Episode 15: One Song Too Late
966 Words
“Don’t touch her.”
Kael’s voice was calm.
Too calm.
The kind of calm that made people instinctively step back.
Ethan slowly raised both hands.
“I wasn’t doing anything.”
“You grabbed her.”
“I let go.”
“After she pulled away.”
For several seconds, the two men simply stared at each other.
Amara stepped between them.
“Enough.”
Both men looked at her.
“I’m leaving.”
She turned to Ethan.
“I meant what I said.”
“There isn’t going to be another chance.”
Ethan lowered his head.
“I know.”
“I’m sorry.”
This time…
She believed he meant it.
But it didn’t change anything.
She walked away without looking back.
⸻
The ballroom was alive with laughter again.
It was as though nothing had happened outside.
Kael fell into step beside her.
“You broke your promise.”
Amara sighed.
“I know.”
“I was worried.”
“You barely know me.”
“I know enough.”
She looked at him.
“You keep saying things like that.”
“What things?”
“Like you already know who I am.”
Kael hesitated.
“I know you’re kind.”
“I know you’re stubborn.”
“I know you always put other people first.”
“And I know you have a habit of walking into trouble.”
She laughed.
“I do not.”
“You followed an anonymous note.”
“Okay…”
“…that one was fair.”
He smiled.
“I thought so.”
For a moment, they simply walked together.
No awkwardness.
No pressure.
Just comfortable silence.
⸻
Inside the ballroom, the Master of Ceremonies tapped his microphone.
“May I have everyone’s attention?”
The music faded.
“As is tradition…”
“…the next dance is the Founders’ Choice.”
He smiled.
“Every lady may invite one gentleman to the dance floor.”
The room erupted with cheers.
Lily appeared beside Amara.
“This is your chance.”
“My chance for what?”
“To ask Kael.”
Amara nearly dropped her glass.
“I am absolutely not doing that.”
“Why?”
“Because I’d die of embarrassment.”
Lily grinned mischievously.
“If you don’t ask him…”
“…someone else will.”
Almost on cue, three elegantly dressed girls began making their way toward Kael.
Amara watched them.
Something uncomfortable twisted in her stomach.
She looked away.
She had no right to feel that.
None.
⸻
Kael noticed.
He excused himself from the conversation before any of the girls reached him.
Instead…
He walked straight toward Amara.
Lily’s eyes widened.
“I suddenly remembered…”
“…I promised to help with dessert.”
Before Amara could protest, Lily disappeared into the crowd.
Traitor.
Kael stopped in front of her.
“Miss Cole.”
She smiled nervously.
“Mr. Vale.”
“I have a question.”
“So do I.”
“You first.”
He held out his hand.
“Would you do me the honor of saving me from the other invitations?”
She blinked.
“Were you… asking me?”
“I believe I just did.”
“I thought the ladies were supposed to ask.”
“I decided to break tradition.”
A smile spread across her face before she could stop it.
“I’d love to.”
His shoulders visibly relaxed.
She noticed.
“So…”
“You were nervous?”
“Terrified.”
She laughed.
“I don’t believe you.”
“You should.”
⸻
The orchestra began another slow melody.
This dance was quieter.
More intimate.
Kael rested one hand lightly against her waist.
She placed hers on his shoulder.
“You learn quickly,” he said.
“I had a good teacher.”
“I’m not sure about that.”
“You haven’t had your toes stepped on once.”
“I’ll consider that progress.”
They smiled at each other.
Neither noticed that they had stopped talking.
Neither noticed how close they had drifted.
The rest of the ballroom faded away.
All Amara could hear was the music.
And Kael’s heartbeat beneath her fingertips.
Steady.
Strong.
Safe.
Without thinking, she looked up.
He was already looking at her.
For one suspended moment…
It felt as though they were the only two people in the room.
Kael’s gaze dropped briefly to her lips.
Then back to her eyes.
Amara forgot how to breathe.
Was he…
No.
Surely not.
Just then—
“Ladies and gentlemen!”
The Chancellor’s cheerful voice echoed through the hall.
“We have a surprise announcement.”
The spell shattered.
Kael took half a step back.
Almost reluctantly.
The Chancellor smiled broadly.
“As part of this year’s Founders’ Gala…”
“…I’m delighted to announce the university’s annual charity auction.”
The crowd applauded politely.
“Our first item…”
“…is a weekend mentorship package with our Student Council President, Kael Draven Vale.”
Laughter rippled through the room.
Girls immediately began whispering excitedly.
The auctioneer lifted his gavel.
“Do I hear five hundred dollars?”
“Five hundred!”
“Seven hundred!”
“One thousand!”
The bids climbed rapidly.
Amara stared in disbelief.
“They’re… bidding on your company?”
Kael looked mildly embarrassed.
“It raises money for scholarships.”
She smiled.
“You’re very popular.”
“I wish they were bidding on someone else.”
Before she could answer—
A confident voice rang out from the front row.
“Five thousand dollars.”
The ballroom fell silent.
Everyone turned.
Serena stood gracefully, her bidding paddle raised.
She smiled directly at Amara.
“Oh…”
“…this should be interesting.”
- Writer
