I noticed her as soon as she walked in, the seafoam green color of her sweater-dress lighting her up like a glow stick in the dark of the bar. Her low-heeled, calf-length black boots clicked on the hardwood floors, the striking visual making heads turn her way as she weaved through empty tables. Not once did she make eye contact with anyone, her focus immediately going to the bar’s vacant stage. My own eyes followed her too, unable to believe what I was seeing. The woman now walking through the club had been all I could think about for the past week, and I rubbed my forehead unconsciously, feeling the slightly raised area where my skin had scabbed over. Unlike the nurse that I’d seen with her hair pulled back into a severe bun and a Looney Toones jacket on, now she wore a skin-tight dress that made me beyond curious to know what was underneath it. Her black hair went a little past her shoulders, the curls of it spiraling into organized waves that framed her face. I wanted to run my hands through the silky tresses and use them to crush her to me in the kiss that I had been dying to give her since she’d patched me up in her living room. Even before getting to her house, I’d wanted her next to me, up close and personal.

I guess having my head slammed against concrete wasn’t the best time to have a moment, but as I'd lain on the ground I had felt an instant connection with the woman crouched next to me, as if a thread had snapped into place that held us together. The nameless woman had made me crazy, visions of her face appearing in my dreams, my mind haunting me with remembrances of her voice that was low and soothing. Something about her inflamed me, and it wasn't just the fact that she'd saved me. I had known she had compassion and a fiery spirit; she couldn't have saved me if it were otherwise. And taking a stranger home without thinking of the possible dangers showed me that she cared more about others than herself.

The longer I had stayed in her presence, the more each of her actions had made me resolved to get to know her. I watched as she sat down as close to the stage as possible and smiled at the waiter who rushed over. The boy was beaming at her while giving her a drink, clearly half in love already. A spark of something I hadn’t felt in a long time started in my chest at the sight but she paid him no significant attention and my heart eased. I turned my head away from her, finally realizing that I had been staring for at least ten minutes. I was so far gone already, but the worst part was that I hadn't gotten her name despite her knowing mine. I hadn’t been thinking clearly that night, otherwise I would’ve asked for her name and her phone number. But I had missed out on both; now it seemed like the universe was giving me a second chance. I was almost sure I was going to screw it up.

I start to stretch my fingers, listening to the little pops as I rotate my wrists. Tonight, I would play a set by myself for the first time since I’d come to New York. Before I had never been nervous, but now things were different; she was here. A part of me wished I would have backup, a bigger part of me was glad I would have her full attention. For the opening, an older man everyone just called Big Toni was playing onstage along with Al, a guy who rarely spoke but smiled all the time. Their groove was sweet and the subtle sounds of the guitar strummed through me, making me feel alive in a way that only happened when I heard music. I couldn't help but think that their talent was wasted on the drunks at the bar.

But this girl? I could see appreciation pouring out of her as she watched the stage, her eyes glued to the performance in front of her. With her head nodding and shoulders shaking, she grooved to the music like it was in her soul, like it was what she lived for. And unexpectedly I felt a shock go through me as reality hit; here was a person I could relate to. This kindhearted girl who I knew was coming out of her way to a club just to hear music was special. But there was more deep below the surface and I wanted to peel back each layer, see what she was made of and what made her tick. Just who was she?

It would be easy, I told myself, just go over there and say hi, don’t make it a big deal. But I can’t leave my seat and soon enough it’s time for me to play. I get up on stage and start playing the first song that comes to mind, a Maxwell song that I learned long ago and can play in my sleep. I keep looking at her, and as I perform, I’m hoping that I’m hitting the right notes because right now I can barely remember my own name. Her body is moving in slow motion to the beat, rhythmically swaying in a sensual dance, her head bobbing in sync music I’m making. She’s entrancing, and I can’t look away. Each new song I play goes through my head to my fingers in such practiced ways that I don’t need to think, but my mind screams, find out who she is!

