29 - Group Work

With that huge pack of problems I had (My horrible stay in the White Room, Wei's arrival in our team, our little clan fight, and the fact the secret police wanted us dead), I completely forgot about the most important thing in my life right now: my dance lessons.

This is why, after my little morning shower, I packed my stuff in my sports bag. Ballet outfits: check. Female underwear: check. Everything was perfect. I could go on and live without thinking about how the police will ruin our lives and potentially bring me back to Korea.

No problem here, nope. Instead, I'd rather think about our current dance routine. It's been a week I haven't rehearsed, and that wasn't good.

For Henriette and the girls, it's been one entire week I've been absent. They must be worried sick! Moreover, next Friday, we had to show our dance moves before the judging glare of an Opéra of Paris teacher. The best and the brightest.

And I didn't even begin to work!

My bag finally prepared, I put it on my shoulder and pressed the touchscreen next to my door.

As I was exiting the dormitory, another door opened.

A pink flash dashed toward me, "Well? Song-ho is an early bird today. Where are you going, bro?"

Wei Xiaojian.

I forgot about that obnoxious guy. I hid my bag with my free arm, even though my bag was so big it was useless, "You're referring to me by my surname. We're not friends."

Wei pointed at my sports bag, "First: Can I call you by your name please? And second: I didn't hear your answer. I'm going to ask your bag directly, maybe it'll talk a bit more than you."

He drew his hands toward my bag. Toward my pointes shoes. Toward Henriette's red bra. I blushed hard and dashed toward the exit of the company.

The annoying guy didn't give up, "C'mon, I don't want to be bored all day. If you absolutely have to go alone, can't you at least take breakfast with me today?"

I turned to him and pressed my index on his lips to shut him up. He indeed shut up, but it didn't exactly go along with my plan. I was way too close to him now, and I could see his face clearly. His lips were soft, plump, and colored with the same pink lipstick as Zheng Tai. He had good taste. And pretty lips too. And...

Ugh. Why was I thinking about something like this? This was just an annoying colleague I should run away from! Nothing else!

"Are you always like this, or did you eat something weird today?" I said, hiding my embarrassment with an angry tone.

"My great personality isn't something weird."

This conversation was going nowhere, "Whatever, bye!"

I escaped to the Hologram Hallway and activated the door to the exit. Thank god no one showed him around the building, because he couldn't find me anymore.

But this little trick didn't work for long. Day after day, during that whole week of early November, I used every single trick up my sleeves to avoid his eyes, his mindless conversation, and his haunting lips. I was even thinking about what would have happened if I shot him between his eyes some weeks ago.

Soon enough, we were Friday. The day the National Opéra of Paris teacher would come to judge our artistic skills.

I got out of my room, checking the place with panicked eyes.

Wei wasn't anywhere. Good.

I was running to the Hologram Hallway when something pulled me back.

"Song-ho. You are going to ruin the coronation of Napoleon." Boss let my back go. Jeez, I never knew she was that strong.

"I was going to ruin what?"

She groped my cheeks and turned my face to Firm members holding a painting as long as a bus, "What is this thing doing here?"

She tapped the frame of the massive oil painting, "I introduce you to our money maker. Your homes aren't free, you know."

Seeing I still couldn't understand anything, she took a deep breath, "Do you remember when Zheng Tai said I stole painting for a living?"

I nodded.

"He was right. Some billionaires would give up their wealth to have this big painting."

"And no one knows about the stolen art?" I asked.

"For some months, my team switch the real one with a pretty convincing forgery. When I need money again, I steal the forgery. Newspaper and television handle the rest."

"The police find your client, and they must give you money for the damage done?"

"Exactly."

"What if he talks?"

She skimmed through the notebook, "Well... I don't know how to answer that question, Sing-ho. Our clients... die pretty young..." She chuckled.

Again, she was showing it was a bad idea to come for her.

Dancing for a bit will make him forget about her. About everything. I diverted my gaze and walked toward the exit.

"Song-ho !"

I froze. She skimmed through her notebook again and tore a piece of paper before giving it to me, "With all the work I have to supervise, I forgot about this: you, the Puma, Jieung-yong, and Xiaojian are working together on a mission today. Go to this address at 2:30."

I took the paper, "But I have a ballet show..."

"Song-ho. You wouldn't like to disappear like my clients, wouldn't you?"

I couldn't say no.

Boss did her infamous smile, "Alright. You can go!"

*

And this is how I messed up with my life opportunity by sharing a bus with Wei, David, and Jieung-yong. We were heading to the place Boss indicated on the paper.

What was funny about that, was that I took the same bus I usually took to go to the opérette. What was funnier, was that I planned everything.

Wei glanced up from his watch, "Are you sure going there two hours before is okay?"

I stammered, "Maybe I'm wrong about the hours. I don't know Paris much," I tried a natural laugh that turned out pathetic, "What are we going to do there anyway?"

"Nadine Ndongo told me," Wei said, "It has something to do with someone named Francis Chauvel."

David squealed, "Ah, he's the target we have to take down!"

I glanced at my two comrades, "Why did Boss give us bits of the mission?"

"It's to make sure her teams get along well," Wei said, "And to avoid them looking at le like that." He pointed his fingers in front of him.

Jieung-yong didn't seem to be affected by what Wei just said. He was way too absorbed by his current activity: staring at the newcomer.

"Jieung-yong! What did Boss tell you?"

He stopped his daydreaming session, "Huh? She told me we have to bring dragon stuff."

I panted, "The Dragon's Breath of Charles de Gaulle !"

"You know what this is?" Wei said.

Before I could even explain anything to him, Jieung-yong barged in, "Man, you're wearing lipstick?"

He nodded.

"So, our team is composed of a Puma, a coward, a living god, and... a what? A gay clown?"

David laughed at his joke.

Wei, him, rolled his eyes.

Fortunately, the boys' attention was attracted to the current bus stop; a multimedia store.

My brain worked quickly to find a solution, "Go! We're two hours ahead of time!"

In no time, we were free of these two annoying boys.

The next stop was the opérette, "I'm going there. You can go wherever you want."

He got off the bus too, "Don't leave me alone!" His glance met the placard of our show, 'La Sylphide'. He mostly looked at the "free to come" sign before beaming at me with his dumb smile, "Look! Something to do!"

He came inside.

I couldn't believe my eyes. This was a disaster! He would see me! But I couldn't give up on my ballet show. Arg. Fuck it. I took a deep breath and entered by the opposite door.