We’ll Be Waiting

When she arrived at the karaoke bar, her stomach churned, and her heart thudded painfully against her ribs. Mia, looking absolutely stunning in her short red dress and golden side braid, greeted her with a warm smile. She seemed completely at ease, her usual vibrant energy glowing through.

Sakura, on the other hand, felt like a fish out of water. Why did I think this would be a good idea? She scanned the group—Mia and the two other guys standing outside, laughing, clearly comfortable.

The air outside was warm, but Sakura felt a chill crawling up her spine. As she stepped out of the car, one of the guys, Kenji Yamada, wolf-whistled at her. The sound hit her like a slap, and her face flushed with discomfort. Focus. You're just here for the night. Don't overthink this.'She tried to ignore it and walked past them, her steps quickening as she approached the door.

Inside, the karaoke bar was even louder than expected. The chatter, the laughter, and the off-key singing created an overwhelming cacophony of noise. But it wasn't the volume that made Sakura's heart race—it was the feeling of being watched. She couldn't shake the sense that all eyes were on her, and that the night had somehow transformed into something that didn't feel casual at all.

Mia, noticing her hesitation, smiled warmly. "Sakura, come on in. You'll feel more comfortable once you're inside."

Sakura smiled back weakly. "Yeah, I guess so."

They walked to a private room at the back of the karaoke place, where a red velvet curtain separated it from the rest of the bar.

Shortly after, the karaoke room buzzed with chatter, but Mia seemed most interested in getting Sakura to open up. She leaned forward with a mischievous smile.

"So, Sakura," Mia began, her voice sweet but with an edge to it. "You've been pretty quiet tonight. What's going on? You're usually so talkative."

Sakura forced a smile, trying to keep up. "I'm just... tired, I guess."

"Aw, come on, you're not still upset about what happened with those bullies, are you?" Mia said, her tone shifting just slightly, almost as if she was testing Sakura. "I thought we cleared that up. You know I've got your back."

Sakura's breath caught in her throat, and she quickly looked away. Mia always knew how to push her buttons.

"It's fine, Mia. I'm fine."

One of the guys with curly brown leaned in with a charming smile. "You sure? You seem kind of quiet. What's on your mind?" He made a show of studying her, his eyes lingering a moment too long. "You're always so pretty when you're serious. Makes me wonder what's going on in that pretty head of yours."

"I'm sorry What's your name?" Sakura asked.

"I'm Kenji Yamada, and this is Ryo Amari. We go to the same college. Don't worry we know who you are." He said with a wink.

Mia's eyes glinted, almost too sweetly. "Yeah, Sakura, you're being all mysterious tonight. Come on, we're friends, right? You can tell us anything. It's just us here."

Ryo smirked, his gaze full of interest as he leaned toward her. "You're always so mysterious, Sakura. It's like you've got some secret you're hiding. Don't worry, we won't bite," he said with a wink. "But if you ever feel like sharing, I'm all ears."

Sakura felt herself growing more uncomfortable under their gazes. They were all staring at her now, waiting for her to speak, and Mia was egging them on with subtle, persistent nudges. She didn't want to answer, but Mia's pointed questions were starting to feel suffocating.

Kenji grinned, his voice light but teasing. "Come on, Sakura, just let us in. We're all friends here, right? Maybe you're just shy, but we won't judge," he added, leaning in a bit closer, his tone almost flirtatious. "You know, if you need someone to talk to, I'm here."

Ryo chuckled, his eyes sweeping over her. "Maybe you've got a crush or something, huh? I wouldn't be surprised if there's someone you're thinking about tonight." He gave a teasing smile. "I'm sure there's no one as handsome as us here, though."

Mia leaned back and smiled, clearly enjoying the way the guys were pushing Sakura, but there was something sharp in her eyes. "I mean, I get it. Maybe you're just shy. Or maybe you're just trying to keep something from us. It's cool, Sakura, we won't judge."

Sakura clenched her fists in her lap, feeling trapped. She could see what Mia was doing—pressuring her, making her feel like she was hiding something. It was working. Mia was manipulating the situation.

"I... I don't really feel like talking right now," Sakura finally said, her voice quieter than she intended. "I just need a minute."

Mia's smile never wavered, but there was something almost predatory in the way she looked at Sakura. "Of course, I get it. But, hey, don't be shy, okay? We're all friends here. You can trust us."

Kenji flashed a grin as he leaned back in his seat. "Take your time, Sakura. But, hey, don't leave me hanging too long. The night's just starting."

Sakura nodded, her heart pounding. "I think I need to use the bathroom," she said quickly, standing up. She felt the eyes of the group on her, but she couldn't stay any longer. The pressure was too much.

Kenji glanced up, a little surprised but still smiling. "Oh, yeah, sure. Take your time."

Mia's gaze followed her, still fixed, but her voice was light, almost too sweet. "Don't take too long, alright? We'll be waiting."