Chapter 8

"What else do you like to do, besides dancing?"

I coughed a little in the middle of eating, only to rear back in surprise when Roy immediately tried to hand me my glass of milk. "It's fine," I laughed, hand still covering my mouth as I waved his offer off. Though he hesitated, he still returned the glass to the counter where he'd taken it. "You just caught me off guard for a second there. I draw a bit, I guess? I do some freelance writing on the side...copywriting for businesses, that kind of thing. Ah, but my main job is in marketing. Making publicity materials for the company, and whatnot."

"Wow, there's a lot you can do, huh?"

"Coming from you?" I teased. I shook my head at the amused smile on his face. "You're doing much more than me."

"Haha, that's because there's a lot I want to do. I couldn't write for businesses like you do or work in marketing, though."

"Success, I have two things above Roy Hirsch," I chortled. I fed myself a mouthful of fried rice and spicy adobo flakes, and hummed in pleasure at how good it tasted. "I commend you for your taste in food, though. This is really delicious."

"Right? Glad you agree! It's been years of me coming here, but auntie never fails to make the best adobo flakes."

"What a charmer," auntie said, smile wide on her face as she reached out over the counter and patted him on the head. "You can get a second serving, just for that."

"Auntie, no, what about my diet—"

"What do you mean, diet? You're still thin! You need to eat more!"

"Gotta eat to build up that muscle," I agreed, smiling when Roy gave me a betrayed look. "Haha, but it's true?"

"So you're siding with auntie? I'm hurt."

What was this cute person doing, being this adorable in front of me? I decided to take mercy by looking over at auntie and saying, "He has his role to think of, so maybe he can put off the second serving for once he's done with his current project?"

"Well, I suppose...alright, I'll remember it for later!"

I grinned at auntie's energetic response. I looked over to Roy, wondering what he'd say at my success in defending his diet.

He was blinking slowly, eyes wide with every blink.

The smile didn't waver on my face, even with the slight spike of nervousness in my bones. It was fine. There was nothing wrong with talking about Roy's work, not unless he told me himself that he didn't want to talk about it. "Did MJ not say that I'm a fan?"

"She did, but I didn't think you'd mention it that easily?"

Even the way he tilted his head to one side in confusion was cute. My heart was hurting just looking at him, but I had to keep it cool.

"It's not something I'm ashamed of," I say, like a liar. Not that I was truly ashamed of it or anything, but it wasn't something I'd happily bring up in a conversation unless someone asked first, or brought Roy up as a topic. "You've been working hard, so why wouldn't I admire all your efforts? You're really admirable, Roy."

Those long lashes of his fluttered open to reveal wide eyes, making my chest squeeze with fondness. Damn it. Couldn't my body calm down for just one day? I didn't want to look like an idiot now, especially in front of him.

But the urge to react was so difficult to stop...

"...thank you," he said eventually.

He was smiling softly. The kind of smile that had me freezing in place, because it wasn't anything like the smiles I'd often see him directing to a camera. If I had to categorize it...

It was the kind of smile that said a lot. That told me he was grateful for the acknowledgement of his hard work, that he was so thankful he might cry.

Shit. Please don't cry.

"And you're really cute, you know," I said nervously, laughing as I looked away from his intense gaze. "I mean, why wouldn't I appreciate watching you perform?"

"Is that something you tell all the boys?"

"I don't compliment men that lightly."

I clenched my fist around my spoon to stifle the sudden urge to slap a hand to my mouth. Shit. Damn. Why did I say that? Sofia, you utter idiot. You could have just joked around and agreed!

"So I'm special?"

I didn't want to glance over. I really, really didn't want to.

But he sounded like he was teasing me.

But if he's going to tease me, I'd just be humiliating myself in looking over.

But it's Roy.

Shit.

I looked over.

He was smiling widely at me, so obviously and unabashedly pleased that I felt embarrassed for him.

This guy...

"I called myself a fan," I said, turning my attention back to my food. "Isn't it obvious you'd be a little special?" I fed myself another spoonful of food, and chewed slowly.

A little, my ass.

"Then, I'd be happy to call myself a fan of you too."

I choked. Literally.

"Roy, you fool, are you trying to kill her?"

