"You said you were going to make a call." Asher questioned me, snatching his phone back from my hands.

My heart was beating fast and loudly, I could hear every rapid thump—as it were footsteps of a giant. My fingers were stiffened like a block of ice, completely frozen—so was my body. My eyes barely blinked, widened largely. I didn't know what to do, I didn't know any excuses, and my mind was totally blank.

He eyed the screen of his phone, surprised by the result perhaps. His eyes were widened and he shot his daggers at me, as sharp as stilettos. He said, "What were you doing, princess?"

My mouth wouldn't answer, words wouldn't come out, and I was totally frozen in place—as if I were caught red handed like a burglar. I just stared at him wide-eyed with trembling lips.

He sighed in disappointment, shaking his head. He said, "Why would you look through my photos for this photo?"

Again, I didn't answer him. I was completely frozen and clueless. I didn't know what excuses to make, I was dumbstruck. He raised an eyebrow and inserted his phone back into his trousers' pocket. He asked me, "Did you find out the truth?"

I was willing to answer that question, considering that he knew something. But, words wouldn't come out of my mouth. This was the first time in my life I felt this way, completely frozen against my will.

"You did, didn't you?" He murmured, frowning. "I'm sorry for not letting you know, but you can't just violate other people's privacy."

Would I know now? Silence is bliss after all.

"You must've been surprised, huh? Then, I owe you an explanation-" He continued. "-despite of the fact that you didn't tell me that you know."

My throat gulped, however that's the only movement I could manage to do.

He continued, "You see? The costume Peter was wearing, they're mine. Well, he invited me to a prom or something because he didn't have a date, so I came with him as a wingman, not a date. I needed a costume and that costume was all I got. Therefore, after the prom about years later, he wanted to borrow the costume for a play."

What play?

"The Phantom of the Opera. Up to now, I still don't know why they couldn't provide him with a costume, even though he's the main lead." He continued explaining, answering the question in my head.

Digesting all these words, it meant that Peter wasn't the one. He wasn't the one, he wasn't the man in the mask, the man I loved. Maybe it was another guy, but maybe it was...Asher?

"Princess?" The voice that woke me back into the reality. Asher stared at me wide-eyed, again. "There goes your zoning-out again."

I gulped once more and finally found my voice. I said, "I'm sorry for accessing your photos without any permission."

"Nah, it's fine. It wasn't the first time." Asher told me, shrugging off his shoulders.

What did he mean by that?

***

It was him, wasn't it?

I pressed the call button, waiting for someone to pick it up. It rang a few times, before it was answered. "Hello?"

"Kylie!" I yelled on the phone in happiness, pumping fists in the air.

"Oh my god, you're making me deaf!" She yelled back in response, but I giggled.

"How is NYC?" I asked her, curiosity flooding my mind.

She laughed on the other telephone line and said, "Hectic and handsome."

"Handsome? It's about your boyfriend, isn't it?" I teased her, making her giggle in response.

"Yeah, I haven't seen him in a long time. We just clicked, y'know?" She told me happily, but I forced a smile even though she wasn't here.

I said, "Why didn't you tell me about those things?"

It was silent for a moment. My heart was under a heavy burdened feeling. She finally said, "I'm sorry."

Forcing a laughter, I said, "Why are you apologising? It's not like you committed a crime."

I knew she frowned and she said, "I'm really sorry, Taylor. It just seemed that it's not important."

"How are they not important? Your first love and your remarkable talent. I envy you, y'know?" I whined, feeling sad.

"I don't want to seem like an attention-seeker, it just doesn't seem important." She murmured loud enough for me to hear. Frowning deeply, I paused for a moment.

"Anyway, how are you?" She asked me, changing the topic.

Reluctantly, I let her change the topic. I told her, "Tired and worried...and bewildered."

"Hold on." She suddenly said, making me wait. I waited for her, inhaling and exhaling breaths. Suddenly, a video call requested popped up in the screen of my phone. Kylie.

I answered it and saw Kylie on the screen. Her hair was wonderfully styled lustrously and wavily like a waterfall, a waterfall of precious black gems. Her olive complexion radiated warmth, even through virtual space. Her eyes were bold, due to the fierce eyeliner finishing touches. She was smiling brightly, but somehow it had a deeper emotion behind it.

"It's been a while since I saw this wonderful face." I told her, making her laugh.

"It's been a while indeed. I miss you, Taylor!" She exclaimed in happiness, making me smile back at her.

"Where's your boyfriend?" I asked her, pretending to look around the room from the screen.

She looked at me in utter disbelief and sarcastically said, "Wow, he's not here for your information. He's out in the wild taking photos."

I laughed at her and said, "I'm just kidding, don't be mad. I need some laugh for once."

"Why?" She asked me, lifting an eyebrow.

"It's just...busy these days." I murmured, sighing afterwards.

"Tell me what happened." She told me firmly.

"Well, it was about the man in the mask, Asher, and Peter." I started off my explanation.

"Mm, tell me every detail." She said, eyeing the screen with anticipation.

I explained it to her, "I had a thought that Peter was the man in the mask, considering that there's a photo of him wearing the exact costume. But, Asher told me that the costume belongs to him, the fact that Peter borrowed his costume."

"And...?" She questioned me.

"There's a big possibility that Asher might be the man in the mask." I told her firmly.

She sighed and said, "Hmm, you should investigate more."

"What?" I murmured, staring at the screen wide-eyed.

"It's not exactly proven that he really is the man in the mask. He might be someone else who has the same costume." Kylie explained, pursing her lips.

"You've got a point there." I said in realisation.

"But, I don't know. I have a feeling that it's much more complex." Kylie told me.

"No kidding." I sighed in response, frowning.

