CHAPTER 4 (excerpt)

The Dance Aperitif

“When people show you who they are,

believe them the first time.

That's their true nature.”

Oprah Winfrey

***

In this internet cafe, she remained seated at a table for at least a good hour. Sunsya found herself alone with herself and in front of the small French vanilla she had consumed in two minutes and the succulent maple Danish she savored in small bites. Strangely, this little sweet treat wasn't going down as usual, and she had a bit of trouble digesting it that day. The dancer, devastated by the inconveniences of the last hour, kept ruminating and replaying the humiliating scene that her brain repeated in a loop in her head.

As if all this mental hubbub wasn't enough, an alluring young man with a friendly demeanor, dark hair, and flamboyant green eyes, who seemed to be about her age, had just entered the place. He exuded high self-esteem. Just noticing his stage presence and ease in public, it was clear that this character must make an impression wherever he went. In addition to being quite handsome, he seemed to have a strong personality and appeared to be a very extroverted young university student, quite the opposite of Sunsya.

This guy, it was certain he wouldn't go unnoticed. And to top off this gigantic failed cake, seeing him wander around the internet cafe like that, the devastated dancer instantly recognized the face of the same boy who had been at the dance auditions earlier that morning. At least it wasn't Jocas James, her mediocre dance partner, who had just appeared before her. No, it wasn't him, thankfully! But rather, a nice guy with whom she had exchanged a long, knowing glance while she was on stage. Their eyes had inadvertently met for the first time, and that gaze had lasted a little over five seconds during her solo performance earlier in the morning.

Sunsya turned her head, hiding her face behind her hands, strongly hoping that this guy wouldn't notice her. And especially that he wouldn't recognize her, but to no avail.

(Read the first meeting between Sunsya Zamie and the slightly pretentious Déreck Dumondvill)

Thank you for trusting Production EMary and I'll see you soon!