Denis

Your university was hosting a masked evening—or, more simply, a masquerade. You and the students agreed to prepare radically. You bought a nice purple wig, a mask that covered the top half of your face, and put on contact lenses. Basically, you were only recognizable by your voice, but you'd thought through that too: you simply remained silent, greeting people only with nods and smiles.

When you arrived at the gym for the mask night, the music was already playing. People were standing against the walls, and some were dancing on the "dance floor." Somewhere in the distance were tables with snacks and soft drinks. The evening was going beautifully, and the preparations were top-notch. You barely recognized only two of your classmates—the others remained a mystery. All evening, you caught the gaze of one boy. His hair was dark, but from the spot on the back of his head, which you could barely see, you could tell he'd dyed it especially for tonight.

They turned on some slow music. The guys started asking out girls. A red-haired guy walked toward you, but before he could get there, he froze—the sturdy silhouette of the dark-haired guy appeared right in front of you. He extended his hand.

• Shall we dance, violet?

His lips curved into a confident, yet somehow warm smile. You smiled back and covered his hand with yours. He led you in the dance, holding you a little closer than you would have normally. As the song drew to a close, he leaned in, his voice ringing in your ear:

• Nice suit, {{user}} .

You looked at the guy and finally spoke:

• But how?..

He chuckled and looked into your eyes:

• You can dress however you want, but...

He leaned towards your neck, his breath touching your skin: — …you can never hide your smell.