Revealing Her Bias - Ch. 5

Chapter 5: Dancing with Donghae…

[JENNA'S POINT OF VIEW]

I ran my hands through my hair as I looked through my suitcase for some sweats. I wondered how many schedules were going to suddenly change like this one had.

I only had twenty-three more minutes to get to the dance studio. At the last second, I found something to wear. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and rushed over to Michelle's to ask if I could borrow a sports bottle and a duffle bag.

"Kamsahamnida!" I said and bowed.

She raised an eyebrow at me.

"Oh sorry! I don't have to be polite to you!" I said as I waved my hand and ran off.

"Ahaha! Don't fall down now!" she called after me.

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By the time I got off the bus, I only had four minutes left to find the studio.

"Jenna, where are you going?" a voice asked calmly as I frantically made my way down the street.

I stopped running and took two steps back. "Donghae-sshi?" I said.

He was wearing sunglasses and leaning against a car with his arms folded.

"Umm. I'm replacing a dancer on some show… that's the studio, right?" I said as I blindly pointed and frowned at the map on my phone.

Donghae moved my arm more to the left and said "Yes, that's the studio."

I looked up at him. "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for my replacement dance partner… I heard she was foreign and might not know her way around," he smiled.

"Oh…" I nodded. Then I realized what was going on "OHHH!"

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"I hope you weren't waiting too long. It's freezing outside," I said as Donghae lead us towards the right room.

"No, I had some other schedules. I only got here a few minutes before you did," he said.

I nodded. Just then he stopped and opened a door, "This is where we'll practice."

We walked into the room to find a skinny and short guy waiting for us. He introduced himself as JaeBeom.

He told us that our routine was going to start as a waltz then transition into a salsa routine.

"Haha, you'll have to lead," I whispered to Donghae.

He briefly smiled at me but stayed focused on what the choreographer was saying. After JaeBeom stopped talking, he made me and Donghae face each other in waltz position. My right hand in his left. My left arm supported by his right. Why hadn't I ever noticed how muscular his arms were before? Then I looked at his baby-face… that's why, I thought.

"Have either of you ever done this kind of dancing before?" he asked us.

"I have," Donghae said.

"I did a long time ago," I said.

"Good, good. Then we might be able to start the second part of the routine today," JaeBeom said without really changing his expression.

Hae and I were still standing there. Apparently we didn't remember how to start out.

"All I remember is that my right foot is going to go back first," I said at our inactivity.

"That's more than what I remember!" Hae laughed.

Thankfully, JaeBeom stepped in and guided us through it. For some reason I had thought he was going to be difficult to work with, but he just appeared more strict than he actually was.

As we got into the flow of the moves, I asked Donghae who our competition was.

"Umm, Taemin, Hara, Junhyung, Taeyang, Minzy, Bora, oh! And Sungmin!"

"Focus!" JaeBom yelled…

Both of us flinched and continued without a word. I guess the instructor was supportive, but strict too.

After about fifty or so minutes of dancing, the instructor let us time a break.

I sat down cross-legged on the floor and took a few sips from my water bottle. This is so boring, I thought as I wished Heechul was around to crack jokes or something.

I looked in the mirrors that were covering the wall next to me and  saw that Donghae was texting someone. He looked up, smiled, and sat down next to me.

"Yah! You got us in trouble!" He laughed.

"You don't think he would've shut us up if you started talking first?" I said.

"Hmm, that's true," he nodded.

After a short silence, I said "This show is similar to an American dance show… famous couples compete against other famous couples."

"Yeah I heard it was based on an American show…"

Just then JaeBeom said it was time to get started again.

I took a deep breath and reminded myself to only think of the positive things that could come out of doing this kind of show. My thoughts were quickly interrupted, however, when a really pretty girl walked in. She wore her hair down, which I thought was unusual for someone in a dance studio. JaeBeom quickly introduced the girl, GaEul, and said she would be helping with the second part of our routine.

She was as supportive as JaeBeom, but not nearly as strict. I did, however, notice that she kept an eye on Donghae and I don't think it was because of his dancing. It didn't surprise me though. I knew a lot of girls had a thing for Donghae… I just couldn't think of him like that.

JaeBeom stood with his arms folded as GaEul taught as how we would transition from our Waltz into the beginning of the salsa routine. She awkwardly helped Donghae spin me around so I had my back to him and one of my arms raised. Then Donghae was told to run his hand down the side of my body.

