Sophie’s POV
“Please take care of yourself, Sophie.” dad said to me as he hugged me when they were about to leave already.
I patted his shoulders and smiled. “You too dad, take care of yourself for me please.”
“Please take care of my sister. We won’t be able to look after her again so please take care of her for us.” Seb said to Lance and Sabrina.
“You don’t have to worry about anything because we will always take care of her.” Lance said to them.
I hugged Seb for one last time then he finally left with dad.
“Seb has really grown up, right?” Sabrina said to me as we sat down.”
“You’re right, Sab. And dad too, I think he’s been stressing too much just to save some money for me. Maybe he’s been working a lot.”
“At least they still care about you.”
I sighed. “But I don’t want them to get hurt because of me.”
Sabrina suddenly moved next to me and patted my shoulders. “You don’t have to worry about anything, Sophie. They are just doing those things for you.”
“It’s your birthday, Sophie. You have to be happy, not sad.” Lance suddenly said to me.
“I can’t help it, I feel really sad whenever I see dad like that.”
He patted my shoulders. “But it’s your birthday, and you deserve to be happy too.”
“But—
“Then how about dancing?”
I looked at him confusingly. “D-Dancing?”
Lance stood up and he suddenly lay his hand in front of me. “Shall we dance?”
“W-What?”
“Come on, Sophie, just take his hand!” said Sabrina while smiling at me.
I looked around us and saw that everyone was watching. I glanced at Lance and he was still smiling at me. I took a deep breath and reached for his hand as I stood up.
“B-But how are we going to dance? There’s no music.” I whispered to him.
“Just wait and see.” Lance said while smiling then we started walking towards the center of the hall.
Everyone was looking at us so I could feel my cheeks turning red. I don’t really like getting the attention of many people.
Lance stopped and so did I. He raised his right hand and moved it as if signaling someone somewhere. And with his one click, the lights turned dimmed and lively music suddenly played. All the visitors stood up and joined us in the middle.
“W-What is this?”
“We’re going to have fun.” Said Lance then he started dancing to the song.
I just watched all of them dancing there until he held my hand. “Dance with us, Sophie. Nobody would even care if you can’t dance.”
“Come on!”
Lance continues dancing like crazy and I was so shocked to see him like that. I couldn’t help but to laugh because he’s not a good dancer either.
“I knew it! You’re not a good dancer too!” I yelled at him while laughing.
“But you know, I really love dancing!” he said while laughing too.
We just danced to the lively music like we were crazy and we didn’t really care about the people surrounding us. Lance and Sabrina are right, I should be happy. I should enjoy this night!
***
The lights suddenly turned dimmer and the lively music a while ago turned into a slow one. Everyone looked for their partner and prepared themselves to do the slow dancing.
“May I?”
I smiled at Lance as he lay his hand in front of me again. “Just don’t get mad at me if I step on your foot, okay?”
“I won’t mind, I promise.”
“Okay then.” I said as I reached for his hand.
He pulled me close to him and we faced each other. Lance held my right hand while he put his left on my waist. A new sweet song started to play as we readied ourselves.
“Actually, Sophie, I somehow know how to dance because our mother used to bring me to formal events where dancing is a part of the ceremony.” Lance started talking.
“Really?”
He nodded. “Yes, so don’t be surprised if I suddenly make moves that would make you realize that I’m actually a pro dancer.”
“Mr. Jacobs, I never know that you’re actually humorous guy.”
“Hahaha! Why is that?”
I smiled. “Because you used to be so serious in all situations. You’re a smart, formal, respectful guy who knows nothing but to be kind and study. But now, I discovered another trait of you.”
“And does that makes you less interested in me now?”
“Of course not. You are still the Mr. Jacobs that I know, you are still the Lance that I loved.”
We went silent for a while after that. We were just dancing while staring at each other’s eyes and for a while I saw my old self, I saw the simple Sophie who didn’t have any serious problems aside from thinking about how she could take a glimpse of Mr. Jacobs inside the infirmary.
“Lance.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you remember the time when I intentionally fell to the stairs just so I could stay with you in the infirmary for a long time?”
His brows furrowed. “You intentionally did that?”
“Yeah.” I laughed. “Because I badly wanted to see you and be with you. So I asked Sab to push me to the stairs.”
“Sophie, that’s so dangerous. That’s crazy.”
“That’s how much I like you.”
Lance laughed while I was staring at him.
Now that I think of it, Lance has always been there for me.
He’s always there whenever I need help and he’s there whenever I feel sad. He serves as my happiness and rest whenever I go to school.
But maybe we were just destined to meet each other.
And no matter what may happen, no matter to whom I’ll end up with, Lance will always have a special place in my heart. He will always be my soulmate.