The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon as Carmela and her group—led by her older siblings—hurriedly unpacked their luggage into the shared dormitory. The room buzzed with energy, filled wall to wall with neatly arranged beds. Though the boys had their own separate quarters, her older brothers had insisted on helping the girls settle in before heading off to their room.
Just as they finished organizing and were about to head out to explore the area, another group approached them. Carmela recognized them—she had seen them earlier that day, and now they stood just outside the dorm's doorway, curiosity and friendliness etched on their faces.
A girl stepped forward with a confident smile. "Hi! Are you all heading out too?"
"Yes, we were just about to look around the place. How about you?" Trisha, the eldest of Carmela's group, replied warmly.
"We were planning to do the same. Mind if we join you? The more, the merrier, right? I'm Elisha, by the way. What's your name?"
"I'm Trisha. This is Divine, and these are Carmela, Markus, and Claude," she said, gesturing to each of them in turn.
"I'm with Raziel here," Elisha continued, pointing to the boy standing just behind her. "And that's Anne, Dennis, and Elijah."
They all exchanged greetings, the group slowly merging as names turned to casual conversation. And then it happened—Carmela's eyes met Raziel's.
For the first time, she got a clear look at him. He was striking. Sharp, expressive eyes framed by long lashes, a strong nose, and lips that curled just slightly as if perpetually on the edge of a smile. But it was the small, dark mole on his jawline that gave him an unexpected charm. His face was the kind that made hearts pause and time feel slower.
She thought she'd been subtle in her admiration, but little did she know, Raziel had noticed her too.
Earlier that day, Raziel hadn't expected much from the youth gathering. His main job, assigned by his family, was to keep an eye on Elisha—his only female cousin and the family's collective treasure. He was to be her protector, her shadow, and—most importantly—her personal shield against overzealous admirers.
But fate had other plans.
As he stood by their car, waiting for the others to finish unloading luggage, his gaze had swept the area lazily—until it landed on Carmela. She'd been looking right at him, unashamed and curious. And instead of glancing away, he looked back.
In that instant, something clicked.
There was something different about her—those hazel eyes were like a quiet forest bathed in golden light. They didn't just look *at* him; they *saw* him. And when she blushed and turned away, flustered, it only deepened his curiosity. He found himself smiling. She had no idea what she'd just started.
Later, he asked Elisha to invite them along—not just to be friendly, but because he wanted to hear her name. To know something, *anything*, about the girl who managed to undo him with a single glance.
And now, here they were, exploring together, talking, laughing, and slowly finding reasons to stand closer, to listen longer.
Over the course of the gathering, the two groups grew inseparable. From team games to story circles, dance sessions to talent showcases, there was never a dull moment. Carmela tried her best to stay composed, but Raziel's constant attention—his quiet stares, that teasing smile—never let her forget he was there.
She didn't want to admit it, but he was becoming her favorite distraction.
His kindness, his humor, the easy way he made everyone feel at ease—it all chipped away at the guard she had carefully built after her heartbreak with Treize. And though she wasn't ready for anything new, Raziel's presence made her wonder... what if?
He wasn't just handsome. He made her feel seen. And even worse—he made her feel special.
The teasing only grew worse with time. Their friends—both groups—had caught on to the chemistry, and they made sure to nudge the two together at every opportunity. Raziel didn't seem to mind. In fact, he enjoyed it, often playing along, leaning closer when teased, or making sly comments that made her cheeks burn.
It all came to a head one afternoon.
They were gathered around a long table, debating lunch options, when Carmela, fed up with the constant teasing and attention, gently tugged at the sleeve of Raziel's shirt. He looked down at her, surprised, but followed as she led him a few steps away from the group.
"Why do you keep joining in on their teasing?" she asked, her tone sharp but quiet.
He grinned. "Because it's fun teasing you."
"Well, *I* don't think it's fun," she said, trying to sound stern but failing to hide the blush on her cheeks. "It's embarrassing, and when you play along, they just keep going."
His smile softened, eyes serious now. "Is that the only reason you don't like it?"
She hesitated. "It's just... I don't like being made a joke of."
"I don't think it's a joke," he said. "I like teasing you because I like you, Carmela."
She blinked, stunned. "What?"
"I want your number," he said gently. "I want to talk to you even after this gathering is over. I want to know you more."
"We're talking now," she said, almost defensively. "Why would we need to keep in touch? This ends soon—we'll go back to our lives."
"I know. But I don't want to let this go. I don't want to let *you* go."
She looked away, overwhelmed by the weight of his words. She wasn't ready. Her heart was still healing.
"I'm not ready for a relationship," she said quietly. "I promised myself... not until I graduate."
"I can wait," he said simply. "I'll be your friend. I'll wait as long as you need. Just don't shut me out."
"But there's no guarantee I'll feel the same in the future," she whispered.
"That's okay. You're worth the risk."
She didn't know what to say to that. Her heart fluttered with something dangerously close to hope.
"Fine," she said finally. "We'll talk later. For now, we should get back before everything's gone."
They never did get another moment alone after that. The days slipped by too fast, filled with activity, laughter, and goodbyes that came too soon.
Carmela still didn't know what her heart truly wanted. But what she did know was that something had changed—and Raziel had everything to do with it.
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