In Bella's Office
A week later
Bella, the elegant and stern lady, sat on her plush chair behind her meticulously arranged wooden desk. She wore a soft white blouse, its top button left open, and the sleeves rolled neatly to her elbows—as if preparing to work with quiet intensity.
She paired it with light blue tailored trousers, reflecting her refined, minimalist taste. Her black leather shoes gleamed like they were brand new, perfectly matching her sleek watch and the thin black necklace that gently hung around her neck.
Small black earrings adorned her ears, while her wavy black hair flowed freely over her shoulders, giving her a look that blended strength with serenity.
Her gaze was distant, fixed on a spot on the wall, her mind adrift in a whirlpool of thoughts. She whispered to herself:
A whole week... A full week since Lucien joined the company as an intern. Not a bad week, no... but not entirely comfortable either.
That boy... there's a trace of constant worry in his features, as if he's afraid to breathe too loudly. His nervousness is obvious, practically written across his forehead. And yet... he doesn't cause disasters. He doesn't really make mistakes, but he gets alarmingly close to doing so—often.
And every time, I step in. I don't know why I do it. It just... happens. Like he's a child I leave alone for one second, and the next, I find him about to spill coffee all over the computer. Then I rescue the situation in the nick of time.
Strange... It hasn't been long, yet he's become part of my day. His presence... it's light, but never unnoticed. And I... I've started to notice.
She sighed softly, reached for her phone, and began scrolling through it with idle disinterest. Her eyes flicked through photos until they froze on one that made her pause.
It was a picture of her and Amory—her ex-husband... or so she liked to refer to him now, even though he still refused to accept the divorce, as if the end hadn't quite reached his heart.
In the photo, they were smiling together on a beach in the Maldives, under a clear sky and unforgettable blue waters. Those were peaceful days, dreamlike and soft, full of laughter... and love.
A love she thought would last.
A faint smile touched her lips, one laced with both disappointment and the warmth of memory.
How did everything change like this? How does love turn into a silent wall no one can break through?
But she didn't linger long in that prison of memory, as the door suddenly burst open—like always—without a knock.
Amelie stepped in briskly, shut the door with one hand, and sat in front of Bella without preamble.
With a wide grin, she said,
"Good news! The new handbag is blowing up! Sales are up, reviews are glowing, and numbers... are on fire!"
Bella raised an eyebrow subtly, a soft, proud smile forming on her lips.
"I expected that. The design stood out from the start—it was clear it would catch attention."
They chatted for a few more minutes, Amelie buzzing with excitement about markets, clients, and feedback, while Bella listened with partial focus, still half-anchored to that old photo in her mind.
Before Amelie stood up, she asked casually,
"Same lunch order today? Or are you up for something different?"
Bella replied with a light smile,
"No change. Same is fine. Thank you."
Amelie nodded and left the office gracefully.
Bella remained seated for a few seconds longer, then glanced at her watch. It was break time, but she didn't have the luxury to relax.
She stood, adjusted her blouse, and stepped out of the office—heading to the other floor…
Where Lucien was.
That odd little intern with scattered talents and strange energy, like a blank page yet to be written on…
But it waits.
Waits for its first sentence.
•••
Bella walked out of her office with calm steps, carrying a small file in her hand, while her light blue jacket remained hanging on the back of the chair.
The second-floor hallway was bustling with activity—employees moving lightly and with focus. As she passed, glances followed her, just as they did every time.
Bella was a presence that couldn't be ignored; with her elegant clothing, confident steps, and that calm aura surrounding her. Women looked at her with admiration, some trying to imitate her style, while the men's expressions of admiration and awe appeared on their faces in her presence. But she wasn't one of those arrogant managers who enforced their authority with silence and severity. Rather, she smiled at everyone she met, greeted them kindly, and exchanged lighthearted remarks with an unexpectedly cheerful spirit for a director.
