Chapter 5: Masked Encounter.

Canna P.O.V.

We made our way over to the bar to get something to drink before the event started. My sister chatted with the bartender, ordering our drinks, while I scanned the crowd for any sign of the mysterious man from earlier. Then I observed him entering the ballroom drenched, as if he had just emerged from the rain. He looked even more handsome than before, with his blond hair slicked back from his face and his sea-blue eyes sparkling in the light.

But before he could enter the ballroom, I noticed, the brown-haired hunk with piercing blue eyes from school and the mall, grab him around the shoulders and pull him aside. They spoke briefly, their voices too low for me to hear, and then the brown-haired man led the other man up the stairs, and they disappeared from view.

After getting our drinks, we made our way back to the ballroom. As we entered, my breath caught in my throat at the sheer grandeur of the place. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries that seemed to come alive in the flickering candlelight, and the chandeliers sparkled like diamonds in the dimly lit room.

People were milling about, laughing and chatting, their voices blending together in a symphony of sound. The air was thick with the scent of perfume and cologne, each fragrance vying for attention in a heady mix of sensuality and elegance. We made our way through the throngs of people toward our table, which was reserved with our names right in the middle of the ballroom. The table was empty, and I wondered if our parents were still busy speaking to everyone.

As my sister and I took our seats, we looked around the room, trying to spot our parents in the sea of faces. But they were nowhere to be seen, and I wondered if they had forgotten about us in the excitement of the event. Resting my elbows on the table, I noticed a black costume mask lying in front of me. I looked around and saw that everyone's table had one. I picked it up, turned it over in my hands, and examined it closely.

"I wonder what this is for," I said to my sister, raising my hand with the mask in it.

She shrugged. "I don't know. Perhaps it's part of the dress code for the event."

I heard a voice from behind me and turned around to see my mother approaching our table. "Here you are," she said with a smile.

"Yes, we're waiting for you guys," my sister mumbled from the other side of the table.

"Your dad is on his way," my mother said as she took her seat. "The event is starting any minute now."

As we waited for my father to arrive, my sister pointed to the costume mask in front of her. "What is this for?" she asked my mother.

"That's for everyone to wear as soon as the event starts," my mother explained. "It's part of the dress code. And then you only remove it when the event is done."

I picked up my own mask, feeling a sense of excitement building inside me. I had never been to an event like this before, and the idea of wearing a mask only added to the sense of mystery and intrigue surrounding the night. As I tried to fit the mask on, I felt a sharp pinch on the side of my head. "Ow," I muttered, rubbing my temple with the palm of my hand. It was the strap of the mask that had broken and snapped against my skin.

Feeling embarrassed, I looked around to see if anyone had noticed my mishap. And that's when I saw the brown-haired hunk from earlier, laughing at me from across the room. My face turned red with embarrassment as I realized he had seen me making a fool of myself. I quickly looked away, pretending not to notice him. After what seemed like an eternity, my father finally returned to the table. "You can put on your masks now," he instructed, gesturing to the masks that were lying in front of us.

"Dad, mine broke," I said, holding up the broken mask for him to see.

"What the fuck did you do?" he asked, shaking his head in exasperation. But then, seeing the disappointment on my face, he softened. "Here, take mine," he said, handing me his mask. Gratefully, I took the mask from him and placed it over my face, feeling a sense of excitement building inside me as the lights in the room began to dim. Suddenly, a voice came over the speakers from the front of the room, and I felt a thrill of anticipation run through me.

"Where are you going?" my dad asked as I got up from the table.

"I'm just going to the restroom," I replied, feeling a little self-conscious about having to leave the table.

I tried to hurry up, not wanting to be in the way of everyone sitting at the tables behind us. As I walked by, I could feel their eyes on me, and I couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed. Finally, I reached the restroom and pushed open the door, grateful for the moment of privacy. As I stood in front of the mirror, I stared at myself, taking in the sight of my mask-covered face and the fancy clothes I was wearing.

After I finished using the restroom, I washed my hands and took a moment to enjoy the soft music that was playing from the speakers on the roof. The music was soothing, and it helped to calm my nerves as I prepared to return to the ballroom and rejoin my family for the rest of the evening.

Lost in my own thoughts and the soothing music playing overhead, I opened the door and walked right into the brown-haired hunk. Because he was so muscular, I felt as if I had walked into a brick wall, and I stumbled backward while muttering "Fuck" under my breath. As I looked up at him, I found myself lost in his piercing gaze. He didn't say a word, but instead, he gently pushed me back into the restroom and locked the door behind him.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I asked, feeling a sense of panic rising in my chest as he slowly started walking towards me. With every step he took forward, I took a step back, until I found myself backed up against the wall with nowhere left to go. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as he towered over me, his eyes locked onto mine.