Luca
We reached my dorm, and I pushed the door open with a casual motion, trying to hide the way my heart was still thudding in my chest. I wasn't sure why I was so nervous about this, considering I'd had countless hangouts with people before. But this? This felt different.
I dropped the snacks on the small coffee table near the TV, hoping I didn't look too eager. I had to admit, I was trying to impress her a little bit, but also, I just wanted to make sure the night didn't end up being awkward.
Alstroemeria stepped inside, glancing around the small room before her gaze landed on the TV. "Alright, so... what are we watching?" she asked, pulling off her jacket and tossing it on the couch.
I paused for a moment, my mind racing through the options. I could go the safe route with something light-hearted, but no, I wanted something different tonight. Something that might make us both forget the tension between us.
"How about horror?" I suggested, a grin tugging at the corner of my lips as I reached for the remote. "You know, something a little... unsettling."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she raised an eyebrow. "Horror?" she asked, skepticism evident in her voice. "You sure you can handle that?"
I chuckled, the confidence returning to my voice. "Please, I'm Valerian. Horror's basically my middle name." I pressed play on a random film I had been meaning to watch—something about a haunted house with an ominous twist. It wasn't too heavy, but it had just enough suspense to keep us on edge.
Alstroemeria gave me a side glance as I sat down next to her. "Right," she said, settling in and grabbing a bag of chips. "We'll see if you can handle it. I've got a pretty strong stomach when it comes to this stuff."
I leaned back in my chair, trying to act nonchalant, but as soon as the movie started, I could feel the unease creeping in. The low, ominous music filled the room, and every flicker on the screen seemed to heighten the tension.
I caught a glimpse of Alstroemeria out of the corner of my eye, her eyes glued to the screen. She was trying to act tough, but I noticed the slight tightening of her grip on the chips and the occasional flinch when the music got too intense.
I smirked, but it was more out of amusement than anything else. "You alright over there?" I teased, though my voice was quieter, the suspense of the movie making me more aware of how close we were sitting.
She shot me a playful glare. "You're not exactly making it easy to keep my cool." She took a deep breath and tried to adjust her position, but I could see the way her shoulders tensed when the characters on-screen wandered through a dark hallway. "You sure this is a good idea?"
I laughed softly, glancing at her. "Trust me, I'm fine. But if you're scared, you can hold my hand." I said it so casually, like it was no big deal.
For a second, her gaze flickered toward me, and I could've sworn there was a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. She quickly looked away, trying to mask it with a sarcastic laugh. "Right. Because that's exactly what I need to do."
I grinned, feeling an unexpected warmth spread through me at the moment of vulnerability I had just shared. The tension, the weirdness between us—it was still there, but in that small, quiet space, something had shifted.
As the movie went on, I realized I wasn't paying much attention to the film anymore. My focus kept drifting to her—the way she reacted to the suspense, the way her breath hitched during the scary moments, the subtle changes in her expression that I'd never noticed before.
I guess this was what it was like to spend time with someone and truly *see* them. Not the image they projected to the world, but who they really were in the quiet, unguarded moments.
"Alright, I'm calling it," Alstroemeria muttered, her voice barely above a whisper as a particularly loud jump-scare echoed from the TV. "This is too much. I can't do horror with you."
I laughed, relieved to see that she was just as affected by the movie as I was. "Told you you'd be scared."
She rolled her eyes, but the teasing glint in her eyes made my heart race again. "Whatever. You're just lucky I'm not walking out."
"Yeah, yeah, you're hooked now. You're not going anywhere," I teased back, feeling a strange sense of pride at how the night was going.
We didn't say much more for the next little while, the only sounds coming from the movie and the occasional rustle of snacks. It wasn't perfect, but I didn't want it to end.
Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something—something I was willing to let unfold, even if it was complicated. Even if it was dangerous.
Alstroemeria's POV
A month had passed in this 'secret relationship' with Luca, and somehow, the awkwardness from the first day had melted away. Each day spent together, whether studying or talking, had gradually peeled away the walls we'd both built. The uncertainty that had once clouded our interactions was slowly replaced by something that felt natural, though neither of us had yet made the decision to reveal this new dynamic to anyone else.
Now, I found myself in Luca's dorm, sitting across from him at his desk while we both pretended to study. But, to be honest, my attention wasn't entirely on the books in front of me.
It was on him.
He sat there, his usual serious expression softened by the quiet focus of the work in front of him. I'd never been one to indulge in taking pictures, but something about this moment felt like I needed to capture it, as if this simple, mundane scene had become something meaningful.
Click.

