The studio was empty since it's past twelve .
Few of the trainees who were left were picking up their tired bodies to go to dorm.
Most of their lives started at 5 am. I remembered those days . There was no security to future , no promises.
We had to practice till it felt like we were really dead .
Liam Anderson would sometimes sneak into the studio while I would practice until 2 am to watch me dance . His presence was comforting since I really hated to be alone back then.
The security guard opened the door of a dance studio .
When I headed inside , there was already music on .
Liam was doing his routines for his new Solo performances
' Follow my steps
I will steal your breath
You are drunk in my sweet poison
There is no escape
I am the devil in your dream
I am the savior that will set you free
Tonight I won't let you leave
Until you give me all , my angel .'
He moved like a butterfly on the floor . I would admit that it was mesmerizing to watch him move .
He was wearing a black tshirt and white loose pants , but they failed to hide the smooth ripples on his muscles as he moved to the rhythm. Even the strands of his hair felt like they were in perfect place where they were supposed to be.
The only flaw in his perfect feature was the angry purple bruise at the right jaw of his face - I gulped panicking for a second for Jasper . Knowing Anderson , he would definitely drag it to the police station.
I had not seen a bruise on him for a long time like this . He used to come and see me dance while his own face and body would have bruises covering them .
For a second I was lost in the thought of us as middle schooler, in my late night practice where he would sneak inside to watch me dance , he would wear a hoodie to hide the beating marks he had received from his father . The hoodie was not enough to hide his sadness and pain . So oneday to cheer him up I had asked him ," Do you want to try dancing ?"
The shy boy , who was so nervous on the floor at that day had grown up so much . My heart grew warm as he stopped dancing and started walking towards me .
Maybe because I was the one who first taught him to dance , watching him move like an angel on the floor always made me feel like dandelions were growing inside my ribcage .
" I have never met someone as careless as you , did you see the articles ? What kind of stupidity was that ?"
The garden inside my ribcage instantly died .
" That should be none of your concern ," I shrugged .
" How is that none of my concern ?," he said angrily .
I rolled my eyes ," There is no connection between you and me in public , it doesn't even need a brain to realise my reputation will have nothing to do with your Sunshine Corporation."
" So you think I am worried about the damn corporation?"
I walked away from him but I could not avoid his burning gaze in the practice room since there were mirrors covering every inch of the wall .
" Why else would you drag me to your Agency like this ?," I said .
" This is the best place for your now . Your own agency building is being surrounded by reporters . I do not know where else will you go and find troubles. It is better that you stay here with me , after I finish my routine , we can go home together ."
" But -"
" I have talked with the security and my manager , they will see to it so that noone will talk about your presence here today ."
He turned on the music again.
I sat down at the corner of the room on the floor ,since the only chair available was the one Liam was using as a prop in his dance.
Looking at him , made my heart flutter . I had to remind myself that he had a girlfriend, our marriage was nothing but an form of alliance between two families .
But my heart kept being pulled by him . I looked down feeling the sadness burning my skin and veins .
I would get over him , sooner or later I would be ready to let him go.
He was not mine anyway .
" This is useless," Liam spoke up loudly ," The chair is not good enough , stand up Julia ."
" What now ?," here I was trying to drive my attention away from him but he had to make me look at him again .
" For some routine practice I need a person , the chair is too short and stuff ," he grabbed on my arm and pulled me to stand up .
Huh ?
" I do not know your steps or your routine," I complained.
" So does not the chair ," Liam said , his lips were stretched in an almost smile like expression," You can do better than a chair , no ?"
" What am I supposed to do ?," I felt nervous. My heart started to beat loudly again.
No no no no , stupid , freaking stupid heart .
I squeezed my eyes shut .
" You are allowed to look at my dance practice, you know that right ? "
I looked at the mirror infront of me as Liam started moving with the music .
His fingers would almost touch me and then slip away . His expression was of pain. As if I was something he could not touch .
The music sounded nostalgic - almost like our unhappy marriage .
I flinched as his fingers lightly picked my face up , almost into a kiss - I could see every tiny detail in his face .
My hand moved before I could tell it to stop , I had almost touched the bruise on his jaw .
The bruise - even that looked attractive on his face .
He was saying something. But my heartbeat was so loud that I could not hear it .
" What ?," I asked .
" I said that you need to breath ," he came closer , the smell of mint and sweat drenched me . His whisper tickled my ears ," If you don't breath , you can faint . Julia ?"
He took my palm , bringing me back from my dream .
I moved away . I should not have been here with him , like this alone .
This would only hurt me , later .
I tried to yank my hand away . But his grip on me got tighter and tighter.
" Liam , let go of my hand ."
" Whose number is this , Julia ?"