CHASING THE TRUTH

Ted leaned against the balcony rail, staring across the crowded club with half-interested eyes until he saw her. A girl in a silver dress laughed softly with her friends near the dance floor. The flashing lights brushed against her skin like moonlight. Ted froze. “Wow…” he muttered under his breath. “She’s beautiful.” Something about her felt different. The way she carried herself. The calm confidence in her eyes. She looked exactly like his type. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “Maybe I should talk to her,” he whispered to himself. “Come on, Ted… be confident.” He quickly pulled out his phone and called his best friend. “Hello, bro,” Zuan answered lazily. “What’s up out there?” “Nothing much,” Ted said, unable to hide his excitement. “But I’ve got serious gist for you.” Zuan immediately sounded awake. “Wait—what? Tell me now!” Ted laughed. “Relax. No rushing.” “Bro, you’re making me nervous already.” “But first,” Ted said carefully, “Promise me you won’t tell any of the guys. Especially Minho. That boy can turn a small thing into a worldwide announcement.” Zuan burst into laughter. “You have my word. Now talk.” Ted glanced back toward the girl. “I was at the club performing like usual, just focusing on my thing… then suddenly this girl appeared. I don’t even know what happened to me.” “Hmmm…” Zuan hummed with interest. “She’s gorgeous, bro. Like an actual princess. Since the first day I saw her last month, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her.” There was a short silence before Ted finally admitted softly, “I think I want to see her again.” Zuan gasped dramatically. “Wait… Ted? The same Ted who has never fallen for a girl before?” Ted rolled his eyes. “Shut up.” “No, seriously!” Zuan laughed loudly. “This is history. My guy finally found his spec!” Ted smiled despite himself. “So what do you think?” he asked quietly. “Should I go talk to her?” “Of course you should,” Zuan replied instantly. “Bro, you finally like someone. Don’t overthink it.” The next morning— Ding dong. Ted opened the door sleepily. “Zuan?” he frowned. “Why are you here this early?” Zuan walked inside with too much energy for the morning. “Bro, it’s already 7:44. And don’t act like you forgot yesterday’s conversation.” Ted sighed. “You really took this seriously.” “Very seriously,” Zuan said proudly. “Now tell me the plan. How are we finding this mystery princess?” Ted sat down slowly. “I was thinking of going back to the club. Maybe I could ask the workers there if they know her.” Zuan immediately shook his head. “Bad idea. That could sound creepy.” Ted groaned. “Then what do you want me to do?” Zuan grinned. “Simple. You go talk to her.” Ted stared at him. “I don’t even know her name.” “So?” “We’ve never met before!” “That’s exactly how people meet,” Zuan replied. Ted threw a pillow at him. “You’re impossible.” Zuan laughed loudly. “Look at you getting nervous. Love has finally humbled you.” Ted pointed a warning finger at him. “And don’t even think about telling the guys.” “What about Bobie?” Zuan suggested carefully. “He’s smart with relationship matters.” Ted instantly shook his head. “No. I don’t want everybody involved.” “Relax,” Zuan said. “I’ll handle it carefully.” Ted narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “You already want to call him, don’t you?” Zuan slowly smiled. “Maybe.” Ted sighed deeply. “Fine. But only if you call him here in front of me.” Zuan grabbed his phone immediately. “That’s my boy.” Zuan grabbed his phone immediately. “That’s my boy.” Ted crossed his arms nervously while Zuan searched for Bobie’s number. “You better not say too much,” Ted warned. Zuan smirked. “Relax, Mr. Secret Lover.” Ted threw him a deadly look. “Fine, fine,” Zuan laughed before pressing the call button. A few seconds later, the call connected. “Hello?” Bobie’s sleepy voice came through the speaker. “Who’s disturbing my peaceful morning?” “Bro!” Zuan shouted dramatically. “Emergency meeting!” Bobie groaned loudly. “If this is another one of your stupid ideas, I’m hanging up.” “It’s about Ted.” There was sudden silence. Then— “Ted?” Bobie sounded shocked. “What happened? Did he finally fight somebody?” Ted rolled his eyes. “Why does everyone think I’m violent?” Zuan burst out laughing. “No, i***t,” Zuan said. “Our guy is in love.” The line went completely silent. Then Bobie screamed. “WHAT?!” Ted covered his face in embarrassment. “Can you lower your voice?” he muttered. Bobie ignored him completely. “No way. Ted? The same Ted that rejects every girl that breathes near him?” “Okay, that’s enough,” Ted said dryly. Zuan was nearly falling off the couch laughing. “This is serious business,” he managed to say between laughs. Bobie suddenly sounded excited. “Tell me everything.” Ted sighed deeply. “I saw her again at the club yesterday.” “Hmmm…” “And I can’t explain it, but every time I see her, it feels like the entire place disappears.” Bobie immediately gasped dramatically. “Oh, he’s finished.” “Shut up,” Ted groaned. “No, listen to yourself!” Bobie laughed. “Our cold-hearted brother is finally acting human.” Ted leaned back into the