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Just when you think you’re comfortable and familiar with going places and doing things alone, you’re hit with the epiphany that you’re certainly not ready to go to huge events like this one without someone by your side. It’s awkward and quite boring, but it doesn’t stop the smile on your face as you watch the other wedding guests dance. The music is blaring and couples, kids and the bride and groom are dancing in the middle of the room.
Everyone’s a stranger.
But there’s one stranger that has you captivated. It’s like his energy isn’t running out anytime soon. His smile is one that makes your heart race and warm at the same time, one that gets you flustered and ready to fall for him in just a second. For a moment he’s dancing with a few of the children to some trending pop song you’ve heard one too many times on the radio while driving. It’s loose and full of energy, little screams from the kids as he picks them up to spin them one by one. It’s amazing, truly. The amount of attention he’s giving to the kids who have a sugar high surprises you. His patience and kindness are radiating off him, especially the genuine fun he’s having with a bunch of kids.
It’s only eight o’clock and you can feel it creeping up on you. The way the alcohol seeps through your body making you tired. So desperately you’re wishing for some coffee, but you know that never comes till dessert happens at weddings and most events. You aren’t dancing tonight, you aren’t mingling (except for the occasional conversation at the table you’re assigned to) and you’re somewhat having a decent time.
But, it’s the man who keeps you on the edge of your seat, awake and eyes wide open.
He’s not dancing with kids anymore, but instead he’s dancing with another woman. A friend, a girlfriend, a family member… it’s not your business, but you can’t seem to stop yourself from starring at the way he moves and leads his dancing partner across the floor. Effortlessly, beautifully and without bumping into anyone else. It’s a beautiful sight to see someone actually enjoying this. Most weddings and some parties you’ve been to, people were forced to dance (so were you, but this is why you’ve always stood on the sidelines, where you were comfortable and safe from embarrassment). Sure, maybe you felt safe being away from big crowds and potential accidents and awkward conversations. But seeing the way his feet take smooth steps and hips swaying to the music, makes you want to break out of that routine.
Once the two songs fly by, he’s not dancing with anyone. The woman in front of him raises her hand and they high five each other, smiles beaming. He’s alone now. The music slowed down, and the couples are now gathering around the dance floor, including the bride and groom.
The man slowly dances by himself, as if the music is taking over his body. He must be tired, no? But no, ke keeps moving and your eyes continue to watch, stuck in a trance. The suit caresses his body in all the right places, as if it’s really made perfectly for him. His dark black hair is almost covering his eyes, and goes down to his neck. It’s perfectly styled, but something tells you this is what he might look like on a regular basis.
Instantaneously, your mind races how’s and what if’s. How would it feel to dance with him? How would he look on a normal day? What if he isn’t single? What would it be like to go on dates with him? What if…
One can dream and ask hypothetical questions; he’s no one to you and you’re no one to him, so there’s no harm in dreaming for just a few minutes.
That’s until your eyes meet from across the dance floor. Your breath hitches in your throat, taken back by the beauty more than ever. It’s happening way too fast.
He’s suddenly floating towards you, his chest rising and falling with every breath he takes. Your head turns away from his direction and you start focusing on the glass of champagne in front of you. Hand playing with the stem of the glass, you’re hoping he’s not coming over for you.
“Hi.”
A tired, yet angelic soft voice catches your attention. It’s him. It’s the dancer.
“I- have we…have we met before?” His voice carries an unsure tone, his head tilting upwards showing off his jawline.
“Hi…Pretty sure I’d remember you.” You mutter.
He smiles, a smirk almost, at your response.
“I mean, no I don’t think so.”
With the same smile, he starts to laugh. Not in a way that makes you feel like you’ve embarrassed yourself. But, in the way that makes you feel seen and almost adored.
Fuck. The heat from your heart starts rising to your cheeks, and you swear the fluster you feel can make you sick with a fever. You need to stay calm: breathing is your best bet if you can catch it. With a man like him standing in front of you it’s kind of hard to contain it all.
“Well then, I should introduce myself.” He holds his hand out. “I’m Jimin. Best friend and best man of the groom.”
You smile and respond with your name, “Friend of the bride.”
“Not a bridesmaid I take it?”
“Uh, no. We’re friends from college, but I’m just a guest with no date.” It’s getting awkward and you didn’t like how pathetic you think you sound: pathetic. “What about you?”
“The groom and I went met in middle school. Went to high school and college together too. Taehyung and I made a pact that we’d marry each other if we couldn’t get married by forty. Now here we are at twenty-seven and he’s the lucky man.”
You chuckle at his little story. “That’s cute though. Nice friendship you have there.”
“It wouldn’t have sucke if we did get married.” Jimin laughs, “but here he is, my lucky best friend and I’m the groomsman with no date either.”
