Beneath the Surface Chapter 1: A Fateful Encounter

Chapter 1: A Fateful Encounter

The grand ballroom buzzed with quiet chatter as guests mingled, their laughter echoing off the walls adorned with expensive paintings and sculptures.

Xander was attending a charity event

The atmosphere was elegant, but a slight tension lingered in the air—Xander couldn’t place it. Maybe it was the fact that he was surrounded by people he didn't know, or maybe it was the unsettling realization that he didn’t quite belong in this world of high society.

Xander (Top ML)

(slowly slipping on his champagne and looking at the artworks on display)

(...) - actions **...** - thinking

Xander wasn’t here for the mingling, the glitz, or the empty chatter. It was the artwork that had drawn him here.

His gaze fell upon a large canvas displayed at the far end of the room.

Xander (Top ML)

**This painting is raw, vibrant—a mix of chaotic brushstrokes and soft, fluid shapes that seemed to carry an underlying message, though I can’t quite place it.**

Xander (Top ML)

**It is unmistakable; the artist had poured something real into it.**

He studied the piece with an intensity that caused the noise of the room to fade into the background

Xander (Top ML)

(quietly observing the crowd, his voice barely above a murmur) The art here is… different. More personal, more raw than usual.

His words were barely audible, but it was enough for those around him to take notice.

Xander (Top ML)

(Took another slow sip of his champagne) (scanning the room, hoping to find something to ease his discomfort)

The artwork was fabulous. Yet, it wasn’t the artwork that truly caught his attention, but the artist himself.

Standing just a few feet away from the canvas, Amidst the crowd, his gaze landed on him— Milo, the young artist responsible for this creation.

Milo (Bottom ML)

(Standing near one of the walls, talking animatedly to a small group of guests, his eyes gleaming with mischief)

Milo (Bottom ML)

(His playful smile was magnetic, drawing attention from everyone around him.)

The way he moved—effortless, confident—made Xander feel like an outsider.

Xander (Top ML)

(Xander watches Milo with intensity as the young artist talks to guests, his playful demeanor drawing attention.)

There was a magnetic energy about Milo, an aura of defiance that stirred something inside Xander.

Milo (Bottom ML)

(Turned towards Xander)

Their eyes locked for a brief moment

Xander (Top ML)

(Quickly glanced away, embarrassed by how intensely he had been staring.)

Milo (Bottom ML)

(noticing the lingering gaze, smirking playfully) You’re staring a little too much. You like what you see?

Xander froze, caught off guard by the bluntness of the comment. His throat went dry, and his words came out more awkwardly than he intended.

Xander (Top ML)

(eyes darting to the side, voice strained) I—uh, I’m not used to people like you. You’re… different.

Milo’s smirk deepened as he leaned in slightly, as if trying to understand what Xander meant. There was no malice, only curiosity, and something else—something challenging.

Milo (Bottom ML)

(Teasingly, raising an eyebrow) You mean, fun?

Xander (Top ML)

(cheeks flushed)

But before he could reply, the sound of footsteps interrupted their conversation.

A figure approached from the crowd, tall and purposeful, his presence commanding. Xander's stomach tightened as his eyes instinctively followed the newcomer.