If we want to start now, then we should use today to prepare.
Viola crossed her arms and looked at Ezekiel with quiet determination.
"You should change into new clothes and disguise yourself. We're heading out soon."
Ezekiel glanced down at himself, then slowly looked around the room as if the walls might offer an answer. Disguise. The word felt strange on his tongue.
He lifted a hand to his face unconsciously. His sharp features, dark brows, and cold gaze were hard to forget. Especially for those who had once hunted him.
"I don't think just changing clothes will be enough," he muttered.
"Of course not," Viola replied, a small smile forming on her lips. "That's why I'm here."
She motioned for him to follow and walked toward a door at the end of the hallway. Ezekiel hesitated for a second before trailing behind her. When she opened the door, he realized immediately that this was her room.
He paused at the entrance.
It felt oddly personal stepping inside someone else's private space.
"Come in," Viola said, glancing back at him. "We'd better get started if we want to achieve our objectives."
After a brief hesitation, Ezekiel stepped inside.
The room was surprisingly neat. Soft pastel curtains framed the window, letting in gentle morning light. The bed was carefully made, decorated with an assortment of plushies. There were animal plushies, characters from games, and even dolls from popular series neatly arranged along the pillows and shelves. The sight was almost too cute, a stark contrast to the serious woman he had come to know.
Against one wall stood a tall bookshelf. The books were carefully categorized. Educational books occupied one section, neatly labeled and aligned. Another section was filled with fiction, novels, and comic books, some well worn from repeated reading.
At the far side of the room stood a large vanity cabinet. A round mirror was mounted at the center, surrounded by soft lights. The surface was filled with skincare products, cosmetics, brushes, palettes, and neatly organized accessories.
"You should sit here for a minute," Viola said, guiding him gently toward the chair in front of the vanity mirror.
Ezekiel sat down, facing his own reflection.
For a moment, he barely recognized the man staring back.
Viola moved with familiarity and precision. She opened drawers and took out makeup brushes, small palettes of color pigments, a comb, and several accessories such as hats and glasses. Her movements were confident, almost professional.
"If you don't mind… can I work with your face?" she asked gently.
Ezekiel met her gaze through the mirror. "I don't mind."
At his response, Viola beamed slightly and began.
Her fingers were careful but steady as she tilted his chin upward. She brushed light pigments across his skin, subtly adjusting the shadows along his jawline and nose. She softened certain features, emphasized others, altering the balance of his face without making it obvious.
Ezekiel felt an unfamiliar tension settle in his chest.
She was close.
Too close.
The faint scent of her shampoo lingered in the air. Her fingers occasionally brushed against his cheek or temple as she worked. Each small touch sent an unexpected warmth crawling under his skin.
He tried to focus on his breathing.
She probably couldn't hear it, but his heart was beating faster with every gentle stroke of her brush.
On Viola's side, she was completely absorbed in her task. With years of experience in the industry she once worked in, she had learned various makeup techniques. She had even attended vocational courses in cosmetics to further enhance her skills. Transforming someone's appearance was not new to her.
Still, this was different.
Ezekiel's features were striking. His bone structure was sharp, masculine, and naturally intense. Even with minimal effort, he looked intimidating. That intensity was exactly what they needed to tone down.
She adjusted his brows slightly with shading, softened the sharpness under his eyes, and lightened certain areas to give him a calmer, more approachable look.
Then she suddenly paused.
Ezekiel watched her through the mirror. "What?"
Without answering, Viola reached into her kit and pulled out a small grooming blade.
Ezekiel's eyes narrowed.
"And now…" she said slowly, a mischievous glint appearing in her eyes, "should we trim your eyebrows?"
She held the blade with exaggerated suspense, almost like a villain in a drama.
Ezekiel felt a chill run down his spine.
"You're enjoying this too much," he muttered.
"Maybe," she replied sweetly.
He closed his eyes. "Just do it."
And so, we bid farewell to those thick, bold eyebrows.
As Viola carefully trimmed and reshaped them, she felt a pang of regret. His natural brows were one of his most defining features. They framed his dark eyes and added to his fierce aura. To some people, it made him look scarier. To her, it made him unforgettable.
But that was precisely the problem.
"This is necessary," she reminded herself quietly.
When she finished, she leaned back to examine her work.
The change was subtle but effective. His face looked softer, less severe.
"Okay," she murmured. "Next step."
She pulled out a new box of colored contact lenses and handed one to him.
"Try this."
Ezekiel accepted it carefully. The lens was a light bluish shade like the ocean in a summer day, drastically different from his natural purple dark eyes.
"Would you like me to help you?" Viola asked.
He hesitated. The earlier closeness had already unsettled him more than he wanted to admit.
"No, it's fine. I can do it."
For a brief moment, disappointment flickered across Viola's face, but she quickly masked it with a nod.
"Alright. I'll look for a suitable wig for you."
She walked toward her closet and began searching through a storage box.
As soon as she turned away, Ezekiel released a quiet breath he didn't realize he had been holding. He quickly used the contact lens inserter and carefully placed the lenses into his eyes.
It felt strange.
Different.
He blinked a few times to adjust.
Meanwhile, Viola pulled out two wigs and held them up, debating internally.
"Hey, Ezekiel," she called out. "Which of these two do you prefer?"
She turned around while holding the wigs in both hands and walked toward him.
Ezekiel turned at the sound of her voice.
And what she saw made her freeze mid step.
The morning light hit his face just right.
The light blue contacts had completely transformed his gaze. The trimmed brows, subtle contouring, and softened shadows erased the intimidating aura he once carried. Instead of the feared S rank hunter people whispered about, the man standing before her now looked like a refined university student or perhaps a quiet office worker.
Approachable.
Handsome.
Dangerously handsome.
Viola's mind went blank.
What the—
Her thoughts screamed internally.
What theeeeeeee.
She stood there, wigs still raised in both hands, staring at him as if she had just created something far more powerful than a simple disguise.
Ezekiel tilted his head slightly. "Is something wrong?"
Viola swallowed.
"No," she said quickly, trying to regain composure. "Nothing's wrong."