Slow Dancing

My lips opened a bit before I closed it again to look for any person he might be talking to.

But it is only us.

I have it checked.

And it was my name he uttered.

I stopped in my tracks and inhaled before I completely let myself turn to look at him. I tried to look inside the man's comfort room but I couldn't find Rain. I just can't peek whole in there, I may see what I shouldn't. I am not ready for that yet.

...yet?

I questioned my consciousness.

I glanced at him and caught him watching me still.

"You are talking to me." I declared, because who else will he talk to when no one is here but the two of us?

Well, except if he has some imaginary friend, which I think he doesn't have.

He stood up properly, off the wall now. By the look of his smile, he is kind of nervous about something.

Why is he nervous?

Is it because he likes me?

Gosh! Why am I suddenly so full of myself? And where does that though came from?

I am about to say...yes but Rain suddenly popped up outside the comfort room. His whistling stopped as soon as his eyes drifted to us.

Akin also diverted his eyes on him. I caught how Rain tried to mask his teasing smile to a friendly one.

"Bro, you are done talking to Stella?"

"Ah, she is only asking something about our classes," he explained shortly.

Akin's eyes flew back at me.

He is really fond to look into my eyes. And why does it seem like he saying that to me? I am not the one who brought it up?

"Surely, you asked her to dance with you?"

His eyes bore on Rain.

"My thought actually didn't drift to that,"

So, if his thought drift to it, she will ask her? Oh come on Reishza, what now? Its not like he really has something towards me.

"How about later?" Rain probed.

"Reishza is who I want to dance with."

"If it's okay with you, of course." he continued, now looking back at Rain, making my eyes dilate a bit. Especially on his first line.

"Of course dude! Why would that be a matter to me? We're just good good good good friends," he even nodded to assure him that we are really just 'good friends'.

And he agreed without consulting me. Great right?

"You two can go and have a great dance already. I can ma-" he said, acting like a cupid tonight but I cut his wings off.

Nervous of an idea, I bravely spoke an ungrateful remark.

"We are returning back to the table right now, excuse me" I excused, pulling Rain by his suit.

Akin's eyes flew my hold.

I cleared my throat to add up something when Rain held onto my hand a bit tight compared to his always careful touches. Signaling me to add up something.

"You can… you can just go to our table later. If you…wanted it…still?" I asked him with an unsure smile on my lips.

Sure! I even allowed Collin to have a dance with me, why can't he?

Right?

Yes.

He held my eyes again before he nodded.

"Thank you, " he agreed and smiled.

On cue, I didn't waste any time to turn my back.

Okay! What is this unlady-like gestures Reishza?!

I wanted to fan myself but I refrain to do so. I walked fast and didn't wait for Rain anymore, but the man has long strides so he is immediately on my side, pointing out something on my face.

"Are you blushing?!" he almost shouted.

I turned around to look if someone is hearing us but none is, so I breathed all the needed air I forgot to take in when he suddenly announced that.

I neared my face at him. So close that he can see I am not. I am naturally flush! This has nothing to do with that casual asking for a dance!

"I am not!" I said, my eyes turned crossed-eyed looking at his high nose bridge.

Someone cleared his throat from nowhere. I retracted back on my position when Akin pass exactly between us.

Where did he come from?

Rain, still not satisfied with his teasing, grinned widely again. I glared at him darkly and he shut his mouth up to stop. But I can see through him, he is still not done with his teasing. I won't be shocked later if this news was already known in the house.

We returned to the table with Rain smiling abnormally as he talks to people. And I definitely do not have to guess why.

The floor is still filled with people dancing in the rhythm of the song when my phone lit up for a text.

Both Rain and I saw who the sender is.

Miro:

I told you he will be your boyfriend tonight!

"You little wench," I quietly whizzed at Rain.

Immediately, he removed his eyes off at me.

"Yow, Greta do you wanna dance?" he greeted someone that's passing by to excuse himself out of my outburst. The woman she called narrowed her eyes on him.

"My name is not Greta."

I tried my best to not laugh at Rain's face.

"Oh, I thought you are. Because you look so much like the gorgeous protagonist from the movie I've watched last night." he shamelessly flirted.

The woman looked flattered and blush at his statement. I consciously held my cheeks and my mind flew on what happened earlier. I did not blush like that. Rain is very wrong when he declared that.

"And she is named Greta," he added to smoothly correct his mistake earlier.