And when she reached the section where Lucien worked, her steps slowed slightly. The place looked relatively organized, despite some scattered papers over the desks, as if life had slipped between the details of the work. From a distance, she spotted Lucien sitting at a small table, focused on his computer screen, half of his body hidden behind a large file compared to his size.
She approached him lightly, and before he noticed her or said a word, she said in a playful tone:
"Are you planning to take over the world, or are you hiding from the printer?"
He lifted his head quickly, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. "Ah! Director Bella! No… no, I was just… trying… The file is really big."
Bella chuckled softly, then pulled the nearby chair and sat down without hesitation. "Don't worry, I don't have a laser weapon… yet."
He said his sentence, then realized what he had just said, and his face flushed in embarrassment. "No, I didn't mean that you… I mean, that's not what I meant—"
"I'm teasing you, Lucien," she said with a smile, then looked at his computer screen. "What are you working on now?"
He replied while trying to compose himself: "I was reviewing some designs Emily sent… and trying to learn how to coordinate them with the ready-made requests."
She nodded with admiration. "Nice. Emily can be strict sometimes, but if she starts liking someone's work, it means they've got talent. And it seems she's starting to notice you."
He smiled shyly, then said: "I'm trying not to let you all down."
She said with a soft laugh: "You're doing well, just try to ease your nervousness… yesterday you almost poured coffee on the keyboard instead of into the cup."
His face turned red again, and he laughed bashfully: "Oh… I was a little tired, and my eyes were blurry… and the coffee was too close to the keyboard, so… things happened."
She joked, raising her eyebrows: "Yes yes, and the moon was in the wrong phase, and Mars' energy affected gravity."
He laughed wholeheartedly and took a deep breath, as if feeling more at ease. It was a short moment, but a warm one, making him feel that his presence in this place wasn't meaningless.
He suddenly said: "Ms. Bella?"
"Hmm?"
"Thank you for always being kind… I didn't expect a director to be this nice."
She looked at him with a calm smile and said: "We've all been in your place once, Not me of course, but Lucien. if I ever forget that, I don't deserve to be a director."
Then she stood up from her seat and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Keep working, and I'll be back next week to check on your progress. And if you spill coffee on the keyboard again… try to snap a picture of the moment, we might use it for a funny ad."
This time he laughed from the depths of his heart, while Bella walked away with calm steps, leaving behind a trace of her graceful spirit and elegance.
•••
The clock hands pointed exactly to ten o'clock in the evening. At that time, a soft murmur began to fill the company as employees left their offices one by one—some chatting, others simply moving quietly toward the elevators.
In the section where Lucien worked, he was still sitting on his swivel chair, stretching his arms toward the ceiling as if finally breathing after a long race.
"Ah, finally..." he muttered to himself with a small smile, lazily tilting his head.
As he gathered some of his papers, a man who appeared to be in his late forties approached him. His hair leaned toward gray, and his eyes carried the warmth of many years of work. He held an empty coffee cup in his hand and walked toward him with calm steps.
"You worked hard today, didn't you?" the older man said kindly, leaning against the edge of Lucien's desk.
Lucien quickly looked up, smiled shyly, and replied politely:
"Ah, yes! But it was fun, I learned a lot… especially thanks to your help."
The man chuckled lightly, his laugh sounding like the rustle of leaves on a quiet day.
"You're an energetic young man. Your presence brought a nice energy to the office."
Lucien's cheeks turned slightly red, and he lowered his gaze to his bag, fiddling with its edge with his finger.
"I'm trying to do my best… and also, everyone here is so kind. I feel like I'm with family."
The man laughed again, then patted his shoulder gently and said:
"That's good. Keep it up, son."
Then, with quiet steps, the older man walked away toward a group of employees standing near the door. The atmosphere was light, filled with shared words and short laughs. The man spoke to them with the same familiar kindness, asking one about his children and another about his parents.
Lucien stayed in his spot for a moment, watching them and smiling unconsciously. He loved this family-like vibe, that spontaneous way they treated each other.
He took the opportunity as the older man stepped away and began to quietly gather his belongings. He gently placed his laptop into his bag, then folded his coat and set it on top.
