Loving A Triple Threat

Gi finished her vocal warm-up, and it was her turn to perform in front of the small singing class; S3. There were only four students, as she didn't want to join the large class it was closer to a choir, and the solo class was too expensive. Out of all the singing teachers she had Ms Ling, which was fortunate, Gi liked Ms Ling.

She began softly and slowly built up the song until she reached the crescendo where Gi pumped out the chorus with all her power. Ms Ling's face was a mask, and she didn't care what the other students thought as they were terribly biased thinking themselves brilliant and everyone else mediocre.

Especially Gi, who was a Mezzo amongst a sea of Sopranos. Her range was as low as G and all the way to High C, anything higher and her voice was unreliable at best. Sopranos could kill her on the high notes, but she owned the lower tones.

Ms Ling nodded in time as the song progressed, it was a comforting form of approval from her favourite Teacher.

"Very good Miss Reyn," Ms Ling said when she had finished. "Your pitch was stable, and your control very good this time. I like the way you always adjust the arrangement to suit your voice. It demonstrates your musical knowledge and talent. And as always your rhythm is perfect."

Gi glowed. Ms Ling was really building up her confidence, which she needed after the hard weeks of practice and constant challenges to her ability.

"Thank you, Ms Ling," she said bowing deeply.

"I would like you to do a rap next performance," Ms Ling stated calmly.

"Excuse me?" Gi blurted before she could control her mouth.

The words stunned even the unflappable Ms Luo Ling. She opened her mouth and closed it before tilting her head to the side and appraising Gi, looking her up and down.

"You are good at dance, yes?" Ms Ling asked.

An anonymous cough was heard from the other three girls, two of which were in her Dance class. Suzie Kim and Misha Kay.

It was well known that since her growth spurt put her near six foot, tall Gi struggled with dance. She had in the eyes of the teacher gone backwards despite her hard work. Despite her yoga, fitness, sweat and blood. Gi was a mess with dance. Her long legs now tripped one another, her timing was off, and her flexibility suffered.

"Ms Ling," she stated carefully using her correct title, "I work very hard at dance, but I am not satisfied with my progress."

It was Ms Ling's turn to scoff, "Miss Reyn, you have grown, give your inner spirit time to catch up with your body." She said wisely.

'Oh, Ms Ling', Gi cried to herself, 'Why can't you be my dance teacher too.'

Ms Ling circled Gi, humpfing and making other strange sounds to accentuate her inspection. "Miss Reyn," she began earnestly, "It is my role as your Teacher to push you past what you think your limits are. To see what you cannot see because of your lack of experience. Your rhythm is superb, your breathing is excellent, and as I understand it, your creative writing is not bad."

She stood in front of Gi, looking up slightly because Gi was taller, but her stare was a direct challenge. "You will present an original rap next week, one which satisfies me, or I will kick you out of my class."

Gi wanted to cry, her favourite teacher had turned on her as well. She could not say a word, because any form of protest would not help, not when judging Ms Ling's tone and with her transgressions mounting daily. She did not want to be known as disrespectful. There was no worse title in the entertainment industry. Even being known as promiscuous was better.

She bowed her head and accepted the challenge, "Yes, Ms Ling." She said before taking her seat and sitting through the performances of her fellow students and rivals.

The rest of her long day flew by, she started school at 8am and left for home at 8pm. For some countries, this was insane, but it was normal in Korea. Gi was lucky, she was able to drop maths and all the sciences and take subjects in three languages, creative writing, music and double up with drama at school as well as evening classes. This was one of the benefits of a hugely expensive progressive school.

Lunch and dinner were provided by the school, which her parents paid for through the exorbitant fees and sometimes the best part of her day was physical education. She was able to run around with a stick playing a silly game of grass hockey or baseball. When the weather turned bad, they played indoor soccer or basketball. All of which she loved, and she took none of them seriously.

She sat on the train her brain had turned to mush from the long day when a slightly familiar voice woke her from her stupor.

"Hi," Sena said in the way of introduction. He plonked down beside her.