"I'm not," I coughed, before taking the glass Roy handed to me, "going to die that easily, MJ. Calm," another cough, "down."

"I didn't think you'd choke," Roy said, one hand patting my back as I struggled to drink my milk. "Sorry?"

Finally, after a gulp of an inhale, I drank my milk. Once that was done and my breathing had settled, I heaved out a sigh.

Roy's hand was still on my back, but it was fine. I was slowly getting used to it.

"You didn't mean to, it's fine," I said, smiling wryly at him. "And you'd be my fan for what reason? One clip of a dance cover?"

"I'll find your other dance clips," Roy explained, taking his hand back to place it on the counter. "That's how all fans start, right? With one little clip?"

...he was right, but the idea that he'd look for my other dance clips didn't sit right with me.

"Please don't."

"Why not?"

"Your brain might explode," MJ piped in, grinning as she looked over Roy's shoulder. "Isn't that right, master?"

"I hate you."

"Master?"

I held in a scream. MJ was so dead the moment this whole day reached its end, I swear.

"Some of the students in my dance class like to tease me by calling me master," I sighed, rubbing at my forehead. The fact that even auntie looked intrigued by this made me want to die, just a bit. "I don't know why. It's embarrassing."

"I think it's cool, though? Doesn't it also just mean that they respect you a lot, enough that they'd call you master?"

"Stop saying it."

"You mean, master?"

God, he really was a brat sometimes.

"It's funny that you think you're worthy of calling me that," I said, eyeing him with a raised brow. "When you're not even my student."

He blinked.

I kept my gaze, no matter how shaky my insides were feeling. I also tried very hard not to glare at MJ's shaking form from behind Roy, that little—

Then, Roy laughed. Breathlessly, like it had been pulled out of him, like even his own laughter had caught him off guard.

"Well, what should I do to be considered your student?" he said, playing along.

"Enroll in class, of course."

"And that class is where?"

Like a true professional, I pulled out my wallet and gave him Hyerin's business card. Though I helped in her gym sometimes, it wasn't like I was working full-time to be needing a business card myself.

That, and I didn't really want any more people having my number.

"It's not your business card?" he said, turning the card over in his hand.

"I don't have one, but she's the person who taught me most of what I know. Should I give her a heads up that you might call?"

"Please do."

"...you're serious?"

He smiled at me. He seemed to be amused at my disbelief, even when I knew how much it was warranted. This was a celebrity who had many options for where he could take his dance classes, after all; why would he even consider going somewhere as small as mine?

"Promise me that I can call you master when I'm a good student, though?"

I stared blankly at the wide smile on his face.

"...never mind, please don't come."

"Don't be like that, I was just joking," he laughed, pulling out his own wallet to tuck the card into one of its pockets. "Mostly."

"No, I'd rather not have a student who's this cheeky."

"I can be good!"

"I don't believe you."

"What did I say," I heard auntie muttering to MJ. I couldn't help from listening in despite how rude it might seem. "I know Roy's type when I see them!"

I immediately stopped listening before MJ could respond, turning my attention back to Roy instead, who said, "Hey, but would it be okay to do filming there? Or are they private bookings only?"

"Hyerin would be more than happy to do some filming, especially with you," I said, remembering her own words from days before. "It's good publicity to get more students enrolling. You won't mind if they have their own filming too, would you?"

"I'd have to ask my manager, but I think it'd be fine! When's your schedule there, usually?"

"That information is classified."

"So if I contact this number and ask for your schedule, they won't give it to me?"

"You want her to block you that badly?"

He raised a brow. "Is it that confidential?"

"Yes."

"Somehow, I can't seem to believe you..."

I shrugged. "You're welcome to try, I won't stop you."

There was a beat where he just looked down at his wallet and phone, almost as if he were seriously contemplating it, before he sighed and gave in with a pout.

A pout.

He was cute, and for what reason? To torture me?

"Fine," he sighed, "I'm not asking."

"Aw," I cooed. I rested my elbow on the counter, my cheek on my palm, all so I could look at him a little better. Tease him a little more. "So you can be a good boy too, huh?"

The quick way he whipped his head around to look at me had me flinching in surprise.

"What?"

"...what?"