A DIFFERENT PORTRAIT - PART 9 (Patreon)

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Part 9: The Dance Under the Moonlight

The row of lanterns cast a soft golden glow, illuminating the garden in front of the house and creating a shimmering, magical scene. On the evening of the wedding, the usual tranquility of Azure Haven Town was replaced by an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation. Friends and family gathered, laughing and chatting cheerfully around small banquet tables set up across the garden. Narek, his face beaming with joy, moved from one guest to another, raising his glass in toast after toast, his words of gratitude flowing ceaselessly as he thanked everyone for taking the time to join the celebration.

I stood tucked away in a corner of the yard, holding a glass of orange juice, trying to stay out of sight of the unfamiliar guests. Seeing the happy faces of my two friends brought me a sense of shared joy. Yet, crowds had never been my thing—a rather ironic trait for someone born and raised in the bustling Luminous City, isn’t it? Narek would probably complain about my attitude, but honestly, I couldn’t care less. While everyone else laughed and chatted animatedly, all I wanted was to settle in a quiet spot and watch from afar.

“Ace, why are you standing here all alone?” A gentle voice spoke from behind me. I turned around and saw Sylvia, her long hair cascading freely, her eyes glowing under the lantern light. She wore an emerald evening gown, the flowing skirt billowing softly, making her every step seem like clouds drifting by. My eyes had been searching for her in the crowd throughout the wedding party, yet she was nowhere to be found. It turned out she had been “hiding” in a quiet corner just like me. Sylvia’s presence seemed to dissolve the noisy atmosphere, pulling me into an entirely different world—peaceful and warm.

“Well... I’m not good with crowds,” I replied, trying to muster a polite smile. But my heart was racing wildly, and I wasn’t sure if she noticed it or not.

Sylvia tilted her head. “But I heard from Narek that you’re always the life of every party.”

“Exactly, if the party guests are excited dogs or cats recovering from illness, along with a giant cake made of pet food.”

Sylvia chuckled at the almost corny joke I had come up with. That smile was exquisite, the most beautiful creation I had ever seen up until this moment.

“I’m not that comfortable with crowds either. Actually, I used to be afraid of them,” Sylvia admitted shyly. I didn’t doubt her words for a second. From the way she had acted since I first met her, it was clear she seemed timid about everything. Even during those moments when we bumped into each other by chance, her face would flush bright red. We were both introverts, not particularly fond of crowds, but there was a subtle difference between us. I was the type who could easily interact with others, though I didn’t care to initiate. Sylvia, on the other hand, truly wanted to engage but was too shy to find the words.

“But still, tonight is Narek and Lina’s big day. It wouldn’t be right if we didn’t join in the celebration, would it? Neither of us likes crowds, so I have an idea.” As soon as she finished speaking, Sylvia grabbed my hand and pulled me along to another spot in the yard, ignoring my surprise. Narek’s garden was quite spacious, wrapping around the house at its center. After all, Azure Haven Town wasn’t a “cramped and crowded” place like Luminous City.

The sound system inside the house was powerful enough that, even in the quieter part of the yard where we now stood, the music was still crystal clear. By this time, the playlist had shifted from upbeat, cheerful tunes to a gentle rhythm, signaling the start of the final dance. Sylvia placed one hand over her chest and extended the other toward me, her intention to invite me to dance unmistakable.

“Traditionally, it should be the man inviting someone to dance, but unfortunately, I don’t know how to dance,” I said, scratching my head, unsure of what to do.

Sylvia smiled, her eyes full of encouragement. “It’s okay, it’s all the same. Just let me lead,” she said, gently placing one hand on my shoulder while her other hand held mine firmly, as if afraid I might run off at any moment. I didn’t have the heart to refuse, though I couldn’t help but wonder what exactly she meant by “it’s all the same.”