As he zipped the bag closed, he muttered to himself with a smile:
"I think I'm really going to like this place."
He slung the bag over his shoulder and walked lightly toward the exit, waving gently to the employees who remained.
"Goodbye everyone! See you tomorrow!" he said in his usual cheerful tone.
Some responded with a similar greeting, and others simply raised their hands with a smile. As he waited for the elevator, he turned around for one last glance at the office. The dim lights, the quiet settling in, the smiles that followed him with their eyes… it all gave him a warm feeling, as if he were part of something beautiful that had just begun.
The elevator dinged as it arrived, and without losing his smile, Lucien stepped in, feeling something small blooming inside him… maybe just a simple excitement for a new beginning, or maybe a gentle gratitude for this long day.
And in his heart, a silent promise:
"I'll give them the best of me."
•••
Lucien walked out of the company building, a familiar smile on his face, though it was tinged with a bit of weariness. He stopped at the edge of the front steps and quietly looked around, his eyes searching for the black car that usually waited for him at the same corner every day.
He mumbled to himself, leaning slightly forward like someone trying to peek past the air:
"Strange... they're late again? Or did the driver forget my pickup time?"
He blinked twice, then added in a whisper, as he usually did:
"Or maybe... the car exploded? No, don't be dramatic, Lucien, no need for theatrics."
But his thoughts didn't last long—he was interrupted by a strong female voice calling his name from afar:
"LUUUCIEEEEN!"
He turned immediately, eyes widening in surprise and confusion. The voice was familiar... eerily so!
He began walking cautiously toward the source of the voice until his eyes landed on an unexpected scene.
There was a black sports car parked neatly at the curb, and a woman standing beside it, arms crossed, waving at him with just two fingers, a calm and confident smile on her face.
It was Bella.
He raised his eyebrows in shock and froze in place, as if doubting what he was seeing.
"Is that... Ms. Bella?"
She gestured again with the same confidence and said in a loud, clear voice:
"Come here. Don't stand there like it's the end of a sad movie."
He walked toward her—hesitantly at first, then suddenly with quicker steps, as if answering some quiet internal call... like a gentle pet summoned softly. He stood in front of her, straight, his head tilted slightly downward, waiting for an explanation for this unexpected scene.
But Bella didn't give him a moment to ask. She spoke immediately, in a calm tone:
"Starting today, I'll be the one driving you home. No more company car."
Lucien opened his mouth slightly, surprised, then closed it again as if no words came. He stood there for a moment, then said in a soft voice:
"You?... You'll drive me?... Every day?"
She nodded briefly, then walked around the car and opened the driver's door.
"Exactly. Are you getting in, or are you going to start a round of questions?"
Without hesitation, he smiled quickly and said,
"Of course, of course... thank you so much!"
Then he ran toward the other door.
His run was strange, carrying a childlike lightness that didn't suit his tall frame, yet somehow it fit him perfectly.
Bella sat behind the wheel, watching him from the corner of her eye as he got into the car, then said with light sarcasm,
"You run like you just heard there's free candy being given away."
He laughed gently as he fastened his seatbelt.
"Me? No, no... I just wasn't mentally prepared for this... surprise."
She glanced at him quickly, then said in a calm but sarcastic tone,
"Did you need a formal invitation to accept a ride?"
He replied with a shy smile, looking out the window,
"Not at all... A ride from a classy manager like you? That's an honor."
She started the engine and drove off calmly down the street.
"Don't expect anything random from me. Even this ride wasn't by chance."
He looked at her from his angle and said,
"You planned this much? Even the ride?"
She replied with a faint smile,
"Yes. Even the ride."
A quiet silence settled between them for a few seconds, until Lucien gently broke it with a softer voice,
"But really, thank you. I didn't expect anyone to care about me like this."
She looked ahead and said in a soft voice,
"I don't care about everyone. But you're different... you're not a bother, and you're kind. That deserves something in return."
