Luca:
The drive was quiet.
Too quiet.
Luca kept both hands on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, the city lights passing by in blurred streaks of gold and white. The engine hummed steadily, the only real sound inside the car.
Beside him—
Elena.
Completely still.
Head tilted slightly toward the window, her hair falling across her face, her breathing slow and even.
Sleeping.
Or pretending to.
"…Unbelievable," Luca muttered under his breath.
Just a few minutes ago, she had been talking, arguing, teasing him like she had known him for years. And now—
Nothing.
Out.
Gone.
Like she had no care in the world.
His grip on the wheel tightened slightly.
"You drink too much," he said quietly, though he knew she couldn't hear him.
Or maybe she could.
And just didn't care.
---
The car finally pulled up in front of the hotel.
One of the best in the city.
Of course.
Someone like her wouldn't stay anywhere less.
Luca stopped the engine.
The sudden silence filled the space.
He glanced to his side.
She hadn't moved.
Not even slightly.
"…Elena."
No response.
He exhaled slowly.
"Wake up."
Still nothing.
He reached out, tapping her shoulder lightly.
"Elena."
A small sound left her lips.
"Mmm…"
That was it.
No movement.
No attempt to wake up.
Just that soft, half-conscious response.
Luca closed his eyes for a second.
Then opened them again.
"…Seriously?"
He shook his head.
"Wake up. We're here."
Nothing.
Not even a proper reaction this time.
Just silence.
---
A hint of irritation rose in his chest.
"Fine."
He unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out of the car.
The night air was cooler now.
Sharper.
He walked around the front of the car, his steps firm, controlled.
Then opened the passenger door.
She was still there.
Exactly the same.
Peaceful.
Unbothered.
Like she hadn't just spent the entire evening drinking and arguing with him.
He leaned slightly inside.
"Elena."
He shook her shoulder again.
A little harder this time.
"Wake up."
She shifted slightly.
Her brows pulling together just a bit.
"…Mmm…"
That was it.
No eyes opening.
No awareness.
Nothing.
Luca stared at her for a moment.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
A breath left him.
Slow.
Controlled.
But the irritation was still there.
---
He didn't try again.
Instead—
He reached in.
One arm sliding under her knees.
The other around her back.
And in one smooth movement—
He lifted her.
Bridal style.
Like it was the most natural thing in the world.
She didn't resist.
Didn't even react properly.
Just shifted slightly in his hold, her head falling lightly against his shoulder.
"…You're a problem," he muttered.
But his grip didn't loosen.
---
He walked toward the hotel entrance.
The doors opened automatically.
Warm light spilling out from inside.
The lobby was quiet.
Elegant.
A few people at the reception.
Some glances turned toward them.
It wasn't hard to understand why.
A man walking in, carrying a woman in his arms—
Of course it would draw attention.
Luca ignored all of it.
Completely.
He walked straight to the reception desk.
The receptionist looked up.
Surprised.
"…Good evening, sir."
"I need a room," Luca said.
His voice calm.
Direct.
Professional.
The receptionist's eyes flicked briefly to Elena.
Then back to him.
"Of course, sir. May I have the name?"
"Elena."
He paused.
Then added,
"Book it under her name."
The receptionist nodded quickly.
"Yes, sir."
Typing.
Checking.
Processing.
"Just a moment."
Luca adjusted his hold slightly.
Elena shifted again.
Her hand loosely gripping his shirt for a second—
Then relaxing again.
Still asleep.
Still completely unaware.
---
"…Here is your key, sir."
The receptionist handed it over.
Luca took it without hesitation.
"Room 802."
He nodded once.
Then turned.
Walking toward the elevator.
---
Inside—
Silence again.
Just the quiet hum as it moved upward.
Luca looked down briefly.
Her face was relaxed.
Calm.
Almost… peaceful.
Nothing like the girl who had been teasing him earlier.
"…You're trouble," he muttered again.
But his tone wasn't as sharp this time.
More… tired.
---
The elevator doors opened.
He stepped out.
Walked down the hallway.
Room 802.
He stopped in front of it.
Inserted the key.
A soft click.
