I didn't go home.
I couldn't.
I walked aimlessly for what felt like hours, his voice echoing in my head.
I wish it was.
I wish this would end.I wish I could forget him.I wish I didn't care.
But I did.
Too much.
The problem wasn't that Adrian was dangerous.
The problem was that I had already decided that wasn't enough to stop me.
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
I hesitated.
Then answered.
"You're not understanding how serious this is."
I froze.
That voice…
It wasn't Adrian.
"Who is this?"
"Someone giving you a chance."
"I don't usually accept threats from strangers."
"Then you should start."
The tone was calm.
But there was something behind it.
Something cold.
"Stay away from him," the voice continued. "Today."
Not tomorrow.
Not later.
Today.
"And if I don't want to?"
Silence.
Brief.
"Then you'll regret it."
The call ended.
I stood there.
Phone still in my hand.
Heart racing.
And for the first time…
I felt real danger.
It wasn't Adrian.
It wasn't his attitude.
It wasn't his mystery.
It was this.
The people around him.
"What did you get yourself into…?" I murmured.
But deep down…
I already knew the answer.
Something you don't walk away from easily.
I got to my apartment just before sunrise.
I didn't turn on the lights.
Didn't make a sound.
As if someone might be watching.
Ridiculous.
Or maybe not.
I locked the door.
Leaning back against it.
And closed my eyes.
Until I heard something.
A knock.
Soft.
But clear.
I froze.
Another knock.
Someone was there.
My breathing slowed.
Controlled.
"Who is it?"
Silence.
And then…
"Open the door."
That voice.
I rushed to the door.
Without thinking.
Without hesitating.
I opened it.
And there he was.
Adrian.
But not like before.
Not calm.
Not controlled.
He was shaken.
Breathing hard.
Eyes dark.
And blood on his lip.
"What happened to you?" I asked immediately.
"Did they call you?"
That wasn't what I expected.
"What?"
"Did they call you?" he repeated.
More firmly.
"Yes…"
Silence.
He closed his eyes for a second.
Like he had just confirmed something.
"Damn it."
He stepped inside without asking.
Closed the door.
Locked it.
"Adrian?"
"You have no idea what you just did."
"Me? I didn't do anything!"
"Exactly," he said. "And you're already in."
The air shifted.
"Explain," I demanded.
"I can't."
"Not again."
"There's no time."
He stepped closer.
Too close.
Again.
"Listen to me carefully," he said, holding my gaze. "From this moment on, everything changes."
"It already has."
"No. Now it's real."
My pulse quickened.
"What's going on?"
Silence.
Heavy.
And then…
"I work for people who don't forgive mistakes."
I swallowed.
"And I'm a mistake?"
He didn't answer right away.
But when he did…
"Yes."
That hurt.
More than it should have.
"Then leave," I said.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because now you're my responsibility."
I frowned.
"I'm not an object."
"No," he said. "You're a problem."
That…
That made me angry.
"Then solve it," I shot back. "Get out of my life."
Silence.
Long.
And then…
"I can't."
His voice changed.
It wasn't cold.
It wasn't distant.
It was honest.
"Why?" I asked, softer now.
He looked at me.
And for the first time…
I didn't see danger.
I saw something worse.
"Because if I leave…"
he said quietly,
"I don't know if I'll ever see you again."
My breath caught.
"And what does that have to do with anything?"
He stepped closer.
Slowly.
Like every movement cost him something.
"Everything."
His hand brushed mine.
And that simple touch…
was enough to shatter any logic.
"This isn't right," I whispered.
"It never was."
"Then stop."
"I can't."
"Then I will."
But I didn't move.
I couldn't.
Because deep down…
I didn't want to.
"If you stay," he said,
"I won't be able to protect you."
That…
That changed everything.
"I don't need you to protect me."
"Yes, you do."
"No."
"You don't understand."
"Then make me understand."
Silence.
And then…
He kissed me.
Again.
But this time…
it wasn't impulsive.
It was a choice.
One that was breaking him apart.
And me…
too.
He pulled away slowly.
"If you stay…"
"I already did."
He closed his eyes.
Like he had just lost something.
"Then there's no fixing this."
And in that moment…
I understood.
This wasn't a love story.
It was a fall.
And it was already too late to stop it.