I was not even surprised when she said she hated me before. It was too obvious back then. I could feel that she wanted to escape from me, yet fate kept letting us meet over and over again.
"I didn't mean to…" Seraphina said, probably because she thought I was offended.
"I knew it since then. But what about now? Do you still hate me?" I asked curiously. Because if she did, why did she accept my offer? Was it only because of the money?
"Not in the way you think it is," she said indirectly. "I sometimes hate you for being rude and sarcastic, but sometimes I appreciate you for being kind and helpful to me."
I opened the back door of my car and placed the paper bags inside. I even took the ones Seraphina was holding.
"Hop in," I said to her.
"Where are we going now?" she asked.
"Aren't you hungry? Because I am," I replied before walking toward the driver's seat. Seraphina got inside the car as well.
"I didn't realize it's already almost twelve noon."
"You were busy picking books."
"Because you didn't give me a specific genre that you liked, so it was hard for me to figure out what you would enjoy reading." She tried to blame me for taking too long to choose books. "I hope you actually read the books I picked for you. But can you even read them? You're busy with your business, and it seems like you don't even have time to read," she said while looking out the window.
I smirked.
"You don't see me at night, do you? Because you wouldn't say that if you did," I said before turning the car to the left. I was planning to eat at a Japanese restaurant thirty minutes away from the city. I wanted to have a peaceful lunch with a good ambiance.
"Do you like happy endings?" she suddenly asked.
I glanced at her abruptly before focusing on the road again.
"Why do you ask?"
"I'm just curious if we have the same… you know, preferences. I don't really prefer happy endings. Not because I don't want them, of course, who wouldn't like happy endings? But in reality, not everyone gets one. Some people think graduating from college is the end goal, but the painful reality is that it is only the beginning. They will face more struggles and hardships in life. Marrying someone you love isn't the end either. It's the beginning of how a couple builds a family and handles their relationship. For me, happy endings are just fantasies."
Seraphina said it while still looking out the window. She was probably thinking about the struggles she had experienced that made her see things that way.
Of course, I agreed with her. In reality, there are sad endings. In marriage, some couples break apart because of cheating or other issues that ruin their relationship. In the end, it depends on how people handle their lives. They are the ones who get to decide how to write their own stories, with themselves as the main characters.
"I don't like happy endings either. I have never experienced one," I said, which made her look at me.
This curse I carried was one of the greatest struggles I had ever experienced. Who would have thought that someone like me, someone strong and powerful, would end up doing everything just to survive and live longer?
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel when I remembered the first time I discovered that I had been cursed. Even now, I still didn't know who had done it. I hadn't received any answers from my master.
All my life, I had never felt the happiness that I truly wanted. My parents were never there for me. They gave me money, but that was never enough to fill the emptiness I felt inside. I had never experienced the love and warmth that parents were supposed to give, unlike Seraphina, who had experienced it with her grandmother.
She didn't know how chaotic my life had been, the events that led me to become rude, sarcastic, and aloof. I wasn't treating people that way because I wanted to. I did it because I needed to protect myself from them, to prevent them from hurting me the same way my parents did.
But being with Seraphina now, I think I can slowly remove the barrier I built years ago.
"Are you okay, Lucca?" Seraphina asked.
I glanced at her for a moment. She was still the same fragile girl I had met months ago. But even though we had only known each other for a short time, I felt like we had known each other for much longer.
Of course, we had known each other before. We had even become lovers in the lives of Xavier and Monica. Was that why, when I first met her, there was something about her that I couldn't explain? Even though she always annoyed me, why was I still there, always helping her?
"Lucca!" Seraphina shouted.
I immediately snapped back to reality and realized that I was about to hit another car.
"What's wrong with you? Are you trying to kill us? Just like what you did to me before?" she said, frowning.
Right. I almost killed her with my car before. That was the day when I was so frustrated, desperately trying to figure out where to find the ring.
I forced myself to focus on driving and bring my senses back. I didn't want to completely ruin the day just because of my painful memories and regrets.
It was Seraphina's fault for asking about happy endings.
Seraphina's POV
I don't know what suddenly happened to Lucca. After I shared my outlook about happy endings, he became quiet and started losing his focus. He almost hit the car in front of us because he seemed like he wasn't in his right mind.
Did I touch his ego? Or did I remind him of something painful from his past? Was it all because of his ex? Because I had mentioned marriage and happy endings.
I bit my lower lip. I wanted to ask him what was wrong, but I was afraid that he might get angry and the day would end badly. Thirty minutes had passed, and finally, we arrived. I thought we were going to another city just to have lunch.
Lucca parked his car, and we both stepped out. The moment I saw the place, I couldn't hide my amazement.
The restaurant was unlike any ordinary restaurant in the city. It was surrounded by nature, with a peaceful lake stretching beside it. Tall green trees and different kinds of plants decorated the area, creating a refreshing atmosphere. The sound of the gentle breeze passing through the leaves mixed with the quiet ripples of the water. It felt like a hidden sanctuary away from the noise and chaos of the city.
As we entered, my amazement only grew.
