Chapter 31 Family That I Chose
Family That I Chose
The ballet studio was alive with the sound of soft piano notes and the occasional slap of pointe shoes against polished wood floors. My muscles ached in the best way, my legs burning as I pushed through another round of turns across the room.
I had been sitting in the worst anticipation ever since my audition, they were going to announce who was going to play lead this Friday, and I was nothing but a bundle of nerves.
I needed to win more than I needed the air in my lungs.
I need to prove myself, not just myself, but to my family.
I was determined to show other young Indonesian and Zambian ballerinas that they could make it in an industry like this, despite the fact that it was so harsh against us.
So you see, getting lead was more than just a role.
“Keep your core tight, Yesoh,” Madame said, her sharp eyes tracking my every move.
“Yes, ma’am,” I muttered, swallowing back the urge to roll my shoulders.
I landed my last pirouette and lowered into a perfect finish, my breath catching as applause broke out around the room. It was mostly from Remi who was sitting in the corner tying her shoes.
“You’re showing off,” she teased with a grin.
“Says the girl who performed a full grand jeté during warm-ups,” I shot back, walking over to grab my water bottle.
Before she could respond, the faint buzz of my phone in my bag caught my attention. I wiped my hands on my towel and pulled it out, frowning at the name flashing across the screen.
Wynter Kwon.
“Wynter?” Remi whispered dramatically. “Why is he calling during class? Does he know no one disturbs the divine art of ballet?”
“Shut up,” I whispered back, my heart doing an annoying little skip.
“Answer it! I want to hear his paddington bear ass accent,” she whispered again, not so quietly this time.
Rolling my eyes, I stepped into the hallway and pressed accept, my voice purposefully nonchalant. “What do you want, Kwon?”
There was a pause, then his warm, deep voice came through the line. “Good afternoon to you too, Soh.”
I smiled despite myself, leaning against the wall. “You’re interrupting practice.”
“Am I? Because you answered,” he countered, amusement coloring his tone.
“Maybe I was hoping it was someone more interesting,” I quipped.
“Ouch,” he said with mock offense. “If I wasn’t in a good mood, that would hurt.”
“And why are you in such a good mood?”
“Because I’m talking to you,” he said smoothly, and even though I couldn’t see him, I knew he was grinning.
I rolled my eyes again, but my cheeks betrayed me by warming. “You’re annoying, you know that?”
“Annoying but effective,” he replied. “Did I mention you look great in pointe shoes?”
“Unless you have cameras around me, last I checked You’re not here, Wynter.”
“Doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”
“What’s with the silence?” Wynter asked, his voice breaking my focus. “Are you imagining me in tights again?”
“What?” I hissed, glancing around to make sure no one overheard.
“You heard me,” he said, clearly pleased with himself.
“Firstly it’s not like I ever have to imagine you in tights I see you in them every other day, and I could Google it right now.” I explained, “secondly You’re lucky I don’t hang up on you.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” he challenged, his tone low and teasing.
I bit my lip, my smile threatening to give me away. “You have no idea what I’d do. Are you done being silly or is there a point to this call?”
“Actually, girlfriend. there is.” His voice shifted, turning softer. “My dad’s flying in from Nottingham for the holidays. With Beck.”
“Really?” I straightened, caught off guard. “To New York?”
“Yeah. They’re renting a place in the city for a couple of weeks,” he explained. “It’s been forever since we’ve all been together.”
“That’s great, Wynter.”
“It gets better,” he said, his tone lifting. “I want you to come with me.”
“To meet your dad?” I asked, my stomach doing that stupid fluttery thing again.
“More than that,” he said. “I want to introduce you to him. Officially.”
I blinked, my heart skipping a beat. “As your…?”
“My girlfriend,” he finished, the word deliberate and sure.
The silence stretched for a moment, but not because I didn’t know how I felt. I knew exactly how I felt. Warm. Happy. Nervous, maybe, but mostly happy.
“I’d like that,” I said finally.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I repeated, my voice softer now.
“Good,” he said, and I could hear the relief in his tone. “I’ll send you the details. And, Yesoh?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m lucky, very lucky. To have you in my life and for you to be giving me the chance to win your heart.”
“You don’t have to win my heart.” I grumbled. Because for crying out loud the man had had it in the palm of his hands for years and don’t know it. “It’s not a competition."
“She said to the Olympic gold medalist.” he sighed and i knew there was no winning with him.
I laughed despite myself, shaking my head. “Goodbye, Wynter.”
