After returning to my world, I was burning from the inside.
How could he talk to me like that? One moment concerned, the next a rude jerk… a stranger to me.
My phone rang. It was Elise.
"Hey, Elise," I said.
"Hey, Cristina!" she replied. "I need to buy some home furniture. Will you help me?"
"Yeah, sure."
I got ready, took the bus, and went to the furniture shop. The place was buzzing with people, bright lights reflecting off polished floors, and colorful displays catching my eye at every turn. Elise was already there, waiting near the entrance, smiling when she saw me.
She grabbed my wrist excitedly. "Come! I've been waiting forever."
We walked through the aisles slowly, checking different sections. She looked at many things but kept shaking her head.
"This table is nice… but too big."
"That shelf won't fit my wall."
"These chairs are uncomfortable."
After a while she stopped at a soft beige sofa and sat down, bouncing slightly.
"This one… I like this one," she said with a satisfied smile.
Then we moved to the lighting section. A warm yellow floor lamp glowed softly beside a display bed. She stood under it for a moment.
"This feels peaceful. I want my room to feel like this at night."
In the curtain area she held a pair of light pastel curtains against her shoulder and looked at me.
"Too plain?"
"No," I said. "Calm."
She nodded. "Okay. I'm buying these."
She didn't take anything else — just the sofa, the floor lamp, and the curtains.
Finally, exhausted but happy, I said,
"Elise, let's have some French food… maybe croissants and quiche?"
"Yeah, sure," she replied.
We found a quiet little café corner. The buttery smell of warm croissants and baked quiche Lorraine filled the air, mixed with the sweetness of chilled drinks. I leaned back in my chair, stretching my tired legs.
"I didn't know furniture shopping could be this tiring," I laughed softly.
Then we ate the croissants and quiche. A gentle cool air flowed around us —
the café had an open side facing a small garden. Leaves rustled softly, and somewhere water trickled from a tiny fountain.
The surroundings felt peaceful… almost quiet enough to hear our own breathing.
After finishing our food, we got her things delivered to her address. The sofa was placed in her living room, the curtains kept near the window, and the floor lamp set by the wall.
"Thanks for helping," Elise said.
I smiled. "Of course."
Then we both headed to our part-time café job together..
"Back to work," she said.
"Yeah,"
Thanks again," Elise said to me.
"We're friends… no need for formalities," I replied.
Elise laughed softly.
Arian arrived on his bike and stopped near us.
"Hey, ladies," he said while climbing off.
"Hey, Arian," we replied.
Elise leaned closer to me and whispered, "He's handsome."
I smiled faintly. "Yeah…"
The three of us went inside. In the locker room we changed into our café uniforms — a clean white shirt, black trousers, and a dark apron tied at the waist.
When we came out, Arian leaned on the counter.
"So, Elise… did you buy your furniture?"
"Yeah," she said, smiling. "Cristina helped me."
"Nice," he nodded. "Good you've got friends."
Then he grinned. "So… party?"
Elise laughed. "Sure, why not?"
She paused, thinking. "Actually, let's go for drinks in a bar . What do you say?"
Arian and I looked at each other. "Yeah," we both agreed.
Elise said, "Today."
We looked at each other and said, "Yeah."
Then we all started working in the café.
I went behind the counter and started taking orders, tapping them into the screen and handing receipts to customers.
Elise prepared drinks — steaming milk, pouring coffee, and placing cups neatly on trays.
Arian carried orders to tables, cleaned them after customers left, and sometimes helped at the register when it got busy.
The soft clinking of cups and the smell of coffee filled the café as the evening rush slowly began.
Elise looked at our uniforms and said, "If we're going for drinks, we can't go in these clothes."
She turned to Arian. "We're going to buy outfits first."
He laughed lightly. "Alright, I'll come too. Otherwise you'll take forever deciding."
"Hey!" Elise protested, smiling.
So we closed our shift, grabbed our bags, and decided to go buy clothes before going for drinks at the bar.
The three of us went to the mall's clothing section. Arian sat in the waiting area while we went into the trial rooms.
I stepped out first in a blue short dress, and Elise came out in a nude-colored one.
She called softly from the trial gate, "Cristina, come outside — let Arian see."
We walked toward him.
Arian glanced up, then shook his head with a small smile. "No… change."
We laughed and went back in, trying a few more outfits.
At last I wore a red off-shoulder short dress. The neckline dipped slightly, showing a bit of my collarbone and soft cleavage. I hesitated near the mirror before stepping out.
