Chapter 2: Are you… Henry Lincoln?

Sarah’s POV.

Everyone in the club cheers and claps.

I'm excited and stand up abruptly, sticking my eyes on the stage.

Mia winks at me and I nod back at her.

This is my chance.

My hands shake as I grab a drink, chug it down in one gulp, pour another, and drink it to gain courage.

Stepping up to the stage, I register my favorite song—a song I wrote myself and saved up money to have someone arrange and compose the music.

I send the beat and notes to the backup team, and it's finally ready to perform.

This is the first time I sing in front of so many people.

I'm falling into the colorful darkness from the light in this club. Time froze and I froze too.

Never seen anyone or anything but me in this world, all for my own sake.

It's fake. Everything looks fake from the day I become a top student.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Sarah Raven to perform her song 'Love on the Sand'."

As I walk towards the stage, I can feel my heart beating faster and faster.

I take a deep breath, close my eyes for a moment, and then I step onto the stage.

Like a flower, it’s time for blooming.

The audience looks at me, waiting for me to start. I take another deep breath, and then I begin to sing.

The first notes come out of my lip and I can hear murmurs in the audience.

(Music)

Love on the sand,

just like the waves on the infinite ocean.

It comes and goes,

avoiding the tides that ebb and flow.

It can be calm,

and drink the stillness of a summer dawn.

But it can also rage,

ate the rough storms of age.

Love on the sand,

like a dance on the wet strand.

I know they don't like my voice.

But I don't care.

I keep singing, pouring my heart and soul into my song.

The audience's faces twist in disgust, and I hear someone shout, "Get off the stage, you sound like a dying cat!"

It's a feeling that ignites like a flame that burns in the lost forest.

It can lift you higher and higher, or bring you down hell as you please.

Love on the sand, like the waves that never end.

It's a bond bloodline that can't be broken when the ocean awoke.

So let your heart be free,

and let love wash over you,

and let it take you where your lover waits.

After finishing my song, there is a moment of silence, and then the audience starts booing.

Fuck them, I stand tall, smile, and bow.

You know, I believe that singers don’t need a good voice to be a singer.

I grind hard.

That's when I see a guy standing in the back of the club, looking at me. His ocean eyes stick on my body, the curiosity in the eyes that cannot hide.

He is tall, with dark hair, wearing a suit, and he looks like he belongs in a different world.

What the fuck are you looking at? Have you ever seen a beautiful girl in your life?

I frown and give him a dead stare.

He keeps watching me, and I feel like he can see something in me that no one else can.

That makes me feel more insecure.

Because I feel like he looks through my soul.

As I walk down from the stage, I get close to my friend Mia, who wraps her arms around my neck and cheers, “You did it! Rock on, girl.” Mia grins.

“Thank you, bestie,” I laugh, flushing as I steal another quick glance at the man.

I feel much better now. The first time was worth it. I want to do it again and again—practice more and perform. The scenario runs in my silly mind of the day I become a singer.

IU is my idol, I want to become someone like her one day.

Without any expectations from my parents, life has such a good taste.

“Hi there," someone speaks up with glass in his hand, and his other hand extended towards me.

The guy that I have seen for a while catches my eye, and I can feel my heart skip a beat.

I am impressed but also a little intimidated.

He looks like a boss in the crown, as if he owns the entire club, and his confidence scares me.

His ocean eyes catch my gaze while a beautiful voice from another singer lights up on the mic.

But he doesn't seem to care about the singer.

“That is quite a performance you give up there,” he whispers in my ear, making my thighs throb.

I close my thighs as his solid chest touched my biceps. I can’t help but feel intrigued by him.

I find myself wanting to know more.

"Sounds greedy," I think, laughing at myself.

“Thank you, but I know my voice isn't that good.”

His eyes turn to mystery as he puts out a slight smile. "I'm not here for something good, Beauty. I’m after something different—something interesting."

As my bestie Mia blinks at me and says, "Enjoy!" She waves her fingers towards me and walks off with the man who's been dancing with her every time I look at her.

I nod and reply to the handsome man in the same way he did. "So, have you found out that ‘special’ thing?"

The handsome lets out a dangerous smirk and gets close to me. He touches my arm and leans in to kiss me on the cheek. I feel a rush of warmth at his touch. I may not have the best voice, but maybe I have the best luck meeting my dreamy man today.

Damn! He’s so hot.

My face heats up as I put his solid chest away uselessly and say with a serious face, "Handsome. You’re so greedy. We should just stop here."

I can’t fall for him too soon.

He looks at me with a raised eyebrow, and I feel my cheeks grow warmer. I realize I must have sounded too formal, too proper. Maybe he just looks at me as a joke or someone who he can sleep with tonight and forget tomorrow.

‘One night stand’ might be cool for my depression but it’s just not my thing.

He giggles and then laughs so hard. "I love your confidence. And more, do you remember me, Sarah?"

I blush even more at his laughing. "I beg your pardon?"

He chuckles as he gets his face close to mine. "Look at me carefully, Sarah."

This face looks quite familiar, as we've known each other for a long time. But who is he? Memories of my first crush when I was six years old appear in my head. We were neighbors, and he suddenly moved away with his mom when his parents divorced.

Since that day, I've never seen him again.

"Are you... Henry Lincoln?" I ask, my heart racing, and my breathing becomes labored.