Lucca's POV
We were at the dining area, ready to have dinner. Mira, Dominic, and Damian were already seated. However, Seraphina hadn't come downstairs yet. Suddenly, the old lady appeared from the staircase.
"Ma'am Mira, Ma'am Seraphina isn't feeling well. She told me she'll be skipping dinner."
"Skip dinner? No. If she can't come down, I'll just bring her some food."
I knew the reason why Seraphina was acting that way. She didn't want Mira to know that she had been injured during our previous adventure. She didn't want anyone to worry about her.
If Mira brought her dinner, there was a high chance she would discover what Seraphina was hiding.
"I'll take her food. Mira, just enjoy your dinner with Dominic and Damian," I said firmly.
Mira looked taken aback by what I said, while the two men didn't seem surprised at all. They already knew my reason for doing this. It was for myself, not for anyone else.
"W-What...?" Mira couldn't even finish her question as she exchanged a glance with the old lady. It was as if they were silently communicating.
I didn't let her continue. I told the old lady to prepare a tray of food for Seraphina. The old lady smiled at me and gave me a meaningful look before preparing the tray.
I knew she already thought that Seraphina and I were a couple. Who wouldn't? Especially after seeing us lying on the bed so close to each other.
"Lucca, I can bring the food to Seraphina," Mira offered.
But I completely ignored her. I took the tray from the old lady and immediately left the dining area.
When I arrived at Seraphina's room, I knocked on the door before entering. I didn't wait for her response, but at least I knocked.
As I stepped inside, I saw Seraphina staring into space. When she noticed me, her eyes widened and she quickly looked away.
"W-What brings you here?" she asked, stuttering.
"Dinner," I replied, placing the tray on the bedside table.
She looked at the food with excitement. So she was hungry after all. If she skipped dinner, she probably wouldn't be able to sleep because of hunger.
"W-Why did you bring it here yourself? What if Mira starts asking questions? You know how easily she gets curious."
"Then let her be," I responded calmly.
"What? It's not just Mira. What about your friends? Aren't they curious about what happened between us? And why you're bringing dinner to me?"
"Can you stop talking and just eat? You're annoying," I said irritably.
She immediately closed her mouth and looked down at the tray. She quietly ate her food, and I could tell she was genuinely hungry.
"Thank you. I thought I'd be skipping dinner tonight," she said.
"How's your foot? You can remove the bandage later. Can you walk?"
"Yeah, I think so. My goal is to make sure no one finds out I'm injured, especially Mira," she replied while chewing her food.
I couldn't help but shake my head.
"Are you really not going to tell your friend you're hurt? She keeps asking me questions."
She shook her head.
"I told you, I don't want to ruin the trip. I can still handle it, so there's no need to worry."
"You can't handle it. If you could, you wouldn't need my help," I said, slipping both hands into my pockets.
She frowned at me but didn't respond. Instead, she scooped another spoonful of food into her mouth.
"I'll be going. I need to finish my dinner too."
Without waiting for her reply, I turned around and left the room.
Seraphina's POV
I was shocked when Lucca entered my room carrying a tray in his hands. I didn't know he could be this caring, or maybe I was just imagining things.
Honestly, the moment he entered the room, the scene from earlier flashed through my mind. It immediately made me feel warm and embarrassed. At the same time, I couldn't help but worry about what Mira and Lucca's friends might think if they found out he had personally brought my dinner.
As usual, Lucca's responses were annoying. He didn't even take a break from being sarcastic. After handing me the tray, he simply left without giving me the chance to respond.
I frowned and focused on eating.
I shouldn't be mad at him. He had helped me a lot since yesterday, and being nice to him was the least I could do.
After finishing my dinner, I placed the tray on the bedside table and was about to stand up to go to the bathroom when I heard a knock on the door. I quickly grabbed the blanket and covered my feet.
"Mira! Are you done eating?"
I was startled when I saw her that I wasn't able to lower my voice.
"You look shocked every time you see me," she said, giving me a suspicious look.
"Do I? I don't think so," I replied while avoiding her gaze.
Mira walked over and sat beside me on the bed. She wasn't smiling.
"Do you have something to tell me?"
I looked her in the eyes. It was obvious she was waiting for me to confess whatever I was hiding.
"No."
"None? Am I really your friend?" she asked in a hurt voice.
"Mira..." I called softly.