He smiled, unable to hide his happiness, then said teasingly,
"Is that... a compliment? From Ms. Bella? This is a historic day."
She laughed, without looking at him, and said lightly,
"Don't get too excited. I might change my mind tomorrow."
But deep down, she was sure she wouldn't.
As for Lucien, he picked up on something in her tone that words didn't say... something warm, though vague.
The car moved through a quiet street, the golden glow of the evening lights reflecting on the windshield, while the mood between them was simple, uncomplicated, yet comforting.
A ride... that wasn't ordinary.
And maybe, it wouldn't be the "last."
•••
The air was slightly cold, but inside the car, the atmosphere felt perfectly mild. Not just because of the AC, but because of that comfortable silence — not heavy, but filled with the unsaid.
Lucien sat staring out the window, watching the streetlights slide quickly across the glass like stars fleeing the sky. He didn't know how to start a conversation with Bella; being beside her outside of work felt strange… familiar in a disturbing way.
He said in a low voice, not realizing he'd spoken aloud:
"Strange..."
Bella looked at him, didn't comment immediately, but gave him a second to continue on his own… he didn't. She sighed lightly, then asked:
"And what feels strange?"
He got a little flustered, then smiled as he usually did to hide that tension:
"All of this… I mean, me, and you, and a car on a long road… and no trace of anything official."
She laughed, her eyes still straight on the road:
"And does that mean I scare you?"
"Not at all!" he said quickly, then lowered his voice like he was confessing:
"Maybe… a little."
She asked in a softer voice, as if asking herself, not him:
"And why?"
He answered after a moment:
"Because you always seem… above everyone. Even when I talk to you at the office, I feel like I'm walking through a minefield."
Bella smiled, a smile laced with a touch of artificial annoyance:
"Such a lovely metaphor… thank you."
"Sorry!" he said quickly, raising his hands like defending himself.
"I mean you're strong. A bit sharp. Not easy to read. Like a book with a thick cover and no title."
Bella slowed down a bit, as if the words pleased her, but also touched something old inside her. She turned to him briefly, then asked calmly:
"And you? How do you see yourself?"
He was surprised by the question, didn't answer right away, then said after a moment:
"Me? Maybe like a light novel, with a colorful cover and some pictures… everyone thinks they've read it before, but each time they discover a line they hadn't noticed before."
Bella smiled — this time, it was a real, warm, and sincere smile:
"A light novel… but with lines you engrave, not just read."
He replied quickly, a hint of boyish pride in his voice:
"See? Even your words about me are secretly compliments."
"Don't get philosophical." she said, finally laughing — a short laugh… but it lifted a lot.
Then a light silence settled in. Only the sound of the engine remained.
Then suddenly, she asked:
"Why did you work with us?"
She knew she was the one who invited him, but she wanted to know the motive behind his acceptance — she wanted to be sure of what he'd said earlier.
He raised his eyebrows in surprise:
"A strange question at this moment… but okay. Because I wanted to work at that company. And after that, because the place felt right to me… and the people there, most of them, are kind."
She repeated the word, as if testing him:
"Most of them?"
"Yes... and you're obviously one of the majority."
She laughed, then fell silent for a bit, then suddenly looked at him and said:
"I don't talk much outside of work. I rarely start conversations... but with you, talking is easy. Isn't that strange?"
He was flustered, but his eyes sparkled with something like gratitude:
"Maybe because I'm light... like a breeze passing by that makes you laugh without you realizing."
She shook her head gently:
"Or because you're honest... more than you should be."
She kept driving calmly, until she stopped in front of a medium-sized house in a quiet, beautiful neighborhood.
She parked the car, but didn't turn off the engine.
He looked at her, then said with a slight smile:
"Thanks again... for the ride, and for the talk."
She replied in a sarcastic tone:
"One ride doesn't deserve thanks."
Then she added quietly:
"But at least, you lightened my day a bit."
He opened the door, then leaned to look at her through the window:
"Good night, Director of Private Rides."
She laughed, then said without turning to him:
"Good night, boy..."
