ログイン~LUCAS~I set the bags down beside the bed and crouch beside her.Up close, she looks even worse.Her cheeks are flushed, her lips slightly dry, and there is a thin sheen of sweat across her forehead. She has pulled the blanket almost up to her chin, as though even the smallest movement might make the pain worse.“Camilla,” I call softly. Her eyes open slowly. For a second, she simply stares at me, almost as though she cannot understand why I am standing in her bedroom.“You really came?” she says.The weakness in her voice makes something twist inside my chest.“Yes,” my voice comes out quieter than I intend. “You should have told me it was this bad.”Camilla closes her eyes again instead of answering.I reach out and press the back of my fingers against her forehead. She is warm, but not alarmingly so. Still, the sight of her lying there makes something uneasy settle in my chest.I have seen her tired. I have seen her frustrated, distracted, annoyed, excited,
~LUCAS~The door closes behind Camilla, and for some reason, I remain standing there.I do not know what I am waiting for.Maybe for the sound of her footsteps fading down the hallway, or perhaps for her to knock again and tell me she forgot something, because the silence that settles over the apartment almost immediately feels strangely wrong.A few seconds ago, her voice had been everywhere.Her laughter had filled the kitchen, her teasing had followed me from the gas cooker to the dining table, and even when neither of us was speaking, her presence had somehow made the apartment feel alive.Now there is nothing…. just silence.I slowly turn away from the door, and the emptiness catches me off guard.It is ridiculous because this is my apartment. I have lived alone long enough to be perfectly comfortable with quiet, yet today the same quiet feels different, almost uncomfortable.My eyes drift toward the kitchen, where a few things are still sitting exactly wher
~CAMILLA~The next day, I find myself standing outside Lucas's apartment with my bag hanging from one shoulder and a smile I have been trying very hard to hide since I left home.I don't know why I am more than excited about today's tutoring lesson.It is supposed to be nothing more than studying like previous days, yet somehow, after yesterday's taekwondo training and the way we spent the rest of the day eating and laughing together, coming here feels different now.It feels like I am visiting someone I actually want to see.The thought makes my smile grow wider just before I knock.Lucas opens the door a few seconds later, and the moment his eyes meet mine, something warm flutters inside my chest.“You're early.”I glance at my phone dramatically. “I'm only five minutes early.”“Exactly.”“You should be happy. It means I'm becoming a responsible student.”He steps aside to let me in, a small smile tugging at his lips.“Well, I'll have to admit you're really becom
~LUCAS~I'm contemplating for the tenth time if I should send my already typed out message to Camilla.We aren't having tutoring lessons today, and we shouldn't be meeting up at all. But I had already promised her that I will carry her along whenever I'm going for taekwondo lessons.I stare at the text message again, reading it for the tenth time in how many minutes.'Hi, Camilla. Hope you're doing great? I know we shouldn't be meeting up today, but I'm off to the taekwondo house. Are you still interested in coming with me?’The text doesn't seem to be too much, but I don't why I'm so hesitant to send it.I mean…I don't owe Camilla any taekwondo lessons. What I owe her is study lessons.So I could easily go for my taekwondo lessons without having to inform her or even carry her along.I shouldn't be bothered if she gets angry at me, right?But deep down, I know I typed out that message because I want her to come with me.I really enjoyed the last time she went w
~CAMILLA~“Are you alright, Camilla?” I hear Mr. Lucas say.For a ridiculous second, I forget what I'm supposed to say.His face is much closer than I'm used to seeing it, and I can make out the tiny details of his expression. The faint crease between his brows, the slight dampness of his hair and the warmth in his eyes.And goodness, his eyes are beautiful."Camilla?" He calls.I blink twice."Yes?""Are you hurt?" he asks.I shake my head. "No. I'm fine."He gives my waist a final steadying touch before releasing me."Watch your footing,” he tells me.I step back, trying very hard to behave as though my heart hasn't suddenly started beating faster."Okay."He returns to his position without making anything of the moment.I, however, need a few seconds to remember that we're supposed to be sparring.How am I supposed to concentrate when the man has just caught me like that?I take a breath and raise my hands again.Focus, Camilla.He seems to notice my brief
~CAMILLA~The moment we enter the hall, the smell of clean mats and the faint sound of feet striking the padded floor greet us.A man in his forties approaches us. He's dressed in a white uniform, with a black belt tied securely around his waist."Lucas?" he asks."Yes. Good evening,” Lucas replies."Good evening. Welcome."They exchange a brief handshake before the instructor looks at me."And this is?" He asks."My friend. She's joining me today,” Lucas replies.Friend.I don't know why that particular word makes me smile.I quickly introduce myself and the instructor welcomes me before asking whether I've trained before."A little," I reply. "My father taught me some things when I was younger.""That's good. We'll see what you remember,” he says.I smile.Oh, he has no idea.We begin with warm-ups, stretching and a few basic movements. The instructor explains that he'll assess our experience before deciding which exercises to give us.I'm following along, although my attention keeps
~ELENA~Nico's lips graze my cheeks…almost a kiss.Almost.And then the gym door swings open.“Damn!” We both exclaim.Riccardo walks in, towel over his shoulders. He pauses, eyes flicking between our too-close bodies.“Everything okay here??” He asks, voice neutral, but b
~ELENA~I don't even know when we get home. I just feel someone pulling me out of the car and leading me to my room.I feel numb. My body, my senses, my mind….they all feel numb.The door to my room opens and I am led inside.“Take your bath and rest. We'll come to chec
~ELENA~Vincenzo doesn’t take his eyes off me as he shrugs off his jacket, tossing it carelessly onto my couch in the room.“Stand up,” he orders softly, but there’s no room for disobedience in his tone.My legs feel weak, but I obey, standing slowly from the bed.Riccard
Alessandro stands in the middle of his father’s office, tall and impassive, hands in his pockets, face unreadable. His black shirt clings to his frame, sleeves rolled to the elbows, veins prominent, tattoos peeking at his wrists. The room is thick with tension.Behind the heavy mahogany desk sits







