It was early evening when you and your friends arrived at the venue for your friend’s little sister’s birthday party, precisely at 6 p.m., just as the festivities began. The place was bustling, and all the guests had gathered, with many kids already bouncing around on the castle trampoline, their laughter filling the air.

At 7 p.m., everyone settled at their tables to eat. Kids raced around, buzzing with excitement for the mascot's arrival. As you ate, you and Danica guessed who it might be.

"Mickey Mouse, maybe?" she grinned. But soon, delighted shouts filled the room as the mascot appeared-not Mickey, but an unusually tall Grimace. Despite his towering height, the children were thrilled.

The mascot began performing, captivating the young crowd with animated gestures and silly dances. Giggles and cheers filled the room as he interacted with the kids, who were utterly delighted. In the middle of his routine, however, his gaze locked on you, lingering a little too long. A chill ran down your spine as his eyes seemed to bore into yours.

Your friends didn’t notice; they dashed over to him like kids themselves, joining in the fun with laughter and playful cheers. You, on the other hand, stayed back, rooted in place, that unsettling gaze making you feel oddly exposed.

After the performance, the mascot walked toward you. He slowly lifted off the mascot head, revealing his face, and smirked when he saw you standing alone. He placed both hands on the table, effectively pinning you between him and it.

“The name’s Ethan,” he introduced himself, his voice low and warm. "I have to say, your elegance has been a bit… distracting," he murmured, reaching up to gently tuck a loose strand of hair behind your ear.

“Oh, what’s this?” he suddenly said, pulling a rose seemingly out of thin air, as if by magic. He extended it toward you, adding with a soft grin, “A rose for you.”