The soft sound of my phone camera going off was barely audible, but Luca immediately froze.
"What did you just do?" His voice was soft but laced with that hint of suspicion that made me smile.
"What?" I asked, trying to act casual as I quickly slid my phone behind my back. "I did nothing."
He stared at me, his gaze skeptical, disbelief playing on his features. "Right," he muttered, raising an eyebrow.
I couldn't resist the playful impulse. With a grin, I brought my phone back out and aimed it at him once more. This time, his hands were in the way as he tried to focus on his work, but I quickly snapped another photo. His hands barely covered his face, but I caught the moment—his lips slightly parted in concentration, his brow furrowed, and the subtle crease of his shirt sleeves where his muscles tensed as he wrote.

The instant I clicked, his attention snapped back to me, a knowing look crossing his face.
"You really think you can sneak another one by me?" Luca asked, a slight smile tugging at his lips.
I feigned innocence. "What do you mean? I'm just... studying. Like you." I leaned back in my chair, trying to hide the hint of excitement bubbling inside me.
His eyes softened, though the mischievous spark was still there. "So, what exactly are you trying to capture? A secret moment? Or are you just using me as a subject for your artsy photography?"
"Maybe," I said, teasing him just a little, "I like capturing the moments when you're not looking so... Luca-ish."
He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Luca-ish?"
I nodded, trying to explain. "You know, when you're not being Mr. Perfect, Mr. Stoic, Mr. 'I'm the heir to the Valerian legacy.' When you're just... Luca."
His expression shifted, and for a moment, I thought I might have crossed a line. But then he chuckled softly, his guard lowering, just slightly. "You like me like that, huh?"
I felt the warmth rise in my cheeks, but I didn't shy away. "I like you when you're... real."
His smile widened at that, and for a second, the study session was forgotten. The space between us felt smaller, as if the walls we had built around ourselves were coming down bit by bit. But I quickly turned my attention back to my book, trying to act unaffected by how he was making my heart race again.
Luca, still smirking, shook his head. "You're lucky you're cute, Alstroemeria."
And just like that, the usual playful banter was back, familiar and comforting, the tension of our secret relationship making it all the more thrilling.
(Alstroemeria's POV)
After a while, I found myself getting a little bored of studying—well, trying to study. My thoughts kept wandering back to the photos I'd taken of Luca, and curiosity got the better of me. I pulled my phone out again and scrolled through the pictures from earlier.
"Tsk," I muttered, shaking my head as I browsed through the images. "I take it back. You're so Luca-ish in these photos."
I showed him one of the pictures I had snapped, and as soon as he glanced at it, his expression shifted into one of curiosity. "Why are you so...?" I trailed off, raising an eyebrow as I looked up at him, still scrolling through the pictures.
"Handsome?" he interrupted, grinning, that smug self-assured look creeping back onto his face.
I rolled my eyes, though a small smile tugged at my lips. "Yeah, yeah. You're so full of yourself, Luca."
He leaned back in his chair, his playful smile not fading. "What can I say? I'm just naturally gifted," he said with a wink, obviously enjoying the attention.
I shook my head again, a quiet laugh escaping me. "You're so annoying sometimes."
"Aw, you're just mad because I'm effortlessly handsome," he teased, his voice light but with that underlying tone that made it clear he was only half-joking.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes again, but there was no denying the way my heart fluttered a little at his words. Even with his arrogance, even with the jokes, there was something genuine about him. And that, perhaps, was the most dangerous part.
"Okay, okay," I said, finally giving up. "Maybe I'm just impressed with how good-looking you are. But that doesn't mean you can act like this all the time."
He laughed softly, and the sound was like music to my ears. "You're too cute when you're trying to act annoyed, you know that?"
I shot him a look. "Keep it up, Luca, and I'll start taking even more embarrassing pictures of you."
"Oh no," he said, suddenly sitting up straighter, eyes wide. "Please, anything but that." He held his hands up in mock surrender. "I'll be on my best behavior from now on. I promise."
"Good," I said, smirking as I put my phone down. "I'll let you off the hook for now."
For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of our quiet laughter filling the room, and everything else seemed to fade away. Despite the tension of keeping our relationship a secret, this—this feeling—was what I cherished the most. The small moments, the lighthearted teasing, the way Luca was slowly becoming someone I could imagine beside me, not just in secret, but in the open too.
But for now, we were just two people, laughing and sharing a moment, free of all the complications the world would later throw at us.
The next morning, we woke up to an unexpected surprise—classes were canceled because the teachers had their annual meeting at Cheshire University. That meant we were free for the entire day. No studying, no deadlines, just us. It felt like the universe had decided to give us a little break. And I couldn't have been more grateful.
Luca and I both agreed to make the most of it, and the day quickly turned into something that felt like a proper date—a real one, no secrecy, just the two of us enjoying each other's company.

