Chapter Twenty-Five

She entered the ballroom, her teeth chattering until she tightened her jaw. Unbeknownst to Agalia, it was not because of the cold of the ballroom, no, surely she could get past that, it was because of the premonition that she was about to meet someone new. Agalia had assured her that she had found a dancing partner for her during the masquerade. Hopefully, the beautiful mask sewn with sequins personally to look like Juliette's mask in SHINee's Juliette would be sufficient to conceal the nerve-wreck in her. The dress was a little too long as she would have liked it to be and she found the dress dragging on the floor like how a bride's would be when she is holding the bridegroom's hand, walking to the altar.

Agalia's make-up skills had worked wonders on Rachel. To her, Agalia had transformed an ugly duckling like her to a beautiful swan. The pot of eyeshadow Agalia had willingly used on her was the product of the renowned Christine Dior, pale purplish-blue and shimmering. The liquid eyeliner proved to make her eyes appear larger, and the touch of blush was just adequate to mark out her cheekbones to minimize the baby fat. Agalia hadn't made-up Rachel's lips to be too red, so it was just right - like the blush of the bridegroom's face when his lips touches those of the bride's. Indeed, Agalia had put in her best.

They sauntered towards a man with a mask on, the one who would be Rachel's dancing partner. His eyes widened when he saw her and she curtsied, incognizant to his identity.

"This is your dancing partner for the night, Rach." Agalia tried to stifle her giggle. "Enjoy!" She smiled before rushing into the arms of Baekhyun.

They ambled to the refreshments, occasionally nodding at each other and smiling, but Rachel could feel his eyes were almost always on her. Did Agalia really made her out to be so beautiful? The mask covered a very small portion of her face, only the eyes, enough to obscure her identity, but not quite enough to dissemble the beauty.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the dance shall commence in five minutes! Please take your place in the ballroom!" the emcee boomed through the microphone with a beam of a Cheshire Cat.

Rachel's dancing partner held out his hand, leading her to the dance floor. The music began.

He held out his hand for her and gently placed the other around her waist whilst she placed hers on his shoulder. There was something about his hand; it was uncomfortably conversant and she shuddered at its familiarity. His hand was warm and dancing with him evoked in her an odd sense of security. Could it be... Could he be Kai?

It was logical to be Kai. Agalia would have done that. Okay, it so was Kai. The way he looked at her was replete evidence that he was her beloved ex-boyfriend. Kai... She looked into his eyes bravely for the first time, her heart ricocheting against her ribcage. Yes. It was Kai.

"Rachel, it's me." His voice soothed her.

She smiled.

"Isn't it hilarious... We were together, we broke, and now we're dancing partners... It's crazy, isn't it?" she shook her head.

Now the dance was original such that everyone had to change partners now and then. Whilst Kai was contemplating on his answer, Rachel had already swung around to dance with Sehun and Cheklin with Kai.

"Rach, it isn't hilarious... It's fate." Sehun chuckled to himself.

"Yah. Oh Sehun. Don't think I'm not aware... You're part of this conspiracy too."

"Conspiracy? We're trying to help you, Rach." Sehun smiled gently.

On Kai's side, he was looking out for Rachel, not paying any attention to his dancing.

"Jongin-ssi, she's gonna be fine." Cheklin smiled.

"I... Cheklin-ssi, do you think we're really gonna get married?"

"I don't know, Jongin... I have a plan though..."

The dance partner switch occurred again.

"Hey Rachel." Baekhyun smirked.

"Hey Baekhyun."

"So how do I look?" He held his head high.

She giggled. "Perfect for Agalia."

"You think so?" He awaited her answer eagerly.

"I know so."

"Agalia, daebak!" Sehun praised. "I didn't know you were that smart!"

"I told you my plan was great. They have to be together for... Well... The rest of the dance." Agalia looked over at Rachel and Kai who had found themselves together again. "I mean, just look at them. They will patch up."

"Agalia..."

"Yeah?" She kept her focus back on Sehun.

"Tell Jongin. About why Rachel left him. I... I can't continue seeing them hurting each other and hurting themselves..." He shook his head.

The switching just carried on until the dance ended, or rather, the six of them grew tired of it. Baekhyun hurried to satiate his growing hunger, Cheklin and Sehun distracted Rachel through chatting, and Agalia approached Kai.

"Agalia?"

"Jongin, I need to tell you something."

She recounted and explained every single thing, from before their break-up, what Rachel had experienced, her fears and worries for Agalia and Sehun, her knowledge that Kai would not receive the company if she didn't break up with him, to after their break-up, the countless days and nights Rachel had cried for him, wishing he was there to comfort her, to sing her to sleep, to hold her in his arms. As the truth finally spilled out of Agalia's mouth, Kai found himself in tears. The uncontrollable tears emitted from his eyes as he shook his head in guilt. He thought Rachel had really stopped loving him! How could he doubt such a strong emotion of Rachel's? He cursed himself, clenching his fists till the knuckles became white.

Thereafter, he brisk-walked towards Rachel sitting with Sehun and Cheklin, forcefully took her hand and led her away, until no one could see them. She snatched her hand away from him and was about to scream at him for hurting her when he swung her in his arms and kissed her. The blood under his skin boiled and she could feel all the passion and desperation of his emanating from that kiss.

"I know everything." He said when he released her gently. "Everything, what my mother did to you, how worried you were for them, how much you love me... I'm sorry, Rachel... Mianhae."

At those words, tears began to spill from Rachel's eyes. She could hardly contain her emotions. Kai finally understood. He finally understood. He placed his hands on her shoulder, whispering words of comfort to her.

She didn't have to pretend she didn't care about Kai anymore. Everything was over. Kai was going to be there for her again...

"Geundae. Don't you think you are a bit selfish?" He commented disapprovingly.

She looked up in surprise, the tears obscuring her vision and her visage watery from the immense crying.

"You always make the decisions, you always get to decide whether you want to break or not... I... I never get to say anything for myself."

She bit her lip. Yes, she was always the one making the decisions. She never considered his feelings, she just did what she thought was the best for everyone. She never asked anyone, she only trusted her judgement. She wasn't fair to Kai. Kai was always in the dark about things when the rest of the world knew.

"This time, I make the decision."

Smiling, he pulled her into his arms, tucking his chin in her shoulder.

"You're staying with me."