Then, Lucien walked away from the car with calm steps, his hands in his coat pockets, as if he was carrying something heavy inside that he didn't want to drop while walking.
At that moment, Bella turned her car back in the direction she came from and gently turned the steering wheel. But she didn't speed up. She kept her foot away from the gas pedal, and waited. As if she couldn't leave until she saw him enter his home... until she was sure he was safe.
Lucien stood in front of the door, took the key out of his pocket, and began inserting it into the lock. But his hand trembled slightly.
He felt her gaze on him, present, warm, and confusing.
He turned slightly, and saw her looking at him from behind the car glass, smiling a small, unexplainable smile, but one capable of turning an entire day upside down.
He blushed, then focused again on the lock, and after a short moment of hesitation, the cylinder turned and the door opened.
He sighed in relief, then turned to Bella and waved goodbye with a gentle smile.
Bella immediately responded, waved back at him too, then added a playful little wink, followed by starting the engine... and the car drove off at a moderate speed, leaving behind a trace of the night, and something else... still nameless.
That night, the silence inside Lucien's home wasn't as he was used to.
It was different.
It wasn't a comforting silence, but rather as if the walls of the place were listening with him, trying to understand too… what just happened?
He stepped inside with hesitant steps, as if carrying something fragile in his hands that must not fall. He threw his keys onto the small table, but they made no sound, as if they respected that special moment, the one that happened just a while ago, when Bella winked, then disappeared behind the fading streetlight.
He sat on the edge of the couch, and stared into the void in front of him... He wasn't thinking clearly, but he was feeling, and that alone was enough to unsettle everything around him.
Something in that look, in the smile, in the passing wink... pierced his defenses.
"It wasn't just a ride, was it?" he said to himself, whispering as if he didn't want anyone to hear, not even himself.
Somewhere else, on the way back, Bella was driving her car at the same speed, but her heart... was faster than her.
She wasn't used to leaving conversations open, nor to winks. But she did it.
Why?
A small question… but it began knocking on her door gently, then insistently.
•••
In the dim darkness, under the faint yellow light emanating from the corner of the room, Lucien stood in front of his open wardrobe.
His bare upper body reflected the details of his taut, harmoniously balanced muscles… his shoulders, chest, and collarbones shimmering faintly under the lighting. The movement of his muscles, subtly contracting every time he moved his arm to pull out his sleep shirt, held something of calm masculinity.
He wore the dark cotton shirt, then headed toward the bed.
His half-heavy body dropped over the blanket, settling with a comforting sigh of exhaustion, his arms stretched out on both sides, and his gaze resting toward the ceiling.
A silent moment passed…
Then suddenly, the scene appeared before him, clear and vivid, as if being projected on a white screen right above the ceiling:
Bella's wink.
From behind the car window… light, unexpected, but completely disarming.
He blinked twice, then quickly covered his eyes with the palm of his hand, as if trying to hide an embarrassed smile from someone.
But the smile escaped him anyway.
It drew itself onto his face with a gentle foolishness, then his lips parted in a soft, short laugh… pure, as if it had never been heard in this place before.
A simple chuckle, but it was enough to say:
"You left something in my head, Bella…"
The next morning
light was slipping softly from behind the curtain, drawing tilted golden lines on the room's floor, slowly climbing the walls until it reached the edge of the bed.
Lucien stirred lightly, let out a sleepy sigh, then covered his face with the pillow, as if the sun had come to remind him of something he wasn't ready to think about yet.
But a small smile appeared again on his face…
the same smile from the night before.
He finally lifted his head, looked at the ceiling—this time without embarrassment… just a gentle daze, and a long gaze carrying something of quiet wonder.
He whispered to himself, his voice barely heard:
"A wink, huh?"
Then he sat up slowly, stretched his arms back as he yawned, muscles tensing under the shirt, and messy hair falling over part of his eyes.
He looked at his phone on the table…
no notifications, no messages.
But he kept looking at it, as if waiting for something… or someone.
