Cinderella's Fate | 🤍 seongjoong 🤍

Chapter 26 part 2

*  Sorry for being late , went to a wedding and woke up like an hour ago*

Seonghwa's POV 

    The evening came by fast , and it was time for us to join the chaos of the festival . When we arrived, it was in full swing.

    There were clowns handing out animal shaped balloons, there were jugglers with the 2 metres high wooden feet and their multicolour soft balls throwing them into the air. There were more impressive performers, such as performers spitting fire and musical performances held by the local dance club , in fact they were having a showcase with a few of their best dancers.

    We headed towards the dancing showcase. Two young men were popular, one with pink hair and a dust of rainbow at the end of his hair gathered in a small ponytail for his half-and-half down look.

    While the other man sported brown hair like Kai's but darked look and on the shorter side, there were specks of rainbow-coloured highlights to match with the other dancer since they were performing as a duo. The performance finished, and I clapped along with the crowd, sharing the same awe and admiration from the great performance.

    I followed Yunho and Mingi to a place well known for their super cheap and super good cuisine. And since we had not had time to eat almost anything at all; our stomachs were growling. They ordered the bibimbap and some ramen with as many side dishes they could get.

    Diving into the food, our mouths were too full to talk so we ate in silence, humming slightly if asking to grab a sauce or side dish for each other. I was stuffed, the food was supported, and the view was also coming . The recurring best moments always had a sunset, and right now the sunset was gracing the festival.

    Yunho and Mnigi decided to get their own way to their romantic date at the festival, and I waved at them, planning to meet again at the restaurant after the fireworks display. Making my way through the crowd, I wanted to see if I could buy or win a Polaroid camera to capture the fireworks.

    The crowd of people got thicker as you ventured towards the booths, I got into a game : throwing a small hula-hoop to aim for a pole and if I was able to get three done, I would have been able to get a prize displayed at the back of the booth. One of the prizes was the Polaroid camera I wanted, firing up my competitive spirit to win at all costs.

    And it seems that I had been possessed by Yunho's athletic abilities, because I was able to get it in one go, and won the Polaroid with minimal effort. I ventured deeper into the festival, joined in a few games such as catch the fish, and the hammer challenge in which I was not able to win anything at all but fatigue.

I really need to exercise.

     As the crow was getting bigger, it created a sort of overwhelming feeling of being crushed . It got worse, and I tried to walk through the crowd , as a result I needed to take a break. I made my way to the edge of the festival, a place with an open grass area and a bench a bit further away.

    Realising that it was the perfect spot to chill and watch the fireworks later, I went back to the booths, trying to find any place that sold snacks. Came back to the bench ,facing more grass before dipping into a slight curve since it was a hill , sitting crossed legged with snacks decorating my lap, I let myself feel comfortable and feel the moment. The view was just calm. 

    The moment was interrupted by some rustling coming from bushes a bit far from the bench, looking back to see no one, thinking that it might have been a squirrel. But it wasn't a squirrel, in fact a figure emerged from the bushes, muttering under their breath and brushing off any of the leaves and tiny branches that their hood had picked up.

    He made a few steps, but with a loud yell he fell, the end of his hood trapped along some branches .

    I let out a silent chuckle and I decided to approach the figure, only to realise that I knew this person. I took my hood off, and held my hand out. The person looked up and took my hand, getting up while brushing his dirty hood.

"How come we always meet like this?"

"What do you mean ?"

"Well, you always seem to find me when I am alone"

The person had removed his hood, now revealing the sharp features and a wide grin.

"What can I say?", Hongjoong said, "It must be fate working its ways"

And then a firework illuminated his eyes, I whipped my head fast, remembered what I actually came for and ran to the bench. Grabbing the Polaroid camera , I took snaps as quickly as I could, since it needed time to process and develop the pictures.

"Hey, take pictures with me ", Hongjoong requested.

"No, that's not my original goal"

"C'mon, it will be our first picture together" Hongjoong stated, "and we want to get to see each other so often when the ball starts"

"Why is that?", I asked, looking at Hongjoong directly.

"Cuz I will be preparing for a future partner, my parents are demanding grandchildren even tho I'm too young"

A small pang in my heart sparked, but I waved it off. 

"Well, good luck on the ball"

"Maybe we'll get to see each other at the ball", he said, a shy smile forming on his lips.

My heart inflated at the comment.

"I guess we'll see", I responded, "Let's take a picture then"

     We stood by each other side , I bent down slightly so that the camera would catch us both , and took pictures. A firework went off just after the first pictures, in the shape of a heart . Look at Hongjoong, colours splashing on his eyes, he looks at me , he leaned forwards , but I am also.

   Until I get called, I composed myself and so did Hongjoong, who had pink dust on his cheeks. He cleared his throat, looking at his imaginary clock, saying that the time was passing by quickly, and he needed to get going. I was also rushing to where my cloak laid. I needed to cover, who ever called me didn't need to know my face.

Hongjoong quickly bid his goodbyes and rushed waving, going down the hill.

   I sat down at the bench , starting to act like I had been snacking and taking pictures of the fireworks the whole time. I hid away the Polaroid not related to the fireworks and eat a few packets of crisps .

"Found you, Yunho , Seonghwa-hyung's here"

    And I returned to the festival with Mingi and Yunho. They had red lips because I'm sure they had a make out session.

There was a certain buzz among the crowd, that had increased from the time that I had left to quietly watched the fireworks. There were whispers of excitement bouncing from person to person, and people going as far to ask for fashion advice and hair advice.

    I was curious, but my curiosity was soon answered. The trumpets from the royal palace went off. I recognised them right away since they were often used to announce all the import news that the palace had to inform the citizens.

Everyone it excited because it means that a royal is attending the festival.

    A line of horses came into view as the crows seemed to split to give space to the royal, who decided to humbly show her presence at this festival. I assumed that it had to be a way to repair the slightly damaged reputation that the royal palace was facing in three days , as the A horse happened to come , and they revealed the prince.

Hongjoong.