Funny how life worked.

A year ago, on this very day, Adam had been pissed after Lucas had forced him to tag along to this same masquerade party with him. Now, the rush of emotions he was feeling was on a whole different level; nervousness, anticipation, joy.

He was finally going to reignite his relationship with Eva. Or perhaps they were going to start afresh, whatever floated her boat, he thought with a private smile as he slipped his mask on and made his way through the masked people.

He'd intentionally worn the same blue suit he'd worn last year accompanied by the same batman mask. Hopefully, that would help to speed up the process. God, he couldn't wait to be alone with her tonight.

He scanned the people around who were mingling amidst the tune of the piano playing softly from mystery places. Apparently, Rebecca had decided to change the category of the guests to cut across several people and not just business acquaintances.

He spotted her before she saw him. Talking to another woman with a glass of champagne in her hand, she wore a red straight nylon dress with long, lacy sleeves accompanied by a large expansive glittering mask, an outfit he remembered so well. It was the same outfit she'd worn to last year's New Year's Eva masquerade party.

As if sensing his presence, her eyes moved from the woman she was talking to and found him. She said something to the woman, and the woman laughed before walking away, all the while her gaze was locked to his.

He crossed over to her, his stomach spasming like a teenager about to ask his crush out for the first time.

The thought made him smile behind his mask as he stopped in front of her. “Hey.”

“Hey.” She replied casually.

“You look stunning.”

“Thanks.”

“Can we talk?”

“What?”

“I said can we...”

Without even waiting for him to complete, she trotted away from him towards a middle aged man. Adam could only stare at her in openmouthed shock, as she held him by the arm and they walked off while talking.

What the fuck?

“Dude, you're lucky there are no mosquitoes here. Otherwise, your mouth would be a new home for them.” Alfredo said, stepping beside him. “What's wrong? ”

“Eva, just walked away from me while I was talking to her.” He said, still stunned.

Alfredo snorted. “She's just probably showing a bit of attitude. She's certainly entitled to that.”

Adam breathed a sigh, willing himself not to get all pessimistic. Only positive thoughts this coming year.

“Hey, I just wanted to ask you something.” Alfredo began. Adam quirked a brow to urge him on. “Do you believe in the legend of the kiss of eternal love now?”

“What?"

“Do you believe in the legend? Do you think it is the reason why you and Eva always find the way back to each other no matter what?”

“Okay, where is all this coming from?” Adam chuckled.

“Because, if it really is, I hope it's going to do the same for me.”

Adam realized his friend wasn't looking at him anymore and followed his desire-smothered gaze to find that he was looking at a blonde guy who looked like he could be a substitute for a tomato.

Standing all by himself in a black suit that adorned his well-built figure, a drink in his hand while his abashed gaze trailed to Alfredo every once in a while, he was blushing more than Adam had ever seen a guy blush before.

It clicked right then. His friend was looking for his own love adventure now.

“Don't you think he's hot?” Alfredo asked.

Adam snorted, cringing at the question. “Yeah, he's good looking.”

Alfredo looked down at his watch. “Boy, it's eleven thirty-two already. Wish me luck bro.”

“Goodluck.” Adam patted Alfredo on the shoulder before Alfredo walked in the direction of that guy, glad that he was now willing to move on.

Just some distance from where the guy stood was June and Raul, then Lucas and Vicky, slow dancing to the piano. Lucas lowered Vicky, making her laugh before he brought her up and kissed her passionately. He couldn't have been more happy that his friends were so happy.

Now it was time to think about his own love life. He spotted Eva talking to another person now and walked in their direction.

“Hey, Eva, can we talk?”

“Excuse me, please, I'm a little busy now.” To his shock, she placed her arms around the middle aged woman she was talking to and urged her to let them move away.

Adam was seriously beginning to freak out. Had Eva changed her mind and just didn't know how to break the news to him? She'd said they would talk after he'd spoken to his mother. There'd not really been any guarantees. Had he read her all wrong?

He shoved the gloomy thoughts away, deciding that Eva was just busy, that she would come to talk to him soon. And yet he watched her moving around from person to person, acting like he wasn't even present. He grabbed a glass of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter, sipping the cold alcoholic liquid to expel his nerves.

“Adam Garcia?” A feminine voice said his name. He turned to see a young woman he'd never seen before. She had on a mask that only covered the sides of her eyes.

She was a fan, and Adam decided to entertain her to distract himself. They talked about his pictures, his extreme sports competition winnings, and she told him how much she admired him.

“Ladies and gents, here comes the part I know some of you have been waiting for.” A male Adam couldn't see spoke over the microphone. “Do you want the legend of the kiss of eternal love to work its magic in your life? Then this is your time. I'm sure you're already close to the stranger who's held you spellbound. Countdown begins in thirty seconds to midnight. ”

“Uh, sorry, I have to go. So nice to have met you.” The young woman said quickly and hurried off.

Adam looked around intently. Where was Eva and why hadn't she come to speak to him?

“Ladies and gentlemen, here goes. Thirty, twenty nine, twenty eight...”

A tap on his shoulder had him spinning around to come face to face with the woman who was causing this turmoil with his mind. More like mask to mask.

“Eva...” He breathed.

Twenty four, twenty three...

“So you were saying?” She asked him just as cooly as before.

Adam swallowed. “I was wondering whether you wanted us to talk.”

Nineteen, eighteen...

“I don't. ”

Adam's heartbeat escalated, even as he told himself that he'd probably heard wrong. She couldn't have said that.

Ten, nine, eight...

“You dont? I thought you said...” He trailed off as his heart squeezed inside his chest.

Seven, six, five...

“I don't want to talk. Because I'd rather do this.”

And right then, just as midnight struck, while the crescent above shone on them with the piano playing softly in the background, Eva pulled close to him and delivered a long, hard, passionate kiss.

The End!

We're finally at the end! This story didn't have as many readers as KSC but I'm so grateful for the few who stuck with me from starting to end. I really apprecaiate all of you. I had a wonderful experience writing this story amd I hope you had a fun time reading this. Your comments were always the highlight of my day.

Now can I get a review, please?