He ran a hand through his hair and stood up quietly, unhurried. It seemed like his day was going to start differently… just because he wasn't alone in his thoughts.
Somewhere else
In Bella's apartment
In a high-rise apartment with wide windows overlooking the city, the sun had already entered, filling the space with pure light.
Bella stood in front of the coffee machine, wearing a simple grey robe, her hair tied back in a soft, messy way, and her cheek still marked by the pillow after a heavy sleep.
She was quiet, quieter than usual. Waiting for the machine to fill her cup, but her mind had already gone ahead of the scent... ahead of the taste.
She placed the cup on the round table and sat in front of it quietly, holding her phone and scrolling through old messages—not looking for anything in particular, just... searching.
A moment of silence.
Then, unconsciously, that small smile appeared on her lips—the same smile she gave with her wink last night.
She sipped her coffee, looked out the window, her eyes half closed, as if recalling an image she didn't want to leave her mind.
She said in a soft voice, with a touch of light sarcasm that still held warmth:
"A light story, but it seems it got stuck in my head."
Then she sighed slowly, tucked her hair behind her ear, and stood to start her day... with the same flavor as yesterday.
Somewhere else
At Amory's mansion
Light doesn't enter this mansion the way it should.
Despite the wide windows, the heavy dark curtains kept the inside cold... stagnant.
Amory sat at the edge of a black piano in the middle of a gilded hall, his hands resting on the keys but not playing.
He wore a white shirt unbuttoned halfway down his chest, and luxurious grey trousers. His light blond hair was carefully styled, even though he hadn't left the mansion in two days.
In the glass beside him was red wine… he had taken only one sip.
Slowly… he looked at the table in front of him, where an old framed photo of Bella sat, taken at a formal event.
She appeared in full elegance, her hair up, her gaze strong... but she was smiling.
He smiled too… that smile where only the right corner of his lips rises.
He whispered to himself: "You still wear that same look... even now."
He stood up and walked slowly to an inner side room, a small dark room, with a large screen mounted on the wall.
With a push of a button, a security camera feed appeared... showing the entrance to Bella's apartment.
He stood in front of the screen, watching her leave just minutes ago, holding her coffee cup and closing the door behind her.
Silence.
Then he said in a low voice, as if speaking to her ghost: "You're just angry... you'll understand later. We don't break up, we're just going through a bad time... that's all."
Then he leaned closer to the screen, placed his hand on it gently as if touching her face, and murmured: "No one will understand you like I do, Bella… no one."
University – Fashion Department
In Design Hall No. (4), paper models were scattered over the wooden tables, and the morning light slipped through the wide glass windows, flowing over the cutting and sewing tools, turning the chaos into an elegant painting.
Lucien sat on one of the high stools, with an open notebook in front of him—on a page of pure white… he stared at it without moving his pen. He didn't draw, didn't sketch, didn't write… just stared.
From the opposite side of the table, Louis was watching him, suspicion and curiosity on his face. He bit his pen between his teeth, then said in a mocking tone:
Louis (sarcastically):
"Is that page a representation of your existential void? Or is it waiting for something to inspire you?"
Lucien didn't respond. He just blinked slowly, then a quiet, childlike smile appeared on his face… almost naïve.
Louis (laughing):
"Oh no… he's officially out of service."
He leaned in a little and waved his hand in front of his friend's face, as if trying to bring him back to reality.
Louis:
"Hello? Can you hear me? Earth to Lucien, come in!"
Lucien sighed slowly, then finally whispered in a voice so soft, it sounded like it came from another world:
Lucien:
"... She smiled."
Louis (surprised):
"Who? My mom?"
Lucien (simply):
"Miss Bella… she smiled at me. No… she winked at me."
A moment of silence passed, then Louis burst into laughter, slapping the table as he teased:
Louis:
"A wink?! Man… is your heart made of cotton?"
Lucien (scratching his head shyly):
"I don't know… but it was sweet… really sweet."
Louis:
"Then go to sleep… and dream of her all you want."