She’s intoxicating me, with her burnt sienna colored skin that begs to be touched and full pink lips that I’m dying to taste. But not once does she look up, so lost in the music that she seems totally unaware of her surroundings. And had I not seen her that would have been me. For so long music had been my everything. It was my solace, my friend, my most cherished lover. For the first time, I wasn’t swept away by the sound of my piano; instead I was lost to this woman who seemed ethereal and enraptured by the very thing that had held me in its grip for so long. I paused in the set, hoping she would look up, praying she would see me. So, when she looked up I caught my breath in anticipation, waiting for her to recognize me. It was a minute before I realized that her eyes stayed had closed. Disappointed, I unconsciously began to play Yiruma, his haunting melody doing all the pleading that I couldn’t. But sooner than I wanted my song was over and she had pressed herself back into her seat, the look of peace on her face captivating.

My set over, I closed the lid on the baby grand and left the stage. I worked my way through the club, walking with care since the place was always so dark. I leaned up against the bar and waited until Conner the bartender gave me my usual water.

“Good songs today Jonghyun.” The dark-skinned man smiled at me, his bald head glinting in the light of the bar.

“Thanks. They were some of my favorites.”

“You seemed to be going all out it tonight. Any reason why?” I gave Conner a sharp look but he only smiled in return, his hands busy cleaning a glass tumbler.

“No, there's nothing like that,” I said as I turned my head in the girl’s direction, unable to stop looking at her for long. When her eyes met mine, I almost jumped in surprise; if I hadn't been leaning against the bar I would've fallen on my . The girl was staring at me like I was some type of steak that she was dying to tear into. Her gaze sent shivers down my spine and heat rushed into me.

“Conner,” I whispered with a dry throat, not turning away from the eyes that held me captive. “Do you know that girl over there?”

Conner looked around and another smile broke his face in two.

“You mean Noelle? She's a regular around here. She mainly comes for the music.”

Noelle! I had a name finally. And I had been right, she was coming for the sounds. No one would've come here for anything else, the food was terrible.

“Conner, I need you to do me a favor.” I tore myself away from the beauty and looked at the bartender. “Send Noelle a drink, something nice.”

“Something nice will cost you.” His grin firmly in place, he took a bottle of wine from out underneath the bar’s cabinet and popped the top.

I took out my wallet from my back pocket, my new one linked to a chain attached to my belt. I gave Conner two twenties, one for the drink and one to thank him. I turned back around to find Noelle staring at her phone with a distressed expression. She had placed her purse in her lap and taken out her own wallet, some pink creation that was fluffy and ridiculous. The sight of it made me smile; she had said before that one of her favorite colors was pink, now I had conformation. I continued to watch her as her waiter brought her the wine I'd bought. She stopped the waiter to speak to him, probably asking who'd sent it. He gave her no answer and she looked at the glass doubtfully, not bothering to drink it. She stared at her phone for a long time, and while she did I fought with myself, trying to decide if I should go over to her or not. I couldn’t understand what was going on with me, I had never been so indecisive in my life. Noelle took one more glance at her phone before finally getting up from her seat, the rest of her food and the glass of wine untouched. She tossed a few bills onto the table and then she was making her way to the front door. Shocked that she was leaving, I came to my senses and I went after her, my blood pumping as adrenaline filled my system. I would talk to the beautiful Noelle and find out just who this enchantress was.

I ran out the door, my arms fumbling as I pushed them through the sleeves of my leather jacket. Noelle was walking fast and I spoke her name aloud, liking the way it felt on my lips. It was classy, foreign and already I felt like it suited the woman who had helped me. I followed her as she walked down the street, the puffs of smoke coming from my mouth belatedly making me realize just how cold it was. And that I was walking in the opposite direction of my car. I opened my mouth to call out to her, but I hesitated, fear making me stop and think about what I was doing.

So, I had a few problems, number one being that I had essentially embarrassed myself in front of one the hottest women I'd ever seen. Being knocked out by two thugs wasn't exactly a winning introduction. Number two was that like a pabo I had sent her a drink instead of going up to her myself. She would wonder why I hadn't approached her and I had no excuse other than to plead temporary insanity. It was cowardly and that was two strikes against me. But what could I do, I was in new territory with Noelle. I hadn't actively pursued a woman in years; I didn’t exactly have to in Korea, and before that...what that had been was nothing like this. And while I was busy choking back my words, Noelle was getting further away. As she turned a corner I yelled out, panic making me finally run up behind her.

“Hey! Hey!”

