[song for chapter: Blinding Lights-The Weeknd]
November 12th 2044
Yumi's POV:
today is the winter dance.
the day everyone at school has been waiting for.
knowing all of the school kids will pick fancy outfits in advance for tonight.
It slipped out of my mind that I too would have to try to pick a nice outfit,it's my first high school party so I have to impress.
Even if I am envied by others at the end of the night.
it'll all be worth it.
So last minute me,Melody & melody's best friend Emani go dress shopping.
As I buy my dress,I hide my face quickly when I see Serena and her coven of evil witches she calls her friends.
Serena,the popular girl at our school.
her name lives in the mouths of almost every kid at school.
she loves attention and likes to cause drama.
She once planted a fake mouse in Emani's locker and since she's afraid of rodents.
She screamed loudly in front of our classmates.
Which caused her to be picked on by everyone until I blackmailed Serena into silence & everyone suddenly forgot about the incident.
I have clips of Serena,both embarrassing and horrible.
she wants to be looked upon as a "Perfect Girl" so she agreed to stop all the Emani drama in exchange for me to hold the clips out of anyone's reach.
I thought I hid myself perfectly until her annoyingly perfect un chipped pink heel was at eye level with me.
"Looking for something?" I hear her voice above me.
I clear my throat and stand up.
"Oh hi Serena" I say faking a smile.
"Fancy seeing you here at this kind of store I assumed you bought all of your clothes at Salvation Army" she says & I roll my eyes.
"Well assuming makes you look like a ass" I mumble under my breath.
"What was that?" Cleo asks me.
Serena's partner in crime & the biggest gossiper at school.
"Let's go girls we shouldn't be seen with them" Serena says sticking her snobbish nose up in the air like she always does.
She glances at me before walking away.
I shove myself in the dressing room.
I lock the door & Melody bangs the door down.
"You know you're beautiful don't listen to that bitch!" She says and I sniffle from behind the door.
Damnit.
I hate my emotions.
I hate crying.
I hate the fact that when I'm mad,I cry.
She sneaks out from under the door through the small space underneath & grabs both of my hands.
"Come here you little baby" she says and hugs me tightly.
She rubs my back until I calm down.
"C'mon try this one" she says passing me one she looked at earlier.
I grab it reluctantly and she sneaks out of the dressing room.
She waits at the sitting area for me,while I struggle to put the dress on.
I huff in annoyance & stomp my feet.
yes I may look like a toddler doing this but it was all  my emotions playing with me.
She hears my struggles and sneaks back underneath once again to help me into the dress.
I cover my chest and hesitantly try to put the dress on.
"Girl it won't work unless you help me too" she says pushing as hard as she can.
"I-it's just-"
"We've been friends since birth you think I would be hesitant to show myself to you? if you really don't-"
"Never mind" I say snapping out of it and we finally manage to shove the dress on me.
"OMO! Umi look at you!" She exclaims and twirls me around.
"I look s-so...pretty." I say staring at my reflection in awe.
"This is the one" I add and I say it confidently hoping to hype myself up for tonight.
"You're going to be the prettiest girl in the room. I can guarantee that!" She says and I start to change back into my original clothes.
-after a while-
I'm back home and I just finished in the shower.
I step out in my bathrobe and I see a text on my phone.
I quickly grab it when I see the notification is from "Mingyu💕
I type quickly while grinning from ear to ear.
"Mingyu💕: hey beautiful I should be at your house by 7:30ish since the dance starts at 7:50. see you soon...cutie ;))"
I nearly faint seeing the words "cutie" at the end followed by winky faces.
I shout out for my mom & she rushes up the stairs.
"What's wrong honey?" She says while she's holding a phone to her ear.
"Ugh mom I have to get dressed what time is it?" I ask her now pacing back and forth.
The dance starts at 7:50pm and I'm still in a bathrobe.
"It's 6:15pm" she says calmly and my eyes nearly bulge out of my head.
I grab her and shove my dress into her arms.
"I have to change. NOW!"
"Young lady that's not how you speak to your mother-" I hear my dad's voice from my bedroom door.
"Kook relax-" she says
"Ew dad get out of my room!" I yell and she grabs me.
She smacks me and I look at her shocked.
