Melodies of Life

Chapter 32. Dancing Fingertips

I cast one last glance at myself in front of the mirror before finally deciding to get the coral dress I've been eyeing for months. I've been smiling for a while now as I twirl and turn from every possible angle that I could muster inside this little fitting room. I just felt so pretty in this dress that I just want to wear it back home now. For it is not everyday I get to buy a luxurious clothing like this, let alone it be paid by someone else. And that someone is waiting at the other end of the door curtain. Impatiently.

"What is taking you so long? Need help on zipping it up?" A naughty voice echoes from behind the curtain which sent shiver down my spine.

"No. I'm almost done changing. I'm coming out in a sec." My rattled tone answers him as I hurriedly took off the dress, a handful of my hair tangling to the zipper on the back of my dress at the process. The harder I pull it down the painful it is for my locks. I almost tear up as my hands were halfway in unraveling the combined zipper and hair catastrophe. I shriek in horror as I lost my footing in an attempt to reach the middle of my back. I grasp the curtain in panic but unluckily that didn't break my fall. To add to my shame, the curtain door was pulled open revealing my half-naked body as I fell towards the hard floor with my hands clinging desperately on it. I burrow my face to the curtain in embarrassment as I felt someone witnessed my whole stupid act.

I was expecting an outburst of laughter from him but the sound of steady footsteps in sync of my heartbeat was all I could hear as I was paralyzed to the floor.

"Need help now?" A pair of gentle hands tucks the curtain away from my face.

All I could was nod as I avoided his eyes. I could die in shame right now. My body tensed up as I hear the curtain being pulled to the side, enclosing the tiny space between us. He lifts me up to my feet carefully and as we stand there face to face, I feel my cheeks burn. He gives me the what-are-you-waiting-for look as I stare back at him nervously. Before I had the chance to speak and ask for an attendant, his fingertips were already dancing along my spine as he tries to free my tangled hair from the zipper. Each touch tickling at the same time sending a warm funny sensation all over me.

"I never thought undressing a girl would be this hard." He chuckles darkly from behind me as he frees my hair completely from the zipper.

I swat his hand away before he could make another dangerous move. "Get out! Now!"

"But you need my help." He answers innocently.

"Sirius Lee! Out now!" I squeal in annoyance at his endless teasing as I push him out of the fitting room.

I see my blushing reflection in front of the mirror as I face it, his laughter echoing but getting farther. I try to regain my composure as soon as I was finished changing into my clothes. Once I walk out of the fitting room, I saw Sirius standing in front of the cashier, bejeweled heels in hand.

"Is that for me too?" I look up at him intuitively as I hand the attendant the dress.

He shakes his head. "For me." He then puts on a deadpan look. "Of course it is for you, who else?"

"But where did you get all the money? You told me you were broke."

"Yeah, I am. But Maedy noona's husband to be isn't."

"Oh! So she paid for all of this? But why?"

"She loves those cupcakes too much, she can't thank you enough with just the cost of those. She wants to give you more, and since you're my date to their wedding-"