The last time I was this nervous was when I was sitting for my university's final exam. Now I'm dealing with a recurrence of that feeling.

Mave and I drew ourselves out of the throng and stood in front of all of our company's employees. Everyone was wonderfully dressed in their finest, and just before Mave's 'important' meeting, all of their faces had a carefree and cheerful look, but now it conveyed anxiety and tension.

All of because of me.

''What happened? What did you mean by an urgent meeting?'' Jen asked anxiously, stepping closer to us.

''Áh, it's nothing'' Mave dismissed with his hands making me turn and look at him with a confused expression.

''Oh yeah, your playtoy's here, he was searching for you'' he added rolling his eyes. I didn't say anything, I didn't understand what was in his mind.

''He is here!?" She exclaimed with a wide smile. I couldn't help but grin as I looked at her; her taut face had been replaced with a distinct delight, her eyes glittered, and just hearing his name was enough to take her distress away.

I swear if he hurts her I will cut his manhood myself.

''Yeah, you better get going before he decides he needs a new girlfriend'' Mave monotonously mocked.

''Yeah-yeah you're right'' Jen muttered walking away. But suddenly she came to a halt, her face contorted with rage, and she marched back to us.

''He's not my playtoy! And secondly, he will not get a better girlfriend than I'' She exclaimed in his face, slapping his arm, and walked away.

''Oww!-that hurt! Woman!'' Mave exclaimed rubbing his arms.

''You deserved it'' She retorted without turning back.

I kept looking back at her retreating figure. I couldn't help but smile at their antics.

''He makes her happy'' I stated looking at nowhere in particular.

''He does'' was his emotionless reply.

''You should-''

''I am not repeating same the same conversation with you again.'' With that, he walked where others were standing. With a sigh, I followed his trail.

Everyone standing there was muttering within each other.

'What happened?'

'I don't know'

Mave cleared his throat and drew their attention to himself. Though everyone liked him, they were scared of him as well.

We discussed our strategy after describing what went wrong with the former group. While some were apprehensive, others seemed ecstatic when they heard about the plan.

So this was the strategy; that as the troupe couldn't come, we, the employees would perform the opening; the perilous aspect was that not everyone was a dancer, which might throw the entire thing off. This is why we agreed that the "excellent dancers" would start with solo dances and gradually invite others to join in on the last three simple group steps.

The idea was risky, but there was no other option. While Mave demonstrated the final three simple steps of the group dance, I was watching a video to do my solo performance. Thank god for my school's dance team, I was a good dancer.

We chose not to mention anything to Jen because she was already stressed enough. When I think back, I recall dancing in the midst of a party with my ex; he didn't care what people thought; he'd just grab my arms and drag me to the dance floor. That was one of the reasons I fell for him or gave me the impression that he may as well reciprocate my feelings.

Shaking my thoughts away from one of my mistakes, I continued watching the dance video.

We decided that I, Mave, and three of our other colleagues would do solo performances. We also kept the performance of mine and Mave's duo, so our problem was 75 percent solved, and the remaining 25 percent would be addressed if no one messed up.

The dance would start in the midst of nowhere catching the guests off-guard, just as our former dance group was supposed to do.

Dance is something I always loved doing, it was the art my soul bared, though I was never an amazing dancer; I could still move my body. I used it as a form of relaxation; letting my whole body loose and just moving it with the rhythm.

We rejoined the throng, and this time a big crowd had gathered in the center of the hall. I attempted to sneak a glance to see what was going on or who was attracting such large groups. Jen's perky form came into view before I could stroll up there and find out.

''The CEO is here!'' She squealed like a teenager. I shook my head in amusement.

''And?''

''And what? He's hot. Also, you might know hi-'' Maver cut her off,

''Okay, we don't have time for your girly talks'' He stated while pulling my arms.

''Hey! Where are you taking her?!'' She exclaimed and before she could catch us, Jace slipped his hands on her waist making her smile.

I swear they cannot live two seconds without each other.

''Be right back'' Mave muttered, with me trailing behind him.

''Thank god, inviting that Jerk didn't go to waste'' He muttered, and my eyes widened after hearing that.

''You invited him?!'' I blurted.

''Calm down'' He rolled his eyes, ''I knew, that would make her happy with all the stress, she has had all week'' I nodded.

