Punches and Pirouettes |NOMIN|

Chapter 13

As he approached the tree, his heart skipped a beat. There, leaning against the trunk with a casual air that belied the racing of his own heart, was Lucas. The boy who had stolen his first kiss in a stolen moment of vulnerability, the one who had sparked his curiosity about love and desire. The years had been kind to Lucas, his features had sharpened, and there was a confidence in his stance that had not been there before.

"Lucas," Jaemin breathed, his voice barely carrying over the rustle of the cherry blossoms.

Lucas looked up, a smile playing on his lips. "Hey," he said, his voice low and familiar. "It's been a while."

Jaemin felt a rush of emotions—surprise, nervousness, and a hint of the same attraction that had drawn him to Lucas all those years ago. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his eyes searching Lucas's face for answers.

Lucas pushed off the tree, walking closer. "I heard about the performance," he said, his eyes never leaving Jaemin's. "I had to see it for myself."

Jaemin felt a rush of heat to his cheeks. "You came to see me dance?"

Lucas nodded, his smile growing. "You've always had a way of moving that captivates me," he said, his voice carrying a hint of the same warmth that had been in his eyes when they had first met. "I had to know if it was just a fluke or if you had truly become the dancer I knew you could be."

Jaemin felt a blend of embarrassment and pride at the compliment. "Thank you," he murmured, his eyes dropping to the ground. "But why call me out here?"

Lucas stepped closer, the scent of his cologne a ghostly echo of their past. "I wanted to talk to you," he said, his voice soft. "To tell you that I'm proud of you."

Jaemin's eyes snapped up, meeting Lucas's. The warmth in his gaze was unmistakable, and for a moment, he was transported back to that first kiss, the taste of Lucas's lips still a vivid memory. "Why?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lucas stepped closer, his hand reaching out to brush a stray petal from Jaemin's hair. "Because you're amazing," he murmured, his eyes searching Jaemin's. "And because I never forgot about you."

Jaemin's heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing with the implications of Lucas's words. "What do you mean?" he managed to ask, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lucas took a deep breath, his hand dropping to his side. "I mean," he said, his eyes never leaving Jaemin's, "I've missed you."

Jaemin felt his chest tighten, his heart pounding in his ears. "But...why now?" he asked, his voice shaking. "Why, after all this time?"

Lucas shrugged, his eyes never leaving Jaemin's. "Life has a funny way of bringing people back together," he said. "And I've had a lot of time to think about us. I know we were young, but I never forgot how it felt to be with you."

Jaemin felt his stomach flip-flop at the confession. "But we're not those people anymore," he said, his voice shaky. "We've moved on."

Lucas's smile softened, and he nodded. "I know," he said. "But that doesn't mean we can't be friends."

Jaemin felt a pang of disappointment, but he knew that Lucas was right. They had both grown and changed, and maybe friendship was all they could offer each other now. "Okay," he said, his voice still shaky. "Friends."

Lucas's smile grew, a hint of relief in his eyes. "Friends," he agreed, his hand reaching out to give Jaemin's a gentle squeeze. "And who knows," he added, his voice a tease, "maybe we can share a dance together again."

Jaemin couldn't help but laugh, the tension between them easing. "Maybe," he said, his own smile growing. They stood there for a moment, the silence between them comfortable, filled with the whispers of the cherry blossoms above.

Then, as if on cue, Lucas reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. "We should exchange numbers," he said, his thumbs already flying over the screen. "To stay in touch."

Jaemin nodded, his own phone appearing in his hand. He watched as Lucas typed in his number, his heart racing at the thought of this new connection. As they exchanged devices, their fingers brushed, sending a jolt of electricity through him. It was a simple act, one done countless times before, but in this moment, it felt significant, a promise of a future filled with shared moments and laughter.

There," Lucas said, handing back the phone with a smile. "Now you won't be able to forget me again."

Jaemin's cheeks flushed, but he couldn't help the small laugh that bubbled up. He typed in Lucas's number, his hands feeling surprisingly steady. "Friends, then," he confirmed, hitting send.

The phone in his hand buzzed with a new message, and he glanced down to see Lucas's name light up the screen. "Looks like we're official," he said, his smile tentative.

Lucas grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Almost," he said, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a small piece of paper, a cherry blossom drawn on it with a delicate hand. "A little something to remember our reunion by," he said, handing it to Jaemin.

Jaemin took the paper, his thumb tracing the outline of the flower. It was a simple gesture, but it felt like so much more—a bridge between their past and a future filled with potential. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

Lucas leaned in, his breath warm against Jaemin's ear. "Don't thank me yet," he whispered. "We have a lot of catching up to do."

Jaemin felt a thrill run down his spine at the words, his mind racing with what the future might hold. They said their goodbyes, the warmth of Lucas's hand lingering on his skin long after he had disappeared into the night. He walked home alone, the cherry blossom paper clutched tightly in his hand. The streetlights cast long shadows, the quiet of the night a stark contrast to the noise of the party he had just left behind.