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This will be my last dance at the ballroom.
My last and final one.
There's no music to beat to now, to dance to, to look forward to. I'm unhappy every time I go to this ballroom now, reminding me of the fire I once had in my heart going into this ballroom.
My "husband", no, I don't want to call someone I hate to be my loved one, the one I will be forever spending my life with, to give my love to, even in our last days on earth.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy this night with romantic music!" The announcer raised his bottle of champagne to the crowd, and cheers erupted from left and right in the ballroom, some already grabbing their partners to dance with tonight.
Guess I'll be dancing on my own.
"Excuse me, miss." I looked back to see who was the person speaking to me.
A handsome beautiful blonde woman with a mask, covering her upper face, enough for me to see her blue eyes, and a fine blue, gold-colored suit. Those eyes are attracting me as if I could not look away from her anymore.
"Yes?" I tried my best to not let my voice crack, and she simply let out a chuckle. "May I take this dance with you, miss.."
"Minci. Call me Minci."
"Hm, Miss Minci, would you like to take this dance with me?" She offered her hand to me, and I grabbed it softly, how can I not grab it? Her hands were elegant, pristine, and smooth.
"I would love to."
And that was the only word that needed to be said for the dance to happen.
Eye to eye, elegant feet and hands guided me through the whole dance, I could feel the eyes watching, but I can only watch hers. Soft smiles were exchanged, squeezes, and smirks.
Music, for the first time since my engagement, was delightful to hear in my ears.
A comforting presence– not even my husband could give, was given by a stranger.
"Is this perhaps, your first dance in the ballroom? Although, you are quite experienced." The blonde girl asked me in a soft voice, which made me chuckle.
My first dance, you say?
More like my last and final one.
"Hmm..quite the opposite." The dance and music continue, as graceful as ever. The dance cannot stop, or else you cannot catch up with the music anymore.
"Last dance?" She hummed, and I hummed in agreement, I look at her eyes again and her glance was still lingering on mine. My cheeks heat up, looking away from her eyes.
Gosh. This woman.
The ballroom music stops, and so as the others who were dancing. Everyone started to spread in the room and laughs, talks, and gestures were exchanged throughout the room.
I look at her, and she's staring in another direction, if I squint my eyes, I could see a small frown painted on her face.
She then looks at me, "Can you stay with me? Even just for this night." saying that with pleading eyes, as if I was someone special to be wanted by her.
"Why?" Why would you want me to stay with you? "Outside, please."
We walked outside, away from people, the faint music and lights, the only lights I could see was the stars in the evening.
How do these stars match so well with her eyes?
Before I could've even said anything, she took off her mask, revealing the upper part of her face.
She was breathtaking, despite it being only the upper part of her face revealed. But, she looked more beautiful and handsome than before.
Any woman right now would love to be in my situation.
"Do you remember me, Lisa?"
"What?"
How does she know my name? Have I known her? I could've had to, just at least once. "It's me, Jean. Jean Gunnhildr."
She was from the Gunnhildr clan? I never would have dared to expect something like this nor think this would happen.
"Huh?" I act as if I'm dumbfounded like I never had wanted to be in a relationship with her during our school years and after we've finished school. It's not like she thought about her during the same day she had been engaged with her husband.
Her husband.
His probably with another girl right now, just like last week.
Do I dare to fight him? No. Why would I fight him when I can just let this relationship wither away, slowly? I never had any feelings for him, nor does he.
He knows this, and so do I.
"Lisa, do you not remember me?.." It's as if she was desperate to talk to the real Lisa she had known in her teenage years.
I was silent, no, I couldn't say anything to her.
"The promise?" She whispers to me, holding one of my hands, and she gives it a light squeeze.
"You're still holding onto that...even after all these years," I say to her, not looking into her eyes again. "do you still believe in it, Jean?"
She stays silent for a minute.
"How could I not?" She looks at me, despite me always avoiding her gaze, looking everywhere except for her.
She steps closer to me, now holding both of my hands, I look at her, something alluring is in her eyes.
"You said this will be your last dance, am I correct?" She looks at me, not breaking a single sweat throughout the whole way.
"Yes."
"Then, take this last dance with me."
She reaches out her hand to me, and yet again I grabbed it.
"This doesn't have to be your last dance, Miss Minci."
"Spend all the rest of your dances with me."
How could I say no?
"From now on, I will." I stepped closer to her, enough for our faces to nearly touch each other.
"May I? Miss Gunnhildr?"
"You may, Miss Minci."
And that were the only words that needed to be said for our lips to touch one another.
This should be my last dance,
If it wasn't with her.