𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐔𝐓, BONTEN.

01. GRACELESS NIGHT

CHAPTER ONE! IT'S JUST ANOTHER GRACELESS NIGHT.

FIRST-PERSON
point of view,

"Great job, doll."

Words so gentle and warm soothe the nerves that have been bothering my insides for a while. 

I hummed, proud of what I was seeing with my own eyes. This was it. The 'perfect' and finest summer ball I aimed to fulfill for my parents' arrival from France. It had been decades since we held one and I wouldn't miss the opportunity to pull off perfection for them.

From the grandiose decorations cascading in the porcelain walls to the extensively rich people arriving one by one at the entrance with their glorious limousines and apparel, everything seemed all set. Spotless, flawless. And it did not even help that both mothers of mine were overjoyed to witness all the hard work I had done for them to have a delightful celebration. I was over the moon myself seeing their contentment.

"Thanks, Shuji." I turned to face the man who looked so achingly handsome tonight. His hair that was slicked messily hot to the side of his temple and his pointy eyes that held a tad of amusement made me feel things in my stomach. This man is so hot for no reason. "As much as I hate to admit it, I wouldn't be able to do this without you."

His grin made me bite back a smile. He looks satisfied upon knowing that I couldn't have accomplished this all if he hadn't offered help. Hanma Shuji might not look like it but he's got a taste for a lot of things. And when I say a lot, I mean everything including all those he picked out for the color selection of the theme, lighting and table settings, and even floral arrangements. He's got a good eye for this that I almost encourage him to take an engineering course or even the artistic path knowing damn well he would rather suffer in the legislative field to become what he says "a corrupt politician" in the future. Quite a damned future if you would ask me because Hanma Shuji is known for a lot of things except being smart.

"Anything for you, doll." He whispered and bent down his head a little, his hot breath now on the crook of my neck. "You smell good." I tried to be unbothered about it, only humming as I went on to observe the occurrence in the hall. Trying to distract the hammering thud on my chest only to fail when he swiftly pulled my chair closer to his side. His face is now all over my neck.

This guy doesn't have an ounce of shame.

My cheeks flushed when I caught my mothers giving me a look that suggested they approved of whatever they were seeing right now in their daughter. It had been a while since I had introduced Shuji to my parents, and there was no denying the fact that they absolutely loved him for being there right after those people left me.

I sent them a look for help because once this guy got clingy to me like this, I wouldn't be able to move from this seat anymore. I don't want to let my heart suffer from his touch throughout the evening.

Fortunately, my mother, Okada Keiko was there to save me from my demise. "Shuji, sweetie." She called out to the man next to me who poked the side of my stomach first before sitting straight. "Why don't you take our [Name] to dance?"

I shot my Mom a look. Like that suggestion helps! Her wife, Yui, could only giggle at my reaction. But that halted when I narrowed my eyes at her, though she dismissed it by whistling and looking anywhere but my eyes.

Not trying to exaggerate or anything, but I feel like my heart will explode if Shuji takes me to dance. Not only does this man not know how to dance but the thought of having him touch my waist and stare at me for many minutes, made my stomach flutter so much that I almost felt like vomiting.

Shuji peered at his side to observe my reaction and grinned widely upon realizing how I was not ready for whatever stunt my parents pulled. Although I tried telling them it was a bad idea, a truly bad one, Shuji had already decided to abide by my mother's wishes and had his palms locked around my wrist, pulling me up.

Now, I was up and didn't know what to do except take his hand when he bowed a little and offered me one. I didn't know he had it in him. Offering his hand like a gentleman and guiding me smoothly on the dancefloor.

"You've been practicing," I muttered, eyes widen.

"More like watching tutorials on YouTube and observing some of the men here." He grinned, his palm squeezing my side a little. "You're too tense, doll. Am I making you nervous?"

I scoffed a laugh, seeking to ease myself before he noticed my rapid heart rate. "I'm just surprised, 's all."

"Right, surprise." I steadied my footing after he twirled me around, the satin ivory dress he picked out following my movement. "Speaking of surprises, don't you want to at least see their reactions when they see us like this?" what Shuji meant by that is the romantic atmosphere between us that those guys will probably witness any time by now.

Oh god. They almost slipped off my mind.

"Okay, this needs to stop now before they catch us like this." They caught you with me. As much as I liked dancing with Shuji, they could never catch sight of the person currently dear to me so much, or else, things would get ugly. I couldn't imagine what they would attempt to do considering all the things they had done once to those people who tried to befriend me.

I couldn't lose him and he sensed that.

"You fear over nothing." His lips have a hint of amusement, eyes drifting off directly past me. "And besides, you already cut ties with them. They don't have that kind of right anymore in your life."

He was right, but I couldn't just shake the feeling that his safety would be trampled upon seeing me entangled with him.

"And if they do something to you?"

Shuji grinned, patting my head softly before latching his lips on my forehead. His eyes still looking past me that I suspect he's staring at someone, or more like a group of people, without my knowledge.

"I can very well take care of myself, doll." he hummed, pulling my body a little closer to his. "I'm glad you were worried about me though."