A masquerade ball was something Tzuyu never enjoyed thought out her 24 years of living. Though being a CEO wasn't awful, the pain of going to stupid parties exhausts her. The fake smiles and boasting of each other's wealth was just another chore for her.

And yet here she is, sitting nonchalantly in the corner of the fancy room, holding an empty glass of champagne. She scans the surrounding people who were hiding their identities under an unsuspecting mask and how they talked with each other.

Tzuyu gets another refill of her drink before her best friend, Momo, who was rocking a red, vibrant suit, interrupted her peace. Tzuyu rolls her eyes as her friend sits beside her.

"What is your ass doing here, hiding from everyone?" Momo asks. Her voice was filled with wit as she drapes her arms around the sulky Tzuyu.

The guests were obviously enjoying themselves while the host was just hiding in the corner. She was drained, to be honest. Tzuyu was talking to unknown men for 30 minutes straight and she didn't even have the time to look for girls to flirt with.

"I want to go home. When will this finish, anyway?" Tzuyu whines and just sighs in annoyance. Though Tzuyu was the host, Momo had complete control of the boring event.

"Just a little bit more, you Yoda. One last dance and you're good to go," Momo said. Tzuyu just yawned in boredom.

"Last dance? Like a lover's dance or something?" She sneers, pissed that she has to watch couples dancing with each other. Call Chou Tzuyu a bitter prick, but she absolutely doesn't want to see those lovey-dovey couples.

"Yeah, not that you know that since you're single."

Tzuyu playfully smacks Momo's shoulder, who just chuckles at her seat. The light from the chandelier made Tzuyu's annoyed facial expression visible to Momo.

"Just because you have a wife doesn't mean you can insult me because I have freedom," Tzuyu said. She shoots back at Momo and removes the arm around her shoulder. A server passed them by, Tzuyu grabbing another glass of champagne that she had been sipping the whole night.

Damn you people who have significant others! I'll show you how single live happily!

"You should take a break, you know? Being a notorious CEO isn't supposed to be your whole life," Momo said. Patting her best friend's back with a concerned look on her face.

"Get me a wife then." Tzuyu shrugs her shoulders. Her poker face, after saying that, made Momo cackle aloud that some guests have peered at the both of them. The CEO huffs her chest, rolling her eyes at Momo.

"They would probably leave you even if I offered them a million dollars."

"Screw you!" That was all Tzuyu could say before a sound of the soft piano plays across the whole room. People gathered in the middle, holding their partner's hand.

"Your beloved dance is starting," Tzuyu said. She downs her whole glass before placing it on the clothed table.

Tzuyu felt the weight beside her disappear as Momo stood up. Her best friend dusts her red suit, smiling in excitement to dance. The CEO knew how Momo was a sucker for any event that involves any dance. While Tzuyu just sat there with a boring gaze on the crowd.

"You should also find a partner if you are that bored. Besides, you're great at the dancing waltz."

"No thanks. I'd stay here and watch."

"Suit yourself, Tzu," Momo said with a sigh. She raises her arm to wave Tzuyu goodbye before disappearing into the gathering couples on the dance floor, out to find her wife. Tzuyu just sat there, thinking if she should at least get out of here for fresh air.

Then some woman was giggling as she kisses her man, swaying to the slow beat. Tzuyu cringes, sticking out her tongue.

Ah! Screw your lovey-dovey dances, Momo. I'm going out!

She stood up from the fancy chair and strolled to the balcony. She just hopes that they aren't lovers hiding there to make out. Tzuyu would push them down to their death if she ever sees one, gladly giving them a free funeral.

Tzuyu brings out a stick of a cigarette from her blazer pocket, with a small metal lighter to light it up. She needed some nicotine to finally relieve her stress from these parties. Her footsteps lead her to a corner, turning to face the windy balcony.

As she turns around, her sight was drawn to the lady who was staring at the full moon. It painted a serene scene before Tzuyu's eyes. The lady turns around, a smile crept on her beautiful face when she saw a mesmerized Yoda.

"Oh, hey." The lady said with a gentle voice, tucking her hair in her ear. The moon behind the stranger made her even unreal. Like a goddess wearing a pure white dress.

