14 - Ballerinas

While I got myself out of the bathroom, she opened the curtains. I looked everywhere. Where to hide?

I took the sports bag and hid in the corner of the room, with the bag standing before me.

Was Samira coming back?

Henriette came out of the shower with nothing more than a towel and opened the door.

"Ah! Miss, I'm sorry to disturb..."

"That's nothing, you come from the police?"

"Not exactly. But it's a little bit like that. I would like you to look at this photo. Does it ring a bell?"

I glanced at the door. On the front of the pretty Henriette was a man in black...Wait a minute...

Henriette took the photo and saved it on her retina, "She's cute AF. I would have noticed if I saw such a piece of hotness before."

"This woman didn't give life signs for a few hours. She disappeared at about the same time as a Korean boy. He's kinda my height, and he looks like a coward who doesn't deserve his family."

Jieung-yong!

The young woman thought for a moment, "I saw an Asian person not too long ago. But now that you're saying it, I'm not sure of their gender..."

I looked at them, before looking at myself. It was the only solution. A Korean boy would catch her attention. A Korean girl on the other hand...

Henriette closed the door and went putting some clothes on in the bathroom. She complained about her lost stuffed bra all along. When she came out, she wore a bright yellow tank top, a pair of shorts, and a bomber.

"So you searched for my bathroom to steal my boobs," she said, probably talking to herself, "Oh-oh-oh you'll see Sam, you won't be laughing so much when I'll swap your hand cream with your face cream..."

Now was the time. I jumped from my hiding place. She screamed.

"I...Hello! My name is Yoh Song-ho, I was born at Manpo, and we met on the stage. Please, don't throw me out!"

She calmed herself. Henriette didn't seem afraid anymore, she was just...confused, "What the heck are you doing here?"

I lowered my eyes toward the new bumps stuck to my torso. That was a bad idea. She'll understand I've stolen her horrible bra that was itching and cutting my shoulders. Women wore these daily?

"I had to shower."

"And the door? And the trolley? And the vase? Why are they in such a state?"

My back tensed up. She wouldn't let her eyes off me. I had to find an excuse, a lie, anything!

"Bulgars. Kids. Yes, that's it, some bulgars came as I was going to the toilets. I thought I could chase them, so that's what I did. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep the hallway in the same state I found it, sorry." There was a hint of truth in this ridiculous story.

Henriette gave me a starry smile, "You're the best! Who'd knew a cute a thin girl like you could kick Bulgars off!"

I couldn't believe it. That worked?

I talked with a higher pitch, "That was kids, that's all."

She came toward me, "So you dance and fight? Amazing. You must be flexible."

She approached her face so much I had to avoid her stare, "Very flexible indeed."

"Show me." She took my leg, my waist, and raised it so I made a side split on a leg.

"On the rod," She said as she released me from the torture.

"Huh? What?"

"The rod. Now" She pointed the rod stuck to the wall next to the bathroom.

As soon as I grabbed the rod, I had to do an arabesque. For 10 minutes, "I don't know if I can..."

She hugged me from my back and touched my leg, tensed from all those exercises. I gulped.

"You're so cute when you blush...What's your name already?"

"Yoh…Song-ho..." I said, unable to speak for the moment.

"Song. That's Chinese isn't it?"

"Korean. Chinese first's names don't sound like this."

"I can't see the difference." She stopped playing with my body.

"I'm Henriette Daucourt. Nice to meet you, dear Song. I'm glad you're a girl." She then stared at my face.

I think I was shaking at that time. Nobody touched me like this before.

And, she found me attractive? As a girl? Strange.

Henriette interrupted my thoughts, "Do you mind becoming one of us?"

"I'd be pleased too!"

She smiled back at me, "Thanks. We need you. Because we made a bet with the Opéra. If our shows are as well-executed as a 'pro' one, we could step up our game. We just went beyond quadrille. But it's been one year, and we don't go higher." She pointed herself, "You saw the show. We're far from becoming prima ballerinas. But I won't give up on my dream. It's not because I discovered ballet at the late age of 19 that I should stop dreaming!"

"So...You've all...been rejected?"

She nodded, "The Opéra sent us Coach Isabelle to look for us. Come to the scene with me. I'll try to convince Isabelle."

"She doesn't want any new pupils?"

Henriette gave me a knowing smile, telling me, "That's right."