At the slightest touch I quickly moved away and started laughing. JaeBeom sighed and rolled his eyes, but GaEul was more understanding. "Alright let's try it again," she laughed.

I gave a similar reaction each time.

JaeBeom finally stepped in and took GaEul by the hand and did the move I had spent too long messing up.

After that I was able to contain myself a bit more. We got through about a quarter of the salsa routine before our time was up. GaEul said we had made good progress.

As we walked down the hall, Donghae kept insisting on buying me a snack and I kept reminding him about what the manager had said about not being seen with celebrities until we see how the public "reacts" to me. I stopped walking when I realized I left Michelle's duffle bag in the practice room. "Fine, we'll go… just give me a second, I forgot my bag," I said as I headed back towards the room.

GaEul was still in the room. As I began picking up the bag, she stepped on one of the straps.

"Oh, excuse me," I smiled.

She didn't budge.

I stood up straight to face her. "Is there a problem?" I asked.

"It's not cute, this stuff you're pulling with Donghae," she said as she folded her arms.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said.

"It's annoying., messing up a move just so you can do it over and over again. Don't forget you compete next week, and that will be against people that have been dancing for years."

"I wasn't messing up on purpose… It was just an awkward move. And I'm well aware of the date of the competition."

"Whatever the case… Just keep your feelings for Donghae out of the dance studio."

I was dumbstruck for a moment, "I'm not interested in him. I think you're the one that needs to keep your feelings out of the studio," I walked out of the room infuriated.

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CHANGE IN POINT OF VIEW:

The door didn't completely close behind Jenna when she went back to get her duffle bag. Donghae looked down at his phone and found that Heechul had sent him a second text checking to see if he had taken Jenna out to get some food yet.

"Yah, she cooked breakfast for us, don't leave her starving," Heechul wrote. Donghae laughed at the text, as if he didn't know how to treat a lady.

"It's not cute, this stuff you're pulling with Donghae," he heard GaEul say. Hae looked up and slowly inched closer towards the door so he could hear. GaEul had always been one to come on too strongly.

Donghae caught every word the two said and was impressed with the fact that Jenna was able to defend herself without going overboard.

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"Are you sure that's all you want?" Donghae asked as he stared at the single pastry and cup of coffee resting in front of Jenna.

"Yeah, I actually ate quite a bit before you guys woke up," Jenna laughed at herself.

"Hmm," Donghae nodded.

Jenna paused a bit before asking "Do you think it's weird for me to be dating Heechul and doing a show like this?"

Donghae folded his arms and leaned closer over the table "Do you think it's weird?"

Jenna frowned and looked down, "I don't know… I mean it's just like acting, right? Actors date people while doing romantic scenes with someone else."

"You don't seem too convinced though…," Donghae looked at Jenna with a soft look in his eyes.

She looked up surprised, "No it's not that… I just don't want things to be awkward between me and Heechul… or you and Heechul."

"What about awkwardness between you and I?" Donghae asked.

When she didn't answer, he continued. "Jenna-sshi. You know when Super Junior was starting out, there was a day we were all watching tv and Moon Guen Young came on. Yesung really likes her… And someone ended up saying she isn't attractive…"

Jenna wondered where this was going.

"Then Yesung got really defensive and he asked 'How can you say such a thing?' After that we made a rule that we will protect the girls that the members like. Since you're dating Heechul, we all have your back…"

Jenna still didn't say anything, but it was clear that she was beginning to feel a little reassured.

"So don't feel awkward around us, ok?" Donghae laughed as he gently pulled a bit of her hair up and let it fall back down.   

This finally got Jenna to smile and loosen up.
That was their power though, the boys of Super Junior.


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JENNA'S POINT OF VIEW:

I fell back on bed when I got home. I was exhausted because the day had ended up longer than planned… something an idle author wasn't used to.

I checked my phone to see if Heechul had called or texted.

He hadn't.

I assumed it still too  early in the day for him to have time, so I dozed off.

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When I woke up, it took me awhile to remember where I was… slowly the events of the day came back to me.

I shot up and out of bed when I remembered what Yesung had said. Jenna-sshi, you're the only one that understands… The only one? I shook my head at this…

I can't go on doing this, I thought, it's like my first love all over again… having eyes for guys who might be interested, but only having a heart for one person... It's not a way to live, I reasoned.

I was never one to like shopping, but in that moment I just needed to get out of the apartment… I needed to get away from my own thoughts.

