" Beneath the City Lights"
The applause still rang in my ears,, a gentle echo dissolving beneath the soft hum of instrumental music and the low murmur of conversation... The grand ballroom shimmered with golden light,, chandeliers casting fractured halos across polished marble floors and the sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows revealing a skyline that twinkled like scattered diamonds... My hands trembled slightly,, but I steadied myself with a quiet breath,, exhaling the emotions that Adrian's speech had stirred within me.
He never said my name.
Yet,, somehow,, every word had been for me.
,
"Smooth,," Luna whispered beside me,, eyes still fixed on the now-empty stage. "That man knows exactly what he's doing..."
I swallowed hard and followed Adrian with my gaze as he descended the steps. For the briefest moment,, his eyes found mine—intense,, unreadable—and something in my chest clenched. But then,, just as quickly, Mr. Kwon intercepted him with another round of congratulations,, and the moment vanished like smoke.
"Are you alright??" Luka's voice was soft, his presence calm behind me.
I turned,, managing a nod. "I'm fine."
He didn't look convinced but said nothing. Instead,, he offered a gentle smile and stepped aside as Luna gave my arm a quick, reassuring squeeze...
"I'll be at the dessert bar if you need me. Clara's already gone into full macaron-hunting mode..."
I let out a faint laugh. "I'll find you soon..."
They left,, Luka casting one last look over his shoulder,, as if reluctant to walk away. I remained by the tall glass windows,, the lights of the city below reflecting against the glass like a second world... My own reflection hovered there too—caught between skyscrapers and headlights,, between past and present. Between Adrian and the haunting echoes of a boy who once promised me forever....
A sudden awareness tugged at me,, and I realized Oliver was standing nearby,, his gaze fixed too intently in my direction.
"What??" I asked, startled.
He blinked,, as though pulled abruptly from a reverie. "No,, no… nothing."
I raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you looking at me like that??"
He looked away,, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. "I was just thinking about Adrian's speech..."
"Really??" I narrowed my eyes. "It looked like you were trying to set me on fire with your eyes."
Oliver chuckled. "Maybe I was..."
I rolled my eyes.
"He's confusing,," I murmured,, more to myself than him.
Oliver's gaze sharpened. "Yeah... He's annoying. Irritating. And a few more things I can't say in front of you..."
His dry humor made me laugh despite the ache in my chest.
"You only say that because he's your enemy."
He grinned. "Exactly... I'm completely unbiased."
I shook my head,, still smiling. "No,, seriously. I meant it—he's confusing... He says one thing,, but his eyes say another. And then he disappears... And then he says everything without saying anything…"
Oliver leaned a little closer,, watching me with a rare softness. "Rimi,, I'm not great with riddles. If there's a message in all this, you might need to spell it out..."
I let out a sigh,, my voice barely a whisper. "It's not riddles. I wish it were. It's just… him. He's strange. Hot and cold. He shows up, says something that breaks me open,, then walks away like nothing happened. I don't know what to do..."
Oliver's expression gentled. "Sometimes,, it's right to listen to your brain. But sometimes…" He paused. "You have to listen to your heart..."
I looked down at my hands,, fingers loosely clasped in front of me. "What if my heart doesn't know what it wants??"
He chuckled. "Then maybe your heart needs a good kick..."
I laughed,, and the heaviness eased just a little.
Across the room,, I noticed Soo-min staring at me. The way her eyes lingered felt… strange. Not hostile exactly,, but probing—calculating. I quickly looked away.
Oliver followed my gaze... "That's Adrian's secretary. Soo-min..."
"She's… intense."
"She's also hot,," Oliver said with a smirk. "In a corporate assassin sort of way."
I gave him a mock-glare. "You think that's not strange??"
He laughed. "I think everyone in this room is strange... Present company included."
Before I could respond,, a familiar voice pulled me back to reality.
"Hey..."
I turned. Adrian stood a few steps away,, looking too good in his dark suit and silver tie,, his presence impossible to ignore. His expression was composed,, but the tension in his eyes betrayed him.
My stomach fluttered and dropped all at once.
"You were amazing up there,," I said,, my voice a little too bright,, too rehearsed.
He tilted his head slightly. "Did I say too much??"
I folded my arms,, not meeting his gaze. "You said everything without saying anything."
His lips twitched,, almost like he wanted to smile. But then he noticed Oliver standing beside me... The shift in his expression was immediate—his warmth extinguished like a light. Cold. Distant...
And I hated how that still affected me.
"By the way,," I began carefully, "why did you leave the wedding without saying goodbye?? Were you ignoring me??"
His brows knit slightly. "Ignoring you??"
I forced a smile. "I mean… at Lily's wedding."
He glanced briefly at Oliver before answering,, voice clipped. "I was busy."
I blinked. "Oh. O-okay…"
My chest tightened. Why did it feel like I was being dismissed??
Oliver shifted beside me but said nothing... I could feel his eyes flick between the two of us.
Adrian finally turned fully to me. "Something came up. I had to take care of it."
"Yeah,, it's okay. I understand," I said softly, my smile cracking at the edges. "You must be busy."
He didn't stop me when I turned away.
He didn't call after me.
And that,, more than anything,, hurt.
I walked back toward the dessert counter where Luna,, Luka,, and Clara were gathered,, a small cluster of sweetness and color amidst the black-tie monotony... Their laughter paused the moment they saw my face.
"Rimi…" Luna reached out,, but I shook my head lightly.
"I'm fine."
They exchanged a glance,, choosing not to push. Clara handed me a macaron with a sympathetic smile...
"Taste this,," she said. "It's hazelnut... Magic in a bite."
I took it,, grateful for the distraction,, and tried to focus on the sugar instead of the ache in my chest. Luka,, ever silent and watchful,, simply offered me his quiet presence,, and that was more comforting than words.
As the night drew on and the ballroom slowly emptied,, we said our goodbyes and exited into the cool night air. The city glowed around us,, alive and pulsing beneath a dark velvet sky. I walked toward my car with Luna beside me,, my heels echoing against the pavement...
"You don't have to talk,," Luna said softly as we neared the car. "But I'm here... Whenever you're ready."
I nodded. "Thank you..."
I paused at the door,, hand on the handle, staring at my reflection in the window. My face looked tired. Worn... Not from the party, but from everything I'd been holding inside.
Why was Adrian so difficult to read??
Why did I still care??
As we drove away,, the city lights blurred outside the window like falling stars. I leaned my head against the glass and closed my eyes,, wondering how long I could keep pretending I was fine.
Wondering if my heart would ever stop searching for answers in Adrian's silence...
To be continued...