31 Masquerade 4 (1/2)

Daniel stared at Stefan in the eye. And Stefan looked back at him, he had removed his mask earlier when they arrived at the porch so the sadness in his eyes was evident. He regretted what happened 7 years ago. But no matter what, he can no longer bring back the time.

Daniel treated Stefan like his brother as they met in high school and decided to study together in France where they met a young woman who was also from Country K. Because the three of them were from the same country, they became friends easily until Daniel and the young woman became a couple. They dated for about 2 years when Daniel caught them cheating. He was devastated because of his friend's and his then-girlfriend's betrayal.

Stefan swallowed, he doesn't know what to say anymore. He's too ashamed of the past.

”But I guess I have to thank you both... If it's not because of what you did, I wouldn't be where I am today.”, Daniel turned around, ”Let's try not to bump into each other in the future.”, he said before he left Stefan alone.

---

Back at the event hall, Hannah and Seo Joon were sitting at the table while enjoying the entertainment on stage, with wine in their hands.

A lady in a purple dress came over and spoke, ”Umm… You're Seo Joon right?”

Seo Joon and Hannah looked at the lady, ”Yes, may I help you?”

”Actually… I saw you earlier, and I thought you looked... Um… handsome. Would you like to have a drink with me?”, said the lady as she fidgeted with her hands.

Seo Joon smiled, ”Sorry but I have a date.”, he said as he put his arm around Hannah's chair. Hannah glanced at his hand that slightly touched her bare shoulder. Then she turned to look at Seo Joon.

The lady looked at Hannah then gazed back to the man, ”Oh... I see. Enjoy the night then.”, she said before she turned to leave.

When Seo Joon felt Hannah's eyes on him, he turned to face her, ”What are you looking at me for?”.

”You just rejected a hot woman who obviously likes you. Are you possibly sick?”, Hannah reached to touch his forehead.

He caught her wrist and said, ”Do you want me to leave you here alone then?”

”You really rejected her because of me?”

”Yeah, why is that so surprising? I'm a not a jerk, we agreed to come together because you and I both have no partners. Since your my date, I'll be a gentleman.”

”Woah... I didn't know you have this side of you. You're always... with girls.”

”Hey. You make it sound like I'm a playboy... I date from time to time okay? But I don't date multiple women at the same time.”

”What about you though?”, he asked.

”Has Samantha told you about what happened?”

Seo Joon nodded, ”Are you okay now?”

”Of course, although that happened, I didn't really know what transpired after I fell unconscious. I just woke up when the police got there and I chose not to look at the photos too. So I guess, I got scared that it happened but I'm okay now.”

”You know... I think she feels guilty about it.”

”I know... That's why I didn't show her when I was scared after that. It wasn't her fault.”

Seo Joon looked around before he grabbed Hannah's wrist and pulled her up. ”Come with me, I have something to tell you.”

They reached an outdoor space with a pool and Seo Joon let Hannah sit on a sunbed and he sat opposite her.

”Why do we need to talk here?”

”Hannah, I saw Nancy.”, Seo Joon said with a low voice as he looked at Hannah in the eye.

”Nancy? Nancy who?”, Hannah said with a confused look.

”Nancy Jung.”

As soon as Seo Joon said this, Hannah froze. She looked around and hissed, ”Are you crazy? We all agreed not to mention those names. What if Samantha hears you?”.

”That's why I brought you here, she's at the table with Daniel's parents, she won't hear us. Listen, we may not be able to hide the truth from her when the time comes. City M is a big city but even I saw her after all these years. Who knows what will happen in the future?”

Hannah was so worried, she got nervous. ”Joon, what will happen if Samantha sees her? What if she remembers?”.

”That's what I'm worried about. We almost lost her once, that can't happen again.”, he said as he ran his hand on his face.

None of them spoke for a few minutes.

”Did you tell your parents? What are we gonna do?”, Hannah asked.