan. The teacher took it from her and swept up the mirror fragments on the floor. Miseo moved closer to her friend, speaking gently as she wrapped an arm around Haneul’s shaking shoulders. “Hey, it’s okay. We’ll get through this, Hana.”

As the teacher finished sweeping up the last remnants of the shards, Haneul glanced between Miseo and their dance teacher suspiciously. "What were you two doing? I didn’t hear you two come in," she asked, narrowing her eyes.

Miseo's face flushed slightly as she tried to come up with a believable excuse on the spot. "Oh, uh, we were just... going over some extra practice drills for this new routine," she said, hoping Haneul wouldn't notice the wetness between her legs or the sticky residue still on her skin.

The teacher chimed in smoothly as well. "Yeah, Miseo was having trouble with a few steps and I offered to give her some one-on-one instruction."

“Well, I’m glad you were both here,” Haneul admitted with a small sigh. “I don’t know what came over me…”

Miseo squeezed her hand once more. Haneul’s expression, however, changed at the realization of what the teacher just said. “But we’re practicing with heels this week. You know how to wear high heels, sir?” Haneul tilted her head in confusion.

Miseo and the teacher exchanged nervous looks, but he seemed undeterred. “Of course, I can!” he said confidently, hoping Haneul wouldn't see through his bravado.

Haneul raised an eyebrow skeptically but didn't press the issue further - for now. She got up and turned back towards the stereo system and started fiddling with the settings to turn it off while Miseo discreetly cleaned up any lingering evidence of their tryst.

Just as Miseo finished cleaning up, the teacher emerged from the storage room wearing a pair of high heels that looked at least two sizes too small for him. He wobbled precariously on his feet as he made his way over to Haneul and Miseo, grinning sheepishly.

"Alright ladies, let's see if I can keep up with you," he joked, trying to hide how unsteady he felt in the heels.

Haneul giggled at the sight of their normally confident teacher struggling to maintain his balance. "Looks like we’re the ones that’ll be teaching you, sir," she teased good-naturedly.

The three of them spent the rest of the evening practicing together, with Haneul and Miseo patiently guiding their teacher through each step. By the end of the session, he was still far from an expert - but at least he could walk in heels without falling over every few seconds.

---

Haneul and Miseo walked into their room after their evening encounter. As soon as the door closed behind them, Haneul flopped onto her bed with an exhausted groan.

Miseo chuckled as she kicked off her heels and collapsed next to her friend. "You know what's funny?" she mused aloud. "I think you're actually better at dancing in those than our teacher was today."

Haneul laughed in agreement, rolling onto her side to face Miseo. "Yeah, he definitely had a hard time keeping up with us.”

Miseo grinned back and nudged Haneul playfully with her elbow. "Maybe we should offer to give him some private lessons instead next time," she suggested jokingly. The two girls giggled together as they reminisced about the hilarious sight of their teacher wobbling around in his undersized heels all evening.

As they lay on their beds, Miseo turned to look at Haneul with concern in her eyes. "Are you okay, like really okay?" she asked gently, noticing the frustrated expression still etched across her friend's face.

Haneul let out a heavy sigh and rolled onto her back to stare up at the ceiling. "I don't know," she mumbled miserably. "I just... I feel like I'm failing this evaluation already before it even happens."

Miseo sat up and placed a comforting hand on Haneul's shoulder. "What do you mean?" she asked, frowning slightly.

"Well, today was supposed to be an easy practice day but instead I spent the whole time struggling just to keep my balance in those stupid heels," Haneul admitted with a grimace. "And now I'm worried that when it comes time for the real thing, I won't be able to pull it off and ruin everything."

Miseo squeezed her friend's shoulder reassuringly. "Hey, don't talk like that," she said firmly. "You're one of the most talented dancers I know – without the heels, you could do this routine in your sleep!"

Haneul gave Miseo a small smile but still looked unconvinced. "I guess... it's just really hard for me not to compare myself to everyone else," she confessed quietly.

Miseo walked over to her bed and pulled Haneul into a tight hug, holding her close until she felt the tension start to leave her friend's body. When they finally pulled apart, Miseo looked Haneul in the eye with determination.

“Hey, remember. Just have fun with it,” Miseo said, hugging her friend one more time.

Haneul managed a weak smile at Miseo's encouraging words. "I'll try," she promised.

Miseo squeezed her friend's hand before getting up to go take a shower. As the hot water cascaded over her body, Miseo couldn't help but think about Haneul's predicament.

She knew that Haneul was an incredible dancer and had never seen her throw a tantrum like this before. It made Miseo wonder if there might be something more going on than just a lack of physical ability.

