"Lucca? Sera?" Mira blurted out as soon as she saw us. Dominic looked just as shocked, clearly not expecting to find me in Lucca's house. At that moment, it felt like we were both doomed.
I glanced at Lucca, who stood there emotionless. Even though we had been caught, he seemed completely calm, like he didn't care at all. Meanwhile, Mira continued staring at me, still stunned by what she had just discovered. I just hoped she wouldn't think of it the wrong way.
"Why are you here, Seraphina?" Dominic asked, making me turn toward him. He looked confused, yet intrigued at the same time.
"I can explain…" I said, trying to hide my nervousness and keep my voice from shaking.
"Do we really need an explanation? We didn't do anything wrong," Lucca cut in. "She likes books, so I invited her to my library. Is that a sin?"
Lucca had just saved me, and I couldn't help but smile a little. He was right. There was nothing wrong with what we did. The only questionable thing was that I told Mira I was at the library… which, technically, I was, just not the one she thought.
"Why are you here with Mira?" Lucca asked Dominic.
"We wanted to invite you for a drink. I thought you were alone," Dominic replied.
"But as you can see, I'm not," Lucca answered dryly. His sarcasm was unmistakable. I couldn't help but admire how calm he was in a situation like this.
Mira was still staring at me, and I knew she had a hundred questions in mind. I decided to cut the conversation short.
"Mira and I need to go. I'm sorry, but we'll join you next time," I said, using it as an excuse, even though I knew there wouldn't be a next time. I'd return the books, but I wouldn't borrow from him again. Not because I wanted to avoid him… but because he made me feel nervous and unsettled.
Dominic hesitated, as if he wanted to stop us, but I met his eyes, silently pleading for him to let us go.
"Alright. But Mira doesn't have a car. I can drive you—"
"It's okay. We'll book a Grab," I interrupted quickly.
I picked up the paper bags filled with books and glanced at Lucca one last time, quietly thanking him. Then Mira and I headed downstairs, avoiding the gazes of the people behind us.
As soon as we stepped outside, Mira turned to face me. The Grab was still five minutes away.
"So?" she asked, her expression a mix of confusion and curiosity. I knew she wouldn't believe me. Who, in their right mind, would go to a stranger's house like that?
"You misunderstood," I began.
"But you lied to me," she shot back.
"I didn't. I really was in a library—Lucca's library."
"But you didn't say it was his library."
"Then what? If I had told you earlier, what do you think would've happened?"
"You know I'd support you if you liked Lucca."
"I don't like Lucca!" I protested, my voice rising louder than I intended.
Mira just grinned. "But you still went to his house."
"I didn't know he was going to show me his library. I just ran into him at the bookstore, and then… this happened."
"So Lucca likes you?" she teased.
"Stop imagining things, Mira. Lucca and I aren't even friends."
"Then what do you call this?" she asked, giving me a knowing look.
I sighed. "Believe me, I really didn't expect to see him again. I couldn't even stop him from bringing me here."
Our conversation was cut short when the Grab finally arrived. We got inside and continued talking during the ride.
Lucca's POV
I was getting irritated because Dominic wouldn't stop talking. He was like a chatterbox, throwing question after question about why Seraphina was here.
"You're making your move, dude! You're really trying to get that ring to survive," he said, still grinning.
I didn't answer him. Instead, I kept watching the two women as they talked while waiting to be served. We were on the second-floor veranda.
"Seraphina is the only woman you've ever brought here. You never even did that for your ex. She could come here, sure, but you never invited her."
"So what exactly are you implying?" I asked, clearly annoyed.
"I get that it's for the ring, but how did you even convince her to come? Did you threaten her?" Dominic asked, feigning horror.
I rolled my eyes. His imagination always ran wild. I was only doing this to survive. If I could have taken the ring by force, I would have done it already instead of going through all this effort to please her. I had never prepared snacks for a woman, not even for my ex. I didn't even have female friends.
"It's not hard to like her, you know," Dominic added.
"I'm not like you."
He laughed. "I'll mock you once you eat your words."
"It's not food," I replied sarcastically.
"Let's go drink. I've been busy these past few days. I need to unwind."
"Go drink by yourself."