University Break – Cafeteria
Students spread out across the place, their conversations mixing with the clinking of cups and plates, and the morning atmosphere overflowing with energy.
Louis sat, absorbed in eating his sandwich, while Lucien's plate remained untouched.
Lucien rested his chin on the palm of his hand, gazing into the distance, his eyes sparkling with a dreamy smile.
Louis (while chewing):
"If you could see your face right now… I'd swear you wrote a romantic novel the other person doesn't know about."
Lucien (whispering):
"But… It was a moment that felt like a dream."
Louis:
"A moment?! My friend, it's a moment, not a marriage contract."
Lucien let out a soft laugh without looking at him, as if he were only half-aware of what he was hearing.
At the Café (Their Part-Time Job) – Same Evening
The warm lights gently colored the place, customers moved between the tables, and the aroma of coffee filled the air.
Lucien sat on a chair behind the counter, leaning back, his eyes fixed on the ceiling… laughing softly, alone.
One of the employees approached Louis and whispered curiously:
Employee (whispering):
"What's up with him? Did he take something unusual?"
Louis (bored):
"No, it's just… she winked at him."
Employee (in surprise):
"Who?!"
Louis (pointing at Lucien):
"His manager at work. She winked at him. And now we're living the season of 'Love at First Wink' – Episode One."
Louis walked up to Lucien, bent in front of him, and clapped slowly as if waking him from a dream:
Louis:
"Sweetheart, we need you back here on planet Earth. There are customers, there are orders. And your manager won't be making the coffee for you."
Lucien blinked quickly, as if he'd just awakened from a beautiful dream:
Lucien:
"Oh… right, sorry… I just…"
Louis (interrupting playfully):
"Thinking about her? We know, we know, information received."
They both laughed, and Louis gently patted his friend's shoulder before returning to work, while Lucien picked up a cup from the table… and smiled.
But his eyes… still carried that same sparkle, the sparkle of that small moment… that wink.
(Inside a Grocery Store – In the Evening)
The store was bathed in a cold white light, reflecting off the shiny floor and the meticulously arranged rows of products—arranged with such obsessive precision, it felt as though someone had a compulsion for order, or that aligning yogurt in a straight line was a matter of life and death.
In aisle six, near the dairy section, Lucien was pushing the shopping cart with one hand, and in the other, he held a note written with exaggerated feminine care… the kind of handwriting that resembled an invitation to an aristocratic tea party.
Meanwhile, Louis was on the other side of the aisle, preoccupied with a task that had nothing to do with milk, bread, or the list.
Louis (tilting his head slightly, with a charming smile):
"Of course I'm good at cooking… especially if the recipe is a secret passed down from a great mother to her handsome son."
A soft chuckle escaped from one of the ladies, while the other leaned toward her daughter to whisper, and before long, the girl was looking at Louis as if she had just fallen in love… at the seventh sight.
On the other side, Lucien was observing the scene, leaning on the cart, his eyes saying it all: "Seriously? Right now?"
Lucien (muttering to himself):
"Looks like we need a woman-resistant shopping list."
He took a deep breath and continued with the rest of the list. Only the milk was left.
He approached the refrigerated section, opened the glass door gently as if unlocking the entrance to an ancient crypt, and reached out for the last available carton of milk.
At that exact moment… another hand extended.
A long hand, with elegant fingers, moving with the strength and precision of a Swiss watch commercial.
Lucien looked up, and his gaze met a man slightly taller than him, his brown hair neatly slicked back, wearing thin-rimmed glasses, and a dark blue suit that clung to his slender figure.
Everything about him radiated calm… and maybe danger.
The Man (in a quiet voice, without changing his tone):
"I believe I got to it first."
Lucien (with a confused smile and a hint of challenge in his tone):
"I thought it was up for grabs… I didn't see a property tag on it."
The Man (in a near-mechanical tone):
"Naturally, you wouldn't."
Silence.
As if the carton between their hands had turned into an untouchable ancient relic… or a piece in a chess match between players who have never known defeat.
