“Appa,” Eunhae whines. “I don’t think this is it.”

Hyukjae looks at his daughter fondly, a smile playing on his lips, but not fully spreading yet. They have been practicing in Hyukjae’s new dance studio for most of the afternoon since Eunhae wanted to audition for a play in her school. His daughter had been interested in music for a while now, and although he has been wary about what she could find in the internet, he thinks it’s best that Eunhae can be given the chance of growing her talent. It’s not fair to withhold something like that. Besides, Hyukjae loves music. He was glad that she has picked that up from him.

“Try again,” Hyukjae suggest, going to the radio to press play.

Eunhae makes a face. Are twelve year olds this sassy?

Eunhae dances again, and Hyukjae observes her, watching her movements and expressions in the mirror, and sometimes dancing some parts with her. When the song ended, Eunhae bends over with hands on her knees to catch her breath.

“Hyukkie appa,” Eunhae says, her face looking sullen, like a cloud had passed over it. “I don’t think I can be as good as you.”

“But it wasn’t bad,” Hyukjae disagrees. “Relax a little when you’re dancing. Don’t be so strict and so stiff about it, or that’s how it’ll look. It’s all about your mentality.”

Eunhae stares at her father.

Hyukjae lets out a laugh. “What I’m saying is, have fun. Don’t try to bring something in your dancing that isn’t you.”

Eunhae thinks about it for a moment. “At what part in my dancing did you feel like it wasn’t me?”

Hyukjae counts off some beats and makes sound effects that goes with it. “Here.” Hyukjae does the routine slowly to show Eunhae.

“Do you want to do it again?” Hyukjae asks.

Eunhae chews on her lip, her eyes wavering in indecision.

Hyukjae reaches out and frames his daughter’s face with his hands. “Dancing isn’t about who’s best. That also matters, but if you can’t be satisfied with what you do, how do you think your audience would feel? It’s all about the inside. Don’t stick to a standard, Eunhae. That’s how you get stuck.”

Eunhae pouts and Hyukjae kisses her forehead. “Do it again, then we can go eat dinner.”

After practicing Eunhae’s dance one last time, they pack up their things and make their way out. However, there was a group of girls hanging out in front of the studio. They were taking pictures of it, and one of them pointed at him. Hyukjae places his daughter behind him protectively. He watches them, making it clear that he wasn’t about to entertain them. He would’ve thought that after al