Dominic looked at me, amused. "Just like that? You've changed because of Seraphina? Did she tell you not to drink?" He kept teasing me, and it was getting on my nerves. I tried to punch him, but he dodged it easily. His laughter echoed across the veranda.
"Just kidding," he said.
"Why did you come here with Mira? You didn't even tell me you were coming," I shot back.
"And if we hadn't come, we wouldn't have caught you."
"Caught me doing what? We weren't doing anything wrong."
"But she's a woman, and you're a man. And you're not even friends yet, so what do you expect Mira and I to think?"
"And why did you go out with Mira alone without Seraphina?" I countered.
"Because we're friends, unlike you two," he said with a smirk.
I frowned at him. He never failed to annoy me. Sometimes I wondered how I ended up befriending someone like him.
I went inside my room and grabbed a bottle of wine from my collection cabinet. I handed it to Dominic, who smiled and accepted it eagerly. I also brought out two wine glasses.
"I miss this Italian wine. I want to go back to Italy," Dominic said as he gulped down his drink. I poured some into my glass, but only took a small sip.
"You haven't visited Seraphina in the hospital," he added.
"Why would I?"
"You saved her."
"And so?"
"You've gone back to being a monster again. Cold and rude."
"When was I ever kind?"
"Since you met Seraphina and since you needed that ring."
"Tsk."
Dominic chuckled at my reaction. "Do you have another plan?"
"Plan for what?"
"On how to get closer to Seraphina."
"I have a plan, but not to get close to her. I just need to figure out how to get the ring."
"Master already warned you not to harm the innocent."
"Did I ever say I was going to kill her?"
"So what's your plan?"
"It's a secret."
"I'm warning you, if you hurt her, I'll step in and tell Master."
I didn't reply. The truth was, I didn't have a concrete plan yet. I was still figuring out how to get the ring without putting in too much effort to get close to her. What I did today was already enough.
I wouldn't lower my pride again. Not for anyone.
Seraphina's POV
It was Monday, the day I had to go back to work. I had been away for a week, and it was enough to recharge. Although I still wanted to focus on my routine rather than work, I couldn't ignore my financial struggles.
"Sera!" Mira called.
"You're early," I said, surprised to see her before me.
"I had errands this morning, so I came in early. Have you eaten breakfast? I brought some from the convenience store," she said, lifting the plastic bags in her hands.
Good timing, I hadn't eaten yet. I didn't have any food at home since I hadn't gone grocery shopping. Mira handed me one of the bags. Inside were almond milk, tuna cheese bread, and some biscuits.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," she smiled.
While eating breakfast, we started going through our emails. Thankfully, our supervisor understood why we had been absent. I got sick, and Mira stayed with me since I have no family nearby. Our supervisor even checked on me, and I assured them I was already fine.
When it was time for lunch, Mira invited me to eat at the Japanese restaurant across the street, the same place where we had eaten before with the boys. I still remember how tense things got between Lucca and us.
"What do you want to eat?" Mira asked.
I looked at the menu first before answering. Once I decided, I said, "I'll have pork curry with rice and gyoza." It was filling and affordable.
"How about drinks?"
"I'll just have water."
"You're saving money, aren't you?"
"You know I always save for the future."
"Is your debt to Lucca still stressing you out?"
I nodded. It was the truth.
"I told you, I'll pay for it," Mira said.
"But—"
"No buts. To make things easier, I'll go to Lucca and give him the 100,000 pesos."
"You don't have to."
"I told you, it's just pocket change for me. Don't you trust me?"
"Then why are you working eight hours a day if it's just pocket change to you?"
She winked. "I've told you the reason before; you just weren't listening," she said, pouting.
I knew her reason. I just changed the topic because I didn't want her to pay Lucca. I knew she was rich, but I didn't know just how rich.
Mira ordered more food for us, and in the end, she paid for everything. I felt a bit embarrassed by her generosity. We were friends, but I didn't want to abuse her kindness.
"I told you I'd pay for my share, but you insisted," I said as we crossed the street. "You treated me to breakfast and lunch, are you planning to treat me to dinner too?" I added sarcastically.
"Since you mentioned it, we can have dinner at a Korean restaurant. I miss grilling meat and all the side dishes," Mira said dreamily.
