A Dance to Remember

Stranger continued to fix Nil with an unwavering gaze, his eyes wide with intensity. In response, Nil couldn't help but roll his eyes, a gesture of exasperation accompanied by a dismissive shake of his head."Stranger," Nil began, his tone tinged with a hint of nervousness, "please, don't stare at me like that. It's unnerving."Stranger, undeterred, maintained his piercing gaze. "Nil," he said, his voice steady and unwavering, "it's not about how I'm looking at you. It's about what you're doing."Perplexed, Nil furrowed his brow. "What do you mean? What have I done?"Stranger's annoyance was palpable, though softened by a faint smile. "The doctor advised you to rest more. And yet, here you are," he gestured towards the bowl of ice cream in Nil's hand, "indulging in treats at this hour. And now, you want to dance too. It's... concerning."A pang of guilt washed over Nil as he lowered his gaze. Sensing the weight of the moment, Stranger let out a weary sigh.Looking up at Stranger with an expression akin to a scolded child, Nil's lips formed a pout. "Stranger, you're scolding me..."Stranger's demeanor softened, his gaze gentle as he reached out to touch Nil's shoulder. "I'm not scolding you, Nil," he reassured softly. "I'm simply reminding you to take care of yourself. We can dance together anytime, but your health comes first."Nil's face broke into a smile, a warmth spreading through his features. "Hmm..."Intrigued by Nil's sudden amusement, Stranger couldn't help but inquire, "What's got you smiling?"Taking hold of Stranger's hands, Nil leaned in close. "Do you still think I'm just recovering from medicine?" he asked, his voice filled with sincerity. "You're wrong. I'm getting better because you're here, Stranger. You're my remedy, not those colorful tablets."Stranger attempted to interject, but Nil gently placed a finger over his lips, silencing him. With a pleading look, Nil urged for his silence."But, Nil," Stranger attempted once more to interject, his voice soft but insistent.Nil gently placed a hand on Stranger's mouth, silencing him with a tender gesture. As Stranger tried to speak, Nil, with a soft kiss, removed his own hand and held Stranger's tightly. Respecting Nil's unspoken request, Stranger remained silent, his gaze fixed on Nil.Nil continued, "Since we're in a relationship, we've faced so many ups and downs. There was nothing normal. Even our first dance wasn't ordinary. Sooo..."Stranger, acknowledging Nil's sentiments, responded, "So, you want to dance again, but I still say we can do it tomorrow."Nil, with another subtle smile, pondered, "Will there be such a beautiful moonlit night again tomorrow? Will the electricity go off like this tomorrow? Will the candle be lit like this again tomorrow? Will Iii..."Before Nil could finish his sentence, Stranger gently clasped his hand over Nil's face. Their faces were intimately close, immersed in each other's eyes amid the flickering light of candles and the twinkling of the moon. Suddenly, Stranger withdrew his hand, then played a song on his mobile and placed it on the side table before standing in the middle of the cabin.Nil, perplexed by Stranger's actions, looked on in anticipation. After a while, Stranger gracefully knelt with his left knee on the ground, the right knee raised, and extended his left hand toward Nil. Shocked by the gesture, Nil stared at Stranger. Lowering his head with a warm smile, Stranger spoke softly, "Mr. Qing, would you love to dance with me?"Nil burst with happiness, rushing towards Stranger and gently taking his hand. Though Nil desired to express himself, his heart pounded relentlessly, rendering him speechless. His gaze remained fixed on Stranger, captivated by the moment. After a while, Stranger slowly stood, his hand on his waist, and pulled Nil closer.Longing for a dance, Nil's cheeks turned as red as tomatoes in embarrassment. Lowering his eyes, Nil softly inquired, "(In a soft tone) Strangerrr, what are you doing?"Stranger pressed Nil even closer, gazing at him with mischievous eyes and a lustful smile. "(With a lustful smile) Why, as I remember, you wanted to dance for so long?"As Nil prepared to respond, Stranger began to move rhythmically, elegantly turning with the slow music. There was a subtle intensity to his movements, a suggestion that he shouldn't be underestimated. Nil, however, paid little attention to it. Perhaps it was because he was falling in love with a Stranger he barely knew. The warmth between Stranger and Nil intensified with each passing second.Feeling their heartbeats sync, Stranger's dance was flawless. Every breath, every step, perfectly aligned. With a tight turn, Stranger pulled Nil in, dipping his face onto Nil's shoulder. Nil nodded, sighing with contentment and smiling.By the end of the dance, Nil's breath was taken away, and he smiled again, understanding the exact reason why. They stood in the same position, Nil closing his eyes, feeling the warmth of Stranger's chest. After a while, Stranger kissed Nil's neck and whispered, "Is Mr. Qing satisfied now?"Nil smiled faintly, lowered his head, and Stranger resumed kissing his neck, eliciting a soft moan from Nil.............................................................................As a new day dawned, Nil stirred in his sleep, rolling his hands on the bed, softly whispering Stranger's name. However, he felt nothing and, upon slightly opening his eyes, was surprised to find Merry sitting in a chair beside his bed. Startled, Nil exclaimed,"Mee...Merry youu!"Merry responded with a wicked smile, teasing, "Why, did you expect someone else to be by your side?"Nil remained silent, glancing around the room, but it was empty except for Merry. Observing Nil, Merry finally disclosed,"He's gone."Nil, unable to contain his astonishment, began to question rapidly,"Why, how? I mean, how could he leave without seeing me!"Merry, attempting to calm him, explained,"Nill, calm down. He said he would come back soon."Expressing his sadness, Nil replied,"But how could he leave without seeing me?"Merry, pointing to the time, remarked,"Look at the clock, it's 11:11 am. Perhaps, he didn't want to disturb your rest. By the way, did something happen between you and P. Kao last night?"Confused, Nil questioned,"Why?"Merry, noticing Nil's fresh and delighted appearance, couldn't help but laugh."You look so fresh and delighted today."Blushing at the memory of the previous night, Nil buried his face in the sheet.