I didn't know how she found out that I hadn't told her about my injury. Did Lucca tell her?
"You and Lucca... are you in love with each other?"
"Huh?"
The question caught me completely off guard.
"Are you?" Mira asked again seriously.
I burst out laughing.
"Where did you get that idea?" I asked between laughs, trying to ease the tension.
"The old housekeeper."
She didn't laugh with me.
I slowly stopped laughing and looked at her seriously.
"What did she say?"
"She said she saw you lying here in your room with Lucca very close to you. She thought the two of you were making out."
I coughed so hard after hearing that.
Making out?
Me and Lucca?
The thought had never even crossed my mind.
I didn't know how to react. It was too ridiculous and overwhelming.
"And do you really believe Lucca and I were making out?" I asked.
Just saying those words gave me chills.
"Of course not!" Mira immediately replied. "I know you. I just needed confirmation that what the old lady saw wasn't what she thought it was."
"Of course it wasn't true. Can you even imagine that scene? Lucca and I aren't even friends."
"Exactly! That's what confuses me. How can the two of you be so close when you're not even friends? He even brought your dinner himself. How am I not supposed to imagine things?"
I remained silent.
How could I explain that Lucca was only helping me hide my injuries? If I told her the truth, all her suspicions would disappear, but she would become even more worried about me. If I didn't tell her, she would continue thinking there was something between Lucca and me.
What should I do?
Why did the old lady have to see us?
This situation was becoming more frustrating.
"What? I'm waiting..." Mira said impatiently.
"There is nothing to imagine. There's nothing between me and Lucca."
"Then explain it to me. Why did the old lady assume you were a couple?"
I sighed heavily.
"He'll be my boss soon. Shouldn't I start getting used to being around him? That way, I won't have a hard time adjusting when I start working."
That was the best excuse I could come up with.
I just hoped she would believe it.
Thankfully, Mira didn't argue. She seemed to accept my explanation, at least for now.
I gave a bitter laugh.
"Isn't it ironic? I resigned from Dominic's company because I didn't want to work anymore. I was tired of my routine. And now? I'm about to work for Lucca's company just because of the salary."
I shook my head.
"You can still take it back if you want. You know I can support you forever," Mira said emotionally.
At least she had softened compared to earlier.
"Are you kidding me? Do you really think I'd allow that? We both have our own lives. I can't depend on you forever."
Then I continued.
"Don't worry about me. I've already made up my mind. I won't work there forever. Once I've saved enough money, I'll move somewhere far away and live peacefully until I grow old."
"You have no plans of getting married?" Mira asked.
"Why would I? I can live alone."
"You're saying that now because you've never been in love. If you ever fall in love, you won't be saying that anymore."
I smiled faintly before looking at her.
"How about you? Can you see your future with Damian?" I asked, staring at her intently.
She blushed and nodded. "The moment I laid my eyes on him, I already told myself that I wanted to marry him. I hope we'll last forever."
I nodded and smiled. "I hope so too."
Mira spent a little more time talking to me about Damian. Although I was still hesitant about him, I decided to support them because of Mira. Who was I to judge him too early? Maybe Damian was simply that kind of person. I was just hoping he wouldn't hurt her.
After half an hour, Mira told me she was going back to her room. I nodded and let out a deep sigh of relief. At least I hadn't told her that I was injured. I really didn't like Mira and Dominic worrying about me. They treated me as if I were a baby.
I was about to go to the bathroom when someone knocked on the door again. Instinctively, I hid my feet under the blanket, expecting it to be Mira.
To my surprise, it was the old lady.
"Hi, Ma'am. I'm just here to get the tray."
"Ah, thank you," I replied with a smile.
The old lady smiled back and walked over to the bedside table to collect the tray.
"You and your boyfriend make a lovely couple. I hope your relationship lasts."
I wanted to correct her assumptions, but then I realized there was no point. She had already made up her mind. Instead, I simply said, "Thank you."
In a way, I had just accepted her assumption that Lucca was my boyfriend.
After all, we wouldn't be staying here forever. Tomorrow, we would return to Baguio, and I would probably never see her again.
Once she left, I finally went to the bathroom. I walked slowly and carefully since my feet were still aching.
I felt relieved after finally letting out the pee I had been holding in since Mira arrived.
As I looked at the bandages wrapped around my feet, I silently hoped they wouldn't swell by tomorrow.
After using the bathroom, I stepped out and froze in shock.
