“One more time!”

That shout had been echoing all morning in an exhausting repeat.

Younri clapped his hands in rhythm with the music, counting the steps and correcting the dancers’ posture throughout the rehearsal. His worries and perfectionism weren’t for nothing. The Pub’s prostitutes – all of them – were hired to perform at a major event called the Masquerade Ball.

The event itself was a mystery.

Younri had only sent a vague message that they were hired for a big event at the group chat. But there was no further information available. Well, they didn’t need more than that, so maybe their boss was right – “ignorance is a blessing,” right?

But how about the night shows? Younri made sure to close the Pub exclusively for the rehearsals.

That event was no joke indeed.

“Miss Talia! Don’t forget to twirl!” Younri shouted, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Talia slipped on her high heels and quickly recovered, “Okay, boss!” She replied.

Despite the music being repetitive and exhausting, the dancers continued to follow the choreography almost perfectly. Many heels broke only that morning, so Younri decided to let them practice barefoot, then go to the heels after mastering the moves.

Once, twice, three times.

The rehearsal was stuck in the same fragment of the music.

The dancers – wasted and sweating – slumped on the studio’s smooth floor after Younri opened his fan and turned the music off. Tiring further would lead to damage, so it was wise to rest.

“Okay, girls, you were amazing!” Younri cheered, carrying a box of water bottles. “Our show will surely be glamorous!” he added with a smile, handing a bottle to each dancer.

Mine took one of them and twisted the bottle cap, ignoring how much he squeezed it. When it finally opened, he chugged the water in one go, just like Talia.

At least he wasn’t as wasted as Lydia.

She was clearly the most exhausted, sprawled on the floor with her arms outstretched. At least she was blessed by the air conditioner’s cold breeze right on her body.

“Miss Lydia, are you ok?” Younri approached with a cold towel in his hands.

“I… am…” Lydia gave a thumbs-up to her boss and managed to sit. “Damn… Talia! Your choreography is hellish!! No wonder Mine taught you well, damn…” she grumbled while Younri crouched and wiped the sweat off her forehead and neck.

Talia huffed and fanned herself with a portable fan. Her red-like fire hair was tied in a high bun, but her neck was still scorching hot. “Mine partially made the choreography, just so you know who to kill later,” she chuckled.

“All right, girls, let’s have an extended break then,” Younri clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention.

Despite having a smile on his face, Younri seemed worried and a little anxious that day, contrary to his usual composed posture. His hands were as restless as the glitching expressions on his face, and even if he wore the most comfortable clothes in his wardrobe, they suffocated him somehow.

This was, indeed, unusual.

Mine approached his boss and touched his shoulder. “You good, boss?” he asked.

Younri faintly smiled and nodded. “Yes, little Star,” he replied with a tense smile. “We just have a huge event coming, and I’m going to perform too, so… I’m not anxious at all… hahaha…”

Everyone widened their eyes and looked at their boss.

A minute of shock.

…

…

“YOU WILL PERFORM?!!!” The girls shouted in one go.

Poor Younri’s ears twitched, and he covered them. “Ow, ow girls… I use sound protectors during the night and rehearsals, but now I’m raw…” he whined.

The girls' excitement was above the clouds!

They screamed in joy, and poor Younri barely had time to think before Lydia carried him in her arms. Her boss was so startled while the girls cheered and clapped their hands in joy.

The boss's performance was a myth! A true legend!

They couldn't even think their boss could wear sexy clothing!!

Legend says Younri was once a famous performer and was often given tons of gifts and money, which led the girls to believe that this was the reason behind his small fortune.

They also had their own theories… and a lot of fanfictions.

They theorized his affair with famous people back when, whether he was secretly dating an important person in politics, or even if he was an angel. Still, the elf never gave them a hint about their theories.

Their favorite fanfiction was about a man they saw entering his personal room at the Pub.

