"Shall we dance?"
I hesitated.
For a moment longer. I watched her outstretched hand.
Then—
Step.
I stood up and grabbed it, her fingers circled mine. She tightened her grip, just enough, and led me into the open space of the room.
She stopped after a few meters and turned toward me. Her smile was bright.
We didn't speak for a moment and just stared at each other.
I missed it.
I missed her.
She moved again, lifting her arms up—like she was waiting for a hug.
"Well?" she teased. "Aren't you going to hold me?"
Her voice broke me out of my trance, and I stepped closer.
My right hand slid under her arm and toward her slim waist, gently gripping it. She then placed her left hand on my shoulder and clasped her other hand with mine. Her skin felt soft.
We were close.
Her breath tickled as it brushed against my neck.
My eyes were sucked into hers as we stood there.
Then, ever so slowly, her lips curved, teasingly.
"Remembering the steps?"
My mouth opened to answer, but closed right after.
Instead—
Step.
I took a step forward. She followed my lead with a step back of her own.
My voice was confident as I spoke, even proud.
"How could I forget?"
Step.
Our heads didn't turn, gazes still locked to each other as we took two steps to the right.
Her tone was playful.
"Right? Must be a clear memory—holding a beauty like me?"
Step.
I smiled as we took one step to the left.
"It is."
Step.
At last, I took a step back before the rhythm began again.
Step.
We moved.
Forward.
Two steps right.
One left.
And one back.
A rhythm only we knew.
Everything faded...
The world had blurred into white.
And in this white world.
There was Lisa.
She was—
The only color in this world.
Her warmth traveled up my arms and spread through me. The soft pulse of her hand beat with my heart in unison. Through the air traveled a scent of Yune flowers each time her hair swayed. Her smile was bright enough to become the light in this white world.
Our eyes—
Green on blue.
And—
Blue on green.
Both of us stared.
As if the other could vanish if we didn't look.
Step.
We danced in this white world.
Like a brush drew on a blank canvas.
Step.
With every step, she seemed to close the distance even more.
Step.
And before I knew it.
Step.
Her head was leaning against my chest.
Step.
Our steps slowed as we danced closer, but the rhythm stayed the same.
It was our dance.
One we had created a long time ago.
She even named it—
Lisa whispered into my chest, something I couldn't hear.
"Remember?"
Her voice grew louder.
"Spring of Love."
A chuckle escaped me.
Yeah...that's the name she came up with.
I whispered.
"What a silly name."
She heard it.
Her head lifted instantly as she pulled back, pouting.
"The name is important."
I smiled at her antics and loosened my grip around her waist. My left hand grabbed hers firmer. She felt it and moved with the shift of my hand as I spun her in a small circle.
The spin ended, and she fell back into my hands.
Step.
"It's also important to me."
The answer satisfied her, and she leaned her head against my chest again.
"Good."
We continued to dance.
Step.
The silence only broken by our steps.
Step.
Then she whispered.
"Do you want to know a secret?"
My eyes widened.
"A secret?"
She paused.
"Yes," her voice small. "But you won't like it."
I grew even more curious.
"Tell me."
A small chuckle broke out of her.
"I found it."
I asked, confused.
"Found what?"
I felt her take a small breath against my chest before she spoke again.
"The ring."
Step.
I stopped instantly as my eyes went wide. Lisa almost tripped over my feet, but I held her steady.
Heat climbed my ears as I panicked.
"You—you went through my underwear?!"
She rolled her eyes.
"Why would I go through your underwear?"
Then a whisper.
"Pervert."
I stammered, faster than I liked.
"Then how did you—"
Step.
She took a step back and snorted while turning her head away from me.
"That's not important," she said firmly. "What matters is why it wasn't on my finger."
I panicked.
"That's—"
Her sharp gaze as she turned toward me cut me off.
"How long?"
I asked back, confused.
"What?"
She spoke again, firmer.
"How long did you have it?"
I couldn't look at her right now and turned my head away as I mumbled.
"Some months…"
She almost screamed.
"Months?!"
Her tone seemed cold.
"Why didn't you ask me?"
I knew that tone. It wasn't that she was angry.
It's just that she would be if I didn't answer.
I chewed on my words.
"That's....because I was—"
I stopped mid-sentence.
There was no use now.
Lisa's dam broke.
She spiraled instantly.
"Oh my god—marriage! What would mother think?"
She took a breath.
"And father? I mean, he likes you, right? But marriage? That's a different matter. Wait! When—no, where would we celebrate?"
Her green eyes turned toward me for an answer.
I spoke while already knowing the outcome.
"I thought—"
"I want something big! It's our marriage! I mean, you only have one. Ah! But not too big. You know big enough so—"
Yes.
My opinion.
It didn't matter.
I looked at her.
Her lips moved faster than words could come out.
Haah.
I needed to stop her.
If she starts—
She wouldn't stop.
Step.
My hands reached out, grabbing her shoulders.
"Lisa!"
"We should—"
She stopped instantly. Her eyes widened upon realization.
"Oh," she smiled sheepishly. "I did it again."
My eyes rolled as I chuckled.
"Yes."
She lifted her arms to my neck as she stepped into a hug.
"I was just soo happy. Sorry."
My hands left her shoulders and slid down to her waist as I pulled her closer.
One of my hands went for her head, brushing strands of hair aside before I gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead.
"I love that side of you."
She smiled as she melted into my embrace.
"It's only with you."
Then—
As if she just remembered.
Tap.
She placed her hands on my chest and pushed me away, frowning.
"So what was it?"
I knew what she meant, but feigned confusion.
"What was what?"
She glared at me sharply, her voice firm.
"The reason you didn't ask me. You hesitated, right? Not the right time—something like that?"
Heat rose to my neck.
'That woman...'
Haah.
'Why does she know me so well?'
I answered weakly.
"Yeah….The moment just didn't feel right."
She hissed.
"Idiot."
I coughed.
"I know—I know. But I would have done it during the trip to Italy we planned."
She smiled, knowingly.
"Sure you would."
I doubled down.
"I swear."
A lie.
We both knew it.
She grumbled, annoyed.
"It would have been faster if I had made the proposal," then she whispered. "I even looked up rings."
I grew even more embarrassed.
"You did?"
She nodded and smiled.
"But after seeing yours, all others were just ugly."
I chuckled at her remark.
Then—
Step.
Her gaze turned strangely serious as she stepped closer. The smile vanished from her lips as she lifted her hand.
Tap.
She tapped my chest, voice firm.
"I want yours."
A smile returned to her face.
But—
It wasn't bright and made me even a bit scared.
"Understand?"
I swallowed and nodded.
She held my gaze for a second longer before turning away. It felt like she was looking at something in the distance.
I wanted to follow her gaze when—
"It's time."
Something about her tone made me feel strange, and I asked, confused.
"Time?"
Her head turned back toward me. She smiled, her tone soft.
"Nothing."
Something felt wrong.
"No," I said, panic creeping in. "What do you mean?"
Step.
She spoke again.
"That's not important."
The white world shook for a moment.
I swallowed.
"What is important, then?"
Step.
Lisa halted in front of me, her gaze gentle. She reached out her hand and tapped my chest softly.
"You."
The world trembled again.
"Me?"
She pulled her hand back and observed me for a moment before asking in a gentle voice.
"Are you okay?"
The world seemed to bent and twist.
My body shook, and the world shook with it.
Crack.
The white world was gone.
Bars.
Bunk beds.
Grey walls.
Dim light.
I forced a smile.
"Yes."