Chapter 5

Lila stood a few feet away, her brown eyes showing hints of innocence within them. 

 "Luca, isn't it?" Lila's voice was soft but steady.

He nodded silently, unsure of what to make of their encounter.

 "You know, smoking isn't good right?" she said lightly with a smile.

 "Listen if you have nothing better to do than come and give your opinions, I suggest you walk away"

Lila looked taken aback. She had heard about Luca Solace, and every other girl always had something good to say about him unless they were already victimized. She couldn't lie that he was very handsome, but he looked tired and sad. 

 "Are you ok?" Lila couldn't help asking. 

Luca sighed, rubbing his forehead with his hand. "I'm fine," he muttered, avoiding her gaze.

"You don't look fine," Lila persisted gently, stepping a bit closer. "If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here."

Lila shrugged slightly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I guess I just don't like seeing people upset."

"Well, that's very noble of you," Luca said, a touch of bitterness in his voice. "But you don't know me, so I suggest you find somewhere else to go."

 "Fair enough," Lila admitted. "But maybe I'd like to."

Before Luca could respond, the bell rang, signaling the end of the break. Lila hesitated for a moment, then turned to leave. Luca felt a touch of annoyance 

 'Who does she think she is, speaking to me like we are friends,' he thought. 

After a while of being at his spot, Luca decided to go back inside. Classes had ended by then and he could easily go to his room and sleep all the thoughts away. 

Luca trudged through the now-empty hallways of Aurelia Academy, his thoughts a tangled mess. He felt the weight of the day pressing down on him, and all he wanted was the solace of his room.

He reached the dormitory, his steps echoing in the grand hall that led to the luxurious living quarters shared by him and his brother, Leonardo. The door clicked open, and Luca entered the spacious apartment, immediately heading for the kitchen to grab a drink.

As he rummaged through the fridge, the door to Leonardo's room opened, and his brother stepped out. Leonardo, ever the epitome of calm and collected, looked at Luca with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

 "Rough day?" Leonardo asked, leaning casually against the doorway.

Luca didn't bother to hide his frustration. "You could say that," he replied, pulling out a bottle of water. He twisted the cap off and took a long drink, hoping to wash away some of his turmoil.

Leonardo studied him for a moment before going to his room. Even though he didn't indulge in more questions, Leo knew what was wrong with his brother but chose the quiet path out of fear of a fight breaking between them.