As she dried off after the shower, Miseo decided to do some investigating. She pulled out her phone and scrolled through Instagram until she found Ji-Eun's profile again – Haneul’s old high school friend who was good at dancing.

Miseo studied the girl's latest video, noticing how gracefully Ji-Eun moved in her glittering stilettos. She remembered Haneul mentioning that they were close friends - which meant she must have seen this girl dancing all the time and probably compared herself to her constantly.

A lightbulb went off in Miseo's head as she realized what might be causing Haneul so much stress about heels right now. It wasn't the lack of practice or skill, but something deeper rooted in insecurity and past memories of being overshadowed by Ji-Eun. Seungwon, Haneul’s childhood friend, probably dated Ji-Eun in high school as well. Such memories and history made it much more than just a simple dancing routine for her.

Miseo tossed and turned in bed that night as she thought about everything Haneul was going through. The poor girl had always been so kind and hardworking - it hurt Miseo to see her struggling like this.

As much as she wanted to help, Miseo knew that pushing Haneul too hard would only make things worse. She needed to approach the situation delicately and give Haneul time to open up about her worries on her own terms.

Miseo decided that the best thing she could do for now was to be there for Haneul, offering support and encouragement whenever possible. She knew that with time and practice, her friend would find her groove again – and Miseo would be right by her side every step of the way.

As these thoughts raced through her mind, Miseo finally drifted off to sleep - but not before vowing to do everything in her power to help Haneul overcome this difficult period in her life.

---

Miseo gently shook Haneul awake the next morning, a warm smile on her face. "Hey sleepyhead," she said softly. "I have some good news - I talked to our teacher this morning and she said we can take today off from practice."

Haneul blinked up at Miseo in surprise before sitting up slowly, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. "Really?" she asked hopefully. "We don't have to go in today?"

Miseo nodded enthusiastically as she sat down on the edge of Haneul's bed. "Yep! She said we both need some rest and that it would be good for us to give our legs a break before the big day."

Haneul let out a relieved sigh, her shoulders slumping in exhaustion now that she didn't have to worry about getting up right away. "Thank you so much, Miseo," she said sincerely. "I really appreciate you taking care of this for me."

"No problem!" Miseo grinned back at her friend before standing up again. "Now come on - let's order some breakfast and relax all day!"

As the two girls lounged around their dorm room, eating pancakes in their pajamas while watching TV, Haneul couldn't help but feel grateful to have such a caring and supportive best friend like Miseo.

After breakfast, Miseo showed Haneul a new viral dance that was on Instagram, a movement that involved twerking on the floor. “Hey, remember how I said if you wanted to learn how to twerk, I’d be your girl!?” Miseo exclaimed.

Haneul giggled as she remembered their first meeting. "I guess you did promise to teach me," she said with a playful grin. She laughed and rolled her eyes good-naturedly before getting down onto the floor next to Miseo.

Miseo connected her phone to a small Bluetooth speaker and queued up the catchy beat of the song. As it started playing, she began demonstrating the intricate movements of the dance – shaking her hips from side to side while bending forward and popping her ass out towards an imaginary partner behind her.

“Watch carefully,” Miseo instructed with a laugh as Haneul stared at her in amazement. “It’s all about confidence and sass!”

Haneul giggled nervously before attempting the first few steps herself, wobbling slightly on shaky legs. She looked adorably awkward, but determined to get it right. “Like this?” she asked uncertainly as Miseo cheered her on from the side.

“Yes!” Miseo encouraged loudly over the music. “Now shake that ass girl – show me what you’ve got!”

Haneul closed her eyes and focused on the beat, slowly finding her rhythm as she began to twerk in time with the song. Her movements were still a bit stiff compared to Miseo’s fluid grace, but there was no denying the pure joy shining on Haneul’s face as she lost herself in the dance.

The two friends spent hours practicing together that day – laughing, singing along, and occasionally falling onto the couch when one of them missed a step. By the end of it, both Miseo and Haneul were sweaty and out of breath, but also grinning from ear to ear at how much fun they had.

As evening approached and they collapsed side by side on the cushions, Haneul turned to Miseo with a soft smile. “Thank you for this,” she said sincerely. “I needed something to take my mind off dance practice… and this was perfect.”

Miseo reached over to squeeze her friend’s hand affectionately before replying, “Anytime, roomie. We’ll twerk it out whenever you need a break!”

Miseo and Haneul snuggled closer together on the couch… ready to face whatever challenges the rest of the week may bring.

