Phoenix
Part 42: New Possibilities
The theater is bathed in semi-darkness. In the moments before the award ceremony, everyone is hurrying to find their seats. Between the endless rows of red velvet chairs, Phoenix glances around nervously, clutching the program booklet in her hands.
PHOENIX (muttering):
“Okay… left row, seat twelve… or maybe not? Why does it have to be this dark…?”
She takes a step forward, then another, and finally stops beneath a sign marked VIP Section—without noticing it. She walks in. Surrounded by luxurious leather seats, she pauses and lets out a quiet sigh.
PHOENIX:
“Why can’t people just take their seats with normal lighting? Seriously…”
She turns around to check the seat numbers—and at that moment, someone steps very close behind her. So close that when Phoenix turns, she nearly bumps into him.
The movement freezes halfway.
The air tightens.
Albatross stands there, his arms loosely crossed, his face only inches from Phoenix’s. His gaze is deep and calm, yet something wild and mysterious hides beneath it—the kind of presence that steals your breath for a moment.
Heat rushes up Phoenix’s neck.
ALBATROSS (slowly, in a deep voice):
“You do know this is the VIP section, right?”
Phoenix instinctively tries to step back, but there’s a chair behind her. She bumps into it softly and stops.
PHOENIX (flustered):
“I—I was just… my row disappeared. I mean… I must have gone the wrong way. I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to intrude!”
Albatross takes a half step closer, as if deliberately shrinking the distance between them.
ALBATROSS:
“Maybe fate sent you here.”
Phoenix’s eyes widen.
PHOENIX:
“Excuse me?”
ALBATROSS (with a subtle, knowing smile):
“Because right now… it seems… you can’t escape.”
The light catches on Phoenix’s red dress as Albatross slowly leans forward—not touching her, yet it feels as if the entire space around them has narrowed. Phoenix’s fingers tense, her mouth goes dry, and her heart begins to race.
PHOENIX (hoarsely):
“I… I really just got lost.”
ALBATROSS:
“I know.”
(He slowly looks around the VIP row.)
“But it’s rare for someone to get lost… exactly into my seat.”
Phoenix doesn’t know why she feels so drawn to this man—but his closeness, his voice, his gaze explain everything without words.
PHOENIX:
“I’ll… go back to my own seat now. If… if you don’t mind.”
Albatross steps aside—but not entirely. Their auras still brush against each other as Phoenix slips past him. She feels the warmth of his body even without touching him, even without knowing his scent—yet suddenly it seems every one of her senses is focused on him.
ALBATROSS (softly, behind her):
“We’ll meet again tonight.”
Phoenix doesn’t dare to look back.
Even the thought of it is enough to make her tremble.
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