#rklisa

when she envisioned her and suwoong up onstage, nothing but perfection stared back at her. they were too similar and got along perfectly; could they have chosen a duo more suited for one another? words could not describe the anticipation that followed the pairing announcement for the upcoming episode - the moment that ZHOU JIEQIONG & LEE SUWOONG sounded throughout the set confirmed a match made in heaven. the following week would be even easier than the past, something she had not thought possible after woojin proving to be a impressive partner last week. 

however, the woman was quickly proved horribly wrong.

"are you sure you’re okay with this?” the day following episode three’s filming, the two were quick to get to work. song selection and choreography already picked out and modified to suit them, saturday meant practice, practice and more practice. the choreography they had chosen proved to be a bit too intimate for close friends and met some quick changes, but suwoong still seemed a bit off. 

the jokester she knew was oddly serious - causing worry to blossom in the pit of her stomach. they both had the choreography down but the feeling just wasn’t there, and suwoong didn’t seem like he was either. “i told you, it’s okay if you would rather do something else.” a pout slowly plumped her lips, trying her best to pull whatever she could out of her partner. kyulkyung knew he had hesitations when they were making choreography decisions, the thought of being close to another while being with lisa no doubt weighing heavy on his mind. 

she understood, she really did. she just wished he’d let them work it out instead of replying with constant it’s fine! and i’m okay’s from a man who was clearly anything but fine.

she couldn’t focus on anything they were doing - all the movements numb to a woman too focused on suwoong to worry about anything else. they met on the show before their pairing and seemed to get along just fine. kyulkyung was excited to work with someone she knew and even dared to consider a friend. but it was hard to enjoy anything when everything just felt so strained. she neared the point of frustration when they would move, dance around one another and it felt like nothing - just useless movements without any meaning or effort. their performance looked lazy in the studio’s mirror, so dull that fear began to move into her chest. 

maybe this was a sign that her mga story was finally over.

the thought of putting something on stage that she wasn’t happy with left a bad taste in her mouth. they weren’t doing the routine justice by just running through the motions mindlessly, weren’t treating each other right by leaving things the way they were. she hated being on edge during practice, loathed the dread she felt when watching the choreography through the mirror.  kyulkyung didn’t want to leave especially like this - they were both too talented to allow this to get the best of them. 

                                                                       ❀ 

moday seemed to be going a bit different, the pair leaving to get ice cream halfway through practice per suwoong’s request. "we're using your dance studio, so it's only fair!!" kyulkyung didn’t mind the trip really - this was the first time suwoong seemed normal since friday and honestly, it was a relief. did she sense a change of heart? “i guess it’s okay... only if i can get sprinkles?” sprinkles solved any problem, that she was convinced of.

"so i showed some of my friends the routine, and they all said it was too shameless. they were asking 'suwoong-ah, why did you choose something so sensual?' and 'hyung, isn't this too inappropriate? what if there are kids watching the mgas?' as if this is any more inappropriate than jinyoung-ssi's performance last week!!"  kyulkyung could only listen to suwoong who had appeared to fly off on a tangent - eyes wide as she licked her sweet treat quickly, careful to avoid a sticky mess as her tongue moved along the cone’s edges. 

she began to wonder how long he had been thinking of this and honestly, she was little worried on where it was leading. his friends had good points and she quietly cursed them if they had managed to make him even more uneasy.  "i also talked to lisa. she understands it's just for the performance. but even then... lately, i've been acting weird. distracted. i kept thinking 'ah, is this too much?' and 'what if lisa's secretly mad? how can i make it up to her?' and i thought really reallyyyy hard about it, talked to a few people, including my dumb cousin! and in the end... i agree with them." 

this is it. he’s gonna quit. kyulkyung held her breath as suwoong spoke - trying to keep an understanding, calm outlook on things but oh, it was so hard. serious suwoong was scary and she’d come to decide she didn’t like this side of him very much. the woman most definitely preferred smiles and laughs to what their week had been so far. at this point, kyulkyung herself was almost ready to give up, but not without feeling like pure shit. 

if she had just pushed for a different routine, they wouldn’t be in this position. she should’ve just dropped the topic and went with something more light hearted and upbeat.

kyulkyung just couldn’t help the part of her that craved something different - a routine that was sure to catch everyone’s eye; a routine that could start episode four with a BANG! and leave overs wondering how they could follow it. the vicious beating of her heart almost muted the sound of suwoong’s voice, but she did her best to listen, even if it wasn’t something she wanted to hear.

"i've been unfair to you, jieqiong-ah. you've worked hard these last two days, but i haven't been giving my best. so from today onward, i will do better. everyone understands it's just a performance, and that this is competition, so it'll be okay." 

oh. 

kyulkyung dropped her head in relief, letting out the largest breath that expelled every worry that had built up over the past few days. "really, i intend to give it my all, so it'll be super intense and shameless! but don't fall for me, okay? my heart belongs to lisa only!!" the suwoong kyulkyung had grown to adore was back - his shoulders less stiff, worries that darkened his expressions gone with his new promise. 

she laughed partly in relief, the other half at his request. “oh, me falling for you should be the least of your worries.” the woman raised her head to shoot her partner a grin, amusement lacing her tone as she finally relaxed for the first time that week. “this week proved you’re too high maintenance for me - she has nothing to worry about. trust me.”

and for the first time since they had been partnered up, kyulkyung genuinely felt like they actually had a chance.