The inside of the restaurant was even more beautiful. It had a traditional Japanese-inspired design, with wooden walls, warm lighting, and elegant decorations that gave it a calm and luxurious feeling. There were small indoor gardens, Japanese paintings hanging on the walls, and carefully arranged ornaments that made every corner look like it had been thoughtfully designed. The tables were placed near the windows overlooking the lake, allowing the guests to enjoy the peaceful scenery while eating.
I couldn't believe that such a beautiful place existed not far from the city.
"Lucca, it's so beautiful. How did you find this place?" I asked, completely forgetting what had happened earlier.
"It's one of my favorite places," he answered.
He walked toward a table near the lake, where the view was even more breathtaking. The table was placed on a wooden balcony extending over the water. From there, we could see the entire lake surrounded by greenery. The gentle sound of the water and the fresh breeze made the place feel even more relaxing.
I couldn't help but feel amazed. Instead of sitting down immediately, I stood near the balcony and looked at the clear water below. I could see colorful fish swimming peacefully beneath the surface.
The breeze touched my face, fresh and satisfying. I closed my eyes for a moment, allowing myself to enjoy the peacefulness of the place.
If working with Lucca would always be like this, then I would surely be happy every day.
"What do you want to eat?" Lucca asked, making me open my eyes.
"Anything you want to order," I answered while still admiring the lake.
Lucca didn't say anything. I heard him talk to the waiter, and after a minute, the waiter told him to wait for a little while.
"Lucca, how did you find this place? It's so relaxing. I already love this place," I said while watching the fish swim in the clear water. I couldn't stop smiling.
"I actually own this place."
That was when I turned to him in surprise.
"You own this place?"
I couldn't help but feel amazed. How lucky was Lucca to have a place like this? If I were him, I would want to live here forever.
"Should I repeat myself again?" he asked sarcastically.
I frowned at him.
"I was just surprised," I said, rolling my eyes.
He didn't say anything anymore. He only looked annoyed, so I decided not to ask further. Instead, I focused on enjoying the peaceful moment by the lake.
Fifteen minutes later, our orders arrived. The table was filled with different kinds of Japanese cuisine.
"It's a lot, Lucca," I said. Did he order everything from the menu?
"Then eat a lot too so we can finish all of these," he replied before picking up his chopsticks and starting to eat.
I picked up my chopsticks as well and started with the kani salad. The moment I tasted it, I was amazed by how delicious it was. Then I tried the gyoza, and it felt like heaven.
"Lucca, the food is amazing. I feel like I'm in Japan," I said. Although I couldn't really tell if it was completely authentic since I had never been to Japan before.
"It's authentic. I made sure of that before building this restaurant."
I nodded. Now I understood why everything tasted so good. I could honestly finish everything in one sitting. With food like this every day, I would surely gain weight, and Lucca would no longer call me a little fragile woman.
While I was eating my rice from my bowl, Lucca suddenly placed a piece of grilled meat on top of it.
I looked at him, but he was already busy eating and choosing his own food. I secretly smiled before eating the grilled meat he gave me.
I didn't know how many times I complimented the food we ate. From the side dishes, appetizers, main course, and even the dessert, everything was delicious.
We ended our lunch with mochi ice cream. It was so good that I felt completely full.
"Thank you for letting me experience this, Lucca. I really appreciate it," I said with a smile.
He only looked away and watched the lake. He didn't respond to what I said, but it was okay. It wasn't a big deal.
"I'm so full now that I feel like I can't eat dinner later," I said while touching my stomach. "Lucca, can we stay here a little longer? I like breathing fresh air. It reminds me that I need moments like this sometimes."
"You just had that when we were on vacation," Lucca replied.
"I know, but I was injured back then, and I wasn't able to fully enjoy the scenery. But now, I'm not injured anymore, so I can finally appreciate everything around me."
"Tsk. Suit yourself," he said while crossing his arms.
I stood up and started roaming around the place. Lucca didn't leave his chair, though. Even while I was walking around, I could still see him from where I was. He was watching me as I admired the beauty of nature, but his expression remained blank.
I wondered what was going through his mind.
Lucca allowed me to spend another hour in that place before we finally decided to leave. I shouldn't ask for more since I was still technically on work hours, and my lunch break was already over.
As we walked out of the restaurant and headed toward his car, the rain suddenly poured heavily.
We didn't bring an umbrella, and it would be inconvenient to go back inside the restaurant just to wait for it to stop. So Lucca and I ran toward the car, trying to avoid getting soaked.
But then I suddenly stopped.
I don't know why, but at that moment, I wanted to feel the rain.
"Lucca!" I shouted his name to catch his attention.
He was already near his car when he turned around and looked at me.
"Let's play in the rain," I said, inviting him with a smile.
Lucca's POV
I was already soaked because of the heavy rain. Water dripped from my hair and clothes as I was about to reach my car when Seraphina suddenly called my name.
I looked at her, and she was smiling at me.
"Let's play in the rain," she said with a smile.
She was already completely drenched. She stood in the middle of the rain, not caring about getting wet.
Seeing her like that made me remember Monica.
