Mia's heart raced as she stood behind the counter at the café, her hands trembling slightly as she poured a cappuccino. Lukas's words from the previous night echoed in her mind, and the memory of his confession left her feeling a mix of warmth and unease.
She didn't know how to act around him anymore. Every time she caught his eye, her pulse quickened, and her mind screamed at her to flee.
The familiar sound of the café doorbell snapped her out of her thoughts. There he was—Lukas, walking in with his usual confident stride. His eyes found hers immediately, and the corner of his mouth quirked into a knowing smirk.
Mia quickly turned her attention back to the coffee machine, pretending to be engrossed in her work. But she could feel his presence as he approached the counter.
"Morning," Lukas said, his voice low and teasing.
"Morning," Mia mumbled, refusing to look up.
"Still avoiding me, I see," Lukas said, leaning casually against the counter.
"I'm not avoiding you," Mia said quickly, her tone defensive.
Lukas chuckled softly. "You know, running away isn't exactly subtle."
Mia finally looked up, her cheeks flushing. "I'm not running away."
"Really?" Lukas raised an eyebrow. "Then why did you bolt last night?"
"I didn't bolt," Mia argued, crossing her arms. "I just... needed some air."
Lukas leaned in slightly, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Mia, if you keep running, I might start to think you're scared of me."
"I'm not scared of you," she said, her voice firm but her resolve wavering under his gaze.
"Good," Lukas said, his tone dropping to a softer, more serious note. "Because I meant what I said last night."
Mia's breath hitched, and she took a step back. "Lukas, I don't know if I can—"
Before she could finish, Greta burst through the kitchen door. "Mia, the delivery truck's here!"
Relieved for the interruption, Mia quickly turned away. "I'll handle it," she said, rushing past Lukas without another word.
---
Later That Evening
Mia sat on her apartment balcony, the cool breeze brushing against her face as she strummed her new violin. Her uncle's birthday gift had been an unexpected but welcome surprise, and playing the instrument brought her a sense of calm she desperately needed.
The melody she played was soft and melancholic, reflecting the turmoil in her heart. She didn't hear the faint knock on her door at first, but when it came again, louder this time, she froze.
Setting the violin down, she hesitated before opening the door.
Lukas stood there, his expression unreadable. "You didn't answer your phone," he said simply.
"I was... busy," Mia replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Busy avoiding me again?" he asked, his tone gentle but pointed.
Mia sighed and stepped aside, letting him in. "What do you want, Lukas?"
"I want to understand," he said, his gaze steady. "Why do you keep running from me? What are you so afraid of?"
Mia crossed her arms, her eyes darting to the floor. "It's not that simple."
"Then explain it to me," Lukas said, stepping closer. "Help me understand why you keep pushing me away."
Mia looked up, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Because I don't want to get hurt again. And I don't want to hurt you."
Lukas's expression softened, and he reached out to gently touch her arm. "Mia, I'm not David. I'm not going to walk away."
"You say that now," she said, her voice trembling. "But what if you change your mind? What if I'm not enough?"
Lukas took a deep breath, his voice steady and firm. "Mia, you're more than enough. And I'm not going anywhere, no matter how fast or far you run."
Mia blinked, startled by the conviction in his words. But before she could respond, the sound of her phone buzzing on the table broke the moment.
She glanced at the screen and saw an unknown number. Frowning, she picked it up.
"Hello?"
The voice on the other end was faint but familiar. "Mia, it's me... David."
Mia's heart sank as she met Lukas's questioning gaze.