couch while Zuan continued teasing him. “She’s really beautiful,” Ted admitted quietly. “Not just physically… there’s something calm about her.” Bobie became serious for the first time. “So what’s the problem?” Ted hesitated. “I don’t know how to approach her.” Zuan instantly pointed at Ted proudly. “That’s exactly what I told you!” Bobie hummed thoughtfully. “Okay… first things first. Don’t act desperate.” “I know that.” “And don’t send the club workers to look for her,” Bobie added. Zuan burst into laughter. “See? I told him that sounded creepy.” Ted frowned. “Fine. Bad idea.” Bobie continued, “If fate keeps making you see her, then go naturally. Start with a simple conversation.” Ted stayed quiet for a moment. “A simple conversation…” he repeated softly. Before anybody could speak again— The apartment door suddenly opened. Minho walked inside carrying snacks and drinks. “Why is everybody gathered here so early—” He stopped mid-sentence after seeing their guilty expressions. His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What are you people hiding?” Ted immediately pointed at Zuan. “This is your fault.” Zuan panicked. “Why me?!” Minho slowly placed the snacks on the table. “Ohhh…” he smirked. “Something interesting is happening.” “No,” Ted said quickly. “Yes,” Zuan and Bobie answered together. Minho’s eyes widened. “WAIT.” He pointed directly at Ted. “YOU LIKE SOMEONE?!” Ted closed his eyes in frustration while the others exploded into laughter. “I knew it,” Minho shouted proudly. “I knew one day this man would finally fall!” Ted stood up immediately. “You know what? I’m leaving.” But before he could walk away, Minho grabbed his shoulder dramatically. “No, brother. Sit down. Tell Uncle Minho everything.” Ted stared at him in disbelief. “You’re literally younger than me.” “That’s not important right now,” Minho replied confidently. Bobie wiped tears from laughing too much. “This is the best morning ever.” Ted sighed deeply and sat back down while the boys continued teasing him nonstop. For the first time in a long while, Ted felt strangely nervous… And strangely happy. Ted tried to ignore the laughter filling the apartment, but it was impossible. Minho had already made himself comfortable on the couch, eating snacks like he had just arrived for a live television show. “This is unbelievable,” Minho said dramatically between bites. “Ted… our Ted… finally likes a girl.” Bobie shook his head with fake sadness. “The world is truly changing.” Zuan pointed proudly at himself. “And I was the first person he told.” Ted glared at him immediately. “And you still told everybody.” “I only told Bobie,” Zuan defended himself quickly. “And me,” Minho added with a grin. Ted groaned loudly and dropped his head back against the couch. “You people are impossible.” The boys burst into laughter again. For years, Ted had always been the calm one among them. While the others chased relationships, heartbreak, and drama, Ted stayed focused on work, music, and himself. Everybody believed nothing could distract him. Until now. Minho leaned forward curiously. “So tell us properly,” he said. “What exactly happened when you saw her?” Ted stayed quiet for a moment before answering. “I don’t know,” he admitted honestly. “It was strange.” “Strange how?” Bobie asked. Ted looked down at his hands thoughtfully. “One second I was performing like normal… then suddenly I saw her standing near the stage.” His voice softened slightly. “She wasn’t even doing anything special. She was just standing there with her friends, smiling.” The room became quieter as the others listened carefully. “But for some reason,” Ted continued, “everything around me disappeared for a moment.” Zuan slowly smiled. “Damn,” he whispered. “My guy is seriously gone.” Ted ignored the comment. “I kept trying to focus, but my eyes kept finding her again.” Minho looked genuinely impressed now. “You’ve never talked about a girl like this before.” Ted nodded slowly. “That’s why it’s bothering me.” Bobie crossed his arms. “Maybe that’s exactly why you should meet her.” Ted looked uncertain. “What if she’s already in a relationship?” “Then you respect it and move on,” Bobie answered calmly. “But if you never try, you’ll keep wondering about her.” Ted sighed deeply. He hated admitting it, but Bobie was right. The thought of never seeing the mysterious girl again somehow felt worse than rejection itself. Minho suddenly snapped his fingers. “Wait. Didn’t Jun-yu say he knows a lot of people at that club?” The others immediately looked at him. Zuan’s eyes widened. “That’s true!” Ted sat up instantly. “Jun-yu knows the club manager.” A slow smile appeared on Bobie’s face. “Well then,” he said confidently, “looks like we just found our next step.” Before Ted could respond, Minho already pulled out his phone excitedly. “I’m calling Jun-yu right now.” Ted quickly grabbed his arm. “No! Don’t make it obvious.” Minho laughed loudly. “Relax, Romeo.” Ted stared at his friends helplessly while they continued planning around him. For the first time in years, his calm and organized life was becoming complicated. And somehow… He didn’t hate it at all.