That man was very exquisite and polite. His deep and husky voice could melt every heart, and his cold demeanor gave him a mysterious charm. Younri told the curious souls that the man was the Pub’s investor, but when they saw the same man walking out of Younri’s chambers on a very cold dawn, their opinion quickly changed.

But it didn’t matter how much they’d ask–or even read the fanfictions about him for him – Younri only gave them boring answers.

So, the prostitutes cultivated an irresistible curiosity towards the mysterious past of their beloved boss, who was still being carried in Lydia's arms while the group cheered and shouted.

"Let's pop some beer!!" Talia cheered, and Younri looked at her in disbelief.

“Let’s be fancier, a champagne!" Lydia cheered, and Mine looked at her with a face of ‘Can you afford it, dear? You barely pay for your plants' supplies.’

“Ahhh... put me down, Miss Lydia…” Younri muttered, his ears already reddish.

The Pub’s crew was still in an uproar, but they gave their boss the space to recover from all the emotion (and commotion).

Younri then took a paper from his pockets and handed the fanciest envelope to the group.

Talia took it and passed ahead so everybody could see the envelope. The paper was so opulent that only a touch could make anyone rich just by one touch.

The dark red paper was smooth and very hard, as if it were specific watercolor paper. The main letters were engraved in gold, and the text was written in that chic calligraphy, as well as the signature on each of the invitations, followed by an ornate sticker. The entire card was worked in arabesques, especially in the golden frame – an extra touch of refinement.

It was as if the entire invitation screamed the party's theme: a mix of a masquerade ball with touches of Moulin Rouge.

"Each dancer will have their own mask, and the costumes will be provided by the party's main sponsor," Talia read an excerpt from the invitation to everyone. "My God, how chic!" she smiled, feeling adorable with such thoughtfulness from the sponsors.

“I already gave your measurements to the event organizers, so don't worry about whether it will fit or not,” Younri laughed softly and opened his fan.

He then covered his mouth dramatically and snapped his fingers.

The studio lights dimmed, and as he stepped onto the floor. A clicking sound resonated, and the mist machine started working.

The girls watched in awe, their eyes shining under the dim light while their boss became the spotlight.

There was no mistake; their boss had definitely once been a famous performer.

Younri tossed his fan upwards then caught it, bending backwards in a fluid arch. Then, he effortlessly straightened his back and lightly stepped onto the floor.

Each move was elegant and delicate, like a white swan gliding across still water.

“We’ll be the climax,” He opened his arms gracefully. “And I’ll work hard so we all become the night’s best performance,” he bowed, and the studio’s lights came back to normal. “Are you all excited?” he grinned.

Of course, they were.

The girls erupted into cheers and applause. Some of them were already pulling on their socks to sweat their soul out, while others were hugging each other.

Younri chuckled and took another piece of paper from his pockets. The girls then looked at him very attentively, waiting for him to read it. “If we work hard, each dancer will receive an amount of ------------”

My goodness, the amount was high.

It was the most expensive show they had ever attended!

When Mine’s ears processed the amount of money they were going to be paid, his old worries began to leave his body and soul. Maybe—just maybe—he had a chance to pay off his debt faster than he’d ever planned.

He could finally be free from his ghosts.

A ghost, only Younri knew the details of how Mine had gone through to end up trapped in that gruesome debt. He didn’t dare to speak about it to any soul, not even to Lydia, no matter how many times he appeared at the Pub with purple spots on his skin.

Mine felt his heart at a strange ease.

It’s been years since he felt it.

Before he could smile any more than he already was, Lydia let out a loud, happy “woohoo!!!!” throwing her arms up in the air, then grabbing him by the collar.

“SEE MINE?! THIS IS REAL MONEY!!” Lydia laughed in joy and, with Mine, did their little joy-dance. Her best friend laughed at her while following her giggly steps.

“Right?!” Mine beamed.

“I can pay for my university scholarship…” Meeva smiled, but soon that smile turned into an ugly sobbing. Still, the tears were full of joy.