I quickly freshened up and took the bus to the city. As I walked past various shops, I realized that I had money to spend. It was weird getting an advance from my movie; I kept forgetting that money was even there. With this, I decided to go to a really high-end store.

I entered a store that had a name written in English letters, but one I still couldn't pronounce. Seems high-end enough, I thought as I stood in the store.

Just as I was about to walk over to a rack of sweaters, I noticed a familiar, slender figure quickly turning in the section full of tuxedos. Zhoumi! I hesitated on whether or not I should greet him.

Back home I had made it a habit to silently go about my life. My mentality had always been to let others go about their lives as well. I never wanted to be that annoying person that everyone tried avoiding, so I just avoided everyone first - no matter how highly I thought of them, no matter how nice they were, no matter what.

I sighed and continued on my way.

"Oh? Jenna-sshi!" I heard a man's voice call from not too far behind me.

I turned to find Siwon calmly approaching me with his hands in his pockets.

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Siwon's schedule had ended early and he decided to accompany Zhoumi.

Mimi was glad to see me and he told me he'd love my second opinion. As he went to try on a white suit, Siwon and I sat together outside the fitting room. Siwon just made small talk at first, how my day, what was I planning on buying, etc…

After Zhoumi had shown us about three suits, Siwon turned to me and asked "How do you think I would've looked in that last suit?"

"I think you would've looked better in the second one" I nodded as I confirmed my own opinion.

Siwon stretched out his arms and rested them on the backrest of bench, one of them not too far from me. "Jenna-sshi, why don't you like me?" He said suddenly.

"What? Who said I don't like you?" I quickly turned to him. Something about him seemed rather off.

"Aren't I worth swooning over?" he asked.

Wow, is his really that unsure of himself? I thought.

"Siwon-sshi! Of course you are. You're so smooth and charming…" I started.

"- but not handsome?" he cut in.

"I just told you this morning that you're handsome… Why is my approval so important anyway?" I involuntarily tilted my head as I asked.

"You're the only girl… no, the only person who hasn't really reacted to…" he looked away.

"reacted to what?"

"well, my abs!" he said as he turned back to me.

I couldn't help but laugh at that point, even though he was so serious.

"What? It's true!" he exclaimed with his usual wide eyes.

"Siwon-sshi! I told you it shows that you put a lot of work into them! Yah… I even said they were really defined. I know how much work it takes to get the right figure… What else do you want me to say?"

When he didn't say anything I continued "I… I'm not going to think of you as a piece of meat. You're so much better than that… You're so funny and sweet. Yeah, so I didn't react to your abs, anyone can get abs, but it's another thing entirely to be as respectful, respectable, and hardworking as you are."

Siwon quickly stood up, I didn't realize what he was doing until it was too late… he bowed and said "thank you. Thank you so much, Jenna-sshi!"

I stood up as well and placed a hand on his shoulder to sit him back down, "Siwon-sshi, don't be so formal! Really, it's nothing."

"You… you really are something else," he said "Are all Americans like you?"

I laughed "Not even close."

He laughed at this too.
   
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The rest of the day went well. I was even able to forget about Yesung for the day. The only thing that really brought me down was that Heechul hadn't contacted me.

I considered calling him, but then I'd hate to be the clingy type. Even though I had spent all of my life being single, I felt that I knew men better than other girls. I decided to give him time and space, at least until I figure him out more.

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CHANGE IN POINT OF VIEW:

"So how was it?" Heechul asked when he met Donghae that night.

"Hyung, I really think you should be careful with this girl," Hae said.

"Why did Jenna cross the line with you?!" Heechul sat up excitedly.

"No, it's nothing like that. Jenna just seems… I don't know. She just seems really strong emotionally, but at the same time there's something really fragile and innocent about her… Hyung, I honestly don't know how you got to this girl so quickly, but just be gentle with her."

Heechul knew he could trust Donghae with Jenna, but he wasn't one to advice from a dongsaeng. He still believed there more to the story.

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"She said what?!" Heechul said over the phone, to Siwon.

"Really, she said that I'm respectable and she couldn't think of me as 'a piece of meat,'" he replied.

A few minutes later Heechul hung up.

How could she not like Siwon…? he thought, maybe I really am her bias?

Heechul was about to go to the living room, when he had another thought. He recalled the first night they all went out to dinner… Amber came to mind.

What if Jenna likes girls?! he gasped.