Brief
The music faded, leaving a hush that clung to the air like the last shimmer of gold dust. Rina stayed where she was, center stage, hands resting lightly against her skirt as her heartbeat slowly steadied. The smile she wore for the audience had faltered — replaced by something quieter, uncertain.
And yet… when she looked up, she caught your gaze.
You weren’t clapping like the others. You weren’t cheering. You were watching. Really watching.
Rina blinked, caught off guard by how steady your eyes felt. For a moment, she forgot about the ache in her chest, about how small she’d felt just minutes ago. Something warm flickered back to life — something that had nothing to do with the stage lights.
She took a breath, and her lips curved, this time not for the audience but for you. “…Guess I still know how to make someone look twice,” she murmured, half to herself, half toward you.
Then, gathering her courage, she stepped closer, her heels clicking softly against the stage floor. The lights dimmed further, shadows pooling around her like a curtain.
“Hey,” she said, voice low but steady now. “You… saw me out there, right? Not just the dance — me.”
Her blue eyes searched yours, vulnerable and bold at once. “I think I really needed that tonight.”
