Aria made a decision the moment she opened her eyes.
She would forget.
Everything about that night—
The rain, the danger, the way her heart had reacted…Him.
She stood in front of the mirror, tying her hair slowly, forcing her expression into something calm, something familiar.
"This is nothing," she whispered to herself.
"It didn't mean anything."
Because it couldn't.
Because it shouldn't.
A knock at the door pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Aria," her roommate called, "Lucas is here."
Her heartbeat steadied.
Good.
This was exactly what she needed.
When she stepped outside, Lucas was already waiting.
Leaning casually, hands in his pockets, looking completely at ease.
The moment he saw her, his expression softened.
"There you are," he said.
And just like that—
The tension inside her loosened.
"You came early," she said, walking toward him.
"I couldn't wait," he replied with a small smile.
There was concern in his voice.
Lucas stepped closer, his eyes scanning her face carefully.
"You sure you're okay?"
For a brief second—
She thought of telling him everything.
The fear.
The man who walked through danger like it belonged to him.
The way she couldn't stop thinking about it.
About him.
But she didn't.
Instead, she smiled.
"I'm fine."
Lucas studied her for a moment longer—
Then nodded.
"Good," he said softly.
And pulled her into a hug.
Aria closed her eyes.
This felt normal.Warm.Known.
No confusion.
No questions.
No danger.
"I missed you," he murmured.
"I missed you too," she replied.
And this time—
She made herself believe it.
They spent the day together.
Walking through familiar streets.
Talking about simple things.
Laughing at nothing important.
Everything felt… easy.
Like her life before.
Like the version of herself she understood.
Lucas reached for her hand, lacing their fingers together.
"You've been distant," he said quietly.
She shook her head.
"Just tired."
"You think too much," he smiled.
"Maybe."
"Don't," he said softly. "You don't need to. I'm here."
And she nodded.
Because that was the truth she chose.
At one point, he stopped walking and turned to her.
"Let's go out tonight," he said. "Just us."
Aria didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Because she wanted this.
Needed this.
Needed to prove to herself that nothing had changed.
But even as she smiled—
A memory slipped in.
Uninvited.
A different voice.
A different presence.
A different kind of silence.
Her fingers tightened slightly in his hand.
Lucas noticed.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Nothing," she said quickly.
And this time—
She forced herself not to think about it again.
Meanwhile… In another part of the city—
There was no sunlight.
No laughter.
No normal.
Rafael stood at the center of it all.
A dimly lit room filled with men who spoke only when necessary.
Every movement precise.
Every word calculated.
"Update," he said.
His voice calm.
Controlled.
Cold.
"Shipment is secure," one man reported.
"Opposition is watching the eastern route," another added.
Rafael listened without interruption.
Then spoke.
"Shift it."
No explanation.
No hesitation.
"Boss," someone asked carefully, "what about the risk?"
Rafael's gaze lifted.
Sharp.
Unforgiving.
"Handle it," he said.
And that was the end of it.
This was his world.
Where mistakes weren't allowed.
Where emotions didn't exist.
Where control was everything.
But today—Something was off.As the meeting continued—
His attention slipped.
Just slightly.
A memory.
Soft hands pressing against his skin.
A quiet voice telling him to stay awake.
Eyes that looked at him like she was trying not to feel something.
His jaw tightened.
"Boss?"
Rafael blinked, pulling himself back.
"Yes."
"The next move?"
A pause.
Then—
"Proceed," he said.
The meeting ended.Orders were given.
Men left.
The room emptied.Silence remained.
Rafael stood alone, staring at nothing in particular.His hand moved unconsciously—Brushing lightly against his side.
Where the bandage still was.Where her touch had been.
His expression darkened slightly.
"You're a distraction," he muttered.
But the words didn't carry conviction.
Because no matter how much he tried—He couldn't forget.
Her voice.
Her hesitation.
The way she looked at him when she said—
"I have someone."
A faint, almost amused breath escaped him.
Not because it was funny.But because it changed nothing.
Across the city—She was trying to forget him.
And here—He was realizing something dangerous.
He didn't want to.But he couldn't stop.
And that was the problem.
Because Rafael never lost control.
Not over situations.
Not over people.
Not over himself.
Until now.