A TASTE OF CANDY POISON

CHAP 12🌸

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The lights dimmed, a collective gasp rippling through the gymnasium as the music began to pulse, a vibrant rhythm filling the room.

Prom night had officially begun. I stepped down from the stage, my heart hammering against my ribs, a symphony of nerves and exhilaration.

Relief mingled with a touch of disappointment as I realized I hadn't spotted Kylle in the audience. I had hoped that tonight would be the night we’d finally share a dance, a moment of magic under the shimmering lights of the prom.

My best friend, Adam Crawford,and his girlfriend, Juliette Knox, approached me with smiles. "Ethan, that was an amazing speech! You totally killed it!" Adam said, clapping me on the back.

Juliette chimed in, "You were so eloquent and inspiring.  You really captured the spirit of the night."

A wave of warmth washed over me. Their encouragement meant a lot, especially coming from Adam, who had known me for years. "Thanks, guys," I replied, my cheeks flushing slightly. "I was just trying to get everyone hyped up for the night."

"Well, you did a great job," Juliette said, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Now, come on, let's grab some drinks. It's time to party!"

Adam nudged me playfully. "Come on, Ethan, let's go have some fun. This is your night to shine."

As i joined them at their table where I was greet by Charles Easton,Merriam Benoit,and  Robert Halstead,the famous athletes here in our campus and Adam is one of them.

The music swelled, and a few brave souls ventured onto the dance floor, their movements tentative at first, then becoming more confident as the beat pulsed through the room.

My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for Kylle.  My heart leaped when I spotted him standing by the refreshment table, his gaze fixed on me. 

'Ooh gosh! He's staring at me!'

He was wearing a grey tuxedo that accentuated his build and a blue neck tie a same color with his beautiful oceanic-blue eyes, his hair tousled perfectly, and his eyes, usually playful and mischievous, held a hint of intensity.

I gulped hard, my throat suddenly dry.  He was even more handsome than I remembered.  I felt a familiar flutter in my chest as I watched him approach, a smile playing on his lips.

Adam nudged me playfully. "Looks like someone's got your attention, Seb."

He then winked at Juliette and said, "Come on guys, let's give them privacy."  He pulled his girlfriend closed to him,their laughter along with his other friends,filling the air as they joined the growing crowd on the dance floor, leaving me alone with Kylle.

"Hey, Seb," Kylle said, his voice warm and inviting.  "That was a great speech. You really captured the essence of prom night."

“Thanks, Kylle,” I replied, my voice a little shaky.  “You look...amazing.”

“Thanks,” he said, blushing slightly.  "I was just thinking the same about you."

Kylle leaned back in his chair, casually tucking a loose strand of hair behind his ear. "So, how are you feeling?  Ready to party?"

"Yeah, I guess so,” I replied, a little more confidently.  “What about you?  Are you having a good time?"

"It's a little early to say," Kylle replied with a playful smirk.  "But I'm definitely ready to dance.  What about you?"

"I..." I hesitated, my voice faltering.  I wanted to say yes, to confess that I'd been dreaming about dancing with him for years, but the words wouldn't come.

Kylle tilted his head, his eyes filled with genuine curiosity.  "Is everything okay?,You seem a little...distracted."

I took a deep breath, trying to gather my courage.  "It's just...you know."  I trailed off, unable to articulate my feelings.

As I was about to continue to what I'm going to say,I couldn’t help but notice that Kylle was already a little drunk, his eyes holding a hint of mischief.  But his posture remained elegant, his movements graceful, his smile alluring.

"You know what?" Kylle pressed, his voice soft and understanding, snapping me out of thought.

I cleared my throat feeling a little embarrassed,my heart pounding in my chest.  "You’re the reason I’m distracted.  I’ve had a crush on you for so long, and I never thought you’d actually talk to me."

He laughed, a soft, melodic sound that filled me with a strange sense of warmth.  "Really? All those stares each time we see each other, the way you move closed to me, the stolen glances across the room in History – and you think I’m not aware?”

“W..what?you are?” I whispered, a mix of surprise and delight washing over me.

“Of course,” he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.  “You’re not exactly the most subtle admirer.  I’ve been noticing you for a while, Seb.. You're too obvious."

His words were like a lifeline, a beacon of hope in the midst of my uncertainty.  He had noticed me.  He had been observing me,but he never say a word about it.

Maybe because he doesn't want to hurt my feelings?I don't know...

The music pulsed around us, a vibrant soundtrack to our conversation.  The night felt magical, as if the world had conspired to bring us together, two souls drawn to each other by an invisible force.

We we're just staring to each other's eyes,no words floating.I open my mouth and was about to speak again when Kylle's phone vibrated, a shrill ringtone cutting through the rhythm of the music. He answered the call, his expression changing from playful to concerned.

Is there something wrong?what could it be?

"Mom?  What's wrong?" he asked, his voice softening as he listened to the conversation.

Oh,so it's his mom.

He excused himself from the table, his face a mask of worry.  "I'll be right back," he said, before disappearing into the crowd, his phone still pressed to his ear.

I watched him go, a sense of disappointment settling over me.  I had just begun to feel a glimmer of hope, a possibility that maybe, just maybe, I could finally share something more with him. 

But his phone call had shattered the illusion, reminding me that I was just a spectator in his life, an observer of his world.

Calm down Seb, remember, it's his mother.

I finished my wine, the cool liquid doing little to soothe the growing ache in my heart.  As the music continued to thrum around me, I felt a growing sense of isolation, a loneliness that had been dormant for years, now rising to the surface like a tide.

I got up from my seat,my steps slow and heavy as I made my way through the crowd.  I needed a moment of solitude, a chance to escape the pulsating rhythm of the music and the suffocating air of the gymnasium.

I needed some privacy.

I felt a pang of loneliness as I walked through the empty hallways, far from the throbbing beat of the music and the energy of the dance floor. 

I wished I was back at the table, sharing a drink with Kylle, lost in conversation, a moment stolen from the chaos of the prom.

As I rounded a corner, I felt a hand grab my arm, pulling me into the shadows of a darkened room.  My heart skipped a beat, my breath catching in my throat.

“Who’s there?..who are you?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

For a moment I froze in my spot,I realized that there's a pair of lips press against mine, a searing touch that sent a jolt of shock through me. 

'what the hell?'

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Hi guys,short chapter again🥹
Q: Who's playing the game?
Q: Who's playing who?