Unexpected Encounter.

Fortunately, her outburst went unnoticed as the music continued to drown her voice. Frustration welled up within Rosalina, and she cried out even louder, "I don't understand it! Why won't the damn noise stop?!" Her voice cracked on the last word, and still, nobody seemed to pay any attention to her distressed words.

'Ugh! I can't stand it anymore. I need to find the restroom,' Rosalina thought as she clumsily rose from her seat and unsteadily made her way toward the back exit. She staggered aimlessly for a while, her vision blurred, her balance precarious. Eventually, she reached a pair of restroom doors, but her intoxicated state made it challenging to discern the signs indicating which was for males and which for females. She squinted at the symbols but struggled to make out the details clearly.

With a hesitant choice, she pushed open the left restroom door and stumbled inside.

Meanwhile, Jose's performance was coming to an end, and the crowd erupted in cheers as he concluded his song. With a smile concealed by his mask, he waved at his enthusiastic fans, even though they couldn't see the expression on his lips. He then excused himself from the stage and hurried backstage.

Removing the headset microphone, Jose felt an unusual sensation wash over him. His breathing became heavier than usual, and a sudden warmth enveloped his body. His face flushed a deep shade of red, and he examined his reflection in the mirror, his eyes now a striking and luminous shade of velvety blue.

'Why is this happening again, and at this moment of all times?' Jose wondered, his mind grappling with the sudden and unexplained change in his appearance.

Hearing approaching footsteps, Jose hastily wiped the sweat from his forehead and attempted to regain his composure. Inside, his heart raced with anxiety. He glanced back slightly and spotted Carmen making her way toward him.

"That was an amazing performance, Mr. Hei. Thank you so much for coming," Carmen commended him, though Jose avoided making direct eye contact.

"Could you please tell me where the men's restroom is?" he asked, intentionally deepening his voice to conceal his true identity from Carmen.

Carmen nodded in response and provided directions to the men's restroom. Jose expressed his gratitude and quickly headed in the direction she indicated. As he rushed toward the restroom, his legs felt unsteady, and his breaths came in rapid gasps.

'Was it because of that familiar scent? I haven't smelled it in a while,' he pondered as he tried to make sense of his reaction. "No, it can't be," he mumbled, dismissing the notion.

Upon arriving at the men's restroom, he swiftly entered and locked the door behind him, leaning against it as he panted heavily. He felt both mentally and physically drained, his thoughts racing as he attempted to process the strange turn of events.

Jose let out a deep sigh and slid down the door, taking a seat on the restroom floor. Once again, his nose detected that intoxicating aroma, a sweet and alluring scent tinged with muskiness and a faint hint of alcohol. It held an uncanny sense of familiarity, a scent he knew all too well.

His eyes closed as he allowed the captivating scent to wash over him. His mind worked tirelessly to decipher the series of events and emotions that had overwhelmed him.

Suddenly, the door to one of the restroom cubicles swung open, and out stumbled Rosalina, her legs unsteady. Jose's eyes widened with astonishment.

'Isn't that Rosalina? What is she doing in the men's restroom?' he wondered, his mind racing as he immediately stood up, trying to make sense of the situation.

"I should really stop drinking," Rosalina slurred to herself, her slightly hazy gaze landing on Jose. She moved closer to him, her voice raspy from the alcohol. She inquired with a curious and intoxicated tone, "Hey, aren't you Jose Long? What's with the Hei mask?" Her eyes roamed his features, trying to discern the connection.

Jose was torn between responding and fleeing from this perplexing encounter. But something inside him urged him to stay, to unravel this unusual moment. "Yes, I am Jose Long. How did you recognize me?" he eventually admitted, the tension in the air palpable.

Rosalina giggled drunkenly and laughed, her speech slurred as she explained, "Your eye color... it's unique." She hiccuped, her laughter unabated. "And it looks pretty!"

Jose found himself momentarily frozen, his initial anxiety slowly giving way to a nervous chuckle. "Uh... thanks? I guess," he responded, his voice laced with a mixture of emotions.

Rosalina, despite her inebriation, couldn't help but observe the oddity of the situation. "You shouldn't be in this restroom," she remarked, her statement perplexing Jose further.

Jose then realized that the scent was coming from her.

She raised her hand and pointed at his face. "How can you breathe under that mask? Here, let me help," she offered, her arms extending toward him as she reached out to touch his mask. The moment her fingertips made contact with Jose's skin, an electrifying sensation coursed through him, making it difficult to catch his breath. His chest tightened, as if it were gripped by an unseen force.

'Why am I suddenly feeling like this?' Jose pondered, mystified by the inexplicable sensations coursing through his body. Rosalina removed his mask and gently traced her fingertips down his jawline, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. She then stopped at his chin, and he watched in mesmerized anticipation as his breath quickened.

Her touch continued to leave a trail of sparks in its wake as it reached his lips, causing Jose's heart to race. As Rosalina slowly withdrew her hand, he couldn't help but question his own reactions.

'Why am I reacting like this to her touch? What the hell is wrong with me?' he wondered, his internal turmoil evident in his troubled thoughts.

"Why did you... say those things to me back then?" Rosalina inquired, her voice hoarse, a hint of drunkenness apparent in her speech. She took a small step closer to him, positioning her face less than a foot away from his. "You knew I didn't destroy those instruments, didn't you? And yet, you said those hurtful words to me. I know I was way too young for you back then, but was I wrong to have a crush on you? It's not like I asked you out directly or showed you how much I liked you back then, but still you..." Her voice trailed off for a moment, and her breath hitched as she continued, "...you just had to say those words. I hate you."

The words slipped out in a shaky whisper, filled with years of pent-up emotions and resentment. Jose simply stared at her, lost for words in the face of the torrent of emotions that had been unleashed in that raw moment.

Her voice remained soft and quiet as she continued, "I can't forgive you." She inhaled deeply, her gaze locked on him. Emotions swelled within her, and she felt the tears welling up, but she fought to keep them at bay.

Staring into his eyes once more, she acted on impulse. Without further thought, she clutched his shirt, tugging herself closer to him, and their lips collided in a fervent kiss.

In that electric moment, a surge of heat raced through his body. His heart pounded, his blood raced, and an overwhelming desire surged within him. He wrapped his arm firmly around her waist, drawing her closer, deepening their kiss with a passion that overwhelmed both of them.