When I First Met You

Chapter Four: Black Bear Part II

Chapter 4: Black Bear Part 2

May's head was spinning. She was trying to piece together what was going on around her. Jasmine liked Hyunjin, he could like her as well and May was nowhere near his world to compete.

May motioned with her head towards the dance floor. Vera and Kaida followed behind her to the dancefloor. They felt sympathetic towards their best friend. She had dreamt of her reunion with Paris boy all these years. She had practically rejected Marcus from the first year and Jet from the second year because she was waiting for her Paris boy. They were good guys Kaida thought.

That didn't matter anymore. Because now they knew he was in the same school as they were, and he was already taken. By Jasmine. Bright, beautiful, and blooming Jasmine.

Just then the spotlights lit up the stage and three incredibly good-looking guys stepped into their instruments, except her Paris guy. Where was he? May thought. She decided to tip-toe to see if she can spot him in the front. Maybe he was behind the stage.

"Is everyone having a good night?" the guy at the front spoke. When he did the girls in the room went nuts screaming and flailing like they were at some fish market. May's hands instantly flew to cover her ears from all the deafening screams from the adoring female population. "That's probably Chris," May muttered to herself.

"That's good to hear, now we have a special request from a birthday girl tonight," Chris continued, "is she in the room right now?" May looked to where the others were standing.

Jasmine was near the back and was shrinking in her position, trying to shy away from the crowd. Jasmine found herself standing beside Kaida. But, before she could make an escape Kaida pushed her forward and yelled, "she's here".

Now all the attention was on Jasmine who was trying her best not to melt into the dancefloor. She was clearly embarrassed.

"Let's give her a hand everyone," Chris announced. This earned a little cheer from the crowd which seemed to brighten Jasmine's confidence a bit.

After the cheers Chris continued, "now as a tradition, we get to sing one requested song a month and today is.." he paused to check the piece of folded paper in his left palm, "Jasmine's request- hope you all enjoy".

(Play: Sunshine by Stray Kids)

The lights dimmed down, and the music started. Everyone was getting into the song swaying and bobbing to the beat. It was slow and quite upbeat. The band was clearly talented. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the live vocals, especially Jasmine.

Suddenly, Jasmine's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree when the next guy sang. May turned back to the stage to find Hyunjin with the mic upfront. His silhouette reflected onto the stage, and the spotlight accentuated the sharp angles on his face.

May's cheeks suddenly warmed watching him. Why was she feeling this way? It's been so long and nothing had even happened between them in Paris. Why did she have to be like this? Jasmine was going to be his after tonight. Best to push all these thoughts aside.

May took that as her cue to find the girls. She squirmed through the crowd and found Vera and Kaida towards the back.

The song's chorus hit in and the mood suddenly changed, and they were playing a slow dancing song. The light also stopped flashing sporadically and was now dimmed to set the smooth atmosphere. Couples were coming together and filling the dancefloor now.

"I need a drink," Kaida announced with a look of disgust on her face at all the couples coming together on the dancefloor. Vera nodded in agreement and gestured for May and Jasmine to follow them out.

Ignoring the couples, the four girls headed for the bar.

Halfway through getting through the crowds of couples, Hyunjin's voice rang through the speakers again. It took every strength and fiber of May's being not to stop and stare at him.

Her body was too honest. In a split second, she had turned to steal a glance from his performance. She turned and caught his eye. May caught her breath. This was a literal 'steal your breath away moment' May thought.

People started moving forward and larger figures blocked May's view of the stage. Triggered at the sudden barriers preventing her from seeing the stage, May attempted to see on her tiptoes to see over the crowds of couples.

Just when she thought she could see over, her right heel gave way unexpectedly and her foot stopped doing what a foot was supposed to do.

In less than a split second, she fell backward and into a slightly harder chest. It was a guy obviously because he was incredibly strong to catch her as quickly as he did. In an instant, a hand came instantly around her waist and caught her shoulder and another hand grabbed her outstretched hand flailing around.

May caught her breath. It was him, she thought. Although it was dark and there were people everywhere, she knew it was him. A few tendrils of his dark hair fell and covered his eyes. Their faces were inches from each other. Despite the cheers for the band, May was so close she could hear his breathing. He was also startled.

Why did I fall? I wasn't that drunk she thought. I had one drink and then sipped Kaida's soda. Oh. Oh my god was it soda? This was a mistake.

"Who are you?" he asked. She snapped out of her confusion and turned her attention to the model guy. May's face was blank without emotion. Was he really asking her a question?

"I, I..." for some reason the words was not formulating out of May's mouth.

They were too close. His face inches away from hers and she was unmistakably aware that his arms were still around her, holding her from falling.

Our faces were inches from each other. If I leaned forward I could kiss him. May was fantasizing again. After a minute people around were starting to stare. I tried to pull my hand away, but he only strengthened his grip on me.

May's breathing quickened at the instant awareness of their proximity. She wondered if his heart was beating as loudly and as sporadically as hers was. She could practically hear nothing but his breathing and her banging heart against his chest.

After a minute May finally spoke. "I need to go," she said so quietly it was almost a whisper. May wriggled out of his hold and stood in front of him. Instantly sober, she adjusted her dress and brushed a few fingers through her hair to sleek it back before turning back to the guy who'd caught her.

"Who are you?" May blurted out back to him. Then instantly regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. Why was she confronting strangers in the middle of the dance floor? What if he wasn't the guy from Paris? This would be immensely embarrassing.

The guy smirked at her, "I asked first".

May knew exactly who he was. The familiar smirk of his, the way his eyes turned sharper with intent when he looked at her, the way his voice changed when he spoke to her.

She stuck out her hand just as she did in the Musee d' Orsay three years ago and said, "Lily".

[End of Chapter Four]

Author's Note: @SakuraDreamzz commented:

I love 'Sunshine' by Straykids. They are talented, can't deny that.

Thoughts about Christopher Bang as the DJ? I think... YES.