Chapter 32: Dance Practice

Jiko hesitated, his heart thudding in his chest. Why am I so nervous? he wondered. It was just Julie. They'd been couple for months. This wasn't a first time or anything. Still, the way she looked at him, her eyes shining with encouragement, made his throat go dry.

"Don't overthink it," Julie said again, as if reading his mind.

Jiko took a deep breath and placed his hand in hers. Her fingers were warm and soft, and for a moment, he forgot all about the dance.

"Ready?" Julie asked.

"Nope," Jiko replied honestly.

Julie laughed. "You'll be fine. Just follow my lead."

As the music swelled, they began to move. Jiko's steps were clunky at first, and he kept glancing down at his feet, afraid he'd step on Julie's toes.

"Look at me, not your feet," Julie said, tilting his chin up gently with her free hand. "Trust yourself."

Jiko tried, though it wasn't easy. He stumbled a couple of times, but Julie never lost her patience. She simply adjusted her movements to match his, guiding him with quiet words of encouragement.

By the end of the song, Jiko was far from perfect, but he'd improved enough to make Julie smile.

"You're a fast learner," she said, letting go of his hand.

"I'm just trying not to embarrass myself," Jiko admitted.

Julie tilted her head, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Well Okay, you don't have to do this if you don't want to."

Jiko shook his head. "Okay don't get me emotional, I want to dance with you. This is important to you, right?"

Julie looked at him for a long moment, then smiled. "Yeah, it is."

"Then I'll keep practicing," Jiko said, determination in his voice.

Julie laughed softly. "Alright, but if you step on my toes during the performance, I'm not letting you live it down."

"Deal," Jiko replied, grinning.

As they packed up for the day, Jiko couldn't shake the feeling that this dance meant more to Julie than she was letting on. And deep down, he knew he wasn't just doing it for her.

He was doing it for himself, too.

The Day of the cultural finally arrived, and Julie kept her word—she arrived in a simple, elegant dress that hugged her figure just enough to make heads turn. Her hair was styled in soft curls that fell perfectly over her shoulders. She looked stunning, but she didn't seem to notice it herself.

Jiko, too, had kept things relatively low-key. He wore dark slacks and a crisp button-up shirt that highlighted his toned frame. But when Julie spotted him across the room, her breath hitched.

He looked... different. Not just casual—there was a quiet confidence in the way he carried himself, something new in his eyes. And somehow, seeing him standing there made her heart skip a beat.

The first few moments at the dance were tentative. They wandered through the gymnasium, sticking close but keeping a safe distance apart, pretending to be simply friends like they had planned. The music thudded in the background, a mix of upbeat tracks and slower songs.

As time passed, though, the chatter and laughter around them started to fade into the background. Julie could feel eyes watching— she couldn't shake the feeling that everyone was whispering behind their backs. And those are not good opinions.

"Maybe we should..." Julie began, but she didn't even finish her sentence.

Before she could suggest they back off, Jiko turned toward her, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You know, we could always just... lean into it."

Julie blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Jiko replied with a sly smile, "let's stop pretending. Let's show everyone what we're really about."

Julie's heart skipped a beat. Was he serious?

He extended his hand toward her, his expression calm and confident. "Let them notice. Let them talk."

Julie's eyes widened in surprise, and for a split second, she hesitated. The idea felt bold, risky even. What if people talked? What if their parents found out? But looking at Jiko—the way he was looking at her, steady and firm—something inside her shifted. She realized she didn't want to hide anymore. She wanted to embrace this moment with him.

Slowly, Julie placed her hand in his.

Jiko's smile grew as he gently led her onto the dance floor. A slow song began to play, soft music that filled the air, casting a romantic glow over the gym. The stares they received were immediate—curious, intrigued, and some even judgmental.

But Jiko and Julie barely noticed. They stood close, body to body, heart to heart. The music swayed them gently, and as they began to move together, everything else faded away.

For the first time, they allowed themselves to just be. No pretending, no avoiding. Just two people, in that moment, on the dance floor, lost in each other.

Julie's breath hitched as she looked up at Jiko. "A few parents also present here, they will notice our action," she whispered, a slight tremor in her voice.

"Let them," Jiko said softly, his smile unwavering.

The room seemed to blur around them—the stares, the whispers, the murmur of gossip. It didn't matter anymore. In Jiko's arms, Julie felt safe, wanted—like she finally belonged somewhere.

The song carried on, slow and steady, as Jiko gently pulled her closer. Their bodies moved in perfect sync, their hearts beating as one. Time slowed down, and for once, everything else ceased to matter.

Julie found herself smiling, her eyes locked on Jiko's. "I think... I think today might be the best day of my life," she murmured.

Jiko's chest swelled with warmth. He leaned in slightly, his voice soft and steady. "Mine too."

As the music continued, the world around them seemed to vanish. It was just the two of them—two hearts beating in harmony, lost in each other's company.

When the dance finally ended and they walked home together, the evening was cool, with a gentle breeze carrying the scent of autumn leaves. Julie walked beside Jiko, her hand brushing against his. For the first time, she didn't feel the need to pull away.

"That was incredible," Julie whispered, still glowing from the experience.

Jiko chuckled softly. "Yeah, it was."

Julie glanced at him, and with a shy smile, she asked, "Do you think... maybe this can keep going? Not just the dance, but... everything."

Jiko squeezed her hand gently. "I hope so. I want this to keep going."