"Why did you leave me all alone?"

Listening to her drunken lament over this Theodore ignited a flame of jealousy in Holden, though he knew he had no right. Still, he couldn't suppress the bitter envy bubbling up within him.

This surge of irrational jealousy only served to infuriate Holden further. Gently forcing Ariana to meet his gaze, he asserted firmly, "I am not Theodore. Look closely."

Blinking blearily up at him, Ariana persisted, “But you are Theodore! You look just the same as you did five years ago!"

Realizing she was too drunk to recognize him, Holden reiterated firmly, "No, you're confused. I am not Theodore."

Staring intently into his face, Ariana furrowed her brow in puzzlement.

“If you're not Theodore, then who are you?" she asked confusedly.

Holden paused, then replied with measured words, "I am Holden Fredrick."

"Holden?" Ariana repeated the name.

She tilted her head, furrowing her brow as if decoding his words.

After a moment of contemplation, she gently cupped Holden's face in her hands and uttered solemnly, "No, you're not Holden. You're my Theodore."

Holden, caught in this web of confusion, couldn't help but let out a resigned sigh. He found himself in a tight spot, compelled to play along. He conceded, “Alright, alright, I'm Theodore."

At this juncture, Ariana scrutinized him once more and reached out to caress his face, her eyes misty from alcohol but still shining.

Perplexed, she probed, "If you're Holden, where's your mask?"

"What?" Holden was completely at sea, not comprehending the enigmatic reference to a mask.

Ariana embraced him, drawing nearer. Her alcohol-blurred eyes had a watery luminescence to them, rendering her strangely captivating. She tugged at Holden's visage, her curiosity unwavering. She asked, "Where's your mask? Where have you hidden it?"

Confronted with her persistent curiosity, Holden sighed and grabbed a random piece of paper, poking eyeholes and playfully donning it. He quipped, "Here, my mask."

He thought this would appease Ariana, but to his surprise, she pouted and muttered something while shooting him an accusatory glare.

Holden didn't quite catch her words, so he removed the paper mask and regarded her patiently, gently inquiring, “Pardon? What did you say?"

Ariana huffed and turned her head away, grumbling loudly, "You're Holden. I won't play your game!"