□`□html□□p>□<□□Th□ second □□counter loomed □head, □hrouded in a vei□ of mys□ery and u□certainty. Anti□ipation f□l□ed th□ □□r, ming□ing□wi□h a□hint of □e□vousness. The memorie□ of□th□ □irst m□et□□g playe□ like a films□rip in my mind, each frame d□s□e□ted and a□□l□zed□in □n attempt to pred□ct□the outco□e of □his impending rendezvous.□Would □t □e a mere rep□icat□on □□ □□e initi□l i□t□raction, or would it take on a life □f□its own, f□rging a□n□w path fille□ with une□p□cted t□ists and tur□s?