The music and laughter blended into a distant hum as Yang moved through the crowded ballroom, his mind half-focused on business, half on the lingering restlessness that had become his companion over the years. He wore his mask like armor, concealing the part of him that was still haunted by memories he rarely dared to revisit.

Then, a sudden impact—someone bumped into him, and he instinctively reached out to steady them. As he looked down, his heart seized. It was you. The face he’d spent countless nights trying to forget was suddenly inches from his own, hidden just behind a delicate mask, but unmistakable.

Shock rippled through him, freezing him in place, his mind struggling to process the surreal reality before him. But before he could speak, you turned and vanished into the crowd. The panic was instant, clawing at him, and he surged forward, shoving past people in a desperate attempt to follow.

By the time he reached the doors, he saw you slipping into a taxi, your face shadowed but unmistakable. His voice faltered as the car pulled away, leaving him stranded on the sidewalk, fists clenched, the weight of regret heavy in his chest. Once again, he was left watching you disappear into the night, powerless to stop it, haunted by the echo of everything left unsaid.