Elise's eyes widened. "You're buying this one."
Then she came out wearing a black short dress that fit her perfectly.
I smiled. "You look hot."
We both walked to the waiting area. Arian looked at us quietly for a moment, then smiled.
"You guys look gorgeous."
Then Arian stood up. "Ladies, now you guys help me."
He went into the men's section and came out in a light pink shirt first.
Elise tilted her head. "Hmm… not bad."
I smiled. "Good, but not you."
He changed into a brown shirt next.
I shook my head. "Too dull."
Finally he stepped out wearing a soft white shirt with black trousers. The fit was clean and simple.
Elise grinned. "Okay… this one."
I nodded. "Perfect."
Arian looked at the mirror and laughed. "Approved, then."
We went to a parlour for a little touch-up — fixing our hair, light makeup, just enough to feel fresh.
After that, the three of us headed to the bar. It was big and luxurious. Music played loudly, lights glowed softly across the room, people were dancing, couples laughing, glasses clinking — the whole place felt alive and cheerful.
We found our table and sat down.
We ordered drinks, laughed a lot, and enjoyed the music. After a while we went to the dance floor, moving with the crowd and just chilling.
Arian danced with Elise first while I clapped and cheered for them.
Then he turned toward me and smiled. "May I?"
I hesitated for a second… then placed my hand in his.
He led me to the dance floor and gently held my waist, pulling me a little closer. My chest brushed lightly against him, and my head rested near his neck as I looked up into his blue eyes.
A faint scent of his perfume surrounded me — warm and strangely comforting.
We moved with the music, slow and perfectly in step, as if we already knew the rhythm together.
I was still dancing close with Arian when Elise came laughing toward us.
"Hey, don't leave me out!" she said, slipping between us.
We all ended up hugging and dancing together, laughing uncontrollably, moving without caring about steps or rhythm — just spinning and swaying like happily drunk people in the middle of the crowd.
Elise shouted, "Last drink!"
We all agreed — and ended up drinking a lot. Soon Elise and I could barely walk, while Arian was still steady. He held both of us so we wouldn't stumble.
"I'll drive," he said, guiding us to the car.
"You guys are wasted."
We laughed. "Yes…"
He dropped Elise first. He helped her out, holding her by the arm and waist since her place was on the ground floor. She reached her door and turned back.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yes," she said, smiling before going inside.
He returned to the car and He looked down at me. "Cristina, are you okay?"
I giggled. "Yes… yes…"
He shook his head with a small smile. "You're wasted, little queen."
He asked for my address, and I handed him my wallet.
He drove until we reached my building.
The night outside was soft and quiet, streetlights casting a golden glow on the empty road. A cool breeze brushed my cheeks. I was drunk — my eyes kept opening and closing, the world slightly blurred.
He looked at me gently, then leaned near my ear.
"You have to go to the tenth floor… I don't think you can walk."
Before I could protest, he lifted me into his arms. My head rested against his shoulder as the elevator doors closed with a soft sound. The dim light, the silence, and his steady heartbeat I could smell his faint perfume again...
while the lift slowly carried us upward, and everything felt warm and distant at the same time.
I tried to open my eyes and murmured, "Thanks…"
Arian smiled softly. "Anything for you, Cristina."
The elevator stopped at my floor. When we reached my apartment door, he asked for the code —
I leaned closer and whispered it in his ear, my voice barely a breath… 4508.
For a moment neither of us moved. We were so close I could feel the warmth of him, hear the slow rhythm of his breathing mixing with mine.
The door opened and he gently put me down.
I stood on my feet, but I swayed slightly. His hand stayed at my waist to steady me. We were very close — my chest brushing lightly against him, my head near his neck, my eyes fixed on his blue eyes.
He breathed slowly, almost nervously.
"I don't want to take advantage of a drunk woman."
I just smiled… laugh little bit .
He came even closer, his breath warm against my skin, and kissed my cheek gently — soft and lingering.
Dazed, I leaned forward and kissed his cheek back… yet even in that quiet closeness, a faint unease stirred inside me, a feeling I couldn't name.
The world blurred and slipped away as I blacked out in his arms..
He caught me instantly, holding me carefully so I wouldn't fall. His arms tightened around me for a moment, protective and warm… but inside I didn't feel the same warmth. A thought of Lucian crossed my mind, and a strange guilt stirred in my chest — as if I had done something wrong.....
