"Oh, you don't look like you were a naughty kid," I laugh, glancing at Luca.
He shrugs, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
"Can't judge a book by its cover. For example… look at you."
"Um?" I blink at him, feeling a blush creeping up my cheeks.
He clears his throat quickly, as if realizing how flustered I am. "I mean… who would've thought the girl always hiding under a hoodie would be this cute and fun to laugh with?"
I look away, my words stuck somewhere in my throat. I know I'm blushing, my heart hammering against my ribs.
"Zoey?"
"Um—yeah… yeah," I snap out of it, my chest tightening at the way he says my name. Something about it lingers in the air, soft but insistent, making me feel both exposed and noticed.
I look at him again. My eyes feel brighter somehow, like sunlight slipping through clouds.
"Just stay the way you are, okay?" he says quietly.
I nod, voice barely above a whisper. "O… okay." My voice cracks a little, and I hope he doesn't notice.
He gets up and heads to the reception, cleaning the glasses like nothing just happened. I stay seated, letting the warmth of his words settle over me, a small smile tugging at my lips. Silly me, I think. Always overthinking, always imagining things.
"Luca," I call, standing and walking toward the other side of the reception.
"Hmm?" he hums, still focused on the glasses.
"How long are you planning to work at this café?" I ask, trying to sound casual but failing.
He thinks for a second, then shrugs. "Well… I don't mind working here now. I've got good company, don't I?"
"Yeah," I say, hesitating. "I think I'll be here for a while too. It's not that bad."
"Yeah," I smile softly. "Not so bad after all."
I sit back at our table, sipping my coffee, feeling a warmth in my chest that has nothing to do with the drink. I know I'm falling for him, slowly, quietly. Not in the dramatic, overwhelming way I've seen in movies. No, it's softer, a creeping kind of pull that makes my stomach flutter.
It's not that he's a bad guy.
It's just me.
The curse I carry… losing everything I start to care about.
"Zoey, can you help me assemble these cups?"
I nod, standing, heart still slightly fluttering.
........................…
Suddenly, Bella storms into the classroom, slamming my books off my desk.
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, huh?!" she yells, her voice carrying across the room. Every head turns toward us, eyes curious and judging.
I look at her calmly. I stand up, folding my arms across my chest, refusing to let her argue with me.
"Someone you can never be, Bella."
Her eyes widen. I can see the shock registering. It's the first time I've ever answered her back.
She points a finger at me, shaking. "You better stay away from him."
I smirk, leaning slightly. "What if I don't?"
Her jaw tightens, glossy lips pressed together as she struggles to hold herself back. "You'll see," she snaps. "Luca only talks to you out of sympathy. He sees you as some lonely girl."
I raise an eyebrow. "And…?"
She gulps, brushing her hair behind her ear nervously. "You're not even his type. So… stay away from him."
I don't respond. I simply sit back down, letting my calmness be my shield.
Bella storms off, her heels stomping angrily against the floor, leaving a tension in the room that slowly dissipates.
Elizabeth walks in, blinking as she looks around. Her eyes land on the books scattered across the floor. Quietly, she picks them up and places them back on my desk.
"Um… did that glitter rainbow do this?" she whispers.
I nod, still angry. She can see it in my expression.
She slides into the seat beside me. "She's jealous as hell, isn't she? Obsessed with herself and Luca."
"Yeah," I say calmly. "I can see that too."
"Don't let her get on your nerves," she adds softly. "Okay?"
I nod just as the classroom door opens, and the professor walks in. The room falls silent, a crisp order settling over the chaos from before.
........................
Those strange feelings from the past few days had been resting heavily in my chest a fear, an alarm, like a thrashing storm waiting to break. And then there were Mother's eyes… something in them that both scared me and felt strangely peaceful, like she had forgiven her life, as if every regret had melted into acceptance.
"Mother… I… I am scared," I confess softly.
She hums, her hands soapy from the dishes. She looks up at me, eyes soft but tired, and smiles gently. "Don't be scared, baby. You're strong. I know that, right?"
Her eyes are red and swollen. I nod quietly, picking at my breakfast, trying to steady the tremor in my chest.
"Your uncle visited earlier," she says calmly.
I almost choke on my food. "Him… why was he here?"
She takes a long, shuddering breath. "Nothing special… just ignore him. Stay away if you ever meet him."
I nod again, my appetite completely gone.
"I'll be leaving, Mother," I say, picking up my bag.
She turns from the sink, eyes soft but lined with fatigue. "I love you. You know that, right?"
I pause mid-step, feeling my chest tighten. "I love you too, Mother."
I smile faintly and leave the house, carrying that heavy heart with me, the weight of fear, uncertainty, and the strange mixture of hope and dread that had settled inside me over the past few days.
...…..Z......