Lucca was sitting inside my room.
The door was wide open, and panic immediately washed over me.
"Lucca, the door is open," I whispered urgently.
What if the old lady or worse, Mira saw us?
"Tsk. So what?" he replied without the slightest concern.
"Lucca, my bandages!" I hissed through gritted teeth. I wanted to shout, but I kept my voice low so no one would hear.
"Tsk."
He stood up and walked toward the door.
My eyes widened.
For a second, I thought he was finally leaving, but instead, he simply closed the door before returning to sit on my bed.
I couldn't even move. Being this close to Lucca made me nervous.
Then the memory of what had happened earlier flashed through my mind again, causing me to blush.
"What?" he asked. "I came here to check your wounds. I brought some ointment too."
He held up a tube in his hand.
His expression remained blank and emotionless as usual.
"Just give it to me. I can apply it myself."
If Lucca applied the ointment himself, I didn't think I'd be able to breathe properly. The thought of his skin touching mine was enough to make me die from embarrassment.
"Sit down. No more talking."
His tone left no room for argument.
I immediately closed my mouth and obeyed, not realizing that doing so would only bring us closer.
I sat there quietly like an obedient puppy while watching him.
He opened the ointment and gently took my hand without asking permission.
I was caught off guard but didn't dare protest. He looked far too serious, and I knew he would only scold me if I resisted.
Silently, he applied the ointment to the wounds on my hand.
After that, he knelt down to reach my feet, startling me once again.
I instinctively pulled my feet back.
Lucca looked up at me.
He merely raised an eyebrow and said nothing.
Feeling embarrassed, I slowly extended my foot again and let him continue.
"You can remove the bandages tomorrow so Mira won't ask questions," he said.
"Okay..." I replied obediently.
I couldn't argue with him anymore. He had already helped me too much.
As Lucca carefully checked the bandages he had applied, I found myself staring at him again.
I couldn't say that I had a crush on him.
I was simply mesmerized by his appearance. People who looked like him only existed in the dramas I watched.
Then, suddenly, the image of Xavier and Monica appeared in my mind.
I stiffened.
Lucca looked at me curiously, but I was too distracted by my thoughts to notice.
"Xavier..." I murmured without thinking.
The name slipped from my lips before I could stop it, as though I wasn't fully aware of what I was saying.
Lucca's POV
As I stared at Seraphina, who had been staring at me as well, she suddenly uttered the name I had been hearing in my dreams.
"Xavier..."
The name instantly brought me back to the scenes I had dreamed about before—the scenes where Xavier and Monica didn't get their happy ending.
But how did Seraphina know that name?
Had she dreamed about it too?
When Master told me that there was a connection between Seraphina and me, was this what he meant?
"Do you know Xavier?" I asked curiously, my expression turning serious.
Seraphina looked startled by my question. She seemed unsure of what to say.
"Huh?" she replied, as if trying to ignore what she had just said.
But I was too curious to let it go.
"You just said the name Xavier. Do you know him?" I asked firmly.
"Maybe you heard it wrong. Or maybe I just said it because of a drama I recently watched," she reasoned out.
I didn't believe her.
I needed to know if she had dreamed about the same thing.
"Stop lying. I know you didn't say it out of nowhere. You were staring at me, and then you called me Xavier."
Her eyes widened, and her mouth parted slightly. But within seconds, she composed herself.
"I... I..." She struggled to find the right words, making me frown.
"Why not just admit it? Do I look like Xavier to you?" I asked.
I already knew I resembled him. I just wanted confirmation that her dream was the same as mine.
She paused and didn't answer right away.
I stared into her eyes, silently urging her to tell me the truth.
"What? Are you going to stare at me until dawn?" I asked sarcastically.
"I'm sorry," she said softly.
"Damn that apology! Why won't you tell me what you're thinking? Why did you call me Xavier?" I demanded, irritation evident in my voice.
She flinched but remained composed. She refused to let my words affect her.
"Why are you so mad just because I called you Xavier?" she asked, her voice now carrying a hint of anger.
"Because that's the same name from my dreams!" I shouted.
Her eyes widened once again, and she gasped.
"Now tell me. It's your dream too, isn't it?" I asked.
I had a strong feeling that we had both seen the same dream. I just needed her to confirm it.
"Because if it is," I continued, "then you should know that you look exactly like Monica too."
Her face turned completely pale with shock.