Gi's posture was always good, she had trained herself from a young age to sit or stand correctly, and it was so ingrained that she did it without thinking even when dead tired on a train going home near the end of a long week. Even so, she stiffened and straightened in surprise when he spoke.

"How did you find me?" She asked turning her head towards the sound, and suspecting a lot of stalking was involved. She peered at him waiting for an answer.

"Well," he said taking in a long breath, "You didn't give Hyuk or Seok your number. And 'though you got Seok's you never texted him, so we didn't know what yours was. And if I go anywhere near your school, I will end up in a.d.u.l.t jail … and … well, Seok and Hyuk were too chicken to come and see you. So … I've been riding this train back and forth all week since I got out of juvie because a few months ago someone saw you get on this line. I've been walking up and down the carriages looking for you and finally found you!"

"Oh and you owe me a date," He added after a minute's dead silence.

Gi stared at him her emotions going from incredulous, to scandalous to fearful and back to impressed. "You are strange," she observed emphasising each word.

He looked hurt, "Why?" He asked showing a small crack of vulnerability.

"To admit what you just did," she replied, "One I never knew a boy would go to such lengths, and not for me anyway. And two; even if you went to such lengths shouldn't you lie and say something like. Oh.. I just saw you, what a coincidence?"

Sena laughed, mostly at himself. "I'm not as smart as you, and I didn't have a plan after finding you."

His laugh and honesty were disarming.

Gi looked him up and down appraising him seriously. His hair was a dark mess, and there was some dirt on his face and jacket. He was tall and lanky, probably a few inches taller than her, and he had an inner confidence that she would die to own. His clothes looked good on him, despite being a hodgepodge of shirt, scarf, jacket and slacks. He was stylish in his own way which was significantly better than copying someone else.

This was the boy who fooled the police, the school and faced punishment for her. It was then when she remembered something that was playing in the back of her mind.

"Where did you come from?" She asked her lanky hero.

He leaned back, put an arm behind his head, and his tongue lolled on one side of his mouth. "I come from Seoul Miss," he replied nonchalantly.

She laughed again. "You're funny, but you're not getting off that easy. Where did you come from when I was in dance practice getting into trouble?"

"Oh then!" He looked surprised by the question, "Um…" he paused. "Would you believe me if I told you we were conducting research?"

She sniffed, smelling something fishy. He didn't look like the research type. "You weren't going to steal something from the school were you?"

Again her looked hurt by her accusation, it was a quick pained flutter across his face, "No!" He protested. After a moment of reflection, he declared, "Look. I will come clean. We were under the massive bookcase watching you dance."

She chuckled, looked up the train, it was her stop in two, "Why?" She asked genuinely ignorant.

He looked dumbfounded. He sat up straight and looked slowly from her feet to her head while she watched his face. He looked hungry. He looked like he wanted to eat her.

"Oh," she said with sudden realisation and immediate embarrassment from his brazen appraisal.

He leaned in close, "So when's the date? I'm free now."

Gi felt like she owed him, but he was suddenly coming on too strong, and it was turning her off the idea.

"I'm off next stop," she said in the way of a rebuttal.

To Sena's credit, he took the hint with only a brief hurt look betraying him. "Okay. I get it." He said quietly, looking the other way.

Her heart suddenly lept for him. She didn't want to cause him pain, and she could feel it leaping around the carriage like a deer.

"Sena," she said, "Let me text you, so you don't have to go to such lengths next time. During the week I am busy. But on Sundays, I have a little bit of free time, and we could meet somewhere."

He turned, hope springing to his eyes and they shone. Gi was shocked to realise boys emotions were just as bad as girls.

He recited his number, and she sent him a little smiley face in the way of a text. She looked into his deep dark brown eyes, they were incredibly manipulative in their longing and yearning. Those eyes were dangerous and not by intent.

"Remember," she said standing readying to get off the train, "I am busy during the week so don't send me a thousand texts okay?" She was convinced by his attentiveness that he would have to show some restraint and she was serious about being busy; it was a legitimate request.

He nodded, "Okay Gi. I'll text you Saturday." He leaned back and smiled at her departing form. He looked very happy with himself and continued to stare hungrily at her rear end as she departed up the platform.