Then he carried me inside. He laid me gently on the bed, adjusting the pillow under my head and pulling the blanket over me so I wouldn't feel cold.
His fingers brushed a strand of hair away from my face, lingering for a second as he watched me sleep.
"Goodnight… love. Meet you tomorrow," he whispered softly.
He pressed a tender kiss to my forehead and turned off the light.
After about an 20 minutes .I woke up, thirsty.
Still dizzy, I walked slowly toward the kitchen, taking support from the wall. My steps were uneven — the room slightly spinning.
Suddenly my leg hit the corner of something hard. Pain shot through me. Before I could steady myself, I lost balance, hit my head, and fell to the floor.
I was half-aware of the ache, but too exhausted to move. The darkness pulled me back, and I drifted into a deep sleep right there on the cold floor, unable to do anything about the pain.
Then I realized I was near the demon gate. I whispered to myself, "What the fuck… why am I here? In this dress" I couldn't bring myself to go inside. My head was spinning, my body drunk and unsteady. I didn't even know if I could make it to the office, let alone how. I tried to pull my long hair in front of me, hoping it would hide me somehow.
I didn't even look at David and just handed him my card.
He gave a short, sharp laugh and fixed me with a steady, strong gaze. "What happened to you… you look like hell."
I mumbled, cheeks burning, "I know."
David's eyes softened for a second, then he shook his head. "Party, huh? Can you even walk? You can't just stumble in like this."
"I… I can," I whispered, embarrassment flooding me.
He didn't wait for me to argue. "Move. Now. You're late," he said, his tone firm and commanding.
I turned and ran, summoning all my strength....
"
. I dragged myself from the support of the wall down the corridor and finally stepped into the cabin. It was empty. I whispered to myself in a low, exhausted voice, "Where the hell is he now?"
I turned toward the library, each small step a struggle — my head pounding, spinning, every movement heavy with pain. Somehow, I made it to the library. The big clock on the wall stared back at me… 1 o'clock. The room around me was silent, still.
I stumbled into the library, surrounded by towering bookshelves that seemed to sway with every step. My head was spinning, my body aching, alcohol and exhaustion weighing me down.
Then I saw him — Lucian — coming toward me. His broad shoulders and strong frame filled my vision. He wore a faded black T-shirt with no sleeves, like some old, worn piece of cloth, exposing his strong, toned arms. And the way his body moved as he came closer, heavy and imposing."What the hell happened to you?" His voice was low and rough, sharp with anger but I couldn't react — my head was unbearably heavy from the alcohol. My eyes fluttered closed, and I completely blacked out, collapsing… yet it felt soft. When I opened my eyes, I realized my body was resting against Lucian. My chest pressed lightly against his lower chest, my forehead and temple nestled against his neck. My body fit perfectly against his, molded to him like a shield, safe and protected. I could feel the steady thump of his heartbeat, the warmth of his body, the faint, intoxicating scent of his cologne. His hot body pressed against mine. He held me at the waist, lifting me from the ground. My arms hovered awkwardly in the air —
He carried me as if I weighed nothing, gentle yet firm, and in that moment.
He softly ran his fingers through my long hair. His voice came low, warm, and husky, soft as a whisper. "What happened to you?"
I hugged him with both arms and closed my eyes. Peace washed over me, a warmth I hadn't realized I needed. In a soft, slurred, broken voice, I murmured, "Lucian… Lucian… Lucian… I slipped on the floor of the kitchen… my knee and head… injured…" My lips brushed his bare chest as I spoke.
. My deep heartbeat raced against him. My body fit entirely against his, pressed into him like we were one, safe and cocooned. It felt like all the time had stopped. All the fights from yesterday melted away, leaving something entirely new — it felt different, . Maybe it was because of the alcohol… but I wanted to stay like this. I lost my mind all because of alcohol..
Then I lifted my face slightly in the dim light, eyes still closed. "It hurts, Lucian."
He softly ran his fingers through my hair again, tugging a strand gently, then cupped my face in his hands. I could feel the warmth of his touch. His breath brushed against me as he leaned closer. "I'll take care of it," he murmured.
With both hands, he pulled me closer, pressing me against his chest. I felt completely safe, like nothing could touch me. I hugged him back, closing my eyes, and drifted into a deep sleep in his arms… I guess because of the alcohol, I had no idea how long I slept. Maybe an hour, I think.....