Love Math

Taekwoon glared at her for a minute. “Wae?” He asked.
“I like his personality.” Yura said.
“He has a girlfriend.” He said and started packing his material.
“Gyosonim….”
“What?” He asked in a loud voice and glared at her again.
“Why are you giving me that look? It’s scary.” She said while her fingers were intermingled in confusion.
“Why are you telling me that you want to dance with him …. When you already have decided? There is no need to involve me in this.”
“Why are you angry over such a thing?” She asked angrily. “I just shared what I wanted to do. I wont do it now.” She stood up.
“Sit back… did I say you cant? Do what you like. It’s your life.”
She sat back. “I don’t know how to dance.”
He looked back at her. “Is that the problem?”
“um” She nodded.
He exhaled. “Shall we?” He gave his hand to her.
She looked at his hand and then at his face. He was forcing a little smile.
“Come on!” He said. “You cant dance with him if you don’t know the rules.”
“Ah …. Yes …” she took his hand. She was nervous.
He escorted her to the floor portion with some space for them to dance. Then he stood in front of her. “Think of me as Hongbin."
“Um.” She again nodded.
He placed his right arm on her waist and grasped her right hand with his left hand which he held up to shoulder level. “Place your left hand on my shoulder.”
“Eh?....... ok.” She did as he said.
“Your feet should be 1 foot apart from mine.”
“ok.”
“Sway back and forth, in a circle.”
“Ok.”
They started to dance slowly and she followed his lead.
“Look into my eyes.” Taekwoon asked.
“uhh……..i’ll try but its hard.”
“Wae?”
“umm because that’s awkward, Gyosonim…”
“But it’s the basic part of dance.”
“I’ll do it with Hongbin-shi.”
He stopped moving. “Tell me the reason, or else I wont teach. Why does it feel awkward with me?”
“You’re childish sometimes.” She said.
He tried to hide his smile which was urging on his face. “Are you nervous… because its me?”
“ehhhhhh aniiiiii…….. its because its my first time. I cant look into your eyes from this distance.” She murmured.
“its alright.” He continued to dance. “I can hear your fast heart beat, Yura…….” He grinned.

It was 7.
“Hurry up Yura, get into the car.” He said. She got into the car and he closed the door.
“When will you come?” Sunhye asked worriedly.
“Don’t worry. I’ll leave her before 11. She’s my responsibility. Take care.”
She waved as they both rushed.
“Gyosonim?”
“What?”
“When did you learned to dance so well?”
He smiled. “It was a highschool party. I prepared myself for that. But never got a chance to dance. This was my first time too.”
“I am amazed. Seriously… I thought its just girls imagination that you’re strange, but you really are.”
He chuckled.
“Omo….” She looked at him. “I love when you show your smile. I love your smile.” She smiled.
He was stunned and his heart beat raised. He looked at her.
“Don’t be so surprised and drive properly.” She said.
He looked away at the front.
They reached their destination after 45 minutes. Both got out of the car. Taekwoon was wearing a grey suit with black shoes. Yura was wearing a Persian green short dress with black net legging and high heels. Taekwoon couldn’t look at her due to nervousness.They entered the hall. A graceful old man reached Taekwoon and Yura with his wife.
“Annyaseo.” Taekwoon bowed. Yura repeated.
“Finally you’ve got your girl.” The old man said.
Yura looked at Taekwoon.
“She is my student.”
“You’re dating a student?” The old lady asked with suspicion and disgust.
“You’ve misunderstood something. We aren’t dating. Your son invited her. She’s Yuri’s dongsaeng.”
“Yuri’s dongsaeng?” She murmured to herself.
“Look Jieun… whose here.” Hongbin reached along with Jieun.
"Happy birthday Hongbin-shi. Its for you. A sculpture... I prepared it myself." Yura presented her gift.
"Thank you Yura." Hongbin said.
“You look great Yura.” Jieun complimented.
“Gamsahabnida.” Yura bowed.
“Oh my Hongbin-ahh… look she exactly resembles Yuri.” Hongbin’s mother said.
“Umma please.” Hongbin tried to avoid the topic.
“Come on son…. If you had met her before…. You could have got Yuri back.”
“Aniiii…….” Yura said and looked at Jieun.
“Yura dear you don’t know how much he suffered due to your unnie’s death.” His father said.
“Hongbin-ah… I’ve never liked Jieun anyway.” His mother whispered to her.
“Hongbin…. I am going over there. Please enjoy all of you.” Jieun said after hearing what his mother said.
“I’ll come with you Jieun seonsangnim.” Yura said and both of them left the place.
“Umma I love Jieun remember that.” Hongbin glared at his mother.
“Calm down.” Taekwoon said.

