Seraphina's POV
The trip to Dominic's townhouse had finally arrived. It was Saturday morning, and we still had duty. Dominic also had a meeting to attend, but our call time was 12 noon. We planned to have lunch together after work. As for Damian and Lucca, I didn't know if Dominic had talked to them. Even Mira wasn't sure if Damian would come. But I hoped he would, so Mira could feel energized again.
When it was already 12 noon, Mira and I went to the parking lot. We would be riding in Dominic's car since the place was quite far, and Mira might get tired from driving.
When we arrived, Dominic was already there, honking his car to get our attention. He looked more excited than us.
"Let's go?" Dominic asked.
"What about Damian and Lucca?" Mira asked right away.
"They'll be riding in a different car," Dominic answered.
Mira nodded. "I thought they would ride with us, just like last time," she said, unable to hide her disappointment.
Dominic chuckled. "Don't worry, Damian will still be there."
Mira brightened a little, and we both got into the car. I sat in the front passenger seat while Mira comfortably took the backseat. I actually wanted to sit in the back, but she got in first. Besides, if I sat with her, it would look like Dominic was our driver.
"Let's eat lunch first before heading there. I'm a bit hungry," Dominic said.
"We're hungry too, right, Sera?" Mira asked.
"Ah… yeah," I replied.
We went to a Thai restaurant and ordered our meals. As usual, Dominic treated us and wouldn't let us pay. Even though I insisted—since he was already driving us, bringing us to his townhouse, and now treating us to lunch—it still felt like too much. But he just said it was nothing and that he was happy to go on another trip with us.
After lunch, we stepped out of the restaurant. Dominic's phone rang, and he answered it right away.
"Hey, dude. Have you started driving?" Dominic asked as he started the engine.
"We just finished lunch and are heading there now. Yeah. Okay."
He ended the call.
"Where are they?" Mira asked.
"They're already on the way," Dominic replied.
The whole trip was smooth. Dominic didn't drive too fast since he was with us. The background music was soothing, making me want to fall asleep. But since Mira was already asleep in the backseat, I forced myself to stay awake. I didn't want Dominic to feel alone.
"If you want to sleep, just sleep. We still have a long drive," Dominic said after noticing me dozing off.
"No, I'm okay," I replied, even though I was already sleepy.
He chuckled. "If you're worried I might fall asleep too, don't be. I don't doze off easily."
"It just doesn't feel right to sleep while you're driving and we're just here resting comfortably."
"Why not? You're my friends."
"Let's just talk," I said, trying to fight my sleepiness.
"About what?" Dominic asked.
"Anything."
He hummed. "Alright. Since you said anything, I have a question about what happened the last time you were at Lucca's house."
I didn't know how to feel. Should I regret telling him to pick any topic? Maybe I should've just agreed and gone to sleep.
"You don't have to answer if you don't want to," he added. "You're not obliged to."
"Go ahead," I said.
"Did Lucca threaten you?"
"Lucca? No," I answered. I didn't remember him threatening me, even if he hadn't told me where we were going.
"Out of all the places he could've taken you, why his library?"
I didn't respond right away. I had wondered about that too. How did he know I liked going to libraries? Sure, he knew I liked books, but was that enough?
"He knows I like books," I said.
"You know, when I saw you at his house with him, I was shocked. I couldn't imagine you being alone with him," he said with a chuckle.
"Is he really that dangerous?" I asked curiously.
He didn't answer immediately. He just kept his eyes on the road.
"Actually, no."
I looked at him. He was focused on driving, yet he answered calmly.
"People just misunderstand him. If you really get to know him, he's not like that," Dominic said with a slight smile.
Of course, if Lucca were truly dangerous, Dominic wouldn't be friends with him.
"How long have you been friends?" I asked.
"Since childhood."
I nodded.
"How about you? Aside from Mira, who else are your friends?"
"I don't have any friends. People don't like me."
"Don't like you? I beg to differ. The moment I saw you, I already felt like I wanted to be your friend. And I'm glad I didn't hesitate."
I smiled, then yawned. It was already dark, yet we still hadn't reached our destination. This time, I didn't know if I could hold on any longer like I did before. I was dozing off and could barely hear Dominic's voice.
The last line I heard him say was, "Be prepared, Seraphina. People might try to harm you."
*******
At 10 p.m., we finally arrived. I woke up when Dominic turned off the engine of his car. Mira woke up too.
"We're finally here," Dominic said.
We immediately got out of the car and saw another vehicle parked near the house. The two men stepped out, both wearing black pants and long-sleeved black shirts.
Lucca's eyes met mine. It only lasted for a second, but it felt electrifying. I was the first to look away. I couldn't hold his gaze.
Mira and I grabbed our bags, and Dominic helped us. We went inside the house, and I was amazed by its design and structure. Everything was made of wood—not the cheap kind, but the expensive kind. I could tell Dominic was fond of paintings because there were so many displayed in his living room.
"Your room is upstairs. Let me guide you," Dominic said, assisting us like VIPs. His friends quietly went to their own rooms. Of course, they already knew their way around; they had been friends since childhood.
"Here is your room."
As Dominic opened the door, I was left in awe by how clean and beautiful it was. Even Mira, who was just as wealthy as Dominic, looked amazed.
"I like this room," Mira said.
Dominic simply smiled in response.
"I'll let you fix your things. I'm going to prepare dinner for us," he said.
