Masquerade Ball (1)

Masquerade Ball:

A ball is a formal dance party characterised by a banquet (A feast having main courses and many types of desserts) followed by social dance. In a Masquerade Ball the guests have to wear a mask either covering half or whole of their faces.

Author's POV :

Yifeng brought Akihiko to the auditorium as all the students had left and proceeded to the Banquet Hall. At first Yifeng was going to take Akihiko backstage but on the way to backstage..

They entered through the back door but seeing the store rooms and the darkness. Akihiko became uncomfortable. Akihiko tightened his hold around Yifeng's neck. He was unintentionally choking Yifeng.

Yifeng : "What is it Hiko!?"

Akihiko hid behind his back whispering.

Akihiko :"No--Not th--there. Please. Not th--there."

Yifeng :"OK! OK! We are not going there. Hmm!.Calm down."

He gestured Mike who was walking beside them to check if the auditorium was empty or not. Mike gave a thumbs up. Even Mike couldn't bear to see the always cheerful Akihiko in this condition. Mike unlocked the door which opened into the auditorium.

Mike placed a chair near the stage of auditorium. Yifeng carefully put Akihiko down and make him sit on the chair. He hissed in pain when his back touched the chair.

Akihiko :"Sss!"

Yifeng :"What happened!? Are you injured? Did you get hurt?"

Akihiko :"No,it's not--nothing. I'm fi--fine. Yeah! I'm fine."

Yifeng :"It doesn't look like..."

Saying so he slightly removed the jacket and could see red blood tainted the former white shirt. His brows knitted. He looked at Akihiko who gave him a smile that couldn't possibly reach his eyes.

Yifeng knelt infront of Akihiko held both his hands and looked into his eyes which were still red and tears could be seen.

Yifeng :"What did he do?Akihiko! "

"....." Akihiko was looking at his hands not raising his head.

Yifeng :"Hiko! Tell me. Please"

Akihiko :"He--I-I.... (Deep breath). I pushed him away and tried to run, he caught me and threw me at the ground."

Yifeng could see fingerprints on his wrist. And scratches on his arms. And the wound on the neck was fresh too and was bleeding.

Yifeng :"Hiko! Let's go home. Hmm!"

Akihiko :"No!"

Yifeng :"But you need treatment and rest"

Akihiko :"But Shijie will be terrified. Yifeng! We can't go home. Not now."

Yifeng :"But--"

Lisa entered the auditorium.

Lisa :" Here is the first aid kit you asked for Mike. Hiko! What happ--"

Seeing Lisa Akihiko quickly wrapped his arms around Yifeng's waist who was standing infront of him. Hiding his face behind Yifeng.

Yifeng:" Stay there! Please don't come any closer."

Lisa :" But--"

Mike :" Lisa! give it to me. Wait outside I'm coming."

Lisa did what Mike told her. Mike approached Yifeng handing him the first aid kit he went outside,slowly closing the door as to not startle the already scared boy. Yifeng carefully applied the medicine on Akihiko's neck leaving a red mark only. Then he took the jacket off of Akihiko, it had slight spots of blood on it too, as it was also white in colour. Then he was going to apply medicine on his wrist when Akihiko stopped him.

Akihiko :"It's alright. It is not really hurting anymore"

Yifeng :"OK" he didn't wanted to force him.

Yifeng :" So, Do you wanna sit here until the program ends or... "

Akihiko :" Let's go to the Ball Room. The feast must have ended by now."

Yifeng :"But--"

Akihiko :"I'm not that weak. Maybe by distracting myself I might become normal before going home.i don't want to worry Shijie"

Yifeng :"Ah! but I was going to say that what do we do about your clothes. They are t--" Yifeng could complete his sentence.

Akihiko :"Now that's a problem. Where is my costume?"

Yifeng :"I left it in the car. I'll go bring it"

He started to stand up to go and get the costume. Akihiko held his wrist.

Akihiko :"No! Don't go"

Yifeng :"OK! I'm not going. Let me ask Mike."

Akihiko nodded his head.

Yifeng :"MIKE!!!!"

Yifeng yelled and Akihiko giggled. Yifeng smiled hearing his brother's giggles.

Mike :"What is it!? What happened? Who attacked you.? I'll protect both of you!"

Yifeng :"Stop with the overacting. Do you have any spare clothes for Akihiko."

Mike :"The boys dressing room is a mess. Nothing can be found there. Let me ask Lisa to bring something from the girls side"

He said and went to Lisa. He returned and stood slightly away from them. Lisa came back with a plastic bag in her hand she gave the bag to Yifeng and went to stand beside Mike.

Yifeng :"Hiko can you manage this dress?"

Akihiko :"Don't worry. I already wore it for half an hour."

Yifeng :"Why did you wear this dress"

Akihiko's cheeks turned pink.

Akihiko :"I had to play as Princess Celles"

Yifeng :"What!? The female lead of your play. But Why!?"

Akihiko :"Aya! No time to explain. Give it here."

Akihiko turned to go backstage when his steps halted midway, as if he was thinking to take any further step or to turn back. He turned and looked at Yifeng.

Akihiko :"Don't go anywhere!"

Yifeng :"I won't. I'll be stanfing outside. Come out quickly. Don't take too much time."

"Hmm!" He nodded.

He went to backstage and after merely 10 min. He rushed out and hugged Yifeng tightly. Yifeng carassed his back.

Yifeng :"It's OK! You did great"

Akihiko raised his head.

Akihiko :"Rea--Really!?"

Yifeng :"Hmm!"

He nodded and ruffled Akihiko's hair.

Mike :"Ah! It's so touching. I almost cried. (he said wiping his non existing tears) But we need to put a wig on you. So Lisa....."

Lisa came and helped wear the wig and Akihiko didn't refused.

Lisa :"And for the last touch up. Ta daa..."

She showed a mask.

Akihiko :"A mask!? But why!?"

Lisa : "Di Yi ; It will help in concealing your identity Haiyo Di er ; It is a Masquerade Ball so you have to wear a mask"

(*Di yi=First, Haiyo=And/Moreover, Di er=Second)

Akihiko : "Oh"

Lisa turned to Yifeng.

Lisa :"You need to wear one too"

Yifeng :"Thanks!"

Lisa : "Now go. Me and Mike will join soon."

Both Akihiko and Yifeng nodded and went towards the Masquerade Ball.

Lisa :"Who did this!?"

Mike :"Don't know. Yifeng said he was wearing a mask. Hiko is really scared. Yifeng asked me to look after him."

Lisa :"I'm scared too. How can someone do this to him. He is such a nice kid. Never offended anyone.He is such a beautiful soul."

Mike :"Maybe that's why."

Lisa :"Huh!? "

Mike :"These type of beasts love to ravage such beautiful souls." *Sigh*

Lisa :" Let's go. Get changed"

They both disappeared into the backstage.

Akihiko and Yifeng entered the banquet Hall. Which was nearly empty as all the guests were proceeding to the Masquerade ball room.

[Banquet Hall (Dinning Room)]

Yifeng :"You wanna eat something"

Akihiko shook his head. He didn't knew why but the mere mention of food gave a churning sensation in his stomach like he wanna throw up. From all what happened it still had a solid impact on Akihiko . Yifeng noticed Akihiko's uneasy expression and dragged him out of the Banquet Hall.

🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