You flinch at his words, almost as if he was saying it to make it better for you. You’d normally cringe at the sympathy, but you realize it’s not what he’s doing.
“So, weddings work like this: the maid of honor and the best man are automatically the date since you know, they gotta walk down the aisle together. But her best friend hates me.”
“You seem pretty nice.” You squint at him. “Why does she hate you?”
“Well…honestly? I don’t even know.”
Together, you laugh at the ridiculous little things you’re sharing with each other. Strangers, slowly getting to know one another. It’s weird, you never think about how this is how you’re supposed to meet other people. It feels like you’ve met before, spoken to each other before. But you haven’t, and that’s what makes everything feel surreal. He’s kind and very handsome–or in this case, extremely hot.
“So, I have to admit,” jimin begins speaking, “I noticed you earlier. When I was dancing.”
“I didn’t mean to stare at you.” You quickly say.
“No, it’s okay. It’s so more than okay.”
“Okay.”
The both of you are flustered.
“I was wondering…since I noticed you all night not really enjoying yourself.”
“I wasn’t having a bad ti–”
“What I meant was: I noticed you looking at everyone, and me. Dancing. Would you, uh, like to maybe dance with me?”
The heat is back again. Your eyes snap up to his and you’re frozen in the nude satin covered chair at your table. Dancing? In public…with a stranger. Three things you’ve never been accustomed or comfortable with. Could it be, after trying get in the routine of doing things for yourself and on your own, that this is a sign? The next step in your life to be more open? To find yourself.
He notices your hesitation, “If you don’t…”
Great. Here comes rejection after you’re unsure.
“Then we can sit here together? Dessert is coming soon, so maybe you’d like to-”
“I’d like to dance. I mean, I don’t know how…especially with this dress on but, I’d like to dance. With you.”
He seems surprised, but pleased by your answer. You watch his hand relax on the table, extending his palm to you waiting for further confirmation. There’s a slight shake in your hand as you grasp his hand, but when he gives a soft squeeze and shows his pearly white smile, you begin to let yourself calm down.
“Come on,” He leads the way to the dancefloor with you trailing behind him, hand still in his.
The song isn’t so fast, but its not a slow one either. You’re confused on what to do or how to start, and since he senses that with your tense body language his hands get ready to trail to your waist. But, he doesn’t.
“May I?” He gestures with his eyes.
“Oh yeah, please. You’re the dancer, lead me.”
“Lead you…” He whispers. “Okay. I got you.”
His words almost gives you whiplash. You’ve never had someone tease you, flirt with you or even be gentle with you like he’s been doing.
“Dancing is easy. You don’t need to think, only feel. Feel the music and let your body loosen up.” He explains, showing his hips swaying slightly to the base.
“I’ll try my best to not make us look embarrassing.”
“No one’s watching, everyone's dancing and having a good time. I think you deserve to as well.” He reassures you. “Besides, I think if anyones going to make me look embarrassing is myself.”
“You? Absolutely not. You’re smooth, I’ve seen you dancing. Talking to everyone tonight, you’re like everyone’s personal disco ball.”
Jimin lets out a laugh, hovering over for just a moment. His chuckling’s got you weak in the knees and your heart blooming with warmth.
“A disco ball? That’s great, never heard that before!” He pulls you into him. “Come on, don’t be stiff. Follow my body. Feel.”
“Feel.” You whisper to yourself.
And suddenly, you’re following his moves and giving into freedom. The first song was hard to get into, but after a while, he makes you forget all your worries and you finally manage to pay no mind to any of the negatives that’s lived in you for so long. It’s innocent for a while, until some of the songs are getting intense–which Jimin explains which songs have been strictly chosen by Taehyung. He’s adamant about letting you know his music taste is better and much different than his best friends. It also makes you two more comfortable, especially when the two of you start nerding over the shared love for specific artists and songs.
As the fast paced songs continue for awhile, they start to slow down. Your bodies slow down and they’re inching closer by the minute. Hands are touchy and smiles are non stop between you two, occasional blushing and giggles occur. There’s so many conversations happening at once on the dancefloor between you two as you speak over the music.
Abruptly, the music stops and switches to some love song that Taehyung’s wife insisted on playing. It’s not the bride and groom’s frist dance, but they’re out on the dancefloor on the other side as you and Jimin stop to take a breather. You feel awkward standing there, not knowing if he wants to leave or not. Instead of meeting his eyes out of anxiousness, you watch Taehyung and Nabi hold onto each other as he looks down at his wife.
Your heart swells at the way he looks at her; happily and so incandescently proud with his love.
“Nabi looks so pretty, I’m really happy for them.” You say, hoping to break any awkwardness you hope he doesn’t feel.
And he doesn’t feel an ounce of that. Instead, he’s a little nervous, but he’d be a hypocrite to tell her to just feel and to stop worrying about everything.
“She really is pretty.”