We started off with a casual stroll around the campus, the sun just beginning to warm the air. The campus was quieter than usual, and it felt like the perfect opportunity to just walk side by side without anyone staring, without having to hide anything. We didn't have to talk about anything serious or deep. We simply existed in the moment, the soft rays of sunlight shining through the trees as we passed by, laughing at some stupid thing Luca said, or commenting on how quiet the campus felt without the usual buzz of students.

After that, we decided to grab ice cream at a little kiosk near the park. I went for the usual vanilla chocolate flavor, while Luca opted for something more daring—black charcoal. I could tell he was teasing me, and I rolled my eyes, but the way he grinned at me made me forget any of the usual annoyances I would have had.

Lunch came next, a simple but delicious meal at a nearby café. We shared stories about our childhood, about our families, and little bits of information that had never come up before. The conversation flowed naturally, as if we'd been doing this for years instead of just a month. I found myself relaxing even more in his company, letting the day take us wherever it wanted to go.

Afterward, we found ourselves at the mall, wandering through stores with no particular destination. It was one of those carefree afternoons, where time didn't matter, and neither did anyone else around us. We picked out matching shirts, a little cheesy, but it felt right. They were simple—plain, black shirts with a small logo on the front, but the thought of having something that tied us together in a way that wasn't just for secret moments made me feel... good. It was a little ridiculous, but I liked it. I liked him.

We grabbed iced coffee to go after, sipping it as we strolled, trying to make the most of the sunny day.

We ended up at the outdoor basketball courts, and Luca's grin grew when he saw the empty courts. "You up for a challenge?" he asked, holding the basketball with a teasing glint in his eyes.
"Challenge?" I scoffed, crossing my arms. "You do realize I've never even touched a basketball before, right?"
"That's why I'm here," he said with that devilish smirk. "I'm a patient teacher."
He wasn't kidding. For the next hour, I fumbled my way through dribbling, attempting to make shots, and trying not to trip over my own feet while Luca laughed and offered pointers. He was ridiculously good at it, and I couldn't help but admire how effortlessly he moved on the court, almost like the game was second nature to him.

Eventually, we both tired of basketball, so we made our way back to my dorm to wind down. We collapsed on the couch, both exhausted from the physical activity, and settled in for a movie. We didn't care what we watched. The movie was just an excuse to be close to each other.

At some point, we got up to try on the matching pajamas we had bought earlier—soft, cotton sets with little quirky designs that made us both laugh. I'd never thought I'd actually wear matching pajamas with anyone, but somehow, wearing them with Luca felt... right. It was just another little piece of the day that made me realize how comfortable I was with him.
Sitting on my bed, pajamas on, movie playing in the background, we didn't need to say much. Just being together was enough. The day had gone by in a blur, but it was perfect. I hadn't expected to enjoy myself so much, to feel so at ease. But with Luca, everything felt lighter, easier—like I didn't have to carry any of the weight of the world on my shoulders.
I was starting to think maybe this secret relationship wasn't such a bad thing after all.
That was until the storm finally hit the horizon.