I don't even know if any movie has a female protagonist named Greta.

I smiled warmly at her and she smiled the same at me. She is really pretty. She looks like a prom queen! And I have a feeling like she can be a possible friend... somehow.

Rain stood up and offered his hand at her like a prince. She obliged and they walked away to move with the music.

The brute definitely knows how to pick a girl. He's definitely an expert doing that for years. You cannot doubt him having a woman's heart.

I should just busy myself with my phone then.

Me:

He is not my boyfriend. Stop insisting so.

I lifted my eyes on the crowd again and meet Akin's eyes staring directly at me. I remove my eyes in that direction like I am just casually roaming my eyes on the dancing people. I caught Collin on the far table walking towards me.

Miro:

Not yet.

The music comes to stop and I replied again to Miro.

Me:

Why don't you just bother Rianna with your texts?

Rianna is his ex-crush. Yeah, ex-crush because according to him she is liking him too much, and he does not want those kinds of obvious girls.

However, I know he doesn't just know of his feelings yet. Sometimes, I pair Rianna with other boys and he would give me a death glare for it.

Then he'll start teasing me back about how Akin and I are so fated for each other.

And that I should make him my boyfriend.

I couldn't bring up another argument after that.

Me:

It's up to you. She is so pretty. Some guys must be texting her out actively now.

My phone lit again but a man's hand blocked my sight on it. I looked up and learned who it belongs to. The people, including most of the dancing crowd near us, focused their attention on us.

I guess this is inevitable?

"Can I have this dance?"

For years, I occasionally hear his voice from afar or a not so near distance, so now, hearing it raw, husky, and close... I couldn't blame myself for having a moment of stutter.

His breath smells like a mixture of mint and a little bit of sweet wine.

I held on for my dear life and tried hard to not inhale weirdly.

I held my phone tightly as I put my other hand on his hand.

He held my hand at that.

A group cheered loudly. My eyes drifted to the direction where it came from only to realize it is from his group and table. Aren't we gathering so much attention now? I feel so exposed.

"Are they bothering you?" Akin said. The raspiness of his voice made my body react again.

I busied myself looking at everyone except him.

I caught how Collin stopped on the middle of his walk. I am suppose to let a smile but he has already turned his back to me and on his way outside with jaw clenched, so I stopped myself.

Five more men who have ask me for a dance earlier has their eyes on us. And it looks like they were not having a plan to step further or to stood up from their respective seats.

Rain's very proud smile is radiating from afar that it can't go unnoticed even with all the glowing lights and the diamond he is dancing with.

Here goes what you agreed on tonight. Seems like just cutting a cupid's wings isn't as effective as I thought it would be.

I shook my head and Akin let out a sigh.

"Shouldn't you be looking at me?"

I felt the heat travel my system with that. I lifted my eyes slowly to look at him in the face.

But I immediately withdrew because I just can't. He is so close. He is quite intimidating for me.

And I felt nervous doing that. Perhaps because even if it isn't my first male encounter, it is the closest space I have interacted with anybody else. First time.

He is still holding my hand so when he proceeded to walk. I also walked. When he stopped in the middle of the busy people to face me, I also stopped.

"Hmmm," he said, urging me to look at him again.

"I can't, we are so close ha-ha-ha," I laughed my nervousness out.

Why am I even nervous?

He is not my crush. It is just a simple dance. My first dance at that.

"Alright then. Should I take it slow?"

His lips seemingly protuded for quick seconds when our fingers met. His eyes seemed wary but still definitely intense when he guided my hand to settle on his broad shoulders lightly. He soon found my eyes and it became the most intense beating of my heart.

I cleared my throat at his sudden move.

That was slow?

Yes, according to him.

Maybe it is…I suddenly do not know what 'slow' is to him.

"Can I also place mine on your waist?" he asked again, faint.

I softly nodded because I felt like convulsing that I can't afford to talk. What is wrong with me?

I calmed myself hard when his hand snaked on my waist as the music starts. Now we are closer. He is taking it slowly he said!

Crowded room by Conor Maynard started to play.

'I still remember that perfect smile

That you gave me the first time I saw you

I knew it then and I still know now

That my darling I'll always adore you

Promise me that you'll always be

The same person you've always been

And love me whether I'm strong or weak

Say you won't let go

Say you won't let go'

We dance to the rhythm of a slow romance music, and despite the dancefloor's dimness, I am not blind to see eyes glaring at me right now. I can see that girls are already plotting some bad-mouthing against me again.

