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It was the talk amongst universities. Every year, a masquerade ball took place in a random and unknown venue. It was never in the same venue or location. If you were to randomly stumble upon it, boy, you would be considered lucky. Everyone goes crazy looking for the place. Attached to this masquerade, there was a legend behind it.
However, there are a few out there that know of its exact location. For example, me. Huang Zitao. Well, the only reason I knew was because the people hosting this event wanted our band to play a few songs. It was weird being asked to because well, they didn’t even come in person. Just a folded note with its location hanging by our practice room. There wasn’t even an option of whether we would like to perform or not. Nevertheless, we would have said yes.
Do Kyungsoo, one of the vocalists, cried with glee, “Holy! It is such an honour to perform there. Oh my goodness, imagine all the food. Maybe I can just try a bit and then figure out how to re-create it myself!” My band members and I, of course, rolled our eyes and chuckled. It would be an honour to be performing for such highly sought-after event.
୨୧
On the day of the masquerade, we finally entered the venue. It was extraordinary with its high ceiling and wow, that huge shiny chandelier. It was clear with beautiful crystals that were just gleaming under the bright lights. The walls were crème whereas the floor was all burgundy carpet tiles. The place had a scheme of white and gold. When you looked out the window, there was just a beautiful pond with swans swimming and gawking at each other. The hydrangeas bloomed so beautifully in rosy pink. The shrubs and trees were perfectly arranged. O the joy of summer.
I am the drummer of our band and therefore, on stage, I was just tweedling around with the drumsticks. Everyone else was warming up and getting ready to perform. Kyungsoo and Kim Jongdae, the other vocalist, were testing their microphones and making sure their vocals were in tune. Zhang Yixing was adjusting his acoustic guitar. Since we were performing a bit before midnight, we have decided to go with ballads to go with the legend of this year’s ball.
୨୧
I remember Jongdae running into the practice room. “Guys! Guys! Guess what!” he panted heavily with his hands on his knees. “What is it?” Kyungsoo asked with piqued interest. “This year’s legend is”, Jongdae took a deep breath to make it more suspenseful, “In the middle of the ballroom, there is a chandelier right above. If you were to dance under it with your partner, when the bell strikes, your relationship with that person will last a lifetime. Isn’t that just beautiful and romantic?”
Yixing chuckled, “I guess it is, if you had a significant other that you were willing to go down the road with forever.” I shrugged nonchalantly, “I don’t believe in that kind of stuff. I think it all depends on whether you really like that person or not. Wouldn’t you want to work in maintaining and keeping that relationship, however you please? I mean, it might just be a coincidence that you were dancing under that chandelier, and it happens to last forever.”
Until that very night, I still believed that love was a coincidence. I mean I may not even marry the one. I might miss that person by chance and somehow managed to walk down the aisle with the wrong person. Who knows. Anything can happen after all.
୨୧
The venue was finally getting crowded. There were lots of breaths of relief as people found this place. Everyone had some sort of mask on to go with the theme of a masquerade ball. Lots of women had gorgeous and stunning dresses with smiles that reached their eyes. Men, on the other hand, stood tall and handsome with suits on and drinks in their hands. I wore a black suit with a burgundy tie since I knew I would be joining the dance floor when we were no longer performing.
The guests were having all sorts of small talk and the excitement that they held can be felt bouncing off the walls. A few bands and groups performed just before our turn – everyone did great with all various sorts of genres and music. The opening act was done by a trio who played wonderfully to raise the hype and get everyone going. It was truly a nice way to start off the night.
When it came to our turn, I began to sweat and get nervous. I am always like this before any gig and performance. The pressure just gets to me, and I become scared that I will screw up somehow. To be honest, for tonight, I didn’t have to do much – just a few light taps to the drums and cymbals considering we were planning on playing soft ballads for the night.
There in the crowd, I saw him. All the butterflies I initially had in my stomach had vanished. The man whom I last saw a couple of years ago. He may have a mask with cerulean blue but I just knew that it was him. My heart still managed to beat quickly for him. From the stage, I just wanted to hop off and run to him.
He was leaning against a large white pillar, and I grinned to myself. He looks just as majestic and remarkable just like he did back in high school. The next thing I knew was Kyungsoo shouting, “Thanks for listening to us! Have a wonderful night!” I immediately sprinted off the stage, carrying my drumsticks with me, to find him.
Passing through the crowd, everyone looked almost like one another. Black suits just kept on getting my way. I groaned hoping I wouldn’t miss him tonight as I took a stop at the bar to grab a glass of water to quench my thirst. Then I felt it – the very same electrical shock when I tapped his shoulder. Only this time, he was tapping mine.
I swiftly turned around and looked at him as if he was the only one there in the world for me. “Care to dance?” he softly smiled looking elegant under all the lights. I couldn’t help but grin at him as I took his hand and led him to the dance floor. “I would love to.”
“It’s been two years, hasn’t it? The last time we saw each other was senior year at graduation, right?” Oh Sehun, the man who my heart only beats for, shyly inquired amongst the elegant music that was currently playing. “Yes, it has been a while. How are you doing?” I asked hoping to calm down my heart as my hands wrapped around his waist.
He happily sighed, “Honestly, I am good. I am so happy to be seeing you again. I think this is fate, to be honest.” I scrunched up my nose and replied, “No way. It’s gotta be a coincidence that we are both here tonight.”
Sehun shrugged, “Whatever you say, Huang Zitao. So, it seems like you have become the drummer you have always wanted to be?” I couldn’t help but think that he has changed throughout the years. He is still shy but you can tell that he gained confidence after being in post-secondary. I nodded, “Something like that, yes! And you are hopefully working hard in your nursing degree?”
Sehun blushed, “Glad you remember. I am currently doing one of my clinical placements at a medical centre close to the university.” I am sure that he is doing great working hard towards this healthcare career – hopefully in the future, he becomes that pediatric nurse he has wanted.
We danced happily and slowly moved around other surrounding couples. We enjoyed the comfortable silence as we were in each other’s arms. I looked into his eyes and could only think wow, forever would be nice with him.
However, the sound of bell decided to interrupt us ruining the moment. Sehun proceeded to look up at the ceiling and chuckled amusingly. In turn, I gazed up with curiosity. “I think destiny wants us to be together for a very long time,” Sehun whispered into my ear. “And I think it was just a mere coincidence that we danced under this damn chandelier when the bell struck,” I argued back with a pout.
He shook his head with a loopy smile, “Really? Are you sure about that?” I nodded in response. “Then I say let’s get out of here and grab some coffee to debate about this. Because honestly, it must be destiny,” he suggested with his cheeks dusted in red.
I looked at him and squeezed his hand, “I would love to have a superb dispute about all this nonsense you are spouting about.” He then proceeded to lead us out to the exit and off we went to the closest coffee shop that was hopefully opened this late.
I stopped us abruptly, “But why coffee? It’s past midnight!” He only shrugged and proceeded to reply with, “Fate is telling me that we should drink coffee because we have a long night ahead of us to do some catching up.”
I could only help but chuckle at him while he responded with a tongue sticking out. Off we went to a quaint little coffee shop with many more nights to remember ahead of us.