The door opened.
---
The room was spacious.
Luxurious.
Soft lighting.
Everything perfectly arranged.
Luca stepped inside.
The door closing behind him.
---
He walked straight to the bed.
Didn't hesitate.
Didn't slow down.
And then—
He dropped her onto it.
Not roughly enough to hurt—
But not gently either.
She bounced slightly against the mattress.
Letting out a small, annoyed sound.
"Mmm…"
Her brows furrowed slightly.
But she still didn't wake up.
Luca stepped back.
Running a hand through his hair.
"…Unbelievable."
He looked at her for a moment.
Still lying there.
Completely out.
Like none of this mattered.
---
He exhaled slowly.
Turning slightly toward the door.
Ready to leave.
Because that was it.
His job was done.
He brought her here.
Got her safe.
That's all that mattered.
---
But then—
A small movement.
Behind him.
He paused.
Turning his head slightly.
She shifted again.
Her hand moving slightly across the bed.
Her voice soft.
Barely audible.
"…Don't go…"
Luca froze.
Just for a second.
Then his expression hardened again.
"…You're not even awake," he muttered.
He turned back fully.
Looking at her.
Her eyes still closed.
Her breathing still slow.
She wasn't conscious.
Not really.
---
Silence filled the room again.
Heavy.
Unclear.
Then—
Luca looked away.
"…Sleep," he said quietly.
Not expecting a response.
Not waiting for one.
---
He walked toward the door.
Opened it.
Paused for just a moment.
Then stepped out.
The door closing behind him with a soft click.
---
But something about that moment—
About her voice—
Stayed.
Even as he walked away.
Even as he left the hotel.
Even as he tried to ignore it.
---
Because for someone who was asleep—
She sounded like she didn't want him to leave.
The hallway outside felt colder than before.
Or maybe it was just him.
Luca walked a few steps away from the room, his pace steady, controlled—but not as firm as it had been earlier. The quiet of the corridor pressed against him, the soft carpet muting his footsteps, the distant hum of the elevator echoing faintly.
He should have left.
That was the logical thing to do.
He had done what was needed.
Dropped her safely.
Booked the room.
Made sure she was fine.
That was it.
Nothing more.
But his steps slowed.
Just slightly.
His jaw tightened.
"…This is ridiculous," he muttered under his breath.
Yet—
He stopped.
Right there in the middle of the hallway.
A long breath left him.
Then he turned back.
---
The door to her room stood exactly as he had left it.
Closed.
Silent.
Luca stared at it for a moment.
Then reached into his pocket.
Pulled out the key card.
"…Just to make sure," he said quietly, almost like he needed a reason.
The door clicked open again.
---
He stepped inside.
The room was unchanged.
Soft lights.
Still air.
And her—
Exactly where he had left her.
Lying on the bed.
Hair slightly messy now.
One arm hanging off the side.
Completely defenseless.
Completely unaware.
---
Luca walked closer.
Slowly.
His gaze scanning her briefly.
Not in a way of interest—
But in a way of checking.
Making sure she was actually okay.
"…You don't even know where you are," he said quietly.
No response.
Of course.
---
He sighed.
Then stepped closer to the bed.
This time—
More carefully.
He reached down.
Adjusted her position slightly so she wasn't half hanging off the mattress.
Pulled her properly onto the bed.
Straightened her posture.
His movements were rough at first—
But then slowed.
More controlled.
---
He grabbed the blanket from the side.
Paused for a second.
Then threw it over her.
Not gently.
But not careless either.
Just… enough.
---
She shifted slightly under it.
Her face relaxing again.
Her breathing steady.
"…Troublesome," he muttered again.
But his voice was lower now.
Less irritated.
More… quiet.
---
He stood there for a few seconds longer.
Just watching.
Not thinking too much.
Not analyzing.
Just… standing.
---
Then—
Without another word—
He turned again.
Walked toward the door.
And this time—
He didn't stop.
He left.
For real.
The door closing behind him.
Soft.
Final.
---
But even as he walked away—
His mind wasn't as clear as before.
Because for someone he had just met—
She had already managed—
To disturb his peace.