30 minutes before the show.

“Should we have a fancy dinner tonight? To celebrate the showcase?” Joseph asks, with mirth in his eyes. He looks handsome with white costumes as Prince Siegfried, his muscles tensing as he is doing his hamstring stretches.

Jamie just gives him a brief glance without bothering to look at “Don’t celebrate something that has not happened yet. It’ll invite bad luck,” he warns as he stands with his back straight and his legs hip-width apart. He Steps forward with one leg, keeping the foot flat and the knee at 90 degrees. Lower the back knee, allowing it to hover above the floor.

Some night, a year ago.

“Cheers!” everyone at the table held up their glasses, clinking to each other as they were ready to bring the rims to their mouths, but before they could drink it Joseph stood up from where he sat “I have an announcement”

Jamie couldn’t stop smiling now and then. His cheeks hurt from too much grinning, but he dared to assume that day is the happiest day he had. Joseph took his hand gently as he kissed it on his knuckle. Jamie blushed from where he sat when everyone started whistling as they teased them.

Joseph cleared his throat, “ Jamie,” he called, his eyes full of determination and faith. He looked at him as he looked into the entire world, there was not a single glint of doubts flashed in his doe eyes, Jamie had never seen such a convincing pair of eyes, eyes that belong to a planned person “Will you be my boyfriend?”

Everyone stayed still, they held their breath same with Joseph who seemed worried even though he should know there was no way on earth Jamie would reject him

And Jamie with the sanity he had, impossible to reject someone he had loved for 2 years. Joseph, the new dancer who just joined 2 years ago, such an innocent soul, came to the city with nothing and knew nobody. Jamie gladly helped him to adapt to his new surroundings, introduced him to his circle, and sometimes guided him within his career. Joseph had been so pure yet so insecure, sometimes he set his self-confidence too low, and beat himself when he didn’t get the main role he wanted and Jamie was there witnessing everything. Jamie with his other pure soul couldn’t help but protect him.

Love could grow in any different way, familiarity, a sense of empathy, or pity. But whatever it is, love was still love in the end. At least that’s what Jamie believed.

“Yes, I will be your boyfriend” he answered. This is followed by a screeching laugh from Janet and Harith. Brian nodded with his signature slight smile.

“You guys are so sap! Yikes gross!” Timothy teased with his usual boxy grin, his blonde lock fell messily as proof he was almost drunk.

“You don’t have one, so you won’t understand Tim,” Isaac chided, unamused.

Timothy scoffed, no one surprised anymore with their bicker, “If I have a boyfriend, you all must be shocked!” Jamie knew he just blustering because if Timothy truly had one he must tell Jamie first, that’s their unspoken rule after all.

Jamie expected everyone would laugh and tease him back, yet they just simply savour the wine while biting their smile back. Why do they do that? Jamie wondered, he didn’t mind if they laugh tho.

“I’ll bring the desert,” Joseph whispered in his ear and Jamie just instantly nodded. He didn’t forget to peck his cheek lightly before going to the kitchen.

Timothy huffed in annoyance as Jamie assumed caused by the tease from the guys. “I’m going to the bathroom,” he said briefly before also leaving the table

Back then all was just coincidence, but now it all just makes sense.