IT'S ONLY after the second song, when Mark finally realizes that the pretty girl playing the keyboard on stage is actually Chelsie, whom he considers his new friend even though the other doesn't acknowledge him. He almost chokes on his drink when Taeyong taps his back, catching his attention. "Blud, I'll just go outside. I really don't want to see all these people dancing infront of me."

"Oh, alright, blud. I'll just stay right here," Mark answers, smiling and looking back on stage. The band gets down the stage and proceeds to a table to take a break.

"Hey chum, aren't you gonna dance?" Someone asks from behind him, and when he turns around, he sees his close friend, Renjun smirking at him.

"I'm not really into dancing and you know that, chum," Mark answers.

Renjun laughs, sitting next to him. "Where's your brother?"

"He went outside."

Renjun takes a glass of juice from the table and drinks it. "So you're just gonna sit here all night then?"

"Probably. How about you? Aren't you gonna ask Elexa to dance?" Mark asks, teasing and looking at the girl on the table near them.

Renjun makes a face at him. "We're bestfriends, Mark. Not lovers. We don't do stuffs like that."

"Oh ye. You just hang out 24 hours a day and still won't confess that you like each other," Mark continues to tease, chuckling.

Renjun shakes his head in disbelief. "I think you're drunk, chum. You better cool off outside."

"I'm not drunk," Mark says defensively, as he notices Chelsie standing up and heading outside the door. "But you're right. I think I need to go out and get some fresh air. I'll see you later." He stands up and follows Chelsie outside.

Mark reaches the Palace's garden and soon enough, he finds Chelsie sitting on the bench near the gazebo. He doesn't know why, but there seems to be a magnet pulling him close to her. He wants to go up to her and talk to her, but she might find him weird so he decides against it and just watches her, as she stares at the night sky quietly on her seat.

♚♚♚

CHELSIE still can't believe that she's performing at the Palace that night. She looks up and stares at the stars in the sky, remembering their dad who is probably watching her at that moment. Closing her eyes, she allows the cold breeze to touch her cheek, making it numb for a second.

Just then, Chelsie hears footsteps coming from behind her. It looks like that person is running because the sound is getting closer by the second. She stands up at an instant and when she turns around, she sees a lad her age running towards her direction. She stares at him for a few seconds, before she finally realizes who's infront of her. She has never seen any of the Princes up close before, but she's sure that he's the youngest Prince, whom every girl in her classroom fantasizes about. "P-Prince Jeno... Y-Your Highness..." she mumbles, curtsying.

"O-oh, sorry. Did I frighten you?" Jeno asks her, catching his breath from running. "I was just... taking a walk here. I didn't mean to disturb you."

"Prince Jeno! Are you hiding from me?" A voice of a girl suddenly startles the both of them. Her hands are both situated on her waist and her frown suggests that she's about to kill someone.

"Oh no, Kiera. I was just about to introduce you to someone," Jeno says, turning to Chelsie with his signature eye-smile. "Kiera, I want you to meet my princess. Princess, that's Kiera, a friend of mine." He pulls Chelsie next to him and leans closer to her ear. "Please help me on this," he whispers, sending a shiver up on Chelsie's spine.

P-Princess? He just called me princess? Chelsie anxiously glances at the young prince, who is still smiling at her. She just can't respond at all seeing how attractive he is up close.

"Y-You... have a girlfriend? No! This can't be!" Kiera exclaims, almost freaking out. "I thought you're supposed to choose tonight."

Jeno shrugs his shoulders playfully. "Well, I've already chosen just one and she's right here," he finishes, looking at Chelsie with a smile.

"I'm telling this to father." Kiera stomps her feet away after that.

Jeno quickly removes his hand away from Chelsie's back. "I'm really sorry about that. I had to lie because she won't leave me alone."

"Your Highness, I don't know what your reason for doing that, but don't you think that's too much? You just used me," Chelsie states matter-of-factly. She knows she shouldn't be narked at him, but what he did isn't something she should be happy about.

"Forgive me. I just had to do it. She's been following me around. It's the only way for her to stop," Jeno says.

Chelsie shakes her head in disbelief. "That's rubbish." She walks away from him and returns inside the Hall.

♚♚♚

"CHELSIE, where have you been? We've been looking for you," Traze asks worriedly, as soon as Chelsie comes back to their table. "Are you alright?" she asks, after noticing that something is off with her sister.

"Ye," Chelsie answers.

"We'll be playing again in a few minutes. Let's go," Izzy says, standing up.

Traze keeps her head down while eating. She has been trying so hard not to look at Prince Jaehyun the entire time she's there. She knows her face isn't memorable, but she's not taking her chances. The last thing she wants to happen is for the Prince to remember her and approach her, because if he does, she just might fall deeper into him.

The band starts to play another slow song and she plans on finishing her 2nd plate, when Doyoung suddenly pokes beside her. "What is it, mate?"

Someone fakes a cough behind her, causing her to turn around. "Excuse me, milady. May I have this dance?"

Her breathing almost stops, as soon as she sees the dashing Prince Jaehyun offering his hand at her. This isn't a dream, is it?

"May I?" he repeats, still smiling. How can she resist when his dimples are flashing?

Traze gulps down, taking the Prince's hand and allowing him to lead her to the dance floor. She keeps her eyes on the side, not looking at him because she's sure she'll melt the moment she does.