The music was slow and soothing, and the golden glow of the lanterns bathed the space in an enchanting light. Yet, our private stage wouldn’t have been as magical without the brilliant moonlight illuminating the night. Sylvia began to move, her steps graceful and rhythmic, gently guiding me into the dance. At first, I stumbled, my feet struggling to follow the rhythm, but Sylvia simply smiled, her eyes tender as if to say, “No one’s perfect.”

“Relax,” she said, her warm voice as soothing as a gentle breeze. “You’re too tense.”

I took a deep breath, trying to focus on the rhythm instead of the nervousness overwhelming me. Sylvia's hand was soft, and the warmth radiating from her flowed into me like a stream of energy, grounding me. Gradually, I let go of my awkwardness, concentrating on each step and the sense of closeness with the girl standing before me.

“You're doing great,” Sylvia said softly. “Just like that.”

“All thanks to you,” I replied, my heart filled with gratitude. In this moment, I realized that Sylvia's presence not only eased my tension but also stirred something... something very special within me. Yet, I didn’t dare to think too deeply about it. This girl was too beautiful, too perfect, and someone like me—just an ordinary veterinarian—had no right to dream too high, no matter how close we had grown over the past few days.

The dance came to an end, but the light, floating sensation in my chest lingered. Sylvia led me toward the large mango tree in the yard. We both sat down on a wooden bench beneath it, the moonlight above casting its glow over her face, accentuating her gentle and elegant features.

“You're really good; just a short while of dancing, and you improved so much. Unlike me, who had to practice hard for years to prepare for this moment,” she said, her eyes sparkling. But as she spoke, her voice grew softer and softer.

I asked, “Prepare for this moment?”

“Ah, um...” Sylvia suddenly seemed flustered. Her eyes held something indescribable, as if they carried a multitude of words she chose not to speak. In that moment, I felt an unusual sense of unease. Her gaze was too gentle, too profound, making it impossible for me to hold eye contact with her for long.

“Ace...” she suddenly spoke, pulling me out of my thoughts. “What do you think of me?”

The question left me speechless. It was my turn to become flustered, unsure of how to respond. “I think... you're amazing, a great cook. Very beautiful. Very special.”

Sylvia let out a soft laugh, but there was a hint of sadness in her smile. “Thank you. I really am special... but not in the way you think.” Her voice was so quiet, it felt like she was speaking to herself rather than for me to hear.

“Regardless of the way, it’s still a good thing, isn’t it?”

Sylvia remained silent, her gaze suddenly growing distant. I wasn’t sure what I might have said wrong, but I didn’t dare to say anything further. Instead, I simply sat quietly beside her, embracing the silence that enveloped us both.

Late at night, the party had ended, and the guests had gradually departed. The newlyweds were happily together in one of the large rooms, though, of course, I won’t go into detail about that. As the best friend, it was my duty to help with the cleanup, even though no one had asked me to. Once everything was tidied up, I decided to step out into the yard to gaze at the moon and get some fresh air. Without thinking, I found myself heading to the spot where we had been together earlier. To my surprise, Sylvia was already there. She was gently touching a flower in the garden, her movements delicate and thoughtful. I hesitated for a moment before finally stepping closer.

“You haven’t gone to rest yet?” I asked, trying to keep my tone as natural as possible.

Sylvia turned around and smiled. “Not yet. I just wanted to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere a little longer. What about you?”

“I… couldn’t sleep,” I replied, though the truth was that I was merely finding an excuse to extend my time around the girl I knew I could never reach.

The two of us stood there, gazing up at the moon high above. I wanted to say so many things, but I didn’t know where to begin. In the end, I simply whispered, “Thank you… tonight was truly unforgettable.”

Sylvia turned to look at me, her gaze as gentle as the moonlight. “I feel the same. Thank you… for dancing with me.”

Amid the tranquil silence, I felt my heart overflow with an intense emotion I couldn’t quite name. But I knew that, from this moment on, my heart belonged to her.

PART 10 >>