I remembered the time when she was also soaked after her confrontation with Mandy. I went near her just to protect her from the rain using an umbrella. That was the moment Xavier realized that what he felt for Monica was real. It was different from what he felt for Mandy.
What he felt for Mandy was only pity.
Xavier had been controlled and manipulated for so long that he could no longer tell what was right and what was wrong.
But now, I was standing here, watching Seraphina smile at me.
She was beautiful, even while soaking wet.
Just like how Xavier admired Monica the moment he saw her walking down the stairs.
That dream flashed through my mind again.
Monica was the only person Xavier could see. The longing in his eyes whenever he looked at her was undeniable. Xavier imagined himself and Monica walking down the aisle of a church, promising each other their forever.
"Lucca!"
I returned to my senses when Seraphina called my name again.
"Don't you want to? Just this once. Let's feel what Monica and Xavier felt when they were in the rain," she said while smiling.
Seraphina.
Monica.
Seraphina.
Monica.
They were the same person.
Xavier realized too late that he truly loved Monica, but it wasn't the end for him. He still had the chance to correct the mistakes he had made.
The raindrops fell against my face as I watched Seraphina turn around, opening her arms as she embraced the rain.
This was the first time I saw the happy Seraphina.
Watching her now, it felt like she had forgotten everything she wanted to forget, even just for a moment. She looked like someone who simply wanted to enjoy the rain until it stopped.
I took a step forward.
All I could hear was the sound of raindrops hitting the ground. With every step I took toward Seraphina, the sound of water beneath my feet became louder.
My steps became faster because I wanted to reach her immediately.
"Seraphina…" I called her name.
She stopped and turned to look at me. Then she smiled, as if telling me that I had made the right choice by allowing myself to enjoy this moment.
"Take my hand, Lucca," she said.
She reached out her hand toward me.
Monica's memories flashed through my mind again.
Then it was Seraphina.
I looked at her hand and then at her eyes.
Xavier accepted Monica's hand in the past. And for Xavier, it was the right choice. He promised himself that he would love Monica forever until his last breath.
I accepted Seraphina's hand.
She pulled me closer, and then we started running like children while feeling the rain pouring over us.
If anyone saw us, they would probably think we were crazy.
But Seraphina was right.
Sometimes, doing something crazy once in a while wasn't a bad thing.
I started running just like she did. I let her lead the way without letting go of my hand. I gently tightened my grip, letting her know that I wouldn't let her go.
Just like Xavier did with Monica until their last breaths.
Seraphina and I started dancing under the rain.
There was no music, but somehow, it felt like we were standing on a stage, performing as if we were professionals.
Who would have thought that someone like her could make me do something this crazy?
If Dominic and Damian knew about this, they would definitely tease me nonstop. They would probably ask me repeatedly if I had started liking Seraphina.
"Lucca…" Seraphina called my name again, trying to get my attention.
Her smile never disappeared. It had been there since the moment we arrived.
Was that smile only meant for me?
Seraphina slowly tried to let go of my hand as the rain started to calm down.
But instead of releasing her hand, I pulled her closer.
I looked straight into her eyes.
I was visibly taller than her, but that didn't stop me from looking at her this closely.
I didn't care if the barrier I had built around myself was starting to break.
I just wanted Seraphina to feel what I was feeling.
Even though we were outside the restaurant, it didn't stop me from doing what I wanted to do.
Just like what Xavier did with Monica.
"Xavier… I love you." Monica said while smiling at him.
Seeing the man she truly loved was the greatest gift of all.
"I love you, Monica." Xavier said while holding her hand. "I know it's too late for me to realize it, but let me do everything I can to make it up to you."
"Hush, Xavier. You don't have to make it up to me. What's important is now. Now that I know you love me, that's the only answer I have been asking for. Thank you, Xavier."
While holding Monica's hand under the moonlight, Xavier kissed her with all his heart.
That kiss lasted for a minute—a kiss filled with love between two lovers who had spent so long wishing for a happy ending.
Seraphina's POV
I let go of Lucca's hand, but he didn't let go of mine.
That moment felt like it was happening in slow motion. I stared at him intently, just like how he was looking at me. We stayed like that for a moment, unmoving.
The only thing we could hear was the gentle sound of the rain falling around us.
I felt like we owned the world.
Xavier… I whispered in my mind.
Lucca was definitely Xavier.
I couldn't find any difference between them, especially when it came to their appearance.
My heart started beating faster when Lucca's gaze slowly moved toward my lips. His movements were slow, yet there was something undeniably captivating about them.
I tried to meet his eyes, but he was too focused on looking at my lips.
We were both trapped in that moment.
A spell that no one could break.
We stared at each other as if we were longing for each other's touch.
Lucca slowly moved closer while his eyes remained on my lips. My heartbeat grew faster until I could no longer hear the sound of the rain.
My body started trembling, not because of fear, but because of excitement.
I let Lucca take the lead.
If this was another form of manipulation, then I was willing to surrender.
Lucca finally closed the distance between us.
His lips finally met mine.
The moment I felt his kiss, I closed my eyes, trying to understand what it felt like to be kissed by someone.
Lucca was my first kiss, just as Xavier was Monica's first kiss.