20 minutes before the show.

Jamie peeks from behind the grand curtain. The audience enters the theatre and sits in their reserved seats one by one. Jamie doesn’t try to find a familiar face among them because he knows there wouldn’t be any.

Jamie has never been so nervous before. The frequent amount of practice was the secret of him is the calm before the showcase among his fellow crew. But this time it’s different. He feels jittery and anxious, something unpleasant swirling in the pit of his stomach.

“Nervous?” someone whispers from behind. Jamie looks over to find it’s Isaac. His role as Rothbart, the villain.

Jamie gives him a faint smile “a bit”

Isaac nods, his black costume hugs him elegantly, his face is far from what the real character should look like. He is as handsome as the prince himself, yet his sharp mysterious eyes are the main point why no one can’t replace him with the villain character. But Jamie almost believes the real Odette wouldn’t mind choosing him over the prince if she has no choice.

“That’s alright, nervousness is a hint you are still being humble and there’s room left for improvement,” he rasps, his hand casually fixing the stray strand that falls over to Jamie’s forehead, tucks it gently under his ear

“I am not nervous to dance with you,” Jamie smirks, letting Isaac lean closer until he can feel his breath caressing his face

“That's good, you shouldn’t nervous while being with me,” his gummy smile appears, his eyes shifting from Jamie’s eyes to his lips “too bad no one gets their happy ending in this story. You deserve better, Jamie,” he whispers under his lustful gaze.

Jamie holds his gaze, “You’re wrong. In this story, no happy ending for the main roles should be otherwise for the villain. Am I right?”

Isaac blinks with it but his smirks grow wider gradually, “You are indeed right”

Isaac reaches Jamie’s face, admiring his makeup, peering his gaze to his sinful lips. He licks his lips to enchant Jamie, draws him closer, and presented the temptation that he knows Jamie barely resists. 

Isaac has never been subtle in showing his attraction, and Jamie doesn’t blind. 

Isaac and his desire are sometimes disguised as a passion, his eyes are dark but as clear as water in the lake, Jamie can see through into it, not pretentious. He is mysterious to others, yet so impulsive to Jamie.

Jamie steps back, and excuses himself to the bathroom before Isaac calls him abruptly “Jamie”

Jamie looks over his shoulder, waiting for him to continue

“Tell me if you need drinking buddy,” he says with smiles never leaving his pale face, "Let me share my happy ending with you"

“Of course”