Ariel sat in her bed, replaying the events that just happened over and over in her mind. She couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. The tension in the air had been so thick between her and Alex, it was almost suffocating. She had been so close to something, something with him, and yet, it felt like Adrien had snatched it all away with one glance.
As her mind spiraled into frustration, her phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts. The name flashing on the screen made her freeze. Jasper.
Her heart skipped a beat. "Jasper?" she muttered, her voice tinged with both surprise and curiosity. "Miss me, dear?" came the familiar voice on the other end, playful and teasing.
A small smile tugged at her lips despite herself. She hadn't heard from Jasper in a while, but his voice,so full of warmth and charm was a reminder of a time before everything with Simon...
Years ago...
---
Ariel had arrived in Startus with nothing but a backpack and a heart full of excitement. She had left her small hometown behind in pursuit of something more, something bigger. A dream to see her favorite musician, the one and only Jasper, live in concert. His songs had been her comfort, her solace, in the darkest times. And now, finally, she was in the very city where he was performing.
But there was just one problem: she was completely lost.
The streets of Startus were bustling, crowded with people hurrying to their destinations, tourists snapping pictures, and locals chatting. Ariel had wandered aimlessly, taking in the sights, but it was only when she looked around and realized she had no idea where she was that the panic set in. She was alone in a strange city, with no friends or family around. She needed help.
She spotted a man standing near a corner, a calm, confident air around him. He seemed trustworthy, so Ariel approached, ready to ask for directions. But as fate would have it, she bumped into him before she could even speak.
"Ah!" she yelped, stumbling backward. But the man reacted quickly, his arms catching her and keeping her from falling.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice rich with concern.
Ariel's heart raced, not just from the near-fall, but because something about the voice sounded oddly familiar. She couldn't place it at first, but there was a certain warmth, a certain tone that made her feel like she'd heard it before.
She looked up at him, only to be met by a man who was completely covered from head to toe, dark sunglasses, a baseball cap pulled low, and a long coat. His features were hidden, his presence almost... mysterious.
"T-thanks," she said, flustered. "Uh... do you know where Zandif Hotel is? I'm not from here, and I'm lost."
He paused for a second, eyes scanning the street before he nodded. "Alright, I'll help you."
He called a taxi, and Ariel hesitated for a moment before stepping into the vehicle with him. After a brief moment of silence, he finally spoke
"So what are you doing here in Startus?", "I came to watch the best and most handsome musician perform today" , The man glanced at her and a smirk was on us face,but she couldn't see it, due to the facemask he wore, "You mean Jasper?", "Yes!", She couldn't help but began to tell him everything she knew about him , from the day he started singing till now, all the songs he played and her favourite part and also his lifestyle and background
"We've reached"
The taxi pulled up to the hotel, and Ariel was about to step out when the man stopped her. "I've got this," he said, and after a brief back-and-forth, including a game of rock, paper, scissors to decide who would pay, the man handed the driver cash and smiled at her.
"I'm Ariel," she introduced herself, extending her hand. "Thanks for the help."
The man looked at her with a playful grin, his eyes twinkling behind his sunglasses. "I'm... I'll tell you at the concert. It'll be a huge surprise."
Ariel tilted her head "Why not now?", "Trust me , you'll love the suprise "
"Are you free tomorrow?" he asked, she nodded. "Okay, I'll pick you up tomorrow, alright? The show's on Wednesday, and today's Monday. I'll take you to out and show you the beauty of this wonderful city called Startus "
"That's a generous offer" She replied back
The man chuckled. "Yeah, it is. See you tomorrow, 2 pm. Deal?"
Ariel hesitated for a moment, still unsure about the mysterious stranger, but her inner voice told him , he was trustworthy and she was a bit curious about hik
"Okay, deal," she said, and with that, she walked into the hotel, already buzzing with anticipation for what tomorrow would bring.