"Taylor, how's...Damien?" Kylie murmured silently, making my eyes shot wide open.

I laughed and said, "Now you're worried, he's...okay? But, you did end the relationship on a bad term."

She sighed and said, "Yeah, I feel guilty. But, he caught me with his act."

"Yeah right! The...kiss." I teased, smiling goofily.

"Taylor, don't push it," She warned me, causing me to laugh again in response. "Goddamnit that kid, I can't forget."

"I think you both need to settle some things." I advised her, gaining a disagreement. She shook her head no, making me wonder why.

"Why?" I asked her, folding my arms.

"I don't think we should, it's better to leave it alone. I can't, especially this time." She told me.

This wasn't right, but what power do I have? It wasn't right, it was unfair for Damien—but what circumstances allow me to interfere? I guess I was their mutual best friend, but I wasn't a love doctor. She didn't have time anyway and so was Damien.

"This is going to revolve into a love story." I mumbled under my breath, but she heard it. She said, "Taylor..."

"Sorry. I just don't think it's right." I told her the truth.

***

"Ah...how many days till winter break?" I asked out of nowhere, grinning goofily.

It had been a month or two, since autumn started. It was nearing winter, the signs of Christmas. I hadn't looked further into Asher and Peter, clueless of what to do. Damien and I were walking through the greenhouse-like hallway, sunlight piercing through the glass. Even though it's bright, the weather was getting even colder.

"Fourteen days, two weeks." Damien answered me, slightly happier than before. He was slowly returning to his old self, but his eyes still hinted the longing and the sadness.

"Ah...do you want to visit my grandma's house for Christmas?" I offered him. "There's going to be a feast!"

"Sure, your Christmas is much more euphoric than mine." He answered, frowning slightly.

I forgot to mention this, Damien was an orphan. His parents passed away in a big flood that happened in a town far off in the south-eastern continents, which I forgot specifically where. Damien had stayed at home with a babysitter while his parents had gone for a business trip in the south-eastern continents. Unfortunately, the bad news came and he was declared as an orphan.

He went to school, but the orphanage was his home. He somehow received a consent to attend school while living in the orphanage. After those events, a pair of foster parents came and took him in, but it wasn't pleasant. He was fed nicely, given clothes and a house. But, he wasn't cared much by his foster parents. Sometimes, he would be locked up in the basement alone when he misbehaved according to his foster parents. He called those traumatising experiences, but he could act goofy and carefree. Now that he's in college, he moved out of the foster home and stayed in the university's dorms.

"Damien..." I murmured guiltily and pitifully, patting his back. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "It's fine, your grandma is a grandma that any kid would've wanted."

"Hey! You're not planning to get adopted by her, right?" I joked around, laughing.

"Maybe I am." He replied, causing me to be silent. I shook my head no and said, "No freakin way, I'll have to call you uncle if you do."

Before he could say a thing, reindeers' bells rang and echoed throughout the hallways. We both looked around as the others also did. Someone yelled, "Oh my god!"

We both followed the voice and it led to a Santa Claus standing in the middle of the room. Everyone was crowded around him, looking at him with curiosity. I pushed through the crowd, barely getting a clear view.

Santa Claus said, "Merry christmas, everyone! Ho, ho, ho!"

Everyone stared at him in disgust, looking at him like an alien. Ignoring that fact, he said, "Everyone get a card!"

He handed embellished cards that looked like invitations to everyone and everyone opened it. I opened the card as well, looking at the words.

"What?" I mumbled. "Asher is getting married with Serena?!"

What the hell is this?

I widened my eyes in shock, gaping open my mouth. Whispers echoed throughout the room, causing rumours to fly around. I was frozen, stiffened. I couldn't move or exhale breath. Uncontrollably, I held my breath.

I knew I had to do something, even though hesitation made me stop. I had to ask him, I had to. I had been a coward for months and I had to ask him. I had to, before it's too late.

I ran away from the crowd, gaining odd stares from the others. I ran as I blasted through the invisible air, my hazel hair flying. I ran and ran to the boys' dorm. Whistles and stares, I didn't care, they were a blur. Then, I reached his door. My hand crept to the door knob, hesitating to open.

"Dad!" A familiar voice yelled behind the door, muffled.

I halted my movements, pressing my right ear against the door. I slowly pulled away my hands and eavesdropped.

"Why do I have to marry that girl?!" A voice that sounded like Asher's voice yelled. "It doesn't make sense, you can't just sell your son to make a partnership!"

I opened the door slightly, peeking through the gap. Asher stood there, breathing heavily. His veins were popping out and his jade orbs were strained. He scoffed, "I can't believe you, dad. You're a monster, corrupted by the desire of wealth."

"I have to give up my love, just because I want to make you acknowledge me as your son. But, I guess it isn't enough." He hissed, hanging up the phone. He sighed and collapsed onto the bed, still breathing heavily. Did his father force him into a marriage with Serena?

I grabbed the door knob, preparing myself to walk in. But, someone grabbed my other wrist and twisted me around. I was whirled around, stopping after facing Peter. I was on the tip of my toes, about to tumble down. He supported my back, wrapping my waist with his other arm.

I widened my eyes as my face became flustered, my hazel hair was hanging above the ground, and my hands were gripping onto Peter's blue striped shirt. He smirked at me and said, "It's been a while, prom girl."

*music plays as the scene turned into a slow motion scene*
Perfect like a k-drama, I can already imagine the scene. Hahahahahahahha, *laughing maniacally*
It would be amazing if this story was created into a k-drama! Casts please!

Anyway, hello! I'm back after the exams, tiring phew. How's everyone? I think I'm planning to finish this story before I finish the others—even though I started the the other stories. I'm so interested in writing this story, lol!

Thanks for reading and I'll see you in the next chapter 😊