But he’s not looking at her.
You feel his hand gently swipe against yours and your head snaps beside you. He’s been starring at you this entire time, and then you realize he said you’re pretty. But you’re too nervous to even speak.
“Dance with me?”
“I’ll try.”
“I got you.” He says, biting his lip as he smiles.
Like a gentleman, he rests his heads right at your waist and lets you grab onto him wherever. The song is beautiful, a little too slow for your liking but Jimin makes it bearable as he guides you step by step in a simple
It’s no waltz, but you can care less what dance this is. All your focus is on his face, every inch of it as you take in his beauty up close. You’re not entirely nervous anymore, as he does his best to make you feel comfortable. And he does. You’re unsure if anyone else could’ve made you dance tonight, or make you feel at ease.
“By the way… I think you’re pretty too.” You blurt out.
“You think I’m pretty?”
“I uh, yeah. Handsome. Pretty…sorry.”
“No, don’t be.” He smirks. “It’s nice to hear the prettiest person in the room call me pretty. Handsome too.”
Together you let out a quiet laugh, careful not to ruin everyone's moment on the dance floor. One of his hands lets go of your waist and suddenly you feel him take one of your arms off of him so that he can hold your hand. His head is tilting slightly down at you, inching closer to yours and your heart it pumping like crazy. It’s like your body is on fire with the way he looks at you and the anticipated gesture has you screaming on the inside.
But before anything can happen, the song ends.
You’re not sure you can dance anymore. But for the first few seconds, you slow down and he follows. There’s no words speaking for either of you, but instead are letting the linger touches and body movements speak. He’s still clinging onto you and your hand. Instead of continuing the moment that was ruined, he stays where he is and opens his mouth.
“Have you been drinking tonight?”
“Yeah, I have. I chugged down my champagne when you were walking over to me.” You admit, trying to hide your shame by looking to the side.
“I was just asking because I know you said you came alone. Did you drive here?”
“I did. And I’m an idiot because I refuse to drive after having a drink or two. I told myself I wouldn’t and now I’ll be stranded here with the caterers and clean up.”
Jimin laughs, pulling you into him to get you to look.
“Again, that’s why I asked. Father of the bride insisted on getting cars with a driver for the bridesmaids and groomsmen. If you want, you can hop in with me? Take you back to the hotel–” Jimin pauses, eyes going wide. “Shit, no. That’s not what I meant. I was trying to be a gentleman, and be responsible and make sure–”
“I know what you meant, Jimin.” You hush him. “Thank you for being kind. There’s not many people like you these days.”
“Well, my mom does tell me I’m a one of a kind. Taehyung too.”
“He does sound like he’d say that. I met and hung out with him a few times during college with Nabi.” You explain. “He’s very affectionate and supportive isn’t he?”
“Yeah, he is,” Jimin smiles. “I was thinking… maybe you’d want to hang out together? And then you know…maybe the four of us could too.”
You squint at him, a smirk playing on your face.
“Are you asking me on a date and then assuming it’ll go well enough to go on a double date with the married couple?”
You’re teasing him, and by the blush creeping on Jimin’s face, he knows you are.
“Yep. I think I might be bad at this? No wonder why I’m not married before Tae.”
You want to tease him some more, but there’s a hint of seriousness in his voice. So, you push the playfulness down and unbeknownst you, you stop swaying to the music.
“Maybe you’re not bad at this. Maybe that’s just life saying you haven’t found that person that understands you: flustered or not.”
“You understand me, right?” He bites on his plush lips. “I know we just met, but I walked over to you for a reason. I asked you to dance for a reason. We’re standing, talking and teasing each other for a reason, right? Tell me I’m not the only one who notices…who feels.”
“Could it be… I don’t know, a thing called fate?”
“It might be.”
He stops dancing too, faces are inching towards each other. Some may say this is too soon, or too dumb. Some might say its cute, never too fast and to hold onto this moment, these feelings. Because you’ll never know what will happen and you don’t want to be left wondering what could’ve been if you didn’t kiss him. Your hand moves from his shoulder to rest on the back of his neck, fingers threading the long black hair. His eyes are waiting for yours to finally give in to the teasing.
Jimin’s lips meet yours, a soft peck that last a few seconds. It’s not rushed, it’s not awkward and there’s no big explosions behind the kiss. It’s simple, but sweet and there’s a few goosebumps that run up and down both of your backs. He can feel it, and so can you.
Pulling away to look at each other, he smiles down at you. You’ve never been kissed like that before, let alone looked at like the way Jimin is right now. Before you can speak, he leans and kisses the corner of your mouth gently, not once but twice.
He pulls away and feel the heat rise to your cheeks again, muttering an incomplete sentence.
“That was…”
“Nice. Sweet.”
“You still want that dessert with me?”
It’s like he’s breathless again, “absolutely.”