''And that Jerk was already invited, his company was and even a friend asked him to come''

We approached the group where everyone was standing.

''Are we starting?'' I asked looking back at the crowd. My heart was thumping with anticipation and anxiousness, my stomach tightened with knots of nervousness.

I feel like I will vomit.

Mave nodded and looked at me, his eyes sparkled with exhilaration and playfulness, which erased all my worry. If he was confident then so was I.

''Let's show them what we have got Brown'' He smirked.

I nodded with a smile and stared at our dance team.

''Let's do this'' I stated with determination in my voice; all my anxiousness and nervousness vanished into thin air.

''We are ready'' Mave muttered on his phone and suddenly the lights went off. Everyone in the hall erupted into mutters,

''In such a big event they didn't even take care of the power cut'' a male voiced.

''Oh Lord, is the air-condition even on?'' A female whined.

It is Ms. Whoever you are.

I rolled my eyes at the wealthy people's antics.

My phone vibrated with the call of Jacob and at the same time, Mave started the countdown,

''3''

''2'' I voiced.

''1''

And the music began, flashing spotlight at Mave, who had already started his moves. Everyone in the crowd stopped chatting and got closer to where we were standing. Mave danced like he owned the stage, I hooted from the audience, while Jen exclaimed,

''Bastard why didn't you say me!''

I chuckled and stood in the crowd while the person who would dance next came in slowly. The music exploded in our ears, the audience cheered with roars of hoots and exclamations. Mave grinned and stood alongside me, winking at Jen.

I moved my body and laughed with Mave; everyone was enjoying it!

''You next'' He muttered, I nodded.

Letting off all the tension off my shoulder I swayed my body in the midst of the crowd; all the voices faded away, I could only hear the beat of the music, the air became cooler while I moved my body on the ground like I was breathing for the first time, I closed my eyes and did a butterfly moving my body sideways.

I didn't even notice when Mave came in and pulled my arms up to hoist me up, and the crowd cheered as Jen came in and started doing the step we were executing. I stood in the center and three of us were roaring the music lyrics and dancing like crazy teenagers. Soon the whole group entered and we concluded our dance, and at the end, the projector flashed on the wall displaying,

'

Everyone clapped and whistled in response. My eyes were welling up with unshed tears. I can't believe it, they enjoyed it and were still clapping enthusiastically.

''They liked it. We did it, Mave'' I softly whispered looking at Mave, who was already looking at me with tenderness in his eyes.

''We did'' He whispered back, ''now, don't start crying'' He rolled his eyes yet smiled.

''Thank you'' I softly told him, ''it wouldn't have been possible without you''

''I cannot take it, stop. Stop with that cringy stuff'' he playfully groaned making me laugh.

I looked at the crowd in front of me, Jacob came ahead and was introducing the product, smiling widely, while the rest of the audience was listening to him. When I moved my eyes to the next person, my heartbeat stopped.

It couldn't be, why was he here?

He was standing there staring at me through his hazel eyes which once warmed my heart, which held tender that time and it still did. His hair was ruly as usual but it was longer this time; I always complained about his hair and he had to cut it short, for me.

It seemed as if the entire world had evaporated around us, and it was just him and I.

My ex.

Wasn't I over him?

So, why did it feel like a bullet pierced through my chest?

Why was he here?

Why couldn't I just get peace for one freaking day?

My heart broke, when I remembered our last encounter when I caught him cheating on me.

''You're the one, babe''

''How are you so beautiful?''

''Why did I get so lucky?''

Lies. Lies. Lies. His lies echoed in my ears, the words I once believed like a fool.

We didn't say anything nor moved from our places, we just stood there and kept staring at each other.

My eyes gave out, as a drop of tear fell from my eyes, and slowly more and more were sliding down my cheeks, tears of pain, tears of heartbreak, and most of all, tears of betrayal. My heart shattered looking at him.

While my eyes held rage and hatred within the tears his held regret and guilt.

''Ells'' Jen called me shaking my arm. I looked at her. I don't what my facial expression was, but soon her expression turned concerned.

''Oh my gosh, what's wrong honey?'' She softly asked.

''Nothing'' I croaked with a strained smile and wiped my eyes.

''I will just be back''

I didn't wait for her reply, I just ran.

I ran from her, I ran from the crowd, and I ran from my ex.

What I didn't know was that running was never a solution.

~~~