“There you go.”

I don’t know how long we stayed here in this ballroom’s restroom but we didn’t have much choice. The concert ended and all but this guy couldn’t stop his tears until we got here dressed for the formal party. I had to endure the weird face the usher gave me when I asked for ice and a spoon—it is a remedy for his puffy eyes from crying. Cold spoon against the eyes. I did my best and he now look okay, except for the over-all redness of his upper cheeks.

This guy sighs and holds my hands. I know it would be the most awkward thing to see in a public restroom—two men holding each other hands—but I don’t want to upset him again so I let him.

“You okay now?”

He nods but pouts. Now, he just looks like a kid having tantrums.

“Come on, big baby. We’re missing the party. You look okay, just don’t cry again.”

I managed to pull him out of the restroom and go back again on the main hall, to our table.

I don’t really know where this is or what this formal party is for. I didn’t have the time to even bother reading the invitation-like envelope given to us when we entered; all because of this guy’s almost unending crying. Speaking of that envelope, I opened it now and it just briefly explains that this formal party is a charity event for… I don’t really get what this envelope is saying.

“We only have two hours left…”

I sighed and look at this guy. “You’re impossible. I told you to stop thinking about it and let’s just enjoy this remaining time.”

“Give me a kiss and promise I’ll be alright.”

“Pervert!”

For the first time tonight, he finally laughs and grins to tease me more about the kiss. Of course, I didn’t give him any! Two more couples have sat with us in this table and leave it this guy to entertain the people around him. He really can handle conversations with strangers and yet here I am, simply listening.

If I’m being honest, I really can’t stop thinking about the time, too. I try hard not to think about it and as a resort to that, I took my time looking around this ballroom. I even excused myself for a while.

I’m actually surprised that I don’t feel like we’re intruding here. It’s like we’re really meant to be here like any of this other people are. I’m also surprised seeing celebrities and high personalities tonight—this event must be really a big thing.

I look back at our table as saw him looking at me like a puppy. I almost laugh to myself and just went back to our table.

The master of ceremony went to the stage and formally started the night

The master of ceremony went to the stage and formally started the night.

I just focused my attention to this guy beside me.

Is weird that I’m thinking how naturally this guy fits in here? I mean, with the over-all ambiance and occasion. It’s like this a guy is really a celebrity or even a royalty that belongs in this kind of world—suits and ballgowns.

I didn’t know I was holding my chest again until he leans to whisper and ask if I’m okay.

I nod and gave him a reassuring smile. “All good.”

Lie. My heart is starting to hurt again.

Everyone is suddenly asked to stand up and for a moment I was confused only to know that the floor is now open for anyone who wants to dance to the first song of the night. The first pair to own the floor is an old couple and everyone is in awe watching them dance. Other couples are joining in too.

Then the most unexpected-expected thing for tonight, of course, this guy is crazy enough to ask me to dance. He really went in front of him and offer his hand, and with the cheering of the people around us, I finally gave up and took his offer.

“Everyone is looking at us like we turned crazy.” I told him when we got to the dance floor.

“Nah.” He places one of my hand on his shoulder and holds the other one, he’s free hand is on my waist. He smiles like the happiest kid. “Just let them watch.”

With a last sigh of inhibition, I finally smile and went on with this dance. This isn’t so bad.

The first song was a little lively and I really couldn’t dance to save my life but thankfully, this guy is a great leader. It was easy for me to follow his steps along the song and had me laughing because he kept saying his try-hard boastful dance comments. The other couples are enjoying this lively dance, too.

After that fun dance, the next song was slow and more intimate. I don’t know how to explain this but I really don’t feel as awkward and as uncomfortable than I thought I would be. Looking at this guy’s eyes is enough for me to feel okay with everything.

“Are you glad that this is ending, Win?”

I smile upon hearing my name but roll my eyes with his question. “You know the answer to that.”

He chuckles and breathes deeply. “I still don’t want to end this, dummy.”

Me too, I wanted to say, but instead of speaking, I simply leaned my head on his cheek.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“The Winona sisters.”

I turn to face the man who suddenly spoke. “I’m sorry?”

He smiles and with the wineglass in his hand, he gestures the painting in front of us. “These women are known to be the Winona sisters back in the 19th century, from one of the most powerful families of the country.”

