Ticking Love

Chapter 1: Nora

Everything around me is muffled, the voices, movements of passers, the only sound I can hear clearly is the clock on the wall ticking by second. It's very faint but it's all I can hear. Then I hear a familiar voice, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"Nora? Hello, are you okay? You're burning holes in the ground with that stupid stare of yours." The tall asian man and very well built is no other than Alec Eun-Seok. "I was only gazing at the floor for like two minutes, quit being dramatic." I scoffed at him. He's my brother's best friend. I practically grew up with him, he was always over at our house. Yet we were distant, we had different interests and my brother was never fond of the idea of us being friends. So me and Alec never really had a close bond until I was a freshman in high school and he was junior. He's one of my closest best friends now, he still talks to my brother but my brother decided to attend university in United States.

"Keep your attention on me princess" Alec held my chin up, turning my head to face him. Our eyes locked and before we said a word. Alec and I bursted into laughing. We joke flirtatiously, but there's time my stomach turns and feel like butterflies are fluttering around. I wonder if he ever feels that way. I notice that two girls were heading toward my direction. It's Annaliese and Ivanna, my two loving best friends. The two has been my friends since grade school, Ivanna was a grade above us. "Hey what are you guys up to?" Ivanna came smiling wrapping her arm around Alec. Ivanna has a crush on Alec, she says she doesn't but it's obvious. I can't help but feel bad because Alec is not interested in her in the slightest. "Nothing much, we were just chatting." Me and Annaliese both stared at each other and then turning our focus on Alec trying to pry Ivanna off of him. We can't help but snicker at the scene. Alec finally got Ivanna off of him and step back a little.

"I'll see you girls later, I have to find my friends." We all said our goodbyes to Alec. I watched him run off to his group of friends. "Can you not make it less obvious that you like him Ivanna." Annaliese laughed at Ivanna, Ivanna couldn't hide her embarrassment. Watching her get embarrassed made something inside of me burn, it's upsetting and uncomfortable. A little suffocating, I don't know why I feel like this. I have no romantic feelings towards Alec.  "Guys we should go to the club, it's been a while since we did anything fun." Ivanna tried persuading us. Annaliese was quick to agree but I was unsure. "I don't know girls, I'm not very big on clubs." My eyes wasn't fixed on them but back to the floor. "Come on Nora, it'll be fun." Annaliese shook me until I said yes. "Okay okay quit shaking me, I'll go." I exhaled when the two hugged me so tightly from excitement. Maybe I should ease up a little and have fun. Clubbing might not be so bad, Ivanna is right. I haven't done anything fun in ages.

After I was done with my classes, I headed to my apartment that I shared with Annaliese. I pulled a box under my bed, I never really thought I would be pulling this box out ever again during my days in university. The box contain the most beautiful gorgeous dresses. My eyes were locked with the beautiful silky red dress, it had a slit, ribbions on the side, and strapless. I tried the dress on and it was a little tighter than the last time I tried it on. The dress was tight so it showed my curves even more. Annaliese walked in and saw me in my dress. "It's beautiful Nora. You look stunning." Annaliese was astonished at the sight of me in the dress. "If you're wearing that to the club, I better be the first in line to kiss you." Annaliese joked and her eyes soften at me. "Of course you will be, you don't even need to get in line babes" I blew kisses at Annaliese.

Me and Annaliese spent hours getting ready for the club. There was a knock on the door, it was Ivanna. "Girls are you guys ready for the club?" She excitedly walked in as Annaliese opened the door. Ivanna jaw dropped as she saw me in my red silk dress. "Holy is that what you're wearing to the club." She had the same reaction as Annaliese. "Is it too much for the club?" My anxiety rose, I didn't want to do so much for only a night out at the club. "Honey no, it's gorgeous and perfect." Ivanna clapped her hand in awe. "You might even find a lucky man to go on a date with." Annaliese giggled in excitement. The girls like the idea of me having a boyfriend, but I disagreed. "I'm not so sure about that. Dating? I'm too busy for that." Annaliese and Ivanna sighed but still had hope. "You never know, you might find a guy who's gonna be ripping that gorgeous red dress off of you tonight." Ivanna smirked and giggled. I was taken off guard by her words that I smudged my lip liner. "That's enough from you two." A hue or red slowly crept up onto my cheeks.

Annaliese drove all of us to the club, the club was a forty-five minute drive. They said it was worth it but honestly it was just a hassle. "Nora the cocktail at this club is so worth it. It's the best in town." Annaliese geeked over the cocktail however Ivanna geeked about the men. "The guys here are top tier. Jaw dropping sexy men are everywhere." She kicked her feet from excitement. We made our way into the club's line, my anxiety rose up once again from all the stares I'm getting from men. They were watching me like a hawk, I felt like a prey to them. As we made it through the crowd towards the bar. I kept ordering drinks after drinks while my friends had fun. I don't like socializing so it was hard for me. I watched my friends dance with guys they never met before until now. I envy my friends so much, they can socialize and communicate with others very well. I sighed out of boredom and ordered more drinks. I felt like I was suffocating and the cocktails were helping me ease up. The sound of the music blasting, chattering, laughing, stomps of the people dancing were honestly making me queasy. Numerous guys had came up to me but I was always spacing out to even shift my focus on them.