“Oh, Meeva…” Talia chuckled and stroked her friend’s back. “See? You’re not late for that! I told you!” she grinned, and Meeva also did, still wobbly, and soaked in tears.

Younri glanced at Mine, resting his fan thoughtfully under his chin.

“With that…” he started, his voice gentle, “… I suppose your stay here will be really over this year, am I right?”

Mine blinked, looking at his boss.

He was caught off guard, but a smile instantly spread across his face.

“Hm,” Mine nodded. “I’m afraid you’re right,” he softly chuckled.

Finally, things were going according to plan.

His plan.

Younri smiled and patted Mine’s head. “When you go to pay your debtor, take me with you,” he huffed like a proud bird.

“Why that?” Mine looked at Younri.

The proud bird then stuffed his chest in anger, “Because I won’t be able to rest knowing you’re going after that scoundrel alone. I need to go with you even if you don't want to!” he huffed again, and Mine couldn’t help but laugh.

“Thank you, boss,” Mine chuckled.

Like a haunted soul, Lydia appeared beside Mine out of nowhere and grabbed him by his shoulders. Mine felt his limbs go cold from the startle, but they soon turned hot when Lydia spoke.

“Now that you’re free… You can date that hottie as much as you want~” she teased.

Mine flushed entirely and slapped Lydia on the forehead. But gossip travels fast across the universe, and the girls looked at him.

Oh no, Mine thought. At that exact moment, he felt like he was in a fifth-grade classroom.

A characteristic and teasing smile appeared on the girls’ lips, and it didn’t take long before the classic provocations started.

“Who is he?” Talia asked, resting her hands on her waist.

“Yeah! Tell us about him!” Meeva cheered, even if her eyes were still a bit reddish from crying.

Her pure tone of curiosity always managed to grab Mine's heart, but he hid that at all costs.

But the girls were committed to taking a confession from him that day!

“Tell us, little Star~” Vanessa teased him, poking his cheek.

Mine’s hair gradually turned pink.

He looked at them once again.

Their eyes were brimming with curiosity and teasing, of course. Mine was the Pub's role model, and he always told them he'd rather die than tie ties with someone. Also, they knew the little gremlin behind his prince/princess-looking appearance, which made his speech about ties very convincing.

…

Maybe spilling a little tea wouldn't hurt… Mine thought.

Well, the girls’ eyes were too expectant, and he couldn't afford misunderstandings. Also, the girls were very good detectives of someone else's life, and he didn't want them to snoop around his things, much less find Addai and harass him!

“First of all, he’s my friend,” Mine started, his cheeks red. “Secondly, stop making assumptions without context! He’s not even my type! He’s annoying and very stubborn. He does what he pleases, and we always end up bickering. Yeah, he is sweet sometimes, but this does not mean he’s suitable!” he hushed his speech and barely caught his breath.

Lydia looked at him… up and down… then raised an eyebrow.

"You said you don't want to date, but then he's suddenly not suitable? So, it means you want, but you're playing hard to get…” she teased.

Mine looked at her with disbelief while Talia prepared one more tease. "How does he look?" She sat on the floor, and the group made a gossiping circle.

It's been a while since Mine had gossiped about boys and stuff – according to him, it was disgusting to talk like high schoolers about boys and blah blah blah… but there he was.

He had no escape route from that because even Younri made a seat in the circle.

“Enlighten us with his appearance,” Meeva brightened her eyes.

Mine sighed and took his cell phone. He scrolled down the screen and hesitated twice before turning the phone for them to witness a very dubious photo of Addai.

No, it wasn't indecent, rather, it was very… Well, he could have chosen a better one.

"!!!,” the girls shouted, gasped, and widened their eyes.

While the ruckus occurred, screams and shouts of teasing, the letter on the table flipped to the side. It showed its back and a big, ornamented symbol right in the middle, a watermark.

It was exquisite… and oddly familiar, you might tell.

The lines in red gave an ominous and chic vibe, but what made it even more interesting was the fancy signature starting with an A.

Wait.

We've seen that before, haven’t we?