Chapter 4

His eyes stayed on mine for a few seconds before his expression changed slightly. His brows lifted, almost as if he was surprised I had stopped there.

“Serena.” He said my name quietly. His voice was deeper than I remembered. I swallowed. “Lucian?” I said it almost like I was testing the name. The corner of his mouth moved slightly. “Yeah.” He lowered his phone and slipped it into his pocket. “It’s me.” I don't know why, but hearing him say it made my chest feel weird. I took a few steps closer.

“So ikaw talaga yung nakita ko kanina?” I asked, my voice sounding more curious than I intended. I crossed my arms loosely, trying to look normal even though I suddenly felt very aware of myself.

Lucian gave a small nod. “I figured you didn't recognize me.” There was something almost amused in his voice. I frowned. “Obviously.” I looked at him from head to toe before looking back at his face. “Last time I saw you, bata pa ako.”

He smiled faintly. “I know.” His eyes stayed on me. “You were seven.”

I blinked. “Seven?”

“Yeah.” He nodded once, his expression softening for a moment. “You were still running around everywhere.”

I let out a small laugh. “Okay, that's embarrassing.”

“You were a kid.” He said it simply, with a quiet smile. I looked away for a second. “Still embarrassing.” He chuckled under his breath. That tiny sound made me look back at him. For some reason, seeing him smile made him look less intimidating. Still attractive. Definitely still intimidating. But less cold.

I cleared my throat. “So... you've been here for how long?”

“Since the funeral.” His expression changed slightly. The smile disappeared. I noticed it immediately. “Right.” I lowered my eyes.

The mention of the funeral instantly brought back the heaviness I'd been trying to escape. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence wasn't exactly awkward. It was just... heavy.

Lucian looked at me carefully. “You okay?” I almost laughed. “Hindi.” I answered honestly.

His eyes softened. “I'm sorry.” I shrugged, trying to brush it off. “Okay lang.” But my voice betrayed me. It wasn't okay. Not even close. Lucian took a small step closer, but he stopped before getting too near. “You don't have to pretend.” I looked at him.

“I know.” My fingers tightened around the edge of my sleeve. “Pero nakakapagod din kasi na lahat nagtatanong kung okay lang ako.”

He nodded slowly. “I understand.”

“You don't.” I said it before I could stop myself. His eyebrows lifted slightly. I immediately looked away. “Sorry.”

“No.” His voice was gentle. “You don't have to apologize.” I looked back at him. His expression was serious now.

There was something different about the way he looked at me. Not pity. Not the usual concern people had been giving me since my parents died. It was quieter than that. More personal. And somehow, that made me uncomfortable. Or maybe nervous. I couldn't tell.

“Why were you looking at me earlier?” The question escaped my mouth. Lucian went still. I immediately regretted asking.

“Never mind.” I started to turn away. “Serena.”  His voice stopped me. I looked back. He was watching me with an expression I couldn't read. “I was just surprised.”

“Surprised about what?” He hesitated. Then he gave a small breath through his nose.

“You grew up.” I stared at him. That was it?

“You were expecting me to stay seven?” He smiled faintly. “No.” His eyes moved over my face for just a second before returning to my eyes. “But it's different seeing you now.” My heart gave a weird little jump. I didn't like that. Or maybe I liked it too much.

I crossed my arms tighter. “Well, you're different too.”

“Yeah?” I nodded. “Very.” His lips curved slightly. “Is that a good thing?” I looked at him again.

He was standing only a few feet away now, his expression calm but his eyes noticeably more focused on me. There was a quiet confidence in the way he carried himself, like he knew exactly how much space he took up without needing to prove anything.

I swallowed. “I haven't decided yet.”

He laughed softly. “Fair enough.” I smiled despite myself. For the first time since my parents died, I felt something that wasn't sadness. It was small. Barely there. But it was something. And maybe that was what scared me most. Because Lucian was supposed to be someone familiar. Someone from my childhood. Someone my parents trusted. Someone I should have been able to look at without feeling this strange pull in my chest.

But standing there with him now, I couldn't stop thinking about one thing. I knew his name. I knew where he came from. I knew he had been part of my life once. But the man standing in front of me? I didn't know him at all. And somehow, I wanted to.