Intertwine (Strings of Fate)

Intertwine (Strings of Fate) Chap. 23

"I said I'm fine, hic."

"No you are not!" Kohei shouted anxiously while staring at me with worried look in his eyes. He grabs my hand and drags me in a vacant room.  

The next thing I know, he cupped my face and without a single word, he plants a kiss on the side of my lips. My eyes grew big by his action. Thump...thump...thump...thump. This feeling again. The same feeling when he is near to me. I blink a hundred times to process in my mind what the heck is happening. I can feel his warm lips buried in mine. He lifts up his head and look at me intently.

"Are you alright?" His voice clear my mind from dozens of questions lingering in my whole being. I realize that my hiccup was gone. So that was what he did, a part of me wishing that he did it because of a different reason. But what he did was just to help me and why am I thinking the different way? I should thank him for that. I don't have the right to question what he's done.

"I'm fine, thank you."

"Let's go back, the program is starting." He said then he intertwines our hands and meets up with the others.  

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Seika U Masquerade Ball!" I heard Ayaka and Yuji's voice. The crowd gives them a loud applause now the program is already starting.

"Let's start our program with our very band." Ayaka said.

"This band was famous because of their heartbreaking song and dynamic melody that we always love." Yuji said.

"Without a further adieu, let's all welcome, the Candy Crown!" The students are shouting and howling because of excitement. The lights went out, while we go to our assigned places. After a while, the spotlight light at us in the stage. We started to perform our first song.

(Meter's POV) 

The ball will start soon, I went to the dressing room with the others. After a few moments we are done.

"Senpai, you're so pretty in your dress." I heard Ayaka complimented. I look at myself in the mirror. I was wearing a dark blue backless evening gown. I frown of my reflection, I can feel cold breeze in my open back.

"Is this a bit revealing?" I ask her.

"No, it's not, it's fits to you perfectly."

"What the--." I turn to look at Kannon who is wearing a scarlet tube gown with a high slit.

"What are you wearing Meter?"

"Don't ask me, asks her" I pointed out Ayaka who is grinning at us.

"Isn't it a bit sexy for a masquerade ball?" She asks.

"Like I said senpais, you look so beautiful in your dress. And now I'm so jealous of the two of you." I raise my right eyebrow and look at her suspiciously. But then, I heard a knock in the door.

"Senpai, are you done?" Yuji asks.

"Yeah, were coming." I open the door and to my surprise, I almost want to run away. Sho is wearing identical clothes to mine and also Kannon with Kaname. What is going on? Am I missing something?

"Senpai let's go. They are waiting for us now!" Ayaka said excitedly. Yuji held her hand and lead her the way. While Kaname did the same way to Kannon. I am still standing bewildered to what is happening. Sho approaches me and holds my hand. I look at his face with his mask without emotions but his eyes are telling me something.

"Let's go, what are you waiting for?" I let him lead me while going to the grand hall. I can feel the electric shock below my skin while he holds my hand. Thump...thump...thump...thump. Then suddenly, my heart is pounding so hard. I'm breathing heavily and cold sweat are forming in my skin.

"Is there something wrong, Meter?" I look up him and his eyes were anxious.

"Uhm, no I'm ok." We get to the ball on time. As usual, we were the last persons to arrive, so the eyes are on us right that it made me embarrass for the first time, maybe, because I have Sho beside me. I felt shivers in my spine. Ayaka and Yuji step up the stage to start the program.  

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Seika U School Masquerade Ball!"

"Let's start our program with a band performance." Ayaka said.

"This band was famous because of their heartbreaking song and dynamic melody that we always love." Yuji said.

"Without a further adieu, let's all welcome, the Candy Crown!" Then, the lights went out, after a few moments all the lights are on the stage, the band start to perform. 

"Wow! The band is so energetic and fabulous! Let's give them a hand!" The crowd applauds in Ayaka's voice.

"Tonight, we have a very unique surprise. We call it!"

"Find Me in the Dark Game!" Huh? Did I hear it right? But I never knew of this. What's going on? I advance on the stage but someone block my way.

"What's going on, Jiro?" He slightly smiles at me.

"Don't spoil the night, nee-chan." I have a bad feeling about this, why I am so nervous.

"So here the mechanics of the game. We are going to choose among the boys and blindfold them. Then, they will roam around and they will grab who will be their first dance among the girls." Yuji announces, while the crowd is howling and shouting out of excitement.

"So let's start the game folks! Turn off the lights." The lights went out, and a beam of light is roaming around for its target. After a while, the light stops on top of Sho. All the girls are going mad and crazy because Sho will choose someone among them.

"So, Sho senpai will have the chance to choose one among the girls here!" Suddenly, Jiro step up and blindfold Sho, he turns Sho three times and Sho starts to walk around with the spotlight beam on him. I stand glued on the floor while I watch him striding around, when he was infront of me, he suddenly stop. Thump...thump...thump...thump. My heart was beating so crazy. I can't breathe like normal as before. The only thing I can hear is my heart pounding heavily in the thin air. He reaches for my hand and touches it firmly this time.

"Hmm, I found you." He said while grinning widely on his face.

"Now, we got the first couple of the night, Sho and Meter senpai!" The crowd applauds while, my mind doesn't sink in the process of events. Jiro untie the blindfold and step out. Before he walks away, he give me his wildest smile that say 'Congrats, nee-chan.'

"Why are you spacing out, Meter?" My mind was still in chaos and I can't comprehend what is happening at this time. I must be dreaming, can I hurt myself to confirm if it was real or bluff?