Noelle whipped her body around, and a full can of pepper spray was pointed directly in my face. She hadn’t sprayed it yet, but the open nozzle was already making my eyes tear up.

“Whoa, take it easy! It’s me, Jonghyun.” I put my hands up in defense but she didn’t back down, her gaze locking onto mine.

“I know who you are, what I want to know is why you were following me.”

“I wasn’t following you-,” I began but she cut me off.

“Really, because it definitely looked like you were since I left the club. What do you want?”

 Christ, what did I want?

“I saw you in the club and wanted to talk to you. To say thanks again for helping me,” I said in a rush, my sentences running together and my accent thickening my words.

She lowered the pepper spray slowly, putting the cap back on and stuffing it into her purse.

“Well, you’re welcome again. Goodnight.” She made a move to walk away and before I could think I reached out to grab her hand. Touching her sent an electric shock through me and I reflexively squeezed the small hand in my larger one, saying the first thing that came to mind. 

“That day you saved me, you never did tell me your name.”

She smiled at me then, her large doe eyes luring me in and drowning me in their depths.

“It's Noelle. Noelle Smith.” Her hand was warm in mine and I never wanted to let it go. I stepped closer to her, my body drawn to hers like a magnet.

“Then, thank you Noelle Smith. Chonsa gateunde,” I whispered, my face only inches from hers. Our breaths met in the air and dissipated together, the moment’s quiet only filled by the distant sounds of passing cars.

“I'm no angel Jonghyun,” she said quietly, catching me by surprise again.  

“You speak Korean? How?”

Her face pulled down into a frown and she pulled away from my hand slowly, our moment broken by something that I didn’t understand.

“An old friend taught me some. I'm not fluent or anything but I can understand a lot.” I smiled at her, feeling a sense of rightness come over me.

“I must have been a saint in my past life.”

“What do you mean?,” she asked as her eyebrows scrunched up cutely in confusion.

“Nothing, it’s just that I think I might’ve been blessed. So many good things have been happening to me recently.”

She let out a soft snort, and poked me in the chest. Quick as lightning I grabbed the offending digit, holding it in place. My heart was pounding out an erratic rhythm and I was sure she could feel it through my clothes.

“Did you forget the part where you got beaten up and robbed?”

“No way,” I told her. “That was the best part. Noelle, would you like to have a drink with me tonight?”

“Sorry, Mr. Kim, I can't. I have to work tomorrow and it's gonna be the late shift. I won't get off until 10.” 

“Call me Jonghyun,” I pleaded with her. “And that's not so late; maybe I could walk you home?”

“Walk me home? That's a little silly, don't you think?” Noelle raised an eyebrow, her hand tugging gently to get free from mine. I held on tighter.

“Not at all. These streets are dangerous at night. I'd feel better knowing you were safe.”

“Based on previous experience, I think I may be the one needing to walk you home.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, her sweet voice but sharp words hitting me in all the right places.  

“That's a low blow, Noelle. Now I’ll definitely have to walk you home as a punishment.”

She laughed then, and it sounded like the tinkle of small bells.

“Alright then, I'll be waiting outside the hospital tomorrow night. Don’t be late,” she said while shaking her finger at me.

“Good, it’s a date then.”  With another bright smile sent her way, I stepped out onto the sidewalk and raised my hand until a cab pulled to a stop beside me. I handed Noelle into the car and shut the door behind her. She spoke her address to the driver and gave me a wave as the car moved back into traffic.

I walked back to the club and my car, feeling lighter than I had in months. A tune played in my head, something new and mellow. I hummed the melody to myself as I watched the puffs of hot air from the street vents float away in front of me. Words came into my head, the Korean phrases feeling foreign after months of speaking solely in English. While I visualized and planned how the song should sound, it didn’t occur to me that these were the first lyrics I had written since coming to New York. 

This is a very late post, mostly becuase this is the first time in almost two weeks I've had a spare moment. Sorry to those of you guys who've waited a long time for this chapter. I'll have updates for my other stories coming out this week as well so be prepared for them guys! I've been working on a whole lot of things, so check out my blog post to see what's up :) As always leave me comments on what you liked about the chapter and what you think will happen next. Please Subscribe, Comment, and Upvote for more chapters. Love you guys <3