Roman and Julienne's heart desire
Chapter 55: The chase in karaoke room

Chapter 55: The chase in karaoke room

"You lose," Samantha said, sticking out her tongue at Lazarus and wiggling it side to side in exaggerated triumph.

Lazarus chuckled, amused by her childish display.

"My turn!" Samantha declared, her eyes lighting up with excitement as she clapped her hands.

She tapped the karaoke machine, scrolling through the list of songs with theatrical flair. "Hmm... what should I sing?" she mused, drawing out the words with a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

A moment later, she let out a delighted squeal. "Got it! I’m going to sing Die for You!"

She jumped to her feet and strutted dramatically to the microphone, swaying her hips like she was on stage at a sold-out concert.

Their group of friends cheered and laughed, encouraging her.

"Okay, okay," Lazarus said, pretending to take his role seriously. "Let’s see if you can actually hit the high notes this time."

"Watch me!" Samantha shot back with a wink, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

But just as the intro music began, the beat unexpectedly shifted.

A completely different tune started playing—a painfully slow, overly sentimental ballad that Samantha despised with a passion.

Her smile froze. "Wait... what is this?"

"Tears in the Rain by Melinda Grace," Lazarus read off the karaoke screen with a straight face. "One of your favorites, isn’t it?"

Samantha’s jaw dropped as the realization hit. "You didn’t..."

Lazarus burst into uncontrollable laughter, clutching his stomach as he staggered back a step. "Oh man, your face right now! Priceless!"

"You are so dead, Lazarus!" she shrieked, abandoning the microphone and storming toward him with mock fury.

Still laughing, he turned on his heels and bolted toward the back of the room. "Hey! It was just a prank!"

Samantha chased after him without hesitation, her heels clicking loudly on the floor.

"How dare you, Lazy! How dare you come here and do this to me! Come back here!"

Their friends were doubled over in laughter, watching the chaos unfold like a live comedy show.

Some had even taken out their phones to record the scene.

Lazarus zigzagged between the tables, narrowly avoiding a spill of soda as Samantha closed in on him.

"You said you were going to sing like an angel, remember?" he called over his shoulder, still laughing.

"You’re going to see an angel after I knock you out!" she threatened, her voice rising with each step she took.

And then, with no warning, Samantha leapt forward and landed squarely on Lazarus’s back.

She wrapped her arms and legs around him like a monkey climbing a tree.

"Got you!" she shouted triumphantly, clinging to him while he tried—and failed—not to topple over.

"I’ll teach you a lesson," Samantha said, narrowing her eyes before lightly punching Lazarus in the back.

"Ouch!" he yelped in an exaggerated tone, clutching his side like she’d just delivered a death blow.

He staggered dramatically, pretending to lose balance before collapsing onto the couch with a loud thud.

Samantha, who was still clinging to his back, couldn’t react in time.

She tumbled down with him, landing squarely on top of him with an ungraceful oof.

"Ouch," she muttered, wincing as she rubbed her elbow.

Lazarus looked up at her, concern flashing briefly in his eyes.

"Are you alright?" he asked quickly, but the second he realized she was fine—and saw the death glare forming on her face—he couldn’t help it.

He burst out laughing again, shaking his head as he lay sprawled beneath her.

Samantha didn’t respond at first. She simply glared down at him, her eyes narrowed and lips pressed into a tight line.

Her chest rose and fell with each breath, her nostrils flaring in feigned fury. Her silence was louder than words.

"I’m sorry," Lazarus offered between chuckles, trying to look remorseful. But she didn’t budge, still staring at him with that intense, unreadable expression.

He cleared his throat and softened his voice, placing a hand over his heart. "I’m sorry, love."

He even gave her his best puppy-eyed look, eyebrows raised in mock sincerity.

For a heartbeat, the tension held. Then, suddenly, Samantha’s serious expression cracked.

She burst into laughter, the sound spilling from her lips like a melody.

Without warning, she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly, burying her face in the crook of his neck.

"I missed you," Lazarus whispered into her ear as he hugged her back, his voice quieter now, sincere.

"I missed you too," Samantha replied in a soft, childlike voice, her breath warm against his skin.

Across the room, Julie sat with a drink in hand, watching the entire exchange with a faint smirk on her lips.

One eyebrow arched, and the corner of her mouth tugged upward in amusement.

She didn’t say anything, just observed the two of them laughing and holding each other like no one else existed in the room.

"Let the lovers continue. Don’t mind us at all," Simon muttered dryly, shaking his head in disbelief at the pair wrapped up in their own world.

