15 - Welcome to the Opérette

Henriette opened the door to the stage and revealed an opérette empty of spectators. Silence greeted us. I was surprised by the lack of roaring and clapping; I didn't even realize the show was over. They turned off the loud music, and the only sound left was notes hit on a piano. Of course, those piano keys were hit by someone, and that meant this place wasn't completely deserted.

The dancers were the only ones left. I could recognize every dancer. Odile was the one hitting the bicolorous keys on the stage, while the blond girl with earrings sat on the piano. She crossed and uncrossed her legs decorated with stretch marks, playing with her skirt and listening to the calm music. Samira and the ponytail girl were at each side of the pianist.

She became the Odile from before the cacophony; she knew what she was doing, and Debussy's Clair de Lune absorbed her personality. She became one with the music.

After a delicious portion of time, her piece stopped, and everybody clapped.

The young woman full of talent turned toward her public. She saw me and smiled, "Bienvenue."

"Merci," I answered.

She put her hand before her mouth and chuckled, "I was asking you what your name was. Mine is Bienvenue."

A flash of heat reddened my skin, "Ah! I am Yoh Song-ho. Nice to meet you!"

"Yochiang what?" Samira put perfectly manicured nails on her chin, "What are you, a Chinese girl?"

The Grand Jeté amateur hit the back of her skull, "It's Korean, dumbass. You'd know if you laughed less at my BTS K-pop group."

I sighed, "Your ignorance of Asian culture is beyond embarrassment."

"I know things. I watch tons of drama. And I'm Deborah, for your pleasure." Grand Jeté bowed.

The jumper crossed her legs again, "Charlotte. That must be hard with these dumb girls. But I'm not ignorant. From which part of Vietnam do you come from?"

Then a debate sprouted on my origin.

Henriette went to Bienvenue's piano and asked her kindly if she could use it. She then smashed the thing like a barbarian. When everyone froze from the disaster, she coughed, "It's Song, the Korean girl who just danced with Coach Isabelle here on the stage. She's gonna join the team."

The girls said nothing for a moment. I couldn't understand their reactions.

Bienvenue clapped, "That's awesome !"

Deborah glanced at her friend and nodded, "Yeah, that'll be cool."

Charlotte clapped with her.

Samira got closer to Henriette, "We don't have a problem with this Henri but...Coach Isabelle said we were enough."

Henriette scratched her neck, "She's different, she'll accept her! Just look at her face!"

Charlotte got off the piano, "I'd like to believe you. That's what we're all hoping for." She stared at the top of the public, "Miss Isabelle!"

The ex-dancer growled and came down, "What's it to you again..." She stopped walking, "Someone doesn't have milk in the titties anymore?"

The girl followed her glare, going toward Henriette. Samira was the first to laugh, "You're kidding me? False one?"

"Even Bienvenue understood size didn't matter." Déborah grabbed her belly hard from laughing too much.

"I can give you some if you want." Charlotte blushed and hid her face, still laughing.

Of course, Henriette's wouldn't have her padded bra anymore. I had it.

Henriette growled and smashed the piano a second time, "Okay girls, I lied to you, but hey, I was jealous. Everybody is at some point."

"Jealous? That's a word I don't know." Samira laughed louder, "Gosh, you 5/10 people...You're always feeling insecure about your beautiful body Allah gave you. You are in a weird phase, and you..."

"Well!" She hit the piano again, wanting to change the subject, "We wanted you to make Song join the team. Can you?"

"Henriette, you know what I think of this."

"But she can dance so good! Look at her?" Henriette pointed me with her finger as if my existence was enough of an explanation.

"I can't contradict it. But the Opéra will talk. These sons of a bitch want me in the trashiest position. And even if I take her in, she'll be a quadrille, the first status on the prima ballerina journey."

Bienvenue stood. She joined her hands together and looked at the Coach with puppy eyes.

Deborah followed her. In a matter of seconds, everyone begged for the Coach to reconsider.

"The more the merrier!"

"She'll be the last, please."

"Miss, her talent will attract more people, more money, and more credibility for the Opérette."

Coach Isabelle closed her eyelids, thinking about what they said "That last point of view seems interesting. I'm gonna do an exception for you. But know that's it's pissing the fuck off me. Even if they'll be begging for me to come back in the Opéra in the end."

The group shouted a resounding 'Yes!' and celebrated the new dancer.

It was okay, and they seemed kind. A Lil' bit stupid but not dangerous at least.

Henriette crashed her body against my back again and hugged me. I could've sworn I was in a strawberry scent heaven.

"I'm so proud of you. I wanted to ask you, by the way, where do you live?"

"Nowhere...yet. I just arrived."

"Do you mind flat-sharing?"

Flatsharing with Henriette? I couldn't tell if that made me happy, but it made my stomach twist weirdly. What was that feeling?

"I... I'll think about it."

"Thanks!" Since she was taller than me, she carried me and threw me in the air until I felt something crack.

My bra wasn't torturing me anymore. In another context, I would have loved it but now wasn't the moment. If I let them discover my bra (well, Henriette's, more precisely), I would ruin my chance to be a ballerina!

"I must...toilets again!"

I ran away from my own identity this time. I went into the dirty mirror room and readjusted my underwear. It got off by itself.

"That was a close one." I stared at the new parts of my body, " I won't stand like that long."

I won't be able to accept Henriette's offer neither. That's too risky. I had to find a safe place. To keep me safe from the opérette, and safe from the Firm. Heck, I didn't even know where I would spend the night!

"What got into me?" I hit my skull with my fists, "I say I'm an adult, and I have to think about all these things...But what should I do!"

The smell of untreated water went straight to my nostrils. When I raised my head, a familiar click-clack resounded behind me, and the mirror reflected a smiling woman in black.

"The rent is free under my roof, Song-ho."