                                                                        ❀

walking onto set, she feels confident - chin up, seemingly relaxed beside suwoong. maybe it was the darker makeup and black clothes, but she felt like she was on top of the world. “oh my god. i’m so excited, aren’t you?” the woman couldn’t help the excitement that built up when her eyes fell upon the stage, jumping up and down on her toes before pulling the other along. kyulkyung couldn’t to show everyone what they had put together, but more importantly she couldn’t wait to get up on that stage.

“you better not chicken out now, it’s too late.” when the pair found their seats, she immediately turned towards the man, her eyes wide and for once, serious - hoping to scare suwoong into compliance but ultimately only making her eyeballs hurt. she batted mascara soaked lashes, her bright lips pulling to a smile after accepting that zhou jieqiong could not be scary. “but for real, that number one spot is ours. so bring it.” 

kyulkyung was allowed to be greedy after the hell they went through at the beginning of the week - it was impossible not to. suwoong had managed to pull it together so quickly after their heart to heart. hour long practices felt like minutes and finally they were enjoying themselves. she felt like they deserved a reward for the sole fact that they made it through the week.

she’s relieved that they’re first this week after the wait from last week. kyulkyung shoots a thumbs up to her partner as they rise from their seats, leaving their shoes to wait for their return in their seats, bare feet lead them to the stage - anticipation growing with each cool step. the silk of her blindfold is crisp in her gasp, ankles locked together as she leans into a boy before their audience. 

“hello!” suwoong and kyulkyung greet in chinese, a smile gracing her bright lips as pearly whites peek out behind the color. two of the brightest contestants stand beside one another clad in nothing but silk and black, personalities so unlike dullness of their attire. her pink hair is so bright compared to her clothing - the pretty flush of her cheeks complimenting the bright hue nicely. “contestant #5050, zhou jieqiong here!” a wave to the camera and a smile like no other is delivered by a woman so anxious to begin.

introductions and explanations flow into setting up for their performance. the two sit with their backs pressed against one another, silk sliding against silk as they lean back into one another - blindfolds masking dark eyes and ripping them of once cheery exteriors.she’s facing the back of the stage while her head hangs between her shoulders. the music begins - soft but loud on the otherwise silent set. 

oh damn, oh damn, oh damn i'm so perplexed with just one breath, i'm locked in

like a deep breath, kyulkyung comes to life behind her partner - chin turning up towards the ceiling as her fingers crawl up her bare legs. their movements are slow then quick, soft then sharp. calculated and collected, they face each other despite their obscured vision, bare feet and palms moving carrying them around one another.

the two were more similar than they originally thought. peppy exteriors with high energy and exciting performances, they looked to thrill their audience in a different way this time. experience in ballet hid behind their motive. they wanted to do something different but not to them - they wanted impact but a skilled one. what was more perfect than this?

but now, but now somehow my words roll off my tongue right onto your lips, oh

i know, i know you know you're scared your heart, your mind, your soul, your body, yeah

in hopes of making the pair more comfortable with the choreography, they switched up a bit of the routine. adding some personal touches and meaning, instead of suwoong lowering himself over her body, their hands linked - halfway pulling kyulkyung up but instead she crumbles back to the ground. 

oh man, oh man i am like you so i want proof i'm what you're feeling 

their performance is vastly different than what the practice room had seen. for the first days, they were lazy, emotionless, rolling through meaningless movements. they both had ballet experience, both knew how important it was to act when you were dancing or else it loses its meaning. acting without words, that’s how she classified ballet. and with a routine like this, not necessarily ballet but a take on modern dance, these skills were needed - something they were missing at first.

but things were clearly different now, the dancers connected as they moved elegantly across the stage. this week taught excellent lessons to them both, how to work and overcome issues in order to deliver a noteworthy performance. being adaptable and professional were key characteristics to being a good performer, and she’s damn proud of where they ended up.

they won't, they won't, they won't be careful but i guess that you don't know me

'cause if i want you, then  want you, babe ain't going backwards, won't ask for space 'cause space was just a word made up by someone who's afraid to get too... 

CLOSE  ‧ ‧ ‧  the song carried into the chorus, kyulkyung stepping back to run and jump into suwoong’s arms. arms holding herself above his head, the woman collapsed and let herself become enveloped in his arms before pushing him away. the look of agony was apparent on her face, hands curling up to crumble in soft, pink curls. this was her favorite part, the climax of the entire routine where everything just essentially builds up before exploding. 

close, ooh oh, so close, ooh i want you close, ooh 'cause space was just a word made up by someone who's afraid to get close, ooh

the music is loud and their once soft, gentle movements turn into ones of power. the stage is alive and constantly in motion - kyulkyung feelings as if they’re the only people in the room as they cycle through the choreography. there’s no romance, no feelings just the emotion of a song and friends desperate for their survival. they were telling a story, stamping the tale across the stage with practiced precision. the feeling of accomplishment was overwhelming, engulfing the woman who was once overridden with fear and panic. now she felt nothing but satisfaction and pride.

they slide into their own movements, choreography the pair had deemed too sensual for the show shimmered down to ones of a slow burn. kyulkyung remains on her knees, sliding up and down and letting her hands in her hair as suwoong mirrors her stance facing the judges. the two turn towards one another before beginning to crawl - dramatic movements pulling them towards one another before they’re linking hands.

oh, so close, ooh i want you close, ooh oh, I want you close, that close ain't close enough, no

the song is ending as suwoong pulls kyulkyung closer, the two rising while her head falls to rest on his shoulder. there’s a pause as the music fades, hands that were once clasped becoming out of reach as the partner’s part ways. kyulkyung’s pulling herself out the song’s trance when they loop back around to give a final bow, practically jumping with joy as they exit the stage together. 

“did we actually pull that out?” she whispers giddy to suwoong, smiling ear to ear as they return to their seats.