Chapter Text
The blinding lights and the fogged up mirrors felt all too familiar. The speakers blasted the song with the beat bouncing off the walls and the bass vibrating against the floor.
Felix took deep breaths as his body moved to the beat of the music, his lungs barely keeping up with his heavy breaths. Despite his body aching for rest, he didn't stop.
Dancing is his life, it's his everything. He has the tendency to forget about everything else once the music starts. He lets everything go and lets his body succumb to the music.
"Alright everyone, that's it for today. You guys did well. I'll see you on our next session."
Felix huffed as he picked up his water bottle, finishing it all in one go.
"You okay Lix?"
Felix nodded as he close his bottle, "Yeah. Just wondering why I agreed to handle this class."
Hyunjin laughed, "Because you love us and you love dancing as well. It's a win-win."
"You act like you didn't agree the first time we asked you to help us teach the new recruits, we didn't even persuade you." Minho said, butting in
Felix rolled his eyes playfully, "Oh whatever. Are we still down for movie night?"
If you're wondering, Felix is a professional choreographer along with his friends Minho and Hyunjin. They are a part of one of the most influential and well-known dance studios in Seoul, HAVEN Dance Studios.
They're one of the senior choreographers in HAVEN. Minho was the first person among the three to join HAVEN. Hyunjin came a year after, and Felix came the next year after Hyunjin's arrival. As the three of them grew closer, they decided to start a dance team with the approval of their company.
They even upload some of their self-made choreographies online with the name 'Tripact' under HAVEN. And for the past few years, they've been getting a lot of recognition as they worked their way to the top. All the sacrifices and hardships were worth it. They've been through a lot together as a team and they wouldn't have it any other way.
Amidst all their Tripact activities, they still manage to squeeze in being mentors and handling the junior dancers as well as working with other artists. So you can say their life is pretty hectic.
"Of course we're still down." Hyunjin said, slinging his backpack over his shoulder
"You gotta admit though, we'll probably be asleep on the first 10 minutes." Minho chuckled
Felix laughed, "When did we ever finish a whole movie on the first try?"
"Move over."
"You move over, I was here first."
"Felix, can you get the tissues?"
"Minho hyung look, a big space just for you!"
Felix snorted as he watched the two bicker in front of him. It's pretty common for him to see Minho and Hyunjin arguing. He kinda wants to see the day that Hyunjin will win over Minho.
Felix glanced at the table when he heard one of their phones vibrating, "Minho hyung, I think it's yours."
Minho's brows furrowed, "Who would even call me at this hour?"
Hyunjin picked up the older's phone and gave it to him without even sparing a glance at the caller ID, too immersed at Raya and Namaari's fight.
Minho gasped, "It's Boss."
Hyunjin and Felix's head snapped towards Minho, "What!"
"Why would he call you this late???" Felix asked, his brows furrowed in confusion
"The last time he called you this late, he made us do those dreaded stretching classes." Hyunjin shuddered
Minho didn't say anything and just accepted the call, "Hey Boss."
Hyunjin and Felix watched as Minho stepped out of the room, the movie left playing in the background as they wondered why their boss would call Minho at such a late hour. It was uncommon for their boss to call in this late, unless it was really important.
"Understood Mr. Kim. Thank you."
"What did he say?" Felix asked, glancing up at Minho when the older entered the room
"He just called to inform us that Tripact has a meeting with him tomorrow." Minho answered as he sat down
"I swear, if this is another session for stretching classes, I'm high kicking him." Hyunjin whined as he drank from his soda can
Minho chuckled, "Don't worry, he clarified it's not another stretching class."
"What could that meeting be about? We've been pretty inactive so far aside from our dance classes with the newbies." Felix said, leaning back on the couch
"Do you think he found out about the coffee machine?" Hyunjin asked, suddenly seating up
Minho scoffed, "I already replaced the one you broke, you clumsy ass."
Hyunjin giggled, "I'll treat you tomorrow hyung."
"Wait, so it was you who broke the coffee machine??? I had to struggle with no caffeine for 2 days!" Felix whined, glaring at Hyunjin
"I'll treat you both tomorrow I swear!" Hyunjin said, raising his arms up in surrender
"Let's go after the meeting then." Minho said, chuckling as the other two agreed with him
"Hyung this doesn't sound right."
"I'll change this line then, I think it sounds vague too."
"Hey, here's the demo track I've been working on."
Changbin ran a hand through his hair as he skimmed over his lyrics sheet. He's finalizing the song lyrics he's been working on for the past 3 days. Except he's struggling a little because of his stupid writer's block.
"Chan hyung, isn't this the track you showed me last week? I thought you didn't want to finish it." Jisung asked as he took off the headphones Chan gave him
"Yeah but you told me you liked it so I decided to finish it." Chan shrugged
Jisung giggled, "Good because here is the lyrics I wrote for that track."
Chan's eyes widened, "You wrote lyrics for this track ahead of time??"
