5. Sweet Vanilla

Chapter 5

Sweet Vanilla

The reunion event was only filled with dinner and a few remarks by the performer, because the theme was relaxed and tended to be like a party, as the night wore on, several people began to take turns singing along with a singer who had been prepared to enliven the event.

As the night wore on, the singing started to turn into a dance party. Vanilla's friends began to find their respective partners that night, happily dancing to the music. Meanwhile, Vanilla was just watching because the number of couples was just right, as if the event was coincidentally designed for couples.

Vanilla could see Beck sitting in the corner alone, just like Vanilla who played the role of spectator. Beck didn't seem interested in asking her to dance, but it was certain that if Vanilla joined the dance floor Beck would drag her away.

"Vanilla...." The man's voice sounded heavy and a little hoarse, but melodious.

Vanilla who was staring at her phone screen shifted her focus, her body stiffening slightly at the man calling her name.

Nicholas Knight.

The handsome man she had admired at school, stood right in front of her. Nick who was once crowned the handsomest man in school, is now a hundred times more handsome than when he was young, if in the past his tall body was a little less plump, now the body looks taller, strapping, muscular, and the man looks more mature in every way. His blue eyes as beautiful as the ocean complemented his good looks, his jaw was firm and his lips curved into a perfect smile.

Unconsciously Vanilla's lips trembled and sighed Nick's name in her mind, her eyes staring at Nick full of admiration that could no longer be hidden.

"Do you remember me?" asked Nick who immediately sat in front of Vanilla without asking the girl's consent.

Vanilla blinked her eyes, the girl's lips slightly parted. She certainly remembered Nick well, but was reluctant to admit it. The girl chose not to answer.

"I'm Nick," Nick said. "Nicholas Knight, Beck's best friend."

"N-Nick?" Vanilla murmured the name of the man in front of her softly, her eyes still gazing at Nick with admiration.

Nick smiled, soft, sweet, and increasingly handsome. "How are you, Vanilla?"

"I-I'm good," Vanilla replied, awkward and nervous. Her heart felt like it was about to jump out of her chest cavity from excitement, the man she idolized used to greet her and still remembered her name.

Nick chuckled, he observed Vanilla's beautiful face. When compared to Vanilla back then of course the Vanilla who was now in front of him now was very much different, looking more mature and more beautiful. Her hair was reddish yellow, her eyes were dark blue, her eyebrows were thin but perfectly formed, and her lips looked plump. The girl had almost no flaws. Nick was sure Beck must have some sort of vision impairment.

Nick cleared his throat. "You didn't ask how I was doing?"

Vanilla smiled. "I'm sure you're fine."

They were both silent for a moment, lost in thought.

"Oh, yeah. Where's Beck? He's usually...." Nick broke the stiffness between them, he cast his gaze in the other direction as if searching for his best friend's whereabouts even though he knew that Beck had actually left the place right when Nick entered the restaurant to start his action towards Vanilla.

While Vanilla did the same, her eyes searched for Beck. "Beck was at ...."

"Do you want to dance, Vanilla?" asked Nick cutting Vanilla off.

Vanilla was surprised to hear Nick's question, she waved her hand in front of her chest. "No, I... I-I haven't danced in a long time," she quickly denied.

Nick stood up, the man extended one hand. "Will you dance with me?"

Vanilla was stunned that Nick was actually asking her to dance.

Vanilla's cheeks heated up, nervousness running through her body. "I-I might step on your shoes, is that okay?"

Nick smiled. "I don't mind."

Vanilla hesitantly accepted Nick's hand, the moment her skin touched the skin of the man's hand, she felt as if there was an electric shock running through her blood. She got up from the chair and walked after Nick who led her to the dance floor to join their friends.

"S-one song I think is enough," Vanilla said when Nick grabbed her waist. The man's arm was firmly wrapped around her waist and it sure felt good.

"Are you afraid that Beck will see you dancing with me?" asked Nick who began to swing his arms to start the dance.

Vanilla smiled. She didn't answer Nick's question but the look in her eyes clearly radiated worry.

"Beck won't be angry, trust me." She spoke as if she understood Vanilla's fears.

Nick secretly growled inwardly, Vanilla's waist felt so good in his arms and her lips seemed to be perfect for fondling. Nick vaguely smelled Vanilla's perfume, as her name implies the girl also wore Vanilla-scented perfume, a very soft and sweet scent.

"I heard you guys are engaged," Nick said.

Vanilla nodded.

"When are you planning to get married?"

Vanilla was stunned at Nick's question, but quickly got a grip on herself. "We haven't talked about it yet," she replied quietly.

Damn it, let alone talking about marriage. Even this engagement relationship was unclear.

Nick smiled. "You seem very tense."

Vanilla shyly smiled and in her mind admitted that she was indeed very tense, her throat even felt dry, and her heart was racing faster making her feel uncomfortable being too close to Nick.

"No, I mean... I'm not used to being this close to men," she said with a half-sigh.

A second later Vanilla regretted her words because maybe in Nick's ears it sounded like bragging, she was a girl who had a fiancé. Isn't it impossible for a girl with a fiancé to never get close to a guy?

Nick frowned. "Really?"

"M-I mean besides Beck," Vanilla corrected, "I think it's been one song."

"Looks like you're not interested in dancing with me, huh?" asked Nick, his tone sounding disappointed.

Vanilla smiled stiffly, she wasn't not interested in dancing with Nick. However, she felt so nervous and the overwhelming feeling of excitement in her chest was almost uncontrollable that she wanted to jump into the arms of the man who was so close to her, the man whose arms were wrapped around her waist.

Vanilla cleared her throat softly. "It's not that, I just feel thirsty."

This time Vanilla was sure that her reasoning was a little plausible despite the fact that she did feel that her throat felt dry.

"Okay."

Nick stopped his movements, he was still holding Vanilla's hand leading her away from the dance floor towards the poolside where the atmosphere seemed quieter.

The man called a waiter to order a drink for Vanilla and then took out a pack of cigarettes from his pants pocket.

"Do you mind if I smoke?"

Vanilla blinked her eyes, she had no idea that Nick was a smoker. "Of course not."

Although she didn't like men who smoked, but what did it matter? The man had the right to smoke in front of her, not to mention that the place also belonged to Nick. He had the right to do as he pleased.

"I heard that you came up with the idea for this reunion?" asked Vanilla, opening the conversation.

Nick lit his cigarette and took a deep drag as if he would be fine enjoying the nicotine that was probably eating away at his lungs. "Beck came up with the idea."

"Beck?"

"Yes, I just prepared the venue and everything needed. After all, there were only a few participants after the data. So, I thought this place was suitable."

"But, you weren't around for the whole event," Vanilla muttered.

"I had a little business, a little problem with my client. What's it like living in New York?" Nick asked, changing the subject.

Vanilla blinked her eyes again. "Beck told you?"

Nick grinned. However, the man neither agreed nor denied what Vanilla had said.

"I like living in Barcelona better, I miss my mom's cookies all the time."

Nick shifted the glass of tomato juice that the waiter had just placed on their table. "You don't drink alcohol?"

"Thank you," Vanilla said to the waiter. "I don't drink alcohol."

The girl raised her juice glass with a graceful gesture and slowly drank the juice through the straw, while Nick carefully observed all the movements of the girl in front of him without missing a beat.