"I'm sorry I've been wanting to do that for so long! You're such a brat sometimes I'm trying to help you so listen to me. I'm going to help you get into this dress and then help you with your hair so all you have to do is your makeup." She says and I nod quietly.
I can't believe she did that.
I deserved it though.
I act so bratty with her when I don't realize until now she's all I have and I shouldn't act like this.
"Ok." I say and she hugs me tightly.
"I'm sorry for that though-"
"I deserved it though! I'm so sorry for giving you and dad..such a hard time" I say and she starts tearing up.
"No mom don't cry because I'll start.." I say with small tears forming in my eyes.
My dad walks in and holds both of us in his arms.
Both of us sobbing messes mumbling "I love you's" to each other which probably don't sound audible at this point.
My dad rubs our backs and I sniffle.
"I should start.." I say and she nods.
My dad leaves the room to give us privacy.
-time skip-
After finally changing into my dress.

I sit at my vanity as my mom turns on the straightener.
"Mom...why don't we go curly tonight?" I ask her and she smiles big.
"I thought you'd never ask." She says.
She starts styling my hair and I look at myself shocked at how beautiful I look.
My natural dark tight curls framing my face perfectly & she puts gel to secure the frizz away.
"I love it." I say and she sprays perfume onto me and my hair.
Ariana Grande's Cloud fills my senses and I nearly fall into euphoria smelling it.
As I'm lost in the scent,my mom taps my shoulder gently.
"It's 7pm I think you should start on your makeup" she says and I nod.
I start doing my makeup.
I apply lipgloss over my lips since I barely wear lipstick & as I close up my makeup drawer to clean up.
I hear our doorbell ring.
My footing makes me nearly fall onto my face but I make my way downstairs.
"Damn heels!" I mumble referring to my black dressy heels.
I open the door after peeking out through the peephole & seeing my favorite boy.
I gasp when I see him holding a flower corsage which is in a box.
"My lady." He says bowing like a prince and I chuckle.
He grabs my hand and opens the box.
He slips the corsage onto my hand and as this is going on.
My dad snaps polaroids of it & I laugh.
"Dad really?" I say and he nods.
"You only experience this once" he says and I nod smiling.
"Are you ready?" Mingyu asks me smiling gently at me.
"Of course" I say and step outside holding his hand the whole time.
"Remember to bring her back before 10 and no later than 10 because I will bring my bat" my dad says and I look at my dad.
"Dad really? It's my school dance...can't I be out one more hour longer?" I ask pouting and my mom glances at me.
"10:30 take it or leave it." My mom says and I hug her tightly.
"Gladly I love you mom" I say and i run back outside.
I wave bye to my parents and we drive off to our school's gymnasium.
Where the dance is currently being held at.
-after we settle in a while-
I'm sitting at a table with Melody,Malakai,Emma & Ezra.
We're all munching on the food they are serving at the dance while the others like Serena dance their lives away on the dance floor.
I stray away from there since I have somewhat two left feet and I rather Mingyu not see me bust a move right now.
Emma & Melody takes all the attention away from the other girls when they show up in their outfits.

[Emma's outfit accompanied with light blue heels]

[Melody's outfit accompanied with black flats]
-
I notice the guys staring not only at them both.
But at me as well which makes me feel flattered but awkward as well....
because some of these guys are the same ones who never glanced at me once during classes or at school...But suddenly because I'm wearing a bold black number and holding onto the arm of one of the most popular guys at school.
I'm attractive?
I frown and avoid looking up.
Mingyu lifts my chin up with his finger and I pout at him.
"Can we get some air?" I ask him.
"Sure" he says and we walk outside with some guys following us suit.
Emma clears her throat
"Don't you guys have dates to court?" She asks loudly and they walk back to their dates reluctantly.
We go outside and Mingyu grabs both of my hands.
"What's on your mind?" He asks me.
"Nothing I just felt it was too much inside" I say
He looks into my eyes and must've read my mind.
"You're the most beautiful girl here and that's why they're staring..but you're all mine." He says wrapping one of his arms around my waist.
He pulls me closer to him.
"You know they were staring why didn't you-"
"Because as long as they don't touch I don't care,I know you're hot and they don't stand a chance with you anyway." He says and I blush.