I was just mindlessly looking at the paintings all over this ballroom and I really didn’t know that I stopped at this particular painting. Looking back again to this painting of six women together in like a family portrait, I didn’t expect them to be real people.

This man sips his wine. “They are a great part of this event—to commemorate them along other powerful families of the country.”

Winona sisters…

I have seen them before, I know it. I’ve seen these women and by the time I could stop myself from thinking hard, it finally sunk into me.

The woman my dream—and her sisters. I don’t know how this is possible but I’m sure of it! That’s why these women look so familiar to me, I know it. They are real. They are really real.

There’s a tug in my chest and my heart feels like it’s getting heavier and heavier that I’m almost finding it hard to breathe. I can feel my Goosebumps behind my neck.

“Are you okay?”

I nod and try my best to calm myself. “C-Can you tell me more about them, s-sir?”

This man nods and started telling me more.

The Winona sisters came from the most powerful family of their time. It was just later discovered that they are also the most controversial one. Through notebooks of countless journals retrieved from the hidden belongings of these sisters, the dark side of their family was uncovered.

They are supposed to be a normal family until the sixth daughter came. The family scandal mainly focuses on her—Winona Alina. It isn’t only because she was born to be the most beautiful among the sisters, this isn’t about any jealousy among the sisters nor anything like that. It was because Lord Dark Stefan has fallen in love with her.

That was the real start of the problem.

If anyone would look into the situation, they would think that there should not be a single valid reason why the sisters would entirely disagree with the relationship—but the truth will always prevail…

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

I’m now clutching on my chest, trying to breath as normally as I can maintain. “Y-Yes. Please, tell me the reason w-why they couldn’t be together…”

It’s not only my heart that is hurting, now also my head aches so bad. I don’t know how to stop my mind from replaying the images and scenes from my dream. It hurts. Everything is starting to hurt so badly.

“Nobody expected the reason—Winona Alina is not a real woman.”

It was like the time has stopped.

Winona Alina was not a real woman because she is a biological male.

Unending wars within countries, cities, and even families were prevalent then and the conflicts require at least one male from every family to serve the country. Even from birth, the male child of the family should be taken to be trained as the machines the government wanted them to become.

Their parents, not wanting to give their youngest child, hid her and paid every person that knew about her true identity to keep her a secret. She was to live a life of a woman from that moment.

“That’s why they did what they had to do—disagree at their best to save both from their pointless love. But they also couldn’t forcefully separate the two. Winona Alina was also born with the congenital disease that was unknown that time nor until now. Her disease is slowly killing her from the inside and all she has left for her happiness is him. He is her remaining light and so is she to him. It was like finding the right person at the most wrong time…”

I can feel myself shivering. I am already breathing through my mouth. I feel weak. I feel like I’m about to collapse. My heart hurts and it hurts really bad. My head wants to explode. I want to scream and beg for everything to just stop. It hurts. I’m clutching hard on my chest.

I don’t know how I’m still managing to be standing up like nothing is going on inside of me.

“D-Did h-he ever f-found out… a-about her?”

This man smiles and nods. “It didn’t matter to him whether she is a true woman or really a man. His love was pure and he loved her with all his heart. He promised her that in the next lifetime, they will meet again at all cost, even if he has to take all her pain with him.”

I didn’t know I was crying until I blink off the tears. “H-How do you k-know all of this?”

“I’m from the fifth generation of the first Winona sister. This is my family that I am talking about.”

I didn’t want… couldn’t finish the story anymore. I need to leave. I need to leave now.

I thanked him for everything he said but when I turn around to leave, I saw this guy who’s holding the wine he told me he’ll get for us.

He is crying, too.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Win, wait! Win!”

I stopped walking and faced him.

We’re in this empty hallway out the ballroom and before I could stop myself, I burst again into tears. I walk to him and continuously punch his chest. He just stood there and let me hurt him.

“Who are you?! Why are you fucking here?! Tell me! Who are you?!” I punched him the face. “You can’t deny what we both felt with that damn story. We both know now that Alina and Dark are… we both… k-know…”

I finally lost my strength but he caught me. I didn’t even have the energy to push him away. Everything hurts and I feel like I’m going to die. I can’t stop myself from crying.

He made me face him, his lip is bleeding, and he tries to dry my endless tears.

“Call me by my name and I’ll tell you everything.”

“B-Bright.” I didn't realize until now that it was my first time to say his name.

He smiles bitterly and pulls me softly for a kiss.