"You're trembling," Jaehyun points out, stifling a chuckle. "It's alright. I don't bite."

She fakes a laugh, trying to be comfortable, but she just can't. The freaking Prince Jaehyun is dancing with me. How can I ever be at ease?

"I was hoping you'd be here tonight. I'm glad you came," Jaehyun speaks again.

God, his voice is life! "Uh... y-ye... Your Highness... happy birthday," she says, stutteringly.

"Thank you for coming and for helping me before at the zoo."

"O-oh... t-that was a long time ago, Your Highness. That's nothing."

"Are you scared to look at me?" The Prince points out.

"N-no, Your Highness. It's just that... I... didn't think you'd remember me."

"Believe it or not, I can easily remember faces especially those like yours."

Traze swallows hard. She doesn't know what to say. She's normally talkative and has a lot to say, but right now, she's tongue-tied. "Face like mine?"

"Yes. Do you mind if I take you for a walk outside?"

She stops and looks at him finally in the eyes. His hazelnut orbs piercing right through her causes her heart to skip a beat and she can feel butterflies forming in her stomach which she has never felt before. She doesn't believe in love at first sight, but now she thinks she finally understands it a bit. "No... I don't mind at all, Your Highness."

The Prince takes her hand again, as they go out of the Hall. Traze tries to calm down, but she just can't. She can feel her hands already sweating, but the Prince's hand is still on hers. Deep breaths, Traze. You can't faint infront of him, she advises herself.

"We're here," Jaehyun announces, as they reach a bridge leading to the gazebo. The lights on the bridge illuminates their way, making the scenery more beautiful than it is. They stand at the center of the bridge, looking at the water below.

"It's pretty," Traze can't help but admire it.

"You like it?" Jaehyun asks.

Traze nods, looking at him. He's smiling at her, which Traze has never imagined to happen. Then, she notices that their hands are still locked with each other so she quickly removes it away from him. "Uh..." she mumbles, looking away first and placing her hands behind her. "I'm sweating. I'm sorry, Your Higness."

Jaehyun laughs quietly. "Not a problem. I'm a bit sweaty myself."

"Really?" She asks, looking at him again. "I mean..." Ah, what am I suppose to say infront of him?

"Do you want to take a seat?" The Prince offers, pointing at the bench near the gazebo.

"Oh... uh, yes, Your Highness."

They proceed to the bench and take their seats next to each other. The stillness of the night isn't quite helping Traze at all. It's making everything awkward between them. She has dreamt so many times about meeting and talking with Prince Jaehyun, but now that he's there beside her, she can't even bring up a conversation which she can normally do with anyone.

"Are you scared of me?" The Prince suddenly speaks, startling her a bit.

"N-No, Your Highness. You're just... I mean, you're someone I'm only seeing on the telly and newspapers. I can't believe I'm talking to you now."

"Is that so? Are you uncomfortable?"

She turns to him and sees the Prince's gloomy expression. "J-Just a bit?"

"Then, I would like you to address me by my first name. Don't you think you'll feel more comfortable that way?" He suddenly orders, surprising her.

"But, Your Highness..."

"Please?" He looks at her with his eyes pleading.

How can I resist that? "Alright, Your Hi- I mean, J-Jaehyun..." She looks away after mentioning his name. "Is it really alright? I don't wanna be sued."

Jaehyun chuckles. "No you won't be sued, milady."

She pouts. "Can you call me by my name as well then? It's strange for someone to call me 'milady.'"

"Oh, of course, Patricia. It's Patricia, right?"

Traze gets taken aback, realizing that he knows her name. "Y-Yes. But, how did you know, Your Highness... I mean, Jaehyun..."

The Prince gets stunned for a moment, tapping his fingers. "Oh... that... I remember your name from the volunteers' list before."

She nods, looking up the sky. Suddenly, a falling star passes by, so she quickly closes her eyes to make a wish. After a while, she opens her eyes again and turns to Jaehyun, who is looking at her with an amused face.

"What did you wish for?" he asks curiously.

"If I told you, it would be jinxed."

"Jinx? Is that even real?"

Traze nods, smiling. Seeing how innocent and genuine the Prince is, she's slowly getting at ease at his presence.

"Can't you tell me one of your wishes?" he asks again.

"I will... if you tell me yours as well."

Jaehyun heaves a sigh. "I wish I wasn't a prince even just for a day."

Traze suddenly pauses, looking at him. She didn't expect him to wish something like that. Being a royal is everyone's dream. And here is the Prince telling her that he doesn't want to become one. "Is it that difficult being one?"

"It's... pressuring." Jaehyun finishes, turning to her again with a smile. "Now tell me yours."

"I wish I can go to college."

"You're not studying now?"

"I am, but I stopped because mum is sick so I need to find another job. I have a job now but it's still not enough for me and my sister to go to a decent school."

"You're looking for a job now?"

Traze nods. "I'm not qualified on most job openings since I'm still undergraduate." She pauses, faking a smile. "Sorry. I shouldn't be telling this to you."

"No. It's alright." Jaehyun smiles at her. "Do you believe in kismet?"

"K-Kismet? You mean... fate?"

He nods. "I reckon it's fate that I was able to meet you." He stares at her for a moment, causing her insides to coil and her heart to jump out of her chest.

Kismet it is.

A/N: Happy New Year everyone! Do you believe in kismet? Anyway, hope you liked this update! :) Thank you for reading! ^^

~neoluv #limitless