Did I do drugs? Am I high? Did Momo slip something on my champagne?

"H-hey," Tzuyu awkwardly said, before tripping on the pavement. She quickly regains her balance by grabbing on the railing, standing beside the lady. Tzuyu chuckles in embarrassment, scratching her nape as her cheeks flushed. She hears the woman giggle at her antics.

The smell of smoke filled her senses. She realized her cigarette was still in her left hand. She drops it to the ground, stepping its amber to put it off.

"Oops, sorry," Tzuyu said, not trying to make the other person uncomfortable. She could just smoke another one later. And her newly lit cigarette wasn't a waste just to see that small smile on the lady's face.

"It's fine. You didn't have to do that." The lady wearing the white dress said. Tzuyu smiles cooly and tries to refreshen herself with a simple mint in her mouth. She was trying to not make it obvious that she was staring. The silence surrounded them and Tzuyu felt even more awkward. She wanted a way to get to know the lady as she fidgets with her own fingers.

Think! Tzuyu, think! You need to say something!

"Care for a dance?" Tzuyu blurts out of nowhere and caught the stranger off guard. She almost wanted to jump off the balcony when the lady just stared at her face.

"Yes..." the lady said. She gently smiles at Tzuyu, with a small blush on her face that even the chill of the night didn't stop the heat from reaching their faces.

Tzuyu holds out her hand, the lady reaching for it as they lock their fingers together.

***

"So what brings you here?" Tzuyu asks as she lightly holds the other person's hand. Swaying to the slow yet constant beat of the music. The tile floor squeaks as they move in unison.

"A friend basically forced me here."

"Sounds like my situation."

They stayed quiet, immersed in dancing the waltz. Their steps grew even more steady as the music increases to a crescendo. Tzuyu's heart was beating fast as well.

"You're great at this. Have you danced the waltz before?" Tzuyu asks, continuing to lead their dance. She raises her arms, letting the lady spin across the dance floor before meeting each other again in the middle.

She's really majestic.

"Had classes with my sister. You seem the expert kind, too. Do you like to waltz?" The lady replied, placing her hand on Tzuyu's shoulder and sways with the beat again.

"Meh, I was just forced to learn it for formality," Tzuyu said. She heard the lady adorably laugh at her response. Silence befalls the both of them again, as they stare at each other's eyes. Like the world only revolved around them. Like how fate and time stopped being cruel just for them.

How cliche... Yet somehow enchanting to meet a stranger at a party like this.

Tzuyu spun, moving in a circular motion across the whole room. She tightly wrapped her arm around the lady's waist, as she dips at the fall of the music's beat. Tzuyu placed a hand back on her shoulder before they started spinning, music getting louder and louder.

They put the other guests, who were also dancing to the corners, staring at the two figures. A smile was on their faces as they thought about how endearing Tzuyu and her partner were dancing.

"May I ask what your name is?" Tzuyu breaks the silence again, desperate to know who was the woman behind that blocking mask. Her heart was beating with the bass, as they twirl around, masked faces close to each other. She places both of her hands on the slim waist, lifting her partner off the ground before spinning, the white dress showcasing its beauty.

"This a masquerade, remember? Identities should be hidden."

"Then give me something to remember you by," Tzuyu said. She slowly brings the lady down to the ground. Light steps were now on the floor as the music was ending.

The woman cracks a smile and wraps her arms around Tzuyu's neck. As the last note was played, she left a soft kiss on the CEO's lips. What was supposed to come out of Tzuyu's mouth was all gone. The scent of lavender fought across her own icy scent as she moves against the stranger's soft lips. She closes her eyes, not minding the surrounding presence that was watching them.

They both pull away, a hand slipping down Tzuyu's arm. Their eyes met through their masquerade masks. Light mocha ones were staring at dark chestnut ones.

"Mina, that's my name..." the lady whispers to her ear, which sent shivers down Tzuyu's spine. She then watches her slowly walk away with that damned smile. A white mask was left in her hand, the same one the lady was wearing. Tzuyu tried to chase her, but she found not a sight of her.

How I wished the dance lasted a little bit longer...

Maybe someday she'd meet Mina again in another masquerade.