The car rolled along in an almost comfortable silence. Too comfortable.
Lina, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, looked ready for an important exam. Ethan, on the other hand, drove calmly, his eyes fixed on the road, perfectly in control of himself… and of her.
"You haven't had lunch," he said suddenly.
It was a statement, not a question.
"I wasn't really hungry," she replied.
Without turning away, he added,
"I never go out without eating."
She felt as if she were being scolded, but his tone was so gentle that she didn't take offense.
He stopped at a red light and turned his head slightly toward her.
"You like croissants, don't you?" She blinked. "How do you know?"
A smile lit up her face.
"You had a bag of baked goods yesterday. And you dropped a crumb on your coat." Lina felt a warm sensation rise in her throat.
It wasn't like her to notice things like that. But it was… pleasant.
He drove to a small, elegant bakery. Before she could even say a word, he was already out, then back with a warm croissant.
"Eat," he said, handing it to her.
"Ethan, you didn't have to…"
"I wanted it." That phrase again.
"I wanted it." As if that explained everything. One bite, a little nervous for a moment. "Thank you…"
"See? It's better this way."
She was a child again. Fragile. But also… protected.
On campus????
Upon their arrival, Ethan parked in front of the main entrance, under the curious gazes of the students. A luxury car, a charismatic man, and a simple girl… Impossible to go unnoticed.
"I'll call you tonight," he said.
"Tonight? But… I haven't made any plans with you." He stared at her, a slight crease at the corner of his mouth. Not a smile.
Disappointment.
"Wouldn't you rather I let you walk alone down that dark street near your place?"
She felt like protesting. But how could he possibly know what her street was like? She didn't ask.
"Okay… tonight." His smile returned instantly.
As if the only problem was that she had given up.
"Perfect." At 6 p.m.
She left with a heavy heart, without knowing why.
He watched her; That heavy, possessive gaze followed her like a shadow.
The first small sign
The day was endless. Far too endless.
During the break, Maya asked her:
"Hey, are you coming home with me tonight?"
"No… Someone's picking me up."
"Who?" Lina hesitated.
She didn't want to say the name. She didn't even know why. "A… friend." "What friend?"
Lina didn't answer.
Her phone vibrated.
Ethan: Why aren't you answering your friend?
A shiver ran through her.
What?
She looked around.
It seemed like no one was filming, listening, or watching.
Lina: Where are you?
He answered a few seconds later.
Ethan: I was watching you.
It was nothing. Just a message. Just a strange sentence. Nothing alarming.
That's what Lina had told herself all day. But deep down, a little voice was already telling her that something was wrong. And that this was only the beginning.