From afar, Louis's voice rose again:
Louis (laughing):
"Hahaha, no, my actual height is 187… I just bend a little so I don't make others feel bad!"
Lucien (whispering, eyes still fixed on the man):
"I swear I'm going to kick him and run. His suit looks more expensive than Louis's brain… and if I get caught, I'll call my mom."
Then he slowly lifted his head.
Lucien:
"What do you say we split it? Half for you, half for me? Or we toss it in the air, and whoever catches it first wins?"
The Man (with deadly calm):
"I don't play."
Lucien (with a side-smile):
"Ah, one of the silent milk types, then."
At that moment, a store employee approached. It seemed he had decided to intervene before the situation turned into a legal duel.
Employee (in a shy voice):
"Excuse me, a new batch just arrived… if you want, I can bring more cartons."
Lucien (sighing in relief):
"Perfect… no need for a world war over milk."
The Man (quietly, as he lets go of the carton):
"As expected."
He turned and walked away with steady steps, but just before disappearing, he cast a fleeting glance at Lucien… a cold, scrutinizing, unreadable look.
Lucien (whispering, as if talking to himself):
"That man… wasn't normal."
At that moment, Louis returned, chewing gum, looking satisfied as if he had just concluded a successful political negotiation.
Louis:
"What happened? Why are you standing there like you saw a ghost in an Armani suit?"
Lucien (gesturing toward the aisle where the man disappeared):
"I don't know… but if this were an anime, that guy would either be the mysterious villain… or the romantic rival who likes the same girl I've fallen for."
Louis (bursting into laughter):
"Excellent! You've officially entered the emotional milk triangle!"
They laughed together, but as Lucien gazed at the empty aisle, he felt something heavy creeping into his chest…
A feeling that wasn't a joke this time.
Outside the Store – Minutes Later
Night had cast its veil over the city, and the streetlights reflected on the wet asphalt like oil paintings drawn by an insomniac artist.
Lucien stepped out carrying shopping bags, with Louis behind him balancing a full bag on his shoulder, whistling a tune that didn't seem to have an end.
Lucien (in a contemplative tone, his eyes fixed ahead):
"Have you ever felt that someone's mere presence unsettles your balance? Like you met a part of your past you don't remember, but your body remembers it for you—before you even realize it?"
Louis (looking at him in surprise, then laughing):
"Ah, no man, I've never met anyone who resembled milk that much."
Lucien (with a faint smile):
"You don't understand… his gaze wasn't fleeting. He didn't recognize me by appearance, but… from within. Like he saw what I hide, what I run from—maybe even what I could become."
Louis (stops walking, taps Lucien's shoulder lightly):
"Dude, are you turning into a poet? If it were a woman, I'd say you fell in love. But since it was a man… I suggest you check your feelings."
Lucien (with tired sarcasm, as if surrendering to himself):
"Since the incident, I've been reevaluating. There's something inside me that didn't feel at ease with him. Not fear… but a hidden tension. Like he held up a mirror, and I wasn't ready to see what's in it."
Louis (looking around, then lowering his voice as if revealing a secret):
"Maybe he was a spy… or part of the secret milk society. Or—worse—one of those who dilute milk with water and sell it as organic."
Lucien laughed despite the weight in his mind, but then he fell silent.
He looked at the dark street, at the passing cars, at the faces of ordinary people… nothing seemed threatening.
And yet, deep inside… something had shifted.
Louis and Lucien stood close to each other as Louis waved to a taxi passing nearby.
Lucien (softly):
"If we came back tomorrow… do you think we'd find him?"
Louis (raising an eyebrow):
"Him… or the milk?"
Lucien (seriously):
"Both."
Louis (laughing as he opens the car door):
"Here we are—part two of a milk detective movie. You ready, detective?"
Lucien didn't answer.
He simply got into the car and closed the door behind him in silence.
His eyes were still distant, fixed on some invisible point… as if he fully understood that what happened wasn't a coincidence.
It was… the beginning of something much bigger.
To be continued…