The arena pulsed with energy, the crowd buzzing as they waited for the next act. Hea and Jae bounced on their toes, practically vibrating with excitement, their glittery banners catching the glow of the stage lights.
"Uncle Mason, Phoenix is next! He's so cool'' Hea shouted while gripping my arm.
"Yeah, you're gonna love him!" Jae chimed in, her face flushed with excitement.
I leaned on the barricade railing, letting the screams and flashing lights wash over me.
A single spotlight snapped on, illuminating the stage. Phoenix appeared, his movements were elegant and fluent as he came into view. The crowd erupted into deafening cheers, their lightsticks flashing wildly.
I had to admit, the guy had presence. His blond, almost white hair shimmered under the lights, and his sharp, chiseled features gave him an almost untouchable aura.
But as the applause swelled, the music didn't start right away. Phoenix paused, stepping back slightly as the spotlight widened. Then the crowd's cheers faltered into confused murmurs as another figure stepped onto the stage.
My heart stopped.
There she was. The only person I've ever loved and the reason the whole crowd seemed to disappear along with the rest of the world.
Scarlett Cartier.
Her once brown hair was now vivid blue, styled in a jagged, wavy wolfcut that framed her face perfectly and the color complimented her eyes. Her grey eyes were sharper than I remembered, scanning the crowd as though she were looking for something, or someone. She was stunning, ethereal and perfect as if created by AI, radiant in a way that demanded attention. There was no trace of the girl I met, the outcast she once was.
The murmurs turned into a collective gasp as recognition rippled through the audience. Pink Lavender. The ultimate idol. She wasn't announced, wasn't on the lineup, but here she was, stepping into the spotlight unannounced.
I barely heard Jae's shocked shriek or Hea's frantic tugging at my sleeve. All I could do was stare.
She looked so different, yet there was something familiar beneath it all. The way she held herself, the slight tilt of her head, it was Scarlett, no question. But she seemed... uneasy. Almost as if she still didn't know her own beauty, as if she didn't knew even a glimpse of the power she held.
Her eyes darted to Phoenix, standing a few feet away.
And then, without missing a beat, he crossed the stage to her.
I could see the tension in her shoulders. Phoenix didn't hesitate. He took her hand gently but firmly, guiding her to the center of the stage.
I watched as he leaned in, his lips moving in words I couldn't hear. Whatever he said, it worked. Her posture straightened, her grey eyes finally meeting his. He didn't let her look away.
The music began, vibrant and energetic, as their duet filled the entire arena. Their voices intertwined perfectly, his deep and steady, hers light and haunting. The audience, still reeling from the surprise, screamed in awe, their confusion forgotten.
But I couldn't focus on the performance. All I saw was the way he held her both physically and mentally. Every time her gaze wavered, Phoenix found it again, anchoring her with a steady, unyielding presence. He was saving her, guiding her through the moment like they'd done this a hundred times.
"Scarlett" I muttered under my breath, the realization hitting me hard.
"What?" Hea asked, looking up at me.
"Nothing," I said quickly, shaking my head.
The song ended to a deafening roar of applause.
Scarlett lifted her mic, her voice warm but I heard something underneath, something only I seemed to notice.
"Thank you for letting me share this moment with you" she said, her grey eyes sweeping the crowd.
For a brief second, her gaze stopped in my direction. My breath caught. Could she see me? Did she recognize me?
But then the lights dimmed, and the two of them walked offstage, disappearing into the shadows.
"Uncle Mason, are you okay? You're acting weird," Jae teased, nudging me.
"I'm fine," I said quickly, though my chest was tight.
Scarlett Cartier was still in there somewhere. I'd seen a glimpse of her, the girl I once loved, through the cracks of Pink Lavender's dazzling facade.
But seeing her again, even for just a moment, left me feeling as in love with her as the day we met as if no time had passed at all, yet as heartbroken as the day I broke us up.
She wasn't just a memory anymore. She was here. She was real. And now, more than ever, I didn't know what to do with that.
Hea and Jae bounced on their toes, practically vibrating with excitement, their glittery banners catching the glow of the stage lights. They had no idea the idol on stage mere seconds ago was my first love.
The arena exploded into cheers, the crowd going wild as Scarlett stepped back into the spotlight, her face was composed, a mask of confident serenity. The music swelled, a slow, soulful melody, and her voice poured into the stadium, delicate yet powerful. It was impossible not to feel her presence.
Hea and Jae were on fire, screaming and waving their banners. I tried to focus on their excitement, but my eyes kept straying back to her as memories rushed back, every moment and emotion I had convinced myself was gone.
The laughter we once shared, not even just the laughter, the way she always made me feel needed, every time she looked at me as if I meant nearly as much to her as she did to me.
The ways she used to defy me, because she was my exact opposite. And the way she used to say my name like it was her favorite word.
And now, here she was, so far removed from the girl I knew, yet still tethered to her somehow. My heart raced when her gaze swept the crowd again. It was fleeting, but I swore she locked eyes with me for a split second before turning away.
"Uncle Mason, isn't she amazing?" Hea yelled over the noise, her face glowing with excitement.
"Yeah," I replied absently, my voice barely audible even to myself.
And then, there it was again. Her eyes found me. Longer this time. A second, maybe two, but enough to make my heart flutter.
"Uncle Mason, you look like you're about to faint," Jae teased, her grin wicked. "She's that pretty, huh?"
"Yeah, she's... something," I muttered, unable to tear my gaze away.
Scarlett smiled more now, loosening up, her movements more natural, her voice soaring with confidence. Phoenix must've said something to her backstage, something that helped her find her footing, because she was owning the stage in a way that left no doubt why she was so loved.
But every so often, her gaze would flicker back to me. It wasn't obvious just a fleeting glance here and there, but I noticed. I couldn't not notice. And each time, it felt like the air got sucked out of the arena.
Halfway through the set, the arena dimmed to near darkness. Scarlett's voice, low and intimate, filled the space as she began a haunting ballad.
The crowd swayed, mesmerized, their cheers softened to reverent silence. The vulnerability in her voice cut through me like a knife. This wasn't the polished, untouchable Pink Lavender. This was Scarlett, the girl who used to sing when she thought no one was listening.
And then, in the middle of the song, her gaze settled on me again. Longer this time. Too long. The unspoken recognition, the unvoiced question. She knew. These words were directly spoken to me. And this song was directed to me, each word like a cut in my heart.
This time, there was no mistaking it. The look lingered. My breath caught, my hands tightening around the barricade. It felt like the world had shrunk to just the two of us.
She turned away as quickly as she'd looked. The damage was done. My chest ached, my mind racing with questions I couldn't answer.
When the song ended, the audience erupted into applause. Then, as the lights dimmed again and the stagehands prepared for the next act, she looked at me one last time before disappearing backstage.
Phoenix returned, his set a masterclass in showmanship, but my focus was elsewhere. Hea and Jae were still bouncing with excitement, completely absorbed in the music, but I was scanning the shadows of the stage, looking for any sign of Scarlett.
As the concert ended the crowd thundered with applause, Hea and Jae screaming until their voices cracked. Scarlett waved to the audience, her smile radiant but fleeting. Then, just as the lights dimmed and the performers began to leave the stage, she glanced back one last time.
It wasn't a glance. It was deliberate. Direct.
And this time, I didn't look away.