Chapter 6

"Hello," Rita greets. "Fancy seeing you here."

The thing is, her head hurts-just by watching Terry standing in front of her in person. Not to mention the head was doing very good before the annoying creature appeared, in front of JayJay. Only Terry had the audacity to ruin her mental health.

Speaking of Jayjay, well-Rita didn't want to cause a scene in front of him. Also she was sure there are some cameras hidden somewhere. A cat fight with Terry will either blow up or drag her popularity down. She wasn't going to take the risk.

"Pretty good show you gave last night." Terry eyes Jayjay, "And who is this? Your new boyfriend? What was his place on the serial? Maybe the 47th, yes?"

"Actually the 1st, but thanks for assuming," Rita answers, still trying to keep her cool in front of a frowning Terry and a pink-faced Jayjay.

"Whatever. Me and my lads thought it would be fun to do something else, you know." Terry leaned towards her for a few inches. "What do you suggest?"

Rita's mind was working like a whirland. Terry wanted to do something fun. Whenever they met, he would threw a challenge to her, to test her patience. She knew he was suspicious of her appearance as Suzy, as she saw him assessing her multiple times before. That's what he wants to do. He wants to play a chasing game, trapping her like a mouse under a cat's paw. Unless Rita dodges it and that backfires Terry to his butt. Might also gain viewer's attention than she already has, so why not?

"A dance battle." She breaths out.

Terry snickers, "Sure thing. Come to room no. 205 after an hour, and I shall crush you, sweetheart."

"We'll see about that." Terry left after her final words.

Jayjay opens his mouth, and then closes it again. After a few attempts, he was able to speak. "You shouldn't have done it!" He whisper-shouts.

"Yes I should," Rita nibbles on her chicken, already losing her appetite. Murmurs and gossips were increasing around her. Great. The last thing she needed was a controversy.

"Look, I know that you are insanely good in dancing, but opposing THE Kang Terry? Best dancer of the generation? Are you sure about this battle?" Jayjay sounds more nervous than concerned.

Rita stops the urge to roll her eyes, hard. Instead she scoffs, "I'll beat him in no time."

***

The confidence drains as soon as she steps out of the dining hall. Rita groans, hitting her forehead with her hand. Just what was she thinking? Dancing against Terry? Jayjay wasn't lying when he said Terry was the best dancer of their generation-one of the best, Rita wanted to argue-but still, it's a thing he excels at, she begrudgingly admits to herself. And Rita, a rookie idol (?). What can she do in an hour?

My, was she on a long ride in this competition.

After an hour, Rita steps up in room no. 205. It's a big practice room. There were mirrors instead of walls, big LED lights glazing the place all over. Numerous competitors were flocking in the two sides, and Rita felt naked.

Still, she held her chin high and walked towards where Terry was standing in the middle of the room, hands on his hips. Trying to look chick? Kang Terry can relate.

"You're three minutes late," Stated his sorry excuse of a mouth. Rita wants to strangle him, but maybe later.

"You go first," prompted she, paying no heed to his snarky remarks.

Terry didn't prod further and let it go for this time. Rita went aside for a bit to give space. Some dudes came forward and set up a speaker. Terry plugged in a mobile phone and stood at the inmost of the room. Then, music started.

As soon as the lyrics came Rita suppressed the urge to gag. Oh, come on! It's her favorite! Terry can't just ruin this with his animalistic dancing!

"When the gunshot's all done ringing (That spicy feelin')

Aim and shoot the sun at your heart (I just wanna do this)

Uh, juicy, juicy"

Ew.

"Turn up the music (Ooh-ooh)

Run across the world all fierce (Ooh-ooh)

Sun in tow, step on it

Honk the horn, we be us and fire (We be us)"

Terry was full-on angry dancing. Coming out of her mean rivalry shell, Rita analyzed his dancing as an artist herself. He looked like he had a lot to express, but he couldn't. Something was stopping him.

"No need to imitate (No need to imitate)

More, more like how we do it (More, more like how we do it)"

The cameras. Oh!

Maybe Terry really was expressing a true artistry identity.

"We drop it like hot, hot, hot

Oh, we feelin' so hot

This song is burnin' like hot, hot, hot, hot

(Boom-brr-boom-boom)"

Ok, she takes it back.

Terry jumps and twirls, hand clutched in a fist and brows scrunched up. He sways, hands creeping up to his body, fingers grazing over the t-shirt he's wearing. Some girl in the back squealed. And the culprit smirked.

"Ayy, blow the horn, drive away through the desert waves

I don't want, uh, one more chance

This moment, I'm goin' all in

Shadow cast with my back to the sun turns to light again

Yeah, heart set on fire, no lie, we sure"

Terry shakes his head like a maniac. He lied on the floor and pushed his legs up. If it wasn't part of the choreo, Rita would've said that he was performing some kind of satanic ritual.

"About to burst, I can't breathe

My burning heart (Won't listen to me)

Deep overwhelming breaths and super-heated rhythm vibe

You know what to do

Hey, you know what to do"

Finally, the song is over as well as Terry capering like a wild hellhound. Or perhaps not, since it's Rita's turn to dance.

Terry turned around, a wide grin in his lips.

"You're up, Choi!"

Crap.