I cuddled my knees to my chest and silently cried to myself in a dark corner of the theater. 

My shoulders shook with each sob that I released, and a part of me felt embarrassed at how loud I must have been, but I was too upset to stop the flood of tears that were streaming down my cheeks.

I wasn't sure of how much time had passed by, nor did I care, but everything came to a standstill when I noticed a shadow over me. 

I thought it was my nemesis coming to bully me further, so I curled up and muttered, "Leave me alone, Camila."

"Pardon me?"

My head snapped up at the sound of not only a male's voice, but Ramin's voice. 

I locked my watery eyes onto his as he kneeled down in front of me, fully dressed up as the Phantom. 

Usually, I would've been intimidated by him if he was acting like the character, but I saw no sign of that as he softly asked, "What happened, my dear?"

Relieved that it wasn't Camila, I suddenly leapt forward and hugged him tightly, burying my face into his shoulder. 

I thought he was going to push me away from him because of my awkward reaction, but that wasn't the case at all. 

Instead, Ramin wrapped his arms around me and stroked my back comfortingly. 

"It's alright, Avery," he said in a soothing tone. "I've got you."

I clenched my fist around his cloak and moved the fabric between my fingers, trying to distract myself from the embarrassment I was starting to feel. 

He eventually pulled back, though, and wiped my tears away with his thumbs. 

"Tell me what happened," he pressed ever so gently. "I want to help you."

His brown eyes were sincere, and I slowly opened up to him. 

"I was bullied backstage," I replied in a small voice. "Camila said some horrible things to me while I was alone and working on one of my outfits."

A flash of anger crossed over Ramin's face at my response, but he quickly calmed himself and asked, "Did she physically hurt you at all?"

I shook my head. 

"Sometimes, it only takes a few words for it to sting just as badly."

He clenched his jaw and balled his hand into a fist, clearly trying to control his emotions. 

After a moment, he muttered, "Do you know where she went?"

"No."

Ramin thought for a second, then stood up to full height and extended his hand out for me to take. 

"Come with me," he said. "I have an idea."

I hesitated and furrowed my brows. 

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to play a little trick on Camila," he smirked. "Would you care to join me?"

I swallowed nervously. 

"I-I don't really want to face her again," I stuttered. "She frightens me."

His face softened as he took my hand and got me onto my feet, leaning my exhausted body against his. 

"You won't have to," he replied. "I merely want you to watch what I can do as the Opera Ghost. Camila is intimidated by me when I'm like this, you know."

"Really?" I asked in disbelief. "She always comes across as confident and unbothered."

"Not with me, apparently," Ramin smiled. "I overheard her saying that she secretly hates me as the Phantom, and that she never wanted to face my wrath."

"But...that doesn't make any sense," I said in a confused tone. "You are such a good guy, and I know for a fact that you wouldn't hurt anyone. Why would she say such a thing about you?"

"Maybe because she's aware of my strong feelings toward you," he stated. "That's probably why she bullied you when you were alone. She didn't want me to see her hurting you."

I felt like my eyes were bulging as I processed his words. 

Ramin had feelings for me?

"You have...what?" I babbled out.

He smiled and placed a small kiss on my forehead. 

"I'll explain later, Ave," he whispered. "For now, let's go have some fun."

Ramin gripped my hand tightly while we walked through the backstage areas, and in that moment, I truly felt like Christine when she was staring at the Phantom in wonder. 

Everything about him was fascinating to me, which made me more curious as the seconds ticked by. 

He's so much sweeter than I ever expected, I swooned inwardly. 

My happy thoughts were interrupted, however, when I heard Camila's obnoxious laugh only a few feet away. 

Ramin quickly pulled me behind a wall and pressed me against his chest, looking over his shoulder to make sure no one had seen us. 

When the coast was clear, he glanced down at me with a smirk and mouthed, "Are you ready?"

I nodded and remained as close to him as possible.

He winked, then switched on the small microphone he was wearing. 

With a deep breath, he changed his demeanor completely and asked, "So, you decided to test the waters with me, did you?"

The voice that had just been laughing went deadly silent in an instant, and I used all my will power to hide the chuckle that wanted to emerge from my throat. 

Ramin took it as a sign that he had gotten Camila's attention, then continued on without any mercy. 

"It's clear to me that you were stupid enough to mess with the person closest to me. That was a grave mistake."

I slightly felt scared myself because of the unnatural glare he was wearing, but he comforted me by squeezing my hand to show that he wasn't directing it towards me, and I relaxed against him.

A moment passed before I heard Camila say, "T-this is a trick. You're not real!"

"Are you so sure, Ms. Walker?" Ramin challenged. 

Her hesitation told him everything, and he smiled to himself triumphantly. 

"I...y-you're not...," she stuttered, then groaned in frustration. "Leave me alone!"

"Only if you promise to stay away from Avery," he replied. "If you don't, there will be...problems, to say the least."

"Alright, alright," Camila exclaimed. "I'll do whatever you wish. Just leave me be."

He paused for a moment, adding to the dramatic effect, then said, "Very well. You may go. But just so you're warned, I'll be watching your every move. Don't forget that."

Her hurried footsteps echoed in the large backstage area as she ran off without a word. 

Once Ramin was sure that Camila was gone, he switched off his microphone, grinned widely, and lifted me up by the waist, causing me to squeal in response.

He set me back down and hooked his arm around my torso, pulling me close enough so that our foreheads were resting together. 

"You won't have to worry about her anymore, Ave," he smiled gently. "As long as I'm here, you will be safe, my Angel."

His affectionate nickname caused my heart to skip multiple beats in my chest, and I breathlessly uttered one word: "What?"

Ramin chuckled at my lovestruck demeanor and kissed my forehead as if to prove his point. 

"You are my Angel," he murmured against my skin, his soft lips sending an electric bolt throughout my body. "And I am forever your Phantom."

Before I could say anything back, though, he leaned down and kissed me with a mix of tenderness and passion. 

I oozed into his embrace and rested my hand on his covered cheek, goosebumps appearing on my skin from the chilled mask.

When Ramin pulled back all too soon, his eyes were lit with excitement, and a dorky smile was forming across his face. 

"I've been wanting to do that for awhile," he laughed quietly.

"Trust me, so have I."