Chapter 3 - Older Man

Everyone enjoyed the delectable breakfast that was served, and the meal was a success overall until the coordinator of the event summoned the dance number's participants' attention to the entire group. These are the eighteen pairs that were selected as a result of the eighteen roses and eighteen gifts' participants, and one of them is Fiona and Brandon. They have all assembled in a row along the corridor.

"Hey, Fiona," Marie called.

"What?" Fiona mouthed.

"Let's exchange places," Marie mumbled while pointing with her hand to clarify what she meant.

"Why?" She questioned.

"I want to partner with Stephen." They keep on making mouth noises.

"How is everyone getting along with their respective partner?" The statements of the event's organizer are being relayed through the microphone.

Marie made a dash towards Fiona and urged that they exchange places. As Fiona approached the empty spot, she saw that it had already been occupied by another person, so she left without a partner.

"Fiona?" Concerned, Leslie cast a glance in her direction. But someone drew her back onto the dance floor just as she was ready to leave, and then they arranged themselves so that they were facing each other.

"Brandon?" Fiona was taken aback by it.

"Hi." He was courteous.

"All right, both of you; I'd like you to please take a step forward in front of your partner." The dance instructor got everyone warmed up and ready to go.

"Boys, place your right hand over the right waist of your partner, and then hold each other in this position," the instructor instructed the group of young men.

Brandon towered over Fiona by around two feet in height. It did not take much effort for him to put his hand on her.

"Just place it right here." Brandon took her hand, put it on his back, and then grasped her waist while they both raised their left arms.

"Okay, gentlemen, you have swung like this. Two times, to the left and ten times to the right, and then on the third time, you boys will let your partner turn around like this, and then you will go back to your position earlier and swing." Everyone did as what the instructor had directed them to do.

"Alright, what are we waiting for? Let's get some music in there!"

Everyone was able to dance in a natural way because the steps were simple to follow.

"I'm sorry, you've been partnered with this older man," Brandon murmurs in an embarrassed tone, as the two of them swing too closely together to the music.

"You really shouldn't be." She comes very close to whispering.

"Thanks." He appeared to be smiling.

"Your dress suits you well." Before he turned her around, he gave her some compliments. "It's so lovely." He added.

"Thanks." After the turn, she reached out and grabbed hold of his shoulder. "You look gorgeous yourself, Brandon." She whispered what she had to say.

They look at one other and smile as they swing back and forth together.

"You are so talented." He talks again. "You surprised me every day." He added.

"Thank you." Her grins are never-ending, right up until the point where she is unable to prevent herself from burying her face on his chest.

"Do you know who she is?" As Patricia was entering the dance hall, she enquired about it. Due to the fact that her name was not on the list of eighteen gifts, she did not take part in the performance.

"All right, everybody, that's really great. Tomorrow, we plan to give it our best effort. I am grateful. The applause quickly spread throughout the entire room.

"Thank you, Fiona." Before exiting the dance floor, Brandon gave her the most passionate kiss imaginable on the hand.

Brandon made haste to go to Patricia. Well, honestly, he doesn't give a damn about how she will feel. He just doesn't want Fiona to meet her.

"Oh my God, Fiona!" Leslie was giggling.

"Enough." She answered while making an effort to hide the smirk on her face.

"Why is it necessary for Fiona to partner with such an older man?" Glenn joined and sat down next to them.

Feouna was taken away by the fact that her brother appeared to have a good understanding of her. It's also possible that her activities were brought to more people's attention as she danced closer to Brandon.

"Yes, he is old, but the way he touches me gives me shivers inside, and I couldn't help myself from wanting more," she thought. "It's not that I want to be touched by an old man." Her head was buzzing with a multitude of ideas and concepts.

It was getting late in the evening when all of their classmates voiced their desire to spend the night at a club in the neighborhood.

"Hey, Fiona, it's time for us to go! Why don't you come with the rest of us?" Leslie let out a shout.

"I'd like to have a look around!" She was emphatic in her refusal, and after making her point clear, she proceeded to the beach by herself.

"How calm it is." She mumbled something to herself as she wrapped her arms around herself and let the breeze caress her skin.

"You shouldn't come out wearing only that," Brandon speaks from behind.

"Brandon!" Once more, she was taken aback, but before she could say anything else, Brandon covered her with his coat.

"Oh! Thank you." It was a hushed voice.

"I noticed that all of your friends went out, including Vanessa. Why did you stay behind?" He inquired.

"I wouldn't call myself much of a drinker." Another hesitant response came from her, and she lowered her head as she so frequently did.

"It will be a dreadful ordeal for me, as I've previously told you, to not be able to look at your beautiful face." He smiles warmly at her and then gently brings her face closer to his.

"How about we get some fresh air?" He made the offer.

"I will love just as much." She gives him a friendly grin before following him over to the coast.

They traveled by foot till they reached a bridge.

"Here, take my hand." He made the proposition once more.

"This is totally awesome." She yelled in surprise.

"I'm glad you like it." After saying this, he sat down on the precipice of the bridge.

"Come on over here." He extended an invitation to her to join him there.

"The moon appears to be quite close." As she stated.

"Yes."

"It's absolutely stunning." She continued.

"Yes, it is." While he responded, he couldn't take his eyes off of her since she was so transfixed on the full moon.

"Brandon." She yelled his name and turned around to face him, but he was just a millimeter or two away from her. Due to the proximity of their faces, she was unable to resist the need to touch his face.

Brandon shut his eyes and focused his attention on the comforting warmth of her touch as he did so. She was undeniably alluring and hypnotic; with only her touch, he felt as if he had been transported to another realm entirely.

"I like you." She finally confessed. He opened his eyes cautiously and concentrated on the expression on her face.

"Oh, I guess it was already late. We need to make our way back." He paid no attention to what she had to say and quickly got to his feet.

As he walked, Brandon was in a hurry, Fiona was about ten paces behind him, despite her best efforts, and she was unable to catch up to him until she finally gives up and has a broken feeling.

"I shouldn't have let it slip out of my mouth." She cried her eyes out and buried her face in her hands in an effort to avoid seeing him leave.