Jisung nodded, "I told you, I liked it."
"Let me see."
This here is MA3STRO (Maestro), a well-known hip-hop group under STAY Music Records who produces self-made tracks for the world to hear for the past 3 years.
Chan was the one who created their team when he saw potential in Jisung and Changbin when they were just trainees. Changbin came 5 months after Jisung did, while Chan has been in the record label for 3 years at that time.
The three of them first started out as kids who wanted to write their own songs for fun as a leisure activity. As their skills gradually improved, so did their tracks. Chan made efforts to get the company to give them a chance to debut.
After years of training, consideration, and evaluation, they were finally given the opportunity.
Years later, they're one of the most influential rap groups in the music industry with over a hundred songs in their discography, and counting.
"Should we finish everything by tomorrow?" Jisung asked, his eyes not looking away from his laptop screen
Chan nodded, "I'm planning to start on the track Changbin wants to work on."
"Hyung, you don't need to rush on that one though." Changbin said, looking up from his lyrics sheet
"I know but while the ideas are in my head, I wanna get it started."
Jisung cheered, "You're in luck because I'm done with this stupid verse I've been stuck on for 4 days."
Changbin laughed, "I'm done with mine too. Jisung owes me a new hoodie."
Jisung turned to Changbin with wide eyes, "What! That wasn't the deal!"
Changbin smirked, "You said you'll finish that verse in 2 days, but I said 4. I win."
Chan snorted, "You literally gave yourself away earlier dumbass."
"Fine, I'll take you to the store tomorrow." Jisung pouted, making Changbin giggle
Chan giggled, "Looks like we're going to the mall tomorrow then."
Just then, Chan's phone suddenly rang.
"Why is boss calling me???" Chan asked, his brows furrowed in confusion
Jisung suddenly sat up, "What if he found out about the sink I clogged?"
Chan's head snapped towards Jisung, "The what?!"
"Hyung, answer the phone!" Changbin exclaimed
Chan hurriedly answered the phone with a nervous smile as he stepped out of their studio.
"You clogged a sink?" Changbin asked, amusement laced in his voice
Jisung raised his hands up in defense, "It was the tapioca pearls I swear."
Changbin sat up, "Why did you bring tapioca pearls inside the bathroom???"
"Where else am I supposed to leave my milk tea?" Jisung said, making Changbin facepalm
"I'm not even gonna ask."
"Yes Mr. Lee, thank you." Chan spoke through the phone as he re-entered the room
"What did Boss want?" Changbin asked, watching Chan as he returned to his seat
"He said we have a meeting tomorrow first thing in the morning." Chan replied as he placed his phone on the table
Jisung groaned, "And I thought I could sleep in tomorrow."
"Relax, it'll be fine. We'll be free after the meeting anyway." Changbin said, patting Jisung's shoulder not-so-comfortingly
"I am so making it up to myself when we go to the mall." Jisung said with a huff
"Hey Jisung?"
"Yeah hyung?"
"How the hell did you clog the sink?"
"Shit."
"Felix hurry up!"
"I'm going as fast as I can!"
"Well go faster!"
Felix panted as he ran through the halls of their company with Minho and Hyunjin not far ahead. Their meeting with their boss should've started 10 minutes ago but the bus they were on just had to stop for gas.
The three males came to a halt when they reached the door to the meeting room. They leaned against the wall, trying to catch their breaths and calm themselves down.
"Alright, you guys ready?" Minho asked after they all wiped away their sweat and made themselves look presentable
"I'm ready."
"I'm not so sure."
Minho chose to ignore Hyunjin's statement and knocked on the door three times. After hearing a confirmation to enter, Minho gently opened the door and peaked his head in.
"Hi Boss." Minho greeted with a sheepish smile
"You're late." Mr. Kim said with a raised brow
"I know, but the bus had to stop for gas." Minho said, scratching his nape
Mr. Kim laughed, "Come on in."
Minho opened the door wide enough for him and the other two males to enter. The three of them bowed as they headed towards their seats. Felix took the spot between Hyunjin and Minho, not realizing there were people in front of him.
"Boys, I'd like you to meet Maestro and Mr. Lee." Mr. Kim said before the boys could sit down
Felix looked up, his eyes widening as he felt his blood run cold at the sight in front of him.
"Hi, I'm Bang Chan."
"I'm Han Jisung."
"Seo Changbin."
Hyunjin and Minho bowed to the three males in front of them, a little shocked that there were other people as they thought it would be just them.
"My name's Lee Minho."
"I'm Hwang Hyunjin."
Hyunjin glanced at Felix, discretely nudging the younger when he didn't say anything.
"Lee F-Felix." Felix stuttered with a slight bow
"Have a seat boys."
Felix sat down with shaky legs, keeping his eyes towards their boss and presumably Maestro's boss. Now he regrets agreeing to come to the meeting.
Then again, how is he supposed to know that he was going to be there?