"I'll cook dinner," I volunteered. I knew Dominic must be tired from driving, yet he was still willing to prepare our meal.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Of course. I already slept in the car, so I still have energy tonight. Just take a rest in your room, and I'll call you when dinner is ready," I said with a smile, hoping he wouldn't refuse.
"Alright. I'll let Lucca help you since Damian was the one who drove."
I wanted to stop him and say that I could cook on my own, but he was already gone.
I told Mira to follow me to the kitchen once she was done in the bathroom. I didn't hear any response, but I hoped she heard me.
I went downstairs and headed straight to the kitchen. At first, I couldn't find it; the house was quite big. Luckily, I found it after a while. But Lucca was already there, wearing an apron and chopping something on the board.
I almost turned around to leave the kitchen, but my conscience wouldn't let me. I didn't want to eat dinner without helping.
I cleared my throat to get his attention.
He stopped what he was doing and looked at me. I gave him a forced smile, but he didn't respond.
"I can help," I said, still standing at the entrance.
No response.
"You can ask me for anything you need. I'll do it."
Why was this so awkward? I wasn't comfortable being around him, yet I had to help.
"If you want to help, then come here. You can't do anything standing at the entrance," he said sarcastically.
He had a point. I shouldn't be annoyed. How could I help if I just stayed there?
"Wash these," he added.
I washed the potatoes, carrots, and cabbage. I didn't know what he was planning to cook, but I just followed his instructions. The distance between us was small. I stood at the sink while he chopped beside me. The only sounds I could hear were the knife hitting the board… and my heartbeat.
Yes, my heartbeat was unusually loud, and I didn't know why. Maybe I was nervous whenever Lucca was around. Or maybe I was still thinking about why he kept helping me financially. I didn't know. I just wanted the night to pass quickly.
When I finished washing the vegetables, he told me to cook rice in the rice cooker. I quietly followed his instructions and went along with everything.
After he finished chopping, he placed a pan on the stove and sautéed the onions, garlic, and other ingredients. I stood there, silently watching him cook.
Honestly, based on how he moved, he looked like a professional chef. I couldn't help but stare at him. He was so focused that he didn't even notice he was starting to sweat. Yet even then, he still looked clean… almost effortlessly put together.
He was the kind of man who seemed perfect, at least when it came to physical appearance.
Just not his personality.
"Are you done staring at me?" he asked.
I was so startled by his question that I accidentally dropped the knife he had been using earlier. It fell onto my foot, leaving a wound.
I wanted to scream. The knife was sharp. I felt a stinging pain in my foot. The cut wasn't that deep, but it was bleeding.
I stayed still, not moving at all. Surely, Lucca would scold me for being so careless while he was busy cooking our dinner. He would probably say that I wasn't helping at all.
He frowned as he looked at my foot. The only sound in the kitchen was the soft sizzle of the food he was cooking.
"Sit down," he said, gesturing toward the stool by the counter.
Though hesitant, I followed him. I didn't have the right to argue; it was my fault in the first place. If only I hadn't been staring at him, none of this would have happened.
Lucca turned off the stove and left the kitchen. I stayed seated, waiting for him to come back or tell me to return to my room. After a few minutes, he came back carrying a first aid kit.
I looked at him, but he didn't meet my gaze. His attention was fixed on my foot.
"Lucca…" I called softly, but the words I wanted to say wouldn't come out. I wanted to tell him I could handle it myself, but I was afraid I might only make it worse.
He silently treated my wound. He cleaned it with hydrogen peroxide, and it stung, but I didn't complain. I tried not to show any sign of pain in front of him. I kept reminding myself that this was my fault—I deserved it.
Still, I found myself staring at him again.
The way he carefully treated my wound, the focus he put into it… who wouldn't stare? Even when he did nothing, people would still notice him.
When he finished, he wrapped my foot with gauze and secured it with medical tape. He quietly put away the things he had used, closed the kit, and stood up. He glanced at me briefly but didn't say a word.
He placed the first aid kit on the counter, washed his hands, and went back to cooking as if nothing had happened.
I remained seated.
I should have left the kitchen and gone somewhere else—anywhere away from him. But I couldn't stop watching him. Was this becoming a habit?
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts, yet I stayed there, watching him until he finished cooking.
"Do you need anything?" I finally managed to ask.
"In that condition?" he replied.
I couldn't tell if he was mocking me or simply concerned, so I chose to ignore it.
"Thank you," I said sincerely.
He didn't respond. Maybe he was still annoyed at me—for wasting his time, for being careless, for becoming a burden. I bit my lower lip, bracing myself in case he suddenly snapped.
But he remained silent.
"I'll prepare the plates," I said, then slowly stood up. It was the least I could do to help.
But the moment I put weight on my foot, a sharp sting shot through it, throwing me off balance.
Before I could fall, Lucca caught me.
The way he held me felt like a scene straight out of a drama. One hand gripped my waist to keep me from falling, while the other supported my arm.
Our eyes met and stayed there.
No one spoke. We just stared at each other.
This close, I could finally see his face clearly. There was an urge—dangerous and unfamiliar—to reach out and touch him, to feel the softness of his skin. That kind of curiosity could only lead to trouble.
His gaze slowly dropped to my lips. He stared at them for a few seconds while I remained lost in his face.
Then—
The moment shattered.
"Sera? Lucca?"
Someone had entered the kitchen.
And just like that, everything fell apart.
We quickly pulled away from each other.
And we were doomed.
Or maybe… I was.