C - 4
900 Words
You just hope Sally doesn't trip while walking backward in those heels. You can feel the weight of everyone’s eyes on you, and you have to fight the urge to run away from the attention. You keep your focus entirely on your feet and the cake. Once you safely set it down in front of Martin, you let out a long sigh of relief.
You try to slip away to a corner, but Sunny quickly grabs Sally—who happened to be the closest—and pulls her into the center. Sally groans internally as she’s stuck standing there by Sunny’s side. You manage to escape, but in your hurry, you accidentally step on someone’s shoe.
As you stumble, the person quickly grabs your arm to steady you. You breathe a sigh of relief; you really didn't want to cause a scene. Thankfully, you’re in a dim corner of the room where the light is low. You turn to apologize and thank your "rescuer," but the words die in your throat. It’s Dylan.
Dylan had been watching your every move. He noticed how uncomfortable you were in the spotlight and how you tried to run the first chance you got. He saw you heading toward him—too fast—and knew you were going to fall the second you stepped on his shoe. He reached out and caught you firmly by the arm.
Now, you’re looking up at him, your mouth open to speak, but you quickly snap it shut again. He just raises an eyebrow at you, a silent challenge in his gaze.
"Umm... thank you," you whisper, desperate to keep the attention from shifting your way.
He simply nods in response. You mentally facepalm—how could you have forgotten that Dylan is one of Martin’s closest friends? Of course he’d be here. If you had remembered, you could have prepared yourself instead of having this sudden "heart attack." Seeing him in casual clothes is a complete shift from the cafe; he isn't any less handsome, but now the feeling is more intense. Your heart is racing. You realize that moving away now would be even more awkward than staying put, so you forced yourself to stand beside him.
"You look nice in those clothes," Dylan whispers back.
With your hair swept up, his breath against your neck sends a wave of tingles and warmth through your entire body.
"You don't look so bad yourself," you reply, trying your best to sound nonchalant.
Dylan doesn't miss the slight shiver that runs through you. He smiles, feeling a surge of confidence; at least now he knows his presence has an effect on you. It’s a new kind of excitement for him.
As they finish cutting the cake and the lights flip back on, you quickly excuse yourself and bolt toward Martin. Martin immediately notices the trace of panic in your eyes. He glances toward the corner you just fled and sees Dylan watching you with a steady gaze. Martin smiles to himself. He pulls you into a protective hug, and you wrap your arms around his waist, seeking comfort in his familiar presence.
Sunny and Sally both notice your sudden change in mood and look to Martin for an explanation. He just gives them a subtle sign that everything is okay. They figure you’re probably just overwhelmed by the crowd and have run out of energy to keep up your usual "act."
Martin stays there with you, Sunny, and Sally, letting you bury your face against his shoulder. He pats you gently to calm you down. Watching from across the room, Dylan feels a sudden, sharp spike of something that feels dangerously like hate toward Martin. Nearby, several other friends are whispering, assuming you and Martin are a couple—a rumor Martin does nothing to deny or clarify.
Sunny and Sally just laugh at the situation. They know Martin is protective; he doesn't want any of his guy friends hitting on the "sisters." Sunny can hold her own and Sally can defend herself, but you... you are a different story in Martin's eyes.
Watching all of this is Risa. Her expression twists into disgust before she quickly masks it, grabbing two glasses of wine and walking toward Dylan. He doesn't even notice her approaching; his eyes are locked on you.
"Long time no see, Dylan. You rarely come to these gatherings anymore," Risa says.
"I've been busy lately," he mutters, not even looking at her. Risa grits her teeth but forces a smile. Suddenly, she "stumbles," and a splash of wine spills onto Dylan’s white shirt.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry!" she cries out. She immediately reaches out with a napkin, leaning in close to rub at the stain on his chest.
Eventually, you manage to calm down. The overwhelming feeling starts to fade, and when Sunny and Sally check on you, you give them a small smile. Martin asks if you're okay, and you apologize for clinging to him.
"Go on, I don't want to cockblock you!" you tease, pushing him toward the crowd.
Martin laughs, knowing he should give you some space so you don't feel guilty. He can also feel a "death stare" coming from somewhere in the room and ignore it.
- Writer