---

The morning of their big evaluation finally arrived, with Miseo and Haneul putting on their highest heels before heading out the door. As they walked towards the dance studio together, both girls felt a mix of excitement and nerves fluttering in their stomachs.

When they got to the studio, Miseo gave her friend an encouraging smile. "You've got this," she said firmly. "Remember everything we practiced yesterday - just have fun with it!"

Haneul took a deep breath and nodded determinedly before stepping onto the stage with Miseo, where the judges were waiting for them. She focused on maintaining her balance as best she could while Miseo moved fluidly alongside her.

Despite a few minor stumbles here and there, Haneul managed to make it through the first part of the song without falling. However, Miseo was cautious. She watched her friend very carefully, making sure she didn’t trip or sprain her ankle.

Suddenly, Miseo's heart skipped a beat as she watched in horror from where she danced. Haneul had been doing so well up until that point, but then she lost her footing and tumbled to the ground with an audible thud. The song continued playing and Haneul just sat there, frozen.

C’mon Haneul, get up!

Miseo continued dancing, hoping her thoughts could reach her friend in need. But as the seconds went by, Haneul didn’t move an inch.

Then, Miseo had a stupid idea.

Miseo collapsed onto the floor with a loud crash. Haneul looked over, in shock that her friend had also fallen victim to the high heels. However, Miseo pushed herself up from the floor, spread her legs, and started twerking on the ground next to her friend, along with a cheeky grin on her face. "Come on, Hana!" she called out loudly enough for the judges to hear over the music. "Let's show them what we got!"

Haneul hesitated for only a moment before joining Miseo in the impromptu dance routine on the floor - twerking, shimmying, and shaking her hips with wild abandon.

The judges watched in surprise as the two girls put their own spin on the rest of the song without using their heels at all. They laughed and clapped along to the beat, clearly impressed by Miseo's quick thinking and Haneul's determination not to let this setback defeat her.

As soon as the final notes played, both girls hopped back up onto their feet with huge smiles on their faces - Miseo helping Haneul regain her balance in the process.

The judges conferred amongst themselves for a moment before the head evaluator stepped forward to address Miseo and Haneul directly.

"I must say, that was quite an impressive display of adaptability," she praised. "Not everyone would have the presence of mind to improvise like that under pressure."

Miseo beamed proudly while Haneul let out a sigh of relief, her shoulders slumping in exhaustion now that it was all over.

"But despite your quick thinking, I'm afraid we can't ignore the fact that you did not complete the routine as instructed," the judge continued sternly. "As K-pop idols, you still have a standard you need to meet.”

Haneul's face fell at this news, but Miseo stepped forward before she could say anything self-deprecating. "We understand," Miseo said earnestly. "And I promise that we will both work extra hard to master it by next time - no matter what it takes."

The judge studied them for a long moment before finally nodding in approval.

---

As Miseo and Haneul embraced after the evaluation, their male dance teacher couldn't help but notice a newfound appreciation for his shy student.

He had always known that Haneul was talented, but that day, she looked extremely attractive – with her long, wavy hair and wide doe eyes that sparkled when she laughed. Seeing her confidence on stage today, in the face of adversity, made him realize just how captivating she truly was.

He felt a flutter of desire in his stomach, much like one he had when he saw Miseo’s determination last week.

As Haneul began to gather her belongings, he approached her. “Congratulations Haneul. Looks like my lessons helped you.”

Haneul chuckled. “Of course, sir. Thank you for your help.”

“If you need any more lessons, just let me know,” he said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. Haneul simply nodded.

Miseo, however, stepped in between them before the teacher could say anything else. "That's very kind of you," she said coolly, linking arms with Haneul and pulling her away. "But I think my friend has had enough excitement for one day."

The dance teacher opened his mouth to protest but thought better of it at the last second. He watched helplessly as Miseo led Haneul out of the studio without a backward glance.

Back in their dorm room, Miseo and Haneul collapsed onto the beds with relieved sighs. "Oh my god, I can't believe we did that," Haneul said breathlessly as she stared up at the ceiling.

Miseo grinned widely and rolled over to face her friend. "I told you we'd nail it!" she crowed proudly. "And who knew twerking could be such a lifesaver? I'm so proud of us!"

Haneul laughed and shook her head in amazement. "I have to admit, that was pretty genius," she said with a grin. "Although I doubt the judges will ever let us pull a stunt like that again."

Miseo shrugged nonchalantly before rolling onto her back. "Well, we'll just have to make sure we never fall on our asses in high heels again then," she joked.

The two girls spent the rest of the evening celebrating their victory with takeout food and silly dance videos - already looking forward to perfecting their routine for next time.