Chapter 23

The private karaoke room pulsed with soft LED lights, the air thick with the scent of strawberry soda, popcorn, and the shared thrill of finally having a night off.

“Alright, who’s going first?” Sophia grinned, already scrolling through the tablet. “If no one volunteers, I’m picking something embarrassing.”

“Not again,” Megan groaned, flopping onto the couch beside Lara. “Last time she made me sing a kid’s show theme song.”

“You killed that song.” Lara said with a smirk, sipping her cocktail. “Emotionally scarring, but iconic.”

Across the room, you sat beside Dani, your legs tangled lazily under the table, her hand resting possessively on your thigh under the tablecloth. You leaned in close, whispering something that made her laugh – the kind of laugh that melted into a smile she only seemed to give you.

“Can you two be normal for five minutes?” Manon teased, waving a piece of popcorn at you. “We’re in public.”

“Private room, actually,” Dani said smugly, not even looking up as she laced her fingers with yours. “Big difference.”

The group groaned in unison, but there was no real venom. They were used to this – the way you and Dani orbit around each other like gravity forgot to let go. It was annoying. Adorable. Both.

Sophia finally settled on a duet: “Shallow.” The room lit up.

“Okay, you two lovebirds. You’re up first,” she grinned. “Let’s see if your relationship survives this key change.”

You and Dani exchanged a look. Challenge accepted.

*

You took the mic, standing with exaggerated confidence, and Dani followed, brushing past you with just enough sway in her step to let you know she knew exactly what she was doing.

As the song began, you watched her – the way she eased into the opening lines – her voice low, sultry. You joined in, your voice meeting hers like a slow burn. By the time the chorus hit, she turned to face you, eyes locked on yours, daring you to hit that note – and you did, even if you were just a little showing off for her.

The others cheered obnoxiously. Yoonchae screamed, “Get married already!”

You laughed mid-lyric, Dani barely keeping it together, her hand finding your waist, just a soft squeeze, like a reward.

When the song ended, she didn’t let go.

“Hot,” she said under her breath, just for you. “You trying to seduce me in front of the girls?”

You grinned. “Is it working?”

“Dangerously well.”

“Okay!” Megan called out, throwing a pillow your way. “Now get off the stage before you start slow dancing to your own applause.”

*

Later, with the room full of chaotic harmonies and bad renditions of girl group hits, you and Dani found yourselves on the little two-seater couch in the corner, half-watching, half-existing in your own bubble.

She leaned into you, her head on your shoulder, fingers tracing lazy circles on your thigh. You kissed her temple without thinking.

“You know they love us,” she murmured.

“They put up with us.”

“Same thing.”

You turned to look at her – her skin glowing under the warm lights, her lips parted slightly, eyes soft.

“You look good tonight,” you said, voice low enough for just her. “Dangerously good.”

She smiled, tilting her head. “You keep saying dangerous. What’re you gonna do about it?”

You leaned in like you were going to kiss her – really kiss her – but instead, you stopped just before your lips touched. Her breath hitched. You smirked.

“Wouldn’t want to scar the girls.”

She narrowed her eyes playfully. “Coward.”

You kissed her then – just a soft one, quick, but deep enough to feel like a secret. When you pulled back, her eyes stayed closed for a second longer than necessary.

Then from across the room: “We saw that!”

Lara was pointing at you, her phone already out. “Caught in 4K!”

“Delete that!” Dani groaned, laughing as she hid her face in your chest.

“Never!” Lara laughed. “That’s going in the group chat with the caption: ‘Parents being gross again’.”

*

By the end of the night, the room was littered with empty snack wrappers, off-key voices, and sleepy bodies piled on top of each other.

Dani curled up into your side on the couch, her voice hoarse from singing, her fingers loosely threaded through yours.

“You still trying to seduce me?” she whispered, sleepily.

You brushed your lips against her ear and said, “Always.”

———-

Thought I’d go with a softer vibe for this one since the last couple of stories got us ALL a little heated 😉

Vote if you liked it <3