Joyce stumbled back, colliding with Devon. Her eyes were saucers of disbelief, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
She leaned in, her voice a conspiratorial whisper that barely contained her excitement,
"D-did you see that?"
Devon gulped and nodded, his own surprise evident.
Without warning, Joyce pinched Devon's arm.
"OWWW!"
He yelped, jumping slightly.
"What da fuck was that for?" he hissed, rubbing the sore spot.
"Just making sure I wasn't dreaming,"
Joyce replied, a grin spreading across her face.
Suddenly, Joyce's demeanor shifted. Her eyes lit up with excitement, and she let out a high-pitched squeal that made everyone around her wince.
"OH. MY. GOD!" she shouted, her voice carrying across the platform.
"It's happening! It's finally happening!"
She sprinted towards Elise, her arms flailing wildly.
"Elise! Elise! Your not-so-secret crush! He likes you back!"
Elise sat frozen, as if Brandon's touch had turned her to marble.
A sweet, almost dreamy smile played on her lips, so uncharacteristic that it seemed to transform her entire being.
Her fingers traced the spot where Brandon's hand had been, as if trying to memorize the sensation.
"There's something different about him," she murmured.
"He's no longer that timid little boy, huh?"
Joyce skidded to a stop beside her friend, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Hehehe, I'm sure nothing about him is little," she teased, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
Elise's head snapped up, her eyes narrowing in feigned anger. But the happiness radiating from her was impossible to hide.
She glared at Joyce, fighting to keep a straight face.
"Joyce!" she hissed, her cheeks flushing red.
Unable to maintain her stern expression, Elise's gaze drifted towards the stage. Brandon and Pierre were already there, setting up with the band.
As she watched Brandon move confidently around the stage, her smile grew wider, anticipation building for what was to come.
Pierre sauntered onto the stage, his confidence palpable as he grabbed the microphone.
The yacht's deck was packed both the elite and models, their excited chatter dying down as he cleared his throat.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced, his voice booming through the speakers,
"your phones are handed in, the NDAs are signed, and we're on route into open sea."
He paused, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
"And boy, do we have a surprise for you tonight!"
The crowd erupted in cheers and whistles.
"For our opening act, we have none other than the mysterious balcony guitarist who's gone viral on twitter today!"
The announcement sent ripples of excitement through the audience.
"Oh my god, did you see that video?" a girl in a sparkly bikini squealed to her friend.
"It was absolutely magical!"
Her friend shook her head, confused.
"What video? I must've missed it."
"Girl, where have you been?" the first girl exclaimed.
"This guy was playing guitar on his balcony, and it was... just... wow. His voice – it was otherworldly!"
Nearby, a group of guys were engaged in a similar conversation.
"Dude, I can't believe he's here!" one of them said, his eyes wide with excitement.
"That video blew up so fast, I thought it was fake at first."
Another guy looked puzzled.
"What's the big deal? It's just some dude playing guitar, right?"
The first guy shook his head vigorously.
"No, man, you don't get it. This isn't just some random guy strumming chords. The way he played, the emotion in his voice – it was like nothing I've ever heard before."
As the excitement rippled through the crowd, a figure lounged by the pool, seemingly oblivious to the commotion.
Jong-kook reclined on a plush beach chair like a decadent Roman emperor, his lithe frame barely covered by a silk robe. A muscular man in tight speedos kneaded Jong-kook's shoulders, while a stern-faced P.A. stood rigidly beside him, shielding his boss from the sun with an oversized umbrella.
Jong-kook's eyes fluttered open, a lazy smile playing on his lips.
"Darling," he drawled, addressing his P.A., "be a dear and confirm something for me. That delicious morsel on stage – is he the one you showed me this morning?"
The P.A. nodded curtly. "Yes, sir. He's the one from the viral video."
Jong-kook's eyes lit up, a predatory gleam flashing across them.
He sat up abruptly, causing the masseuse to stumble back.
"Oh, honey, this is too perfect!" He clapped his hands in delight.
"We simply must sign him. No, scratch that – we need to own him, body and soul."
He licked his lips slowly, gaze fixed on Brandon.
"And what a body it is. Mmm, I could just eat him up."
On stage, Brandon already had a guitar strapped around him. The live band members watched him curiously, unsure what to expect from this newcomer who'd caused such a stir.
"Alright, let's set this up quick," Brandon said, his voice confident and clear. He turned to the bass player, a young woman with bright blue hair.
"I need you to hold these chords and strum to this melody."
He demonstrated a series of quick, muted strums on his guitar. The bass player's brow furrowed as she tried to mimic the sound.
"That sounds... off," she said hesitantly. "Are you sure about this?"
Brandon nodded, a reassuring smile on his face.
"Trust me. It'll all come together. Just play that on a loop."
The bass player shrugged and began to play, the muted chords creating an unusual rhythm. Brandon nodded in approval, then moved swiftly to the keyboard.
His fingers danced across the keys, playing a simple yet catchy melody. With a few quick adjustments to the keyboard's settings, he set the melody to loop electronically.
"Perfect," Brandon murmured, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Brandon nodded toward Pierre, who returned the gesture with an encouraging smile. Pierre's eyes sparkled with excitement, his charismatic presence immediately commanding the attention of the crowd.
"Without further ado, I present to you the man of the hour, the viral sensation that's taken the internet by storm – Thirteen!!!"
As Pierre stepped aside, the spotlight shifted to Brandon. He stood center stage, guitar in hand, a confident smile playing on his lips.
The audience fell silent, their eyes fixed on the mysterious musician they'd been eager to see.
Brandon took a deep breath, his fingers poised over the guitar strings. He glanced at Elise, who was watching him intently from her seat. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Brandon's smile widened.
Pierre, now standing at the edge of the stage, gave Brandon a thumbs up.
"Show 'em what you've got, B!" he called out, his voice filled with pride and excitement.
The atmosphere was electric as Brandon prepared to start his performance.
"Oh I~ Oh I~ Oh I~"