chapter 25

Amaira was sitting by the window, the soft afternoon light casting a warm glow over the room as she flipped through the pages of a book. Her mind was preoccupied, her thoughts scattered, despite the calm atmosphere around her. It had been a tense few hours since her argument with Scar Boss. His words still echoed in her mind, that chilling order to stay away from Luke. She couldn't shake the frustration, nor the strange sense of unease his protective stance had stirred within her.Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. Before she could answer, it opened slightly, revealing Luke standing in the doorway with a casual grin on his face."Hey, mind if I come in?" Luke’s voice was light, almost carefree, as he leaned against the doorframe.Amaira smiled faintly, trying to push aside her worries. "Of course, come in."He walked into the room, his presence filling the space with a familiar, easygoing energy. Luke was one of those people who could make a room feel lighter with just his presence. He sat down across from her, eyes glinting with something unreadable, though his demeanor remained relaxed."I was wondering if you were free later," Luke said casually, as he tapped a finger against his knee. "There’s a little café not far from here. Thought we could go grab a bite, get some air."Amaira closed her book, setting it aside. She appreciated his company, but the thought of spending time with him in that way made her uncomfortable, especially after everything that had happened earlier with Scar Boss."I’m not sure, Luke," she said, hesitating. "I’m a bit tired, and... I’ve got a lot on my mind."Luke chuckled, leaning back with a smile. "I get it. You’ve been through a lot lately." He shifted in his seat, the playfulness fading just slightly. "But you deserve some fun too, don’t you think?"Amaira couldn’t help but smile at his persistence, even if it was a little overwhelming at times. "I’m sure I’ll find time for some fun eventually."Luke studied her for a moment, his expression softening. There was a change in the air, a subtle shift from casual conversation to something deeper, something more intense. He leaned forward, his voice lowering just a touch."You know, Amaira..." He trailed off for a moment, as though searching for the right words. "I think we have something good here. I like you—more than just a friend. I think you might feel the same way too."Amaira’s heart skipped a beat, but she kept her expression neutral, unsure of where this conversation was heading. "Luke... I don’t—"Before she could finish, Luke held up a hand, his smile widening. "I’m not saying anything serious right now. Just... we could see where it goes, right? We’re both here, and I’m sure you feel the connection too. I can see it when we talk, when we laugh together." He leaned in a little closer, his gaze intent on hers. "I think we could be good together."Amaira’s chest tightened as she realized exactly what he was implying. Her heart raced, not in excitement, but in unease. She had never considered Luke in that way, not seriously. She had always seen him as a friend—nothing more."I’m sorry, Luke," she said softly, shaking her head. "But I can’t... I can’t feel the same way" She paused, trying to find the right words. "I don’t want to lead you on."A brief moment passed where Amaira looked at the floor expecting a heart broken Luke but when she looked up she instead saw a subtle smile on Luke's face. This made the corner of her lips spasm.Amaira stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest as Luke spoke. His words echoed in her mind, leaving her unsettled. She had just rejected him, yet Luke seemed calm, almost too calm, for someone who had just been turned down."You don’t really feel that way about me, do you?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.Luke’s gaze softened as he took a step closer. "No" he admitted, his voice surprisingly sincere. "I don’t. I never did."Amaira’s eyebrows furrowed. "Then why did you... why did you act like that? All those little things... the attention... the gestures?"Luke sighed, running a hand through his hair as he sat down on the edge of her bed. "I wanted to test something" he confessed. I needed to know something about Scar Boss: his feelings for you."Amaira’s heart skipped a beat. "Scar Boss?" she repeated, her voice filled with confusion."Yeah," Luke continued, looking up at her. "I knew he had feelings for you, but I wasn’t sure how far they went. So I thought, if I pushed a little, if I tried to get close to you, he’d react. I wanted to see if he would care."Amaira stared at Luke, stunned. She had never expected this. "You were testing him?""You can say so" Luke said, his voice laced with a bit of regret. "I know it wasn’t the best way to do it. But I had to know. I wanted to see if he would even notice me getting close to you, if it would make him feel anything."Amaira took a step back, her thoughts racing. "So, you weren’t interested in me at all? All of it was just... a game?"Luke shook his head, his expression sincere. He took a pause and began "It wasn’t a game, Amaira. I never meant to hurt you. But you have to understand, Scar Boss is complicated. He doesn’t let his feelings show easily. And I needed to know if he had any for you."Amaira’s heart eased. For a moment she had really thought that Luke had feelings for her but after listening to what he had to say she felt less guilty."But," Luke continued, breaking Amaira's chain of thoughts. Standing up, his tone softer now, he said in a sense of trance "here’s something I think you should know. The reason you rejected me is simple, isn’t it?"Amaira frowned, still trying to process everything. "What do you mean?""You didn’t reject me because you didn’t like me," Luke said, his voice gentle but knowing. "You rejected me because your heart is already taken. Even if you don’t realize it yet, you already care about Scar Boss. It’s clear in the way you act around him, the way you react to him."Amaira was silent for a moment, her heart racing. His words hit her with the force of a truth she wasn’t ready to confront. She had tried so hard to deny it, to bury the complicated feelings she had for Scar Boss, but now they felt impossible to ignore."I..." Amaira started, her voice shaking slightly. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."Luke’s gaze softened with understanding. "You may not realize it now, Amaira, but deep down, you already know. The way Scar Boss affects you, the way you can’t seem to stay away from him... it’s all there. And I think you know it."Amaira shook her head, trying to push away the overwhelming feelings that surged within her. She had no answers, no clear path forward. Luke’s words were haunting her, making her question everything."I’m sorry," Luke said, his voice genuine. "I never meant to make you feel like this. But I had to be sure. I just hope that when you realize what you feel, you’re not too late to act on it."Amaira didn’t know what to say. She stood there in stunned silence as Luke made his way to the door, pausing before leaving. "Take care of yourself, Amaira," he said softly, then disappeared, leaving her alone with her thoughts.As the door clicked shut behind him, Amaira collapsed onto the bed, her mind swirling with confusion. Luke’s words echoed in her ears, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he was right. Was it true? Did she already have feelings for Scar Boss?She closed her eyes, her heart heavy with uncertainty. She had always been careful, trying to keep a distance from the man who both intrigued and terrified her. But now, in the quiet aftermath of Luke’s confession, Amaira couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that maybe... just maybe... her heart had already been lost to someone she least expected.