“Goodbye, ballerina,” he said, and I could practically hear his smirk as I hung up.
I turned back into the studio to find Remi waiting, her arms crossed and a knowing grin on her face.
“So,” she said, drawing out the word. “You’re going to meet the family, huh? Big step. Big Serious official girlfreind step.”
“Remi…” I warned.
“I can’t believe you became a girlfriend before me” she asked, batting her lashes innocently. “By the way have you seen the tabloids?”
“What do you mean?” I wondered.
“Girl the press is weighing down heavy on who the Wynter Andy Kwon’s new mystery girl is, I swear it feels like an episode of gossip girl.
Those pictures of you guys at the park are everywhere online, but your face isn’t shown though.
” She expressed. “Careful, dating someone famous isn’t all butterflies and rainbows the media can be invasive as hell. ”
“Sometimes I find it incredibly difficult to believe that we’re not 16 anymore hidden in the comfort of Waverly Peak.” I hummed looking up the photos online taking in millions of views. “That this is the real world, they want in on every minuscule detail of his life for a quick buck.”
“Damn I wish these were my problems, instead, I’m swimming in student loans and combating a very shallow dating pool where being taken to a fancy dinner is like asking for euthanasia.” Remi contemplated and I chucked.
“Do you know how replaceable you are as a friend?” I shot back, but my cheeks were still warm.
“Oh shut up you love me.” She giggled as I smiled at a photo of Wynter and I together that day in the snowy park.
She laughed, grabbing my towel and throwing it at me. “Oh, you’re so gone for him, it’s adorable.”
I didn’t bother denying it.
The next day the chill in the air deepened as Wynter and I walked through Manhattan’s festive streets, the holiday lights above us blinking like stars. I’d wrapped my scarf so tight it was practically a second skin, but no amount of wool could calm the nervous energy tightening my chest.
“Relax,” Wynter said, his voice breaking the silence. He glanced at me, one eyebrow raised in that knowing way of his. “You’re going to be fine.”
“I am fine,” I said, though my scarf-adjusting habit gave me away.
“It’s not like you don’t know them Soh you’ve seen more of my dad‘s face and you have your own mother.” He commented and my heart panged at the realization.
“Okay, ouch.” I glanced away.
“Hey, no I don’t mean it that way. I apologize.
I don’t see my mother at all, remember that.
I would never say something to intentionally hurt you.
I was just trying to emphasize how close our families have always been so you’d feel less nervous.
” He explained placing both hands on my shoulders, he wore a brown jacket and navy collared shirt. Very English.
“I get that, it’s okay.” I hummed.
“ I hope you know that now that we are dating you don’t always have to be okay with everything I say or do.
I want you to always put me in my place, I want you to check me when I’m wrong, hell I even want you to cuss me out, if I was out of line.
You’ve always kept me on my toes Soh, don’t stop now.
” He insisted kissing my forehead in a way so tender I nearly melted.
“I promise to let you know if you’re being a dick.”I assured him and he pressed his tongue to his cheek and chuckled.
“That’s my girl.” He wrapped his arm around me.
“Yay.” I smiled.
“You’ve been messing with that scarf for twenty minutes, and it’s perfect,” he teased. “You could tie it into a bow and walk the red carpet with it.”
I huffed, biting back a smile. “Not everyone is as effortlessly layed back as you, I, however, am the personification of apprehension.”
“That’s not true,” he replied, his tone turning softer. “You’re cooler than I am. And smarter. And…” He trailed off, his cheeks coloring faintly as he looked ahead.
“Are you blushing?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood.
“No,” he lied, quickening his pace toward the apartment building ahead.
I followed, my nerves giving way to quiet amusement. It was a rare thing to see Wynter flustered, and it almost made me forget the weight of the evening ahead. Almost.
The apartment Wynter’s dad had rented for the holidays was stunning, a blend of modern luxury and cozy warmth. The Christmas tree in the corner twinkled with gold and silver ornaments, and the faint smell of pine mingled with something rich and savory from the kitchen.
“Dad?” Wynter called, leading me inside.
“In here,” came the familiar, deep voice of Mr. Kwon.
We stepped into the living room, and there he was, rising slowly from the couch.
Time had left its mark on him—the streaks of silver in his hair had spread, and his posture wasn’t as straight as I remembered.
But his presence was still as commanding as ever, and his smile was warm enough to soften the sharp edges of the years.
“Wynter,” he greeted, stepping forward to clasp his son’s hand. Then his eyes landed on me, and his expression softened further. “And Yesoh.”