"You called me hot stop that!" I say pushing his chest lightly.
I chuckle and his eyes change into a gorgeous dark chocolate color.
Our faces grow closer and closer to the point our lips connect.
It was like fireworks went off that moment and we stay there kissing for a while until I hear noises coming from a dark shaded area.
Mingyu glances over and our kiss ends.
We look and quickly turn around when we see Emma and Ezra heavily making out.
Nearly ripping each other's clothes off.
"Oh sorry guys!" Emma says loudly
I shake my head laughing
"Have fun you two but Ezra,you have a car really man?" Mingyu says
"Good idea brother!" Ezra says and I hear a car door open.
We walk back inside and sit down.
Melody looks at both of us.
"Let me guess you guys finally..did it?" Melody asks us both.
"No!" We both say and Mingyu looks at me with a raised eyebrow.
"So why you both look so red in the face?" She asks me.
"We caught Emma & Ezra-"
"OH GOD those two horndogs!" She says rolling her eyes.
"You're just mad because you don't have a date to do that with and you had to bring your twin brother!" Malakai says and she mushes his face away from us.
"Anyway!" She says
"Let's dance lovebirds it's starting to feel boring" she adds and I shake my head.
Mingyu sees this and grabs my hand.
"Why not babe?" He asks me.
"It's just...never mind." I say and he forces me to look at him.
I end up rambling on about how I never learned to dance like a pro and that even though my father is gifted at it.
I struggle learning on my own.
"And I have two left feet and it would seem embarrassing..you wouldn't think I'm hot seeing that." I say.
He laughs.
"I'm glad you find it funny" I say rolling my eyes and he sighs loudly.
"For your information "Princess" I find it cute that you think I care only about looks and nothing else..Yumi I fell in love with you for your personality and your mind. Not just for your looks" he says and I look away from him.
"You can act crazy around me and I'll find it cute still,I never met anyone like you and I think I will never find anyone else like you." He adds and I sigh.
"Alright but don't say I didn't warn you!" I say and we walk to the dance floor.
The song playing was Blinding Lights by The Weeknd.
Melody dances and soon Kyle Hanson.
thee Kyle Hanson,Melody's longtime crush waltzes up to her and asks her for a dance.
She goes to dance with him and I watch them both get lost together.
I watch Mingyu dance to the music while I hold myself back.
The music changes to Justin Bieber's Anyone.
Everyone starts getting close to each other including Melody who is living out her wildest dreams as Kyle sways his way into her heart.
I shake my head & hesitate to dance.
Mingyu grabs me.
"Look at me and take a deep breath" he says and I breathe in slowly.
I exhale and he holds me in his arms.
He starts swaying me slowly and as I stare into his eyes I find my anxieties slip away for a while.
My body reacts and starts swaying on it's own.
I grab both of his hands and we dance the night away..
I look around to see now all of our friends including Emma & Ezra who reunited with us after their little rendezvous dancing around us.
The music changes again to upbeat techno music and we all dance with each other.
I feel at ease with myself so I let go and I realize we all look crazy dancing,that I should've never held back in the first place.
I also realized that Mingyu is the golden key that opens up unknown parts of myself,sides of myself I never knew about myself.
I love this.
All of this...
-
[TO BE CONTINUED!....]
-
hi guys! It's Reina!
I wanna thank you guys for supporting not only this book but the entire series,this book is nearly over and we will soon to moving onto our final book which will be released soon.
you guys really hyped the books up beyond my expectations & you broke records I didn't know I had in place.
You guys are amazing & I love you guys so much!
#chrissynation or #reinanation idk you guys pick in the comments lol!
in this chapter we see our main oc Yumi struggle with anxieties something that I actually struggle with myself,like the first book I wanna continue being raw and authentic with my stories in the "7 men and a baby" series.
and also before anyone asks yes,Melody is plus size and I included this fact since my stories will always be diverse in characters and not only with ethnicities,but sizes,genders and religions.
I hope you guys really like this chapter since I really worked hard on this one.
I graduated high school in June 2020 so this gave me major nostalgia.
I love you all so much!💜💜💜
Peace & Love Always.
-REINA✨💗💕🧿👑💅🏽💗💕✨