“You bought this dress?” Jieun asked.
“Yeah.”
“Its better than mine Yura.”
“Oh no … your’s is much better.”
“I hope you find a good boyfriend.”
“Yeah……” Yura smiled. They talked about various things. Yura looked at many people in the party.
“There are so many people.” She said. “ Umm… seonsangnim?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I dance with Hongbin… oppa?”
“Hahaa oppa? When did that happen?”
“I used to call him oppa when I was very little.”
“Oh……” She took a sip of her drink.
“So……” Yura continued.
“So?”
“Can i?”
Jieun let out her breath. "I am really sorry Yura…. I hope you’ll understand. You know his parents will pass different comments. My situation will be more difficult.”
“Oh its alright.” Her smile vanished.
“Yura you stay here I’ll be back.” Jieun left.
Yura looked at various couples dancing. She saw Hongbin’s parents dancing very well. “Wow… They seem royal.” Suddenly she catched her Gyosonim staring at her from a long distance. She saw a glass of alcohol in his hand. He kept looking at her fixedly, playing with the glass. He raised the glass to his mouth level and then touched the glass with his lips and took a sip. Yura’s heart skipped a beat and then it repeated. His strong stare caused chills which went down her spine. She looked away. Then looked back at him. He was still staring at her. “ I am going to die like this.” She put her hand on her heart and closed her eyes. She avoided looking at him, but the very next moment, he was in front of her.
“Where’s Jieun?”
“Ahhh i…..i……. don’t know, I don’t know …” She started looking elsewhere.
“So you’re not dancing with Hongbin?”
“Uhhhhh he seems…….. he seems busy.”
“Are you still nervous because of me?”
“I told you before…. Its not because of you….. its just …… ummm…. Well I don’t know.”
“If that’s the case, try dancing with me. Since it will be your second time…. You wont feel nervous.”
“OK.” She said without thinking.
“Shall we, then?” He led out his hand.
“oh no Yura….. you can’t even go back now……” She thought and slowly grasped his hand. He accompanied her to the dance floor. He placed his right hand on her waist and took her right hand with his left hand. She placed her left hand on his shoulders. He led her into the dance and she followed his lead.
“Now look into my eyes.”
She raised her face with closed eyes and slowly opened them. Taekwoon’s lips were the first thing she saw. She looked away the next second.
“Still nervous?”
“Ani……”
He grinned and kept on looking at her.
“Stop it … my heart will burst …..” She thought with closed eyes. She frowned and bit her lips. She again tried to look at him. Their eyes met and Taekwoon mistakenly stepped on her feet.
“I am sorry.” He said.
“Its alright.”
“I think its dangerous to look into eyes.” He said. They were standing at the corner of the floor. He came closer. “This is also the part of dance.” He moved his right hand from her waist to reach her ribs. She stressed her body. He leaned closer. He placed his lower jaw on her shoulder and tighten his grip over her. He placed the left hand on her back as well.
“Put the other hand on my shoulder.” He ordered.
“This is a hug not part of dance.” She frowned again.
He grinned. “It indeed is….. Both hug and dance ….. and also a way to reduce nervousness.” He grinned and closed his eyes. “ for me… its also satisfaction.”
“If that’s the case why am I still nervous? Why my heart wont stop beating?” Yura thought.
10:59PM
“Thank you so much Taekwoon-shi. Please stay here tonight. Its too late already.” Jaehyun said.
“Thanks but today I’ll stay at Ahjussi’s. Thank you for your hospitality. Good night.” He directed his face towards Yura. “Good night Yura.”
“um.” She bowed her head slightly and Taekwoon left.
“Go to sleep Yura.”
“Good night appa.” She said and took slow steps to her room which was upstairs.
“Stop messing with my heart Taekwoon.” A sudden thought rushed through her mind. “I am not that dumb. I know you’re playing with me. I know it.” She thought while taking steps towards her bed room. "His stare is even stonger than his touch." She opened the door and closed it after entering. She took of her heels and jumped into her bed. She took the blanket. “Stop messing with me Jebal.”

Notes