assroom with her academy teacher, Miss Varya, focused on the

moved to op

there, gripping a you

r brother," the guard said

kip a beat and gulped.

released his hold on Jove

arms, her tone sharp. "

find you instead. And look, I brought you some apples," Jove

before her eyes darted around cautiously. Sh

place is dangerous. Don't

t you?" Jovel shot back

's voice, tilted her head, sneak

freeze. They were both caught in each other's gaz

d distant, barely registering

w!" his sister repeated more fir

er the apples, and she c

ontinue," Varya said, turning

hat?" Anas

my broth

s curled into a

turned. This time, the security guard, familiar with h

he found Anastasia seated, deep in concentration, w

t be Anastasia," he gree

from her paper, her

looking for

d, a little

Igor's office," Ana

I sit here and wait

, sneaking glances at Anastasia. Each time their eyes met, they

of silence, Jovel

said, pointing to the

l, and she instincti

something wrong?" Jo

g to say. I hate scars," s

wish I had scars like those. They tell a story, your streng

sual disgust and anger that rose within her, she felt something differen

ures, suddenly noticing just how striking he was. His deep green eyes shimmered with warm

te as handsome as him before, and the th

do for fun?

w to answer. Fun wasn't somet

de my bike. It helps when I'm stre

e," she murmured,

idea. "Do you want to go f

ntarily caught off guar

, so no worries, I can ride without an

fessed, "It's not that... Igo

about this, I'll wait for you across the gate at eight PM,

ss what he'd said, the door opened, and Varya retu

ing here without asking me first," she

ng his exit. Once he was gone, Anastasia tried to focus on

wasn't sure whether she should meet him, but something deep inside urged her to go

ng-sleeve sweatshirt and jeans, something comfortable and easy to move in. She knew

n, she tossed a rope over the edge,

l of sneaking out. She landed softly on the other side, her

ss his face as she approached.

"Hop on," he said, strapping his own helme

bubbling up. Jovel glanced over his should

ted the engine and the bike shot forward, she instinct

reely in the wind. The city lights blurred as they sped through the street

a cozy ice cream spot, its neon

ke?" he asked, turning to

asia replied wi

fee, huh?" He went ahead and ordered two l

ing he wouldn't finish it. His plan was simple: he wanted her

stead, as they sat down, he started talk

It's just me and my older sister now. We

There was something comforting about his honesty, the

redicted, she reached over and took his untouched cup, h

e hum of the city for a while longer, Jovel revv

ia nimbly climbed the wall and disappeared over the edge.

She placed her hand over her chest, feeling the rapid beat beneath her fi

ed living in that mansion, she felt al

as a Saturday, which meant no academy studies. Even as she wo

astasia secretly hoped Jovel would show up again, b

int, coded message scribbled in the margin. It was subtle, b

d a beat. It had

ck, she once a

anding her a helmet. She nodded eager

oments of fun, eating at late-night diners, singing off-key in karaoke rooms, watching mo

propriate or pressured her in any way. Anastasia found comfort in the fact t

avior. She seemed distracted at times, her usual composed demeano

suspecting that she was sneaking

ped away yet again, Igor couldn't sha

he reached her door, he shoved it open