<□>□□e seco□d en□ounter □oomed□ahead, s□□□u□ed □n □ veil □f m□stery and uncertainty. Antic□pation filled the air□ mingli□□ wit□ □ hint of ner□ousness. T□□□memories of the f□r□t□meet□ng□□laye□ lik□ a filmstrip in □y min□, □□ch fra□e d□□□ected and analyzed in an attem□t to□predict the out□□□e of this impending rendezvo□s. □ould□it b□ a mere rep□ication of the ini□ial intera□t□on, or□wou□d it take on a lif□□of it□ ow□□ fo□g□ng a ne□ p□th filled with □ne□pected t□ists and turns?