Carmen's taunt and Hei's perf

The room buzzed with laughter and conversation as Carmen reminisced about a memorable incident from their past. "Do you all remember the time she wreaked havoc on nearly every instrument?" Carmen began, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she glanced slyly in Rosalina's direction.

A ripple of amusement coursed through the group as they recalled the spectacle. One of the girls dramatically chimed in, "I mean, honestly, it was absurd and turned weird when she was like ' I swear I wasn't the one who broke all these instruments, I wouldn't do that especially if it's something precious to the one I like'." Laughter erupted from the girls, each sharing their recollections of that fateful day.

However, amidst the joviality, Rosalina's expression remained somber, her brow furrowed. The memories were still as vivid as ever, causing her to ponder bitterly, 'Why did I not remember my past lives before that incident? Why is it that these memories only resurface when I turn twenty ? It's exasperating,' she thought, her vexation lingering.

Her frustration couldn't be contained as she blurted out with unwavering force, "You know what irked me even more about that day? The undeniable knowledge that Carmen orchestrated the entire instrument debacle!" The revelation hung heavily in the air, and the table fell into an abrupt silence.

Carmen, perhaps feeling the weight of her past actions, pointed out, "There's no changing the past, Rosalina. Jose has probably moved on and forgotten all about it." At that moment, a hushed tension hung between Rosalina and Carmen, drawing the attention of the entire table.

An abrupt and joyful scream shattered the quietude, the atmosphere lightened, and the group's attention quickly shifted away from the poignant memories and toward the excitement of the present.

A wave of excitement rippled through the room as a lady's ecstatic voice pierced the air, declaring, "It's Hei! Hei is here!" Carmen's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she leaped to her feet, and her former classmates swiftly followed suit, hurrying toward the entrance in a flurry of enthusiasm. Rosalina found herself alone, and she left the table and headed towards her previous seat next to the bar.

With a sense of frustration still lingering within her, Rosalina turned to the bartender and, despite his incredulous gaze, requested a potent alcoholic drink.

"Don't worry," she assured him, "I can handle it. Just give me something strong."

The bartender, his initial shock slowly subsiding, accepted the request and set about crafting an exotic Zombie cocktail. He handled his task with a seasoned ease, a testament to his craft. From a mysterious dark bottle embellished with a bold red label adorned with a skull and crossbones, he began the creation.

The bartender initiated the process by extracting the vibrant essence of fresh limes and oranges, expertly squeezing their juice into a tall, transparent glass. The room was instantly infused with the zesty aroma of citrus. He followed with a few ounces of golden pineapple juice, offering a delightful sweetness that contrasted beautifully with the tangy embrace of the citrus elements.

With an artistic flourish, the bartender proceeded to drizzle sugar syrup into the mix, its shimmering cascade infusing the concoction with a captivating sweetness. Finally, the pièce de résistance made its appearance: the clear, enigmatic Zombie cocktail liquid, poured with precision, imparting a tantalizing hint of intrigue to the ensemble.

With an artful stir, the bartender expertly marries these vibrant ingredients, turning the glass into a canvas of riotous colors and flavors. A few dashes of bitters complete this masterpiece, infusing a subtle complexity into the Zombie cocktail.

Upon receiving her glass, she wasted no time and downed its contents in mere seconds, hoping the drink would bring her some solace.

'That should help calm me down,' she thought as she placed her empty glass on the counter.

Wanting to show her appreciation for the bartender's skills, she leaned forward and placed a generous amount of cash on the counter. "Take it as a tip for your amazing Zombie-making skills," she offered with a soft smile. "So, can you please make more of that for me?"

The bartender's eyes widened briefly with surprise, but he eventually nodded, regaining his composure. "Sure thing," he replied.

Rosalina's smile grew as she savored this moment of euphoria. Perhaps the night had the potential to get better from here. She watched intently as the bartender began to prepare another round of the exotic Zombie cocktail. When he finally presented her with the drink, satisfaction painted her features, and her lips curled into a contented smile.

***

As Jose made his entrance, the media unleashed a barrage of questions, and excited ladies flocked around him, their voices reaching deafening levels. They surrounded him, their enthusiasm evident as some jumped with sheer excitement and shouted loudly in his presence.

Dressed in a sleek all-black ensemble that perfectly complemented the enigmatic allure of his black mask, Jose cut a striking figure. He wore a fitted leather jacket adorned with silver zippers, complemented by dark jeans and polished black leather boots. The mask shrouded most of his face, leaving only his piercing midnight blue eyes visible, framed by tousled, jet-black hair.

Amidst the whirlwind of events, Jose remained absorbed in the ongoing commotion, too engrossed to notice Carmen until she suddenly appeared right in front of him. Her presence startled him slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Hello, Hei," Carmen greeted him politely. "Thank you for accepting my request."

Jose offered a nod of acknowledgment. The crowd was gradually dispersing, but many still kept their eyes glued to Jose and Carmen, captivated by their interaction, as Carmen conversed with him as though they were close.

Carmen chuckled lightly and then gestured for Jose to follow her. As they navigated down a lengthy corridor, people respectfully stepped aside, their voices echoing through the halls and their whispers saturating every nook and cranny. The palpable attention made Jose uncomfortable, though he kept his thoughts to himself.

They proceeded backstage, where the DJ and a group of backup dancers, hired by Jose, awaited them. Carmen brought their journey to a halt, and a dancer handed Jose a headset microphone, which he put on without removing his mask.

"Everything you need is here, they arrived before..." Carmen began to say, but Jose interrupted her, diverting his gaze. He signaled to the backup dancers to follow him as they prepared to head towards the stage.

Carmen, on the other hand, ignored his rude gesture and made her way to the stage, where she stood in the spotlight. A stagehand approached her and handed her a microphone. Carmen greeted the enthusiastic audience.

"Hi, everyone! Thank you for showing your support for this upcoming performance, which was made possible by yours truly," Carmen exclaimed, beaming at the crowd as they cheered loudly. "That's right, I got Hei to perform here on my birthday. He is going to be performing one of his hit songs, which also happens to be my favorite – 'Rippin Everything Apart.' "

As the lights dimmed, Carmen gracefully exited the stage, and the music, loud and vibrant, burst to life. The audience erupted into applause, cheering enthusiastically, their eyes locked on Jose as he turned to face them with elegance.

As the stage light came back on,

Jose opened his mouth, and his melodic voice filled the room, silencing the crowd, who leaned in to listen intently. "Trapped in a world, a world filled with deception," he sang, and the audience remained hushed, captivated by his performance. "Can't see the truth, I'm blind to my own reflection," he continued, and the crowd roared in appreciation.

A brief moment later, as he sang, he and his backup dancers began to move and throw themselves into the song. The music generated waves of ecstasy, enveloping the audience like the sea under the moon.

In the midst of this electrifying performance, there was one person who couldn't quite share in the enthusiasm, and that was Rosalina. Drunk and disoriented, the music, which sounded like mere noise to her ears, prompted her to raise her head from the counter and unleash her frustration.

"Why... the noise all of a sudden?!! I can't get some sleep!!" she shouted, though her words were barely discernible amid the performance's crescendo.