The air between them felt suffocating.
Bella couldn't breathe.
Couldn't think.
Couldn't even understand why, despite everything she had just seen… she was still standing so close to him.
Rico.
⸻
Her chest rose and fell unevenly as tears blurred her vision.
"You're a liar…" she whispered, her voice shaking.
Rico didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
His eyes stayed locked on hers—dark, intense, unreadable.
"If I was lying," he said slowly, "you wouldn't have seen all that."
⸻
Bella shook her head, trying to pull her wrist from his grip.
"Let me go."
But his hold only tightened.
Not enough to hurt.
Just enough to keep her there.
With him.
⸻
"Look at me, Bella."
"I said let me go!"
Her voice broke this time.
And that…
That was what made Rico pause.
⸻
For a second—just a second—his grip loosened.
Bella used that moment to push against his chest.
But she didn't get far.
He caught her again.
This time, pulling her flush against him.
⸻
Her breath hitched.
"Rico—"
"Stop running."
His voice was low. Rough. Dangerous.
But beneath it…
There was something else.
Something that made her heart ache.
⸻
"I hate you…" Bella whispered, though it didn't sound convincing even to her own ears.
Rico let out a quiet, humorless chuckle.
"No, you don't."
⸻
Her hands pressed against his chest, trying to create distance, but it was useless.
His warmth surrounded her.
Confused her.
"We're done," she said, forcing the words out. "Whatever this is—it's over."
⸻
Rico tilted his head slightly, studying her like she was a puzzle he already knew how to solve.
"Then why are you shaking?"
⸻
Bella froze.
"I'm not—"
"You are."
His hand slowly moved from her wrist… up her arm… until it reached her chin.
He lifted her face gently.
Too gently.
⸻
"Is it fear?" he murmured.
His thumb brushed against her tear-stained cheek.
"Or is it me?"
⸻
Her heart slammed violently against her ribs.
"I'm scared of what you are."
⸻
Rico's eyes darkened.
"Good."
⸻
Before she could react—
He pulled her closer.
And kissed her.
⸻
Bella's eyes widened in shock.
For a second, she didn't move.
Didn't respond.
Her mind screamed at her to push him away.
To fight.
To remember everything.
⸻
But her body betrayed her.
⸻
Her fingers clenched his shirt.
Her lips moved—just slightly—against his.
And that was all it took.
⸻
Rico deepened the kiss instantly, one hand sliding to her waist, pulling her impossibly closer.
Like he was afraid she would disappear.
Like he needed this.
Needed her.
⸻
Bella gasped softly, the sound swallowed by his lips.
Her mind spun.
Anger.
Pain.
Confusion.
Desire.
Everything mixed together until she couldn't tell them apart anymore.
⸻
Then suddenly—
She pushed him hard.
⸻
Rico stepped back, more surprised than hurt.
Bella staggered away from him, her breathing uneven, her lips trembling.
"Don't…" she whispered.
⸻
Silence fell again.
Heavy.
Charged.
⸻
Her eyes filled with tears as she shook her head.
"You don't get to do that," she said, her voice breaking. "You don't get to confuse me like this after everything I just saw."
⸻
Rico's jaw tightened.
"I'm not confusing you."
⸻
"Then what is this?!" she snapped, gesturing between them. "What are we, Rico?!"
⸻
For the first time…
He hesitated.
⸻
And that scared her more than anything.
⸻
Bella let out a hollow laugh.
"Exactly," she whispered. "You don't even know."
⸻
She turned, walking toward the door.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
⸻
"Bella."
His voice stopped her.
⸻
She didn't turn around.
⸻
"If you walk out that door," Rico said quietly, "everything changes."
⸻
Her hand rested on the handle.
Her heart pounded.
⸻
"Maybe it already has," she whispered.
⸻
And then—
She walked out.
⸻
Rico stood there, unmoving.
His gaze fixed on the empty doorway.
His expression dark.
Dangerous.
⸻
But beneath it…
Something unfamiliar flickered.
⸻
Something almost like fear.