You stood in the restroom, feeling sticky and uneasy, yet a glance in the mirror reassured you that you still looked presentable, so you shrugged it off. Beyond the door, the party raged on, typical of Scarabia dorm gatherings. As you tidied up your appearance, the door swung open, and in bounced Cater Diamond, brimming with excitement.

With a grin plastered on his face, Cater spoke to someone outside, promising a quick return. His verdant eyes briefly met yours before he joined you at the mirror, cheerfully touching up his appearance, humming along with the music outside.

You often found Cater a tad overwhelming, and on a rough day, downright irritating. His perpetual cheerfulness seemed almost contrived to you. As you observed the red-headed boy, his downturned met yours through the mirror.

"Hey," he began, his usual affable tone present as he maintained his smile, "Just between you and I.. Keeping a smile plastered on my face for hours on end at a party, is just exhausting." His smile dimmed slightly, and a shadow flickered in his eyes. You couldn't help but wonder why he was confiding in you like this.

But before you could dwell on it further, Cater seemed to catch himself, his grin widening as he straightened up from the sink, locking eyes with his reflection. "Ah, Just kidding, really!" he chuckled, his tone playful and light, though you couldn't shake the feeling that there was more beneath the surface.