I rolled my eyes. This time, I wouldn't let her. I didn't want her to think I was taking advantage of her.
Before heading back to the office, Mira stopped by a coffee shop to buy a drink. I declined since I don't drink coffee.
"Do you want dessert?" she asked.
"I'm actually full," I replied honestly.
After she got her drink, we returned to the office and continued working. Even though I felt sleepy, as I usually did after eating, I forced myself to stay awake.
"Here."
I looked at what Mira placed on my desk. It was a piece of chocolate. I smiled and thanked her. After eating it, I felt more energized and less sleepy.
At 4 p.m., Mira and I started packing up. Just like she said, we were going to a Korean restaurant. I tried to refuse, but she wouldn't let me.
"I invited Dominic and his friends, too. I'll also pay Lucca later."
"What? No!" I said firmly. No, because why would she invite Dominic and Lucca? And no, because why should she pay my debt?
"I've already decided, Sera. You can't say no."
"Fine, you invited them. But I told you, I don't want you to pay Lucca."
"So what do you prefer? Owing him money and crossing paths with him again and again? Or owing me, your friend?"
I fell silent. She had a point. I would rather owe Mira than Lucca, who was practically a stranger. At least with her, I wouldn't feel forced to see him again.
"You're right," I admitted. "But are you really sure you want to spend that much on me?" I asked hesitantly.
"Why not? I told you, I don't just see you as a friend, I see you as a sister. When will you realize that, Sera?"
I couldn't answer. I felt embarrassed. She was doing so much for me, yet I still doubted her. Maybe I was the one doubting myself, unable to believe that someone would help me this much.
"I'm sorry, Mira."
We reached the parking lot. She unlocked her car, and we got in.
"Isn't it too early for dinner? It's not even five yet," I said.
"We'll eat at seven. I already texted Dominic, and he agreed. He even said he'd treat us."
"I really don't like it when someone treats me to a meal," I admitted.
"You should get used to it. Rich people are like that."
"I just keep thinking, what if they think I'm taking advantage of them?"
"Hey, Sera. If you were like that, I wouldn't have befriended you. I'm good at reading people, so don't worry."
I stayed quiet as she drove along the highway. Maybe I should get used to this, to being surrounded by people who had more than enough.
Mira said we'd stop by the mall first because she needed something from the department store. I just went along with it.
While walking, my phone vibrated. It was a message from Dominic:
See you later, Seraphina.
I didn't know how to reply, so I chose not to respond.
While Mira was busy browsing, I found myself thinking about what happened last time. I couldn't help but blush. It was one of the most awkward moments of my life, but every time I looked at the books I borrowed, I felt happy.
Books really were my weakness.
"Sera, come here."
I turned to see Mira at the cashier, already paying for the items she had picked.
"Shall we go?" Mira asked.
I nodded. We left the mall and decided to head to the Korean restaurant early. Apparently, she had already made a reservation while we were at work, without me knowing. She had really planned this ahead of time.
The restaurant was located near the city plaza. It truly looked like an authentic Korean place, from its structure to its interior design. As we entered, a few customers were already dining, and they all looked well-off. A staff member guided us to our table.
"We're still waiting for three more," Mira said, and the staff nodded.
I looked around, admiring the aesthetic of the place. I hadn't been to Korea, but because I watched a lot of K-dramas, I had an idea of how Korean cafés and restaurants looked, and this was exactly like one of them.
"It's aesthetic, right? Do you want to take a picture?" Mira asked, smiling.
I shook my head. I didn't want to attract attention. I wasn't used to taking pictures either.
"Come on. Just pose a little, you're not going to stand there doing nothing," she insisted.
I sighed. Being with Mira meant I had to act like an extrovert.
I gave a small smile and awkwardly rested my chin on my hand, my elbow on the table.
"It's cute, look." Mira handed me her phone, and it actually was cute.
"You can use it as your profile picture."
"You know I don't post on social media."
"Yeah, I know. I've never even seen a picture of you. How are people supposed to discover your beauty?"
I rolled my eyes. "You're exaggerating."
"I'm not. If you only knew more about fashion and makeup, you'd be even more beautiful than me."
"I don't need to show off. I'm not an artist."
