Behind the Mask

~Chapter 4~

"Don't worry, l have bigger plans for tonight."

I didn't try to hide the silly smile painted on my lips as I heard his words. The night was not over. Not just yet.

He asked me to follow him as he stepped away from our corner of the pub, making a beeline through the abundant crowd of drunk-dazed dancers before stopping in front of a door with a red sign on it, reading 'No entry'. He opened the door.

I shot him a puzzled look, but he just smiled, inviting me inside the prohibited room. His eyes wrinkled cutely at the corners everytime he flashed me his adorable grin, and I suddenly felt the urge to touch the rosy cheek behind his mask. But I restrained myself, knowing better than to act so unhinged, and he patiently waited for me to climb the stairs revealed by the door, oblivious to my brief wave of affection.

I still didn't know who this yet-to-be-named man was, but he seemed to be getting the best of me. I decided I could as well try this as my last adventure for the night.

I soon discovered that the spiraled stairs were leading to the roof of the club, where two abandoned chairs lay, waiting to be used. We gladly accepted the invitation and sat down, in silence. I could clearly see the enrapturing moon and its tiny, twinkling stars from here, shining brightly on us. It was indeed a perfect night and it all seemed connected to him somehow. I decided it was time for some more detective work.

"So", I started hesitantly. "I told you quite a lot about me tonight, but you barely opened up about yourself. Who are you? I don't need to know your name, but what defines you as a person?"

"Hm, I suppose nobody has ever asked me that before. People either make the wrong assumptions or imagine what they want me to be like instead. I guess my life revolves around music and dancing is a hobby, although I wasn't good at it at all in the beginning, far from it, actually. It took me years to get to the point where I am now, and I'd say that's not too appreciable, either."

Now how could he say that when he just put up a full performance for me a short while ago and barely even panted at the end? For me, such breath control meant amazing technique and, as he said, years of experience. It was interesting. He had to practise for a long time to get this skilled and he wasn't overly passionate about it... With every extra detail I discovered, the mystery got closer and closer to its elucidation.

"Do you ever dance with your friends?"
I tested the waters, a bit too bluntly, maybe, but I had to know if I was right about him being part of the biggest music band in the world.

His face instantly got all dreamy, as if his "friends" were the best part of his life.

"More often than you would think, actually. I believe they are all better dancers than me, even though they keep telling me that's not true. I've still got a long way to go until I get to be as good as any of them."

His modesty caught me a little off-guard, especially because of the sincerity he spoke with. He couldn't seriously believe he was that bad. He had just proven to me what a good dancer he was, definitely better than he saw himself.

"Listen....I think you're a great dancer. I mean it. I don't often meet people who can give me serious competition, but you carried that out well today. And I had fun. Thank you for making my night a bit more interesting, I guess."

"You....you really think so? I mean, people often tell me that I'm better than I think, but hearing it from someone I've just met really means a lot. Thank you."

He blushed gradually as he spoke, and by the time he finished the sentence, the rosiness tinted his entire face, from the tip of his ears, to the apple of his cheeks. He looked so red, he resembled a cute little cherry. He was just extremely happy. But he was also proud, I could tell by his small smile. I had made him proud.