Well, they can try and try, I won't waste my energy on it.

I renewed my hold on his shoulders.

Feverish.

'I'm standing in a crowded room

But it doesn't change that all I see is you

I swear that you're perfect

I don't deserve this night with you

Night with you, oh

I'm standing in a crowded room

If heaven's a place then it was made for two

I swear that you're perfect

I don't deserve this night with you

But I'd love to

Spend my life with you'

"You look gorgeous everyday, but you are especially breathtaking tonight," Akin complimented as he glides his hands on my waist tighter, making our body closer than before.

This time I looked at him too.

But that doesn't mean I am not nervous anymore! All these moves, he is doing it slowly, right?

My thoughts and questions are going redundant and I couldn't think of anything aside from these this time!

"You are… also handsome tonight... and every day." I complimented him successfully, without the shaking voice.

His eyes lit up and his wholesome smile didn't escape my eyes. I noticed how he has no intention to hide those expressions from me.

He bit his lower lip on my watch.

I refrained myself to mimic the same thing.

'I swear it feels like you're made for me

By the way that our lips fit together

And when we lay in each others arms

Hope you know I could stay there forever'

"Really? You think so?" he asked me again as he let a chuckle escape.

I guess that the heat of my body made it sound like a dream.

It is impossible that he don't know that fact!

I awkwardly removed my eyes at him again. And I felt grateful when my phone vibrated on my hold. I can have a reason not to look at him. The text is from Miro. I am about to click it but I felt someone eyeing it aside from me. Akin's face is now lighted by the dancefloor playful glimmer.

"Ah, my brother," I explained, closing my phone now.

He nodded. Now hiding an still evident gleam on his face.

I, for the first fime, rolled my eyes because of his tacky pretention.

He laughed sexilly which made my brow up.

I roamed my eyes on the floor and got a little more annoyed.

What kind of attitude are you making Reishza?!

Papa, I'm sorry I realized I am a quarter of a bitch too?

"He also texted me earlier," he then told me after his brief laughter.

My eyes widened because I fear what he might have texted him. And Miro has his number? He texts him?

My troubled expression was seen by Akin, making him more indulge of something.

"His text is normal. Nothing to worry about. He is not selling you to me," he assured me that.

His lip protruded playfully as he continues.

"It's actually the vice versa. I am marketing myself to him so that he can… probably mention me to you?"

Why do he need to say that to me?! And now I can't stop myself from blushing!

"Hehe," that is only I can reply.

If only you know that he keeps reminding me everyday to make you my boyfriend!

His eyes roam on my body and I sinfully looked at his well-toned body too.

I can't believe I just checked him out! Oh my gosh!

My papa didn't teach me this!

He caught me checking out his chest and I felt very humiliated by it. I mentally slapped myself for it.

He just smiled warmly at me.

'Promise me that you'll always be

The same person you've always been

And love me whether I'm strong or weak

Say you won't let go

Say you won't let go'

I felt so relieved of the silence he gave after that. If he'll ever bring up that I am obvious on checking him out I would run off this floor.

Literally.

And I mean it.

Really.

We finished two songs silently before he removed my hand on his shoulders. I thought he will let go of it since obviously, I can go back to the table without his hand on me but he didn't let go of it.

I tried my best to carefully pull it away but he'd only renew his hold.

Rain and his partner are already at the table and they seem to just wait for us. Now, I managed to pull out my hand on Akin's. Rain's brow went up looking at it until he realized he should not. Akin's eyes traveled on my chest. He then proceeded to do a look around to meet some men's eyes.

By the way, the other men earlier, I mean i thought they've ask me for a dance?

"Do you have a jacket with you?"

Before I can answer him that I am fine this way, he already removed his coat and placed it on my back.

"I'm fine without it," I countered, trying to take off his coat on me.

He placed the coat better on me though.

I turned to Rain, trying to get help from him but he just, for the second time around, betrayed me.

"That coat can surely cast all those dirty eyes away. So don't remove it."

I kicked his feet below the table and I made sure I hit him hard. He grunted loud. His partner looked at him and he just whispered something in her. Probably another excuse.

"Please don't remove it," Akin said with a voice only I could hear.

He glanced at my state once more before he politely excuse himself to go back to his table.