"Yeah, let’s carry on before they start singing a love duet," Max said with a chuckle, elbowing Simon playfully.

Simon turned his attention to the karaoke machine, grabbing the mic. "Alright, Sonia. Which song do you want?"

Sonia leaned forward with excitement in her eyes. "Señorita," she answered without hesitation.

Simon quickly navigated the playlist. "Got it," he said, pressing the buttons. He glanced at her with a grin. "Ready?"

Sonia nodded eagerly. "Yeah!"

As the music started and the attention shifted, the room continued to buzz with energy and laughter.

But Samantha and Lazarus remained close, lost in their shared moment.

Sonia’s voice was soft and sweet as she sang the lyrics to Señorita, swaying slightly with the rhythm.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and she glanced shyly at Max as she sang the lines with playful emphasis:

🎵

I love it when you call me señorita,

I wish I could pretend I didn’t need ya,

But every touch is ooh-la-la-la,

It’s true, la-la-la...

🎵

She sang with heart, and though her voice wasn’t professional, it was clear, warm, and full of joy.

"That was nice, Sonia! You really gave it a shot," Samantha said, smiling brightly as she returned to the group with Lazarus, their arms lightly brushing.

"What do you want to sing?" Simon asked next, turning to Roman with a teasing wink.

Roman simply shrugged. "Choose whatever."

That simple response caused everyone—except Lazarus—to raise their brows.

Julie tilted her head slightly, a curious smile tugging at her lips.

Roman wasn’t usually this passive. He rarely participated in group games, let alone karaoke.

"Julie, please choose a song for my friend," Lazarus said, trying not to smirk.

Julie chuckled. "Why don’t we sing together?" she suggested, looking directly at Roman.

"Ohh, that’s cheating!" the guys shouted in unison, prompting laughter from the girls.

Julie raised her hands defensively but grinned. "No, no. You’re four guys, remember? And you said we could use a bonus member if needed. So if Roman and I sing together, it still counts as one. Fair is fair."

The guys hummed in reluctant agreement, clearly skeptical but unable to argue.

What they didn’t consider was that singing as a duo usually scored higher than solo performances.

"We choose Safari Serena," Julie said confidently, then turned to Roman. "You ready?"

Roman gave a small nod. "Hmm."

To be honest, this was Roman’s first time ever singing in front of people. He wasn’t a man of music.

He didn’t keep playlists or hum casually. Music wasn’t his language—but here, with her, he was willing to learn.

She was a girl of songs, after all. And maybe, just maybe, she was becoming his melody too.

"We’re ready," Julie announced.

Simon pressed play, and the track began.

Julie started first, her voice gliding effortlessly through the opening lines:

🎵

I’m sure I have seen you in my dreams,

I’m feeling like in the first time we ever meet...

🎵

Her voice rang through every corner of the karaoke room—light, steady, and beautiful.

Everyone leaned in, caught off guard by how easily she took command of the room with just her voice.

Then Roman joined in. At first, he followed the lyrics on screen carefully, unsure—but then, something clicked.

His voice, rich and deep, filled the room with unexpected warmth:

🎵

You make the time fly slow, so slow...

Just like the rivers flow, flow...

🎵

His voice sent chills down everyone’s spine. There was power in it—raw and unpolished, yes—but also something magnetic.

Max, Simon, and Lazarus all sat frozen, their mouths hanging open in shock.

"Wow... since when did he know how to sing like that?" they said in unison, still staring at Roman like they were seeing him for the first time.

"He’s been hiding a secret talent," Max murmured, half-joking, half-stunned.

"Don’t worry," Sonia said, reaching over to pat Max on the arm gently. "You did well too."

From the other side, Samantha leaned against Lazarus with a grin. "You also did great, love," she whispered.

Simon’s eyes widened like he’d just been hit with a lightning bolt. "Then who the hell is going to console me?" he cried dramatically, throwing his arms in the air.

Laughter burst out across the room.

"Hehe, go and find a girlfriend then!" Sonia teased, nudging him playfully.

Hearing Simon’s loud outburst, both Julie and Roman turned mid-song, their voices naturally lowering as they looked at him in confusion.

"What happened?" Julie asked, eyebrows raised.

Simon waved them off, still sulking. "Nothing, nothing. Continue. I’m just... fed up with all this dog food in my face," he muttered, gesturing at the loving couples and overly sweet energy in the room.

Roman and Julie exchanged an amused look but didn’t say anything.

Instead, they smiled and returned to their performance, voices rising again in harmony—his voice grounding hers, hers guiding his.

And just like that, the song continued, the air thick with laughter, music, and something quietly magical.