CHERRY BLOSSOM (ft. EXO Luhan & SHINee Taemin)

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 7

PARK MINJIN

 

The party is held at the campus’s auditorium. Loud music blares from the speakers surrounding the hall. Every now and then, local bands would perform on the stage. Students drown themselves with champagne and wine – the professors can’t do anything about it. Long tables are set on one side. On top of them are excellent choices of food. Waiters go around and offer us desserts and drinks. Students sit around tables surrounding the dance floor. My feet ache from dancing. A lot of guys have already asked me to dance with them. I sigh.

Key, Xiumin, Luhan, and I sit together on a table near the stage.

“This isn’t so bad after all,” Xiumin points out, resting his chin on his hands.

“Almost everyone’s asking me to dance. It’s so tiring,” I mumble, running a hand through my hair.

“You could’ve turned them down, you know,” Key tells me.

“That would be so rude of me,” I say, raising an eyebrow. Key shrugs.

The lights dim – only to be replaced by kaleidoscopic ones to create special effects around the hall – as a soft music starts.  Students and some professors proceed to the dance floor. Luhan turns to me.

“I’ve only danced with you once for tonight,” Luhan whispers. “That’s a little unfair for me.”

I laugh softly.

“May I have this dance then?” he asks and offers his hand to me. I take it gratefully. He leads me to the dance floor. A group of girls fusses over us as we pass them.

Luhan puts one hand on my waist and holds my right hand with the other. I rest my hand on his shoulder. My heart beats frantically. I bite my lip as we do a simple waltz around the dance floor. I meet his gaze. He stares intensely back at me. I drown myself in his eyes. I suddenly can’t breathe. My heart shifts into frenzy mode.

“If you keep staring at me like that, I’ll have a heart attack,” Luhan whispers to me. I laugh, out of breath. I think I’m the one having a heart attack.

“Then shall I close my eyes?” I say, grinning at him. Lights dance on his silver hair.

He chuckles and pulls me closer to him. I look around and see that most of the students are watching us. I try to ignore them as Luhan spins me around.

The song shifts and Xiumin takes Luhan’s place. Xiumin tells me funny stories as we dance. I try hard to suppress my laughter. After a while, Key takes Xiumin’s place.

“How’s the party?” Key asks, raising an eyebrow at me.

“Better than I thought,” I answer, tickling his ear.

He leans his head away and squeezes me in the waist.

“Aw.” I glare at him. He grins at me.

The music stops and we head back to the table. I bump playfully into him. He pushes me away. I laugh as I take my seat. My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out. Carol’s calling me.

“I’ll just take this call outside,” I say to the three of them. Luhan nods at me. A pop music starts as I head outside the auditorium.

“Carol,” I say as I answer the call.

“Is the party over?” she asks, her voice sounds tired. I glance at my watch. It’s 11:15 in the evening.

“Don’t wait for me,” I tell her. “Go to bed.”

“Call me if you’re coming home so I can open the door for you,” she says.

“Joe can open the door for me,” I remind her. I suddenly feel guilty to have our butler stay up late.

“Call me,” she insists. “I need to see you home and safe before I go to sleep.”

“Luhan will be taking me home and none of us is drunk, if that’s what you’re worrying about.”

“Just call me, Minjin. Okay?” She says, sighing at me.

“Yes, Carol. See you later,” I mumble and hang up.

“President Park,” someone calls.

I turn around and am surprised to see Taemin standing a few feet away from me. His necktie is loose and his hair tousled. His cheeks are flushed from drinking too much wine. He sways slightly on his feet as he takes a step towards me. He shakes his head.

“You’re drunk,” I tell him as I move towards him and check his forehead. “Drink some tea and sober up.”

Taemin stares at me for a long time before opening his mouth to speak.

“Pres…President Park,” he slurs.

“Yes?”

He looks straight into my eyes and says, “I…I like you. Really like you.”

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LEE TAEMIN

 

I watch as Minjin dances with Luhan, Xiumin, and a boy with amber hair. I haven’t had the chance to ask her to dance yet – what with everybody asking her. I can’t see her face clearly, but I know she’s enjoying herself. I sigh.

I feel the alcohol rising to my head. I’ve drunk too much. I’d asked a couple of girls to dance with me, but then I got bored so I just poke around, chatting with some students, and drinking.

I take a deep breath. I remember Minjin in my arms, how perfectly she fits in my arms. I remember those seconds we stared at each other. I lost myself in the depths of her eyes. I remember how pink her lips were. How would it feel like to kiss her? I guess I’ll never find out. She has Luhan now.

Lights turn back on as the music stops and I look up to see Minjin walks back to her friends. She bumps playfully into the boy she was dancing with. He pushes her away, laughing. I watch as she reaches inside her pocket, pulling out her phone, and excuses herself from them. She darts outside. After debating with myself for a moment, I follow Minjin outside. My body seems to weigh more as I walk outside. I shouldn’t have drunk too much wine. I see her a few feet away, talking to someone on the phone.

I really like you Minjin. I like you a lot.

“President Park,” I call to her.

She whirls and is surprised to see me. She looks at me, her eyes disarming me. I take a step towards her, shaking my head to clear off the alcohol.

“You’re drunk,” she tells me as she closes the distance between us. She touches my forehead lightly. “Drink some tea and sober up.”

I just stare at her. Why does she have to be heartbreakingly beautiful? I lost my voice.

“Pres…President Park,” I start.

“Yes?” She asks, slightly tilting her head to the side.

“I…I like you. Really like you,” I whisper. And with that, I pull her to me and kiss her on the lips.

She freezes for a second, stunned. I tighten my arms around her as she tries to pull away.

“Stop!” she says against my lips as she pushes me hard. I let go of her.

She stares at me disbelievingly, her eyes cold. She turns to leave and stops abruptly.

I follow her gaze and see Luhan standing a few feet away, his face unreadable.