the death of a bachelor

nineteen | masks

The island wasn't good for anything related to fashion. She hissed as the needle pricked her for the hundredth time.

Reiju had received countless invitations for the masquerade party that Irina had planned. She had basked in the attention before it dawned on her that this was another power move.

And the Russian queen's party was nothing but a way to see who goes with who.

Because of that, she had rejected their invitations and focused on disguising herself which led her to produce a cocktail dress out from her own wardrobe. She had cut and sewn cotton, rayon, and chiffon from countless kimonos she had to make the gold and black dress. She planned to place a black feather embroidery on the off-shoulder neckline when she ran out of thread.

Reiju peeked out of her room to see the study area filled with students. She noticed Maggie on the corner of the wall. "Hey! What are you doing?"

Maggie looked up. "Studying?"

She frowned and sat in front of her in crossed legs. "You won't go to the party?"

The blonde scratched at her bun causing loose curls to fall to her shoulders. "You do realize we're not popular, right?"

"So, Irina didn't invite you?" she asked. Reiju shouldn't have been surprised because even Dion had expressed his annoyance over her choice of friends.

"It's okay. Are you going with Dion?"

"Nah, he's busy."

Maggie shot her a skeptical look. It was true that Dion had been amicable since they talked about their plan on handling Lorenzo. But that was all.

The boy made her nervous.

"Whatever, Maggie. Can I have some of your hair dye and threads?"

"What do you need—" She stopped, her eyes widened as she lowered her voice. "Don't tell me this is about that ridiculous plan about Professor Shah?"

Reiju smirked that Maggie pinched her side. "Stop that, young lady. You're gonna be in trouble."

"Mags, if I get in trouble anyway, I'll make sure it's fun."

Maggie growled in frustration. "What is so important in finding this man in the labyrinth?"

"I don't know. But my instincts are always right. Besides, I know Professor Shah is hiding something. He has those murder notes and his reaction towards the blood... that's not normal."

The girl let out a resigned sigh and rubbed a hand over her face. "Fine. There's dye on my bedside table and threads on the drawer."

"Arigatou!" Reiju ran to 334 and entered Maggie's room.

Ursa had strict rules about going into each other rooms. But the dorm manager had an exact time for her rounds that the dormers knew how to avoid her. Though the old woman still managed to catch some students from time to time and punished them by letting them watch a three-hour documentary of Carmine's history.

And nobody liked that punishment.

Reiju marched into Maggie's room, eyeing the blonde dye. She pulled the drawer below and got a black thread when she saw a crumpled invitation.

So, Maggie got invited after all?

Why did she lie?

The yakuza princess felt her heart hammer over the possibility of betrayal. She bit her lip. Should she confront Maggie?

Kuso!

She curled her fingers into fists. Reiju had an immense trust for people that gave her their loyalty. To her, oaths are as good as a written contract.

But Dion had shown her how naive that thinking was.

Reiju hated being sly. She preferred people to say shit to her face. But alas, this was the way of life on this island.

She decided to observe Maggie and wait. She trusted the girl like she trusted Gio. But if she was doing something behind her back, then what better way to find it than to keep her close?

Reiju wondered if Billy's plea to protect Maggie was related to this.

She took a deep breath and went back to her room to finish the dress before she dyed her hair. She had to concentrate on her task for tonight. maggie would have to wait.

Hours passed and night had fallen. Students who considered themselves elite had filtered out of the dorm and into the castle courtyard.

Maggie helped her with the dress and makeup. Her incessant complaints about her plans for the evening never ceased even as she gasped at her completed look.

"Well, fuck. You look so different," she exclaimed.

Reiju looked at herself in the mirror.  Gone were the straight raven hair and red nails. It was replaced by thick curly blonde locks and silver accessories.

She admired the way the dress hugged her curves. The tight garment placed emphasis on her boobs and slender shoulders while her porcelain skin gleamed in contrast with the dark cloth.

Reiju did a lot to maintain her white skin and return it to what it was when she had spent her winters in Hokkaido. She had rolled down her uniform sleeves, wore high stockings, and avoided the sun by spending her time with Gio and Professor Aliyah Dela Torre.

Maggie had failed to fathom her purpose but Reiju didn't want to leave anything to chance. Approaching the professor was like capturing a grizzly bear, one shouldn't take it lightly.

Reiju was satisfied as she donned the black mask embroidered by flowers. She muttered a quick goodbye to Maggie and slipped out of her room. She trailed after a group of girls until they reached the venue. Irina had gone all out as she noticed the amber lights that wrapped on the dark pillars of the courtyard. Round cocktail tables draped in black silk were scattered throughout. The candle centerpiece flickered inside a glass box while black paper roses entwined around it.

Various finger foods like tuna cucumber cups, avocado shrimp cocktail, salad shots, buffalo chicken meatballs, chocolate truffles, and white pretzels were served on each table.

Reiju roamed the party, grabbing a Bloody Mary from a passing waiter in a silver mask. She cleared her throat at the overpowering taste of vodka. Fuck. How could anyone drink this?

The girl continued her charade, eyeing the tables to determine where the chocolate truffles were located.

Then, she saw him.

Professor Shah was in a maroon turtle neck with a dark blazer and pants. A simple black mask covered half of his face that somehow accentuated his sharp jawline. He popped a chocolate truffle to his mouth and drank a vodka tonic. His sharp eyes were focused on the people that passed by his table.

She chuckled at how Maggie's info on chocolate came in handy. Now, she had to decide whether she would approach him or not.

It was obvious that letting the professor discover her identity assured her of a win.

But where's the fun in that?

Reiju stalked towards the man and her blood sang at the thought of seducing him without the usual labels of student and teacher that society had bestowed upon them.

How thrilling.