"Even if you're not, you should still make yourself look good."
I just nodded, not in the mood to argue.
"Let's do a makeover tomorrow. I want you to trim your hair, try some makeup, and update your wardrobe."
"No," I said firmly.
"Let's do it after work."
"I don't have the money," I insisted.
"Who said you'd spend anything?"
"Stop it, Mira. I already owe you so much, I might never be able to repay you."
"Then don't," she said casually.
I frowned, but she only laughed.
After a while, Dominic and his friends entered the restaurant. As usual, they caught everyone's attention. They looked like international actors, effortlessly attractive.
What caught my attention the most was Lucca. He wore a white polo shirt, slightly unbuttoned at the chest, tucked into black slacks, paired with polished black shoes. His presence alone made heads turn. Women were practically staring at him, and for a moment, I realized I was one of them.
Our eyes met.
It felt like an electric, magnetic pull. I quickly looked away, unable to hold his gaze for long. Thankfully, Dominic broke the moment.
"Hi, Mira. Hi, Sera," he greeted.
"Hi, Dominic. Hi, Lucca. Hi, Damian. I'm glad you came," Mira said, smiling brightly, especially at Damian. I almost rolled my eyes. She was starting to flirt again.
Meanwhile, I stayed quiet. The tension was too much, especially when Lucca sat right in front of me. I tried to avoid his gaze, but it was nearly impossible given how close we were.
"I've really been craving Korean food today," Mira said, breaking the silence.
"Good thing I don't have any meetings today," Dominic replied.
The conversation flowed easily between them. Thankfully, they were both extroverts. If it had just been Lucca, Damian, and me, the dinner would've been silent and painfully awkward.
Soon, the waiter served the dishes. Mira and Dominic immediately started grilling, while Lucca, Damian, and I waited. I wanted to help, but something held me back. I didn't want to be watched, especially by people I wasn't close to.
After a while, the meat was ready. They placed it on a clean plate.
"Let's eat," Mira said. She said a quick prayer, and then we began.
Mira added some meat to my bowl and reminded me to eat a lot since it was unlimited.
I nodded quietly. The meat was tender and flavorful, definitely high quality. Then again, the place was expensive, so that was expected.
"After this, let's go drink wine," Dominic suggested.
I glanced at Lucca, who was quietly eating. I quickly looked away again.
"Where?" Mira asked.
"We have work tomorrow, Mira," I cut in.
"We won't stay out too late," she insisted.
"You can do that on the weekend," I said.
"The weekend? Hmm… I might have an idea," Dominic said with a grin.
"What is it? What is it?" Mira asked excitedly.
"Let's go on another trip. How about my townhouse outside the city?" Dominic said.
Mira looked like she might jump from excitement.
"Of course! Seraphina wants to go somewhere like the province, right, Sera?"
Everyone turned to me. Once again, I met Lucca's deep hazel eyes. It felt like he was pulling me in just by looking.
"Ah… yeah," I said, though not sincerely. I didn't really want to go, but I knew Mira would be disappointed if I refused.
"Then it's settled," Dominic said happily.
"Lucca, will you come with us?" he added.
I glanced at him. He looked calm and unreadable. A part of me hoped he wouldn't go… but—
"Yeah," he said simply.
Short, but final.
I didn't know what to feel. Relieved, anxious, or something else entirely.
"Oh, by the way, Lucca, I'll be paying Seraphina's debt to you," Mira said casually while eating.
Lucca frowned. Why did she have to bring it up in front of everyone? I thought she'd talk to him privately.
"Did your friend tell you it was a debt? I never asked for money," he said, his voice calm but authoritative.
"No. But she insisted on paying, so I will," Mira replied.
Lucca looked at me, or rather, glared. I forced myself to stay calm and met his gaze. I couldn't show fear. I hadn't done anything wrong.
"There's no need. Tell your friend I don't want your money," he said, still staring at me.
I felt a bead of sweat form, but I kept my expression steady, just as blank as his.
"Alright, guys, let's not ruin dinner. I still want to enjoy the meat," Dominic interrupted with a smile.
I stayed silent. But when I glanced at Lucca again, his gaze had deepened, intense, almost as if he wanted to consume me whole.