The moment Adrian turned the car toward town, Elena already felt her soul preparing to die from embarrassment. Her friends had no filter—none at all. They were sweet, loyal, chaotic angels who loved her deeply… but in front of Adrian?
They were a storm wrapped in glitter.
As the car moved, the chatter began—like a flood no one could stop.
"So, Adrian," Mia said, leaning forward with dangerous curiosity. "Do you work out every day?"
"Mia!" Elena hissed.
"What? I'm asking for scientific purposes."
Olivia smirked. "Yeah, the science of thirst."
Hannah turned bright red. Grace giggled loudly.
Adrian laughed softly. "I try to maintain a routine."
"Of course he does," Grace whispered dramatically. "Men who look like him don't accidentally happen."
Elena covered her face.
"Please," she whispered, "please don't scare him away from the town."
Adrian glanced at her in the mirror, his smile warm—almost comforting. "Don't worry. I enjoy the enthusiasm."
That did not help her embarrassment at all.
The girls kept firing questions like playful arrows.
"What's Rome like?"
"What kind of food do you like?"
"Do you have siblings?"
"What's your star sign?"
"Do all men in Italy look like you?"
Elena pinched her arm to stay alive. "Stop interrogating him!"
But Adrian answered politely, even amused, as if her friends were little kids trying to adopt him. And the worst part? He didn't seem bothered. At all.
Why is he so comfortable?
Why is he so calm?
Why is he smiling like that?
Her thoughts were spiraling—dangerously—when the car slowed near the town center.
The town was beautiful today, washed from last night's rain. Sunlight sat on rooftops like gold; flower stalls bloomed in soft pastels; small cafés opened their glass doors; the cobblestone streets glistened.
"First stop," Olivia announced. "Elena's favorite place."
Elena blinked. "Which one?"
"All of them," Mia said. "Town is basically your kingdom."
"We'll show you everything," Grace added proudly. "We are excellent guides."
Hannah nodded. "We know every corner."
Adrian stepped out of the car with them, stretching lightly, and Elena froze for a second—again—because the way sunlight hit him made him look almost unreal.
Stop staring.
Stop embarrassing yourself.
She forced herself to look away.
They walked through the market. The girls pulled Adrian into conversations with shopkeepers, introduced him to the best bakery, showed him the cutest café, pointed out the street where midnight art shows happened.
Elena walked slightly behind, picking at her fingers, heat lingering in her cheeks.
At one point, Olivia whispered to her, "Why do you look like someone glued embarrassment to your face?"
"Because you all are… being… you."
Mia laughed. "He likes it."
"Stop saying that!" Elena's voice cracked.
Grace looped her arm through Elena's. "Relax. He's nice. And he likes talking to us. And he hasn't run away screaming yet. That's success."
Elena sighed helplessly.
They reached the flower district—where soft music played and the entire street smelled like jasmine and roses. Elena felt her shoulders relax. This was her peaceful place. The colors, the scent, the calm breeze… it was like stepping into a dream.
"Miss Elena!" a warm voice called.
She turned—and smiled instinctively.
"Mrs. Hale," she greeted, walking toward the elderly woman behind the flower stall. "You're out early today."
"Always," Mrs. Hale grinned, adjusting her straw hat. "Fresh flowers deserve morning sunlight."
Elena adored her. She had known Mrs. Hale since childhood; the woman treated her like a granddaughter. Elena leaned forward, sniffing the lavender bunches.
"They're beautiful," she murmured.
"They remind me of you," Mrs. Hale teased.
Elena flushed. "I don't look like lavender."
"You have lavender energy," Mrs. Hale insisted.
Adrian approached quietly and stood beside her. Mrs. Hale's eyes widened in amusement.
"Oh my," she said under her breath. "Now this is new."
Elena blinked. "What?"
Mrs. Hale looked between them with a knowing smile. "Elena dear… you never told me you had a boyfriend."
Elena choked on air.
"What? No—Mrs. Hale—he's not— I mean—he—it's not—"
Mrs. Hale ignored all her panicked stuttering and continued praising Adrian like she had adopted him five minutes ago.
"He's so handsome. Tall. Polite. And he looks at you like you're a flower yourself."
Elena's face caught fire.
Adrian turned to look at her slowly, a hint of surprise in his eyes—maybe something else too.
"Mrs. Hale—seriously—he's just—"
"A good choice," the woman finished proudly. "Very good choice."
The girls behind them snorted, giggled, choked, or whispered "oh my god" repeatedly.
Elena wanted the earth to open and swallow her.
She tried correcting Mrs. Hale again, but the woman talked over her lovingly, her voice playful yet convinced.
"You don't need to explain, sweetheart. I've been alive seventy years—I know a couple when I see one."
Elena covered her burning face.
She couldn't breathe.
She couldn't think.
She couldn't speak without tripping over her own tongue.
Mrs. Hale smiled and picked a large, perfect white rose from the basket. "Here, dear. Take this for your handsome boyfriend."
Elena stared at the rose.
She stared at Mrs. Hale.
She stared at her friends.
Then she stared at Adrian, who watched her with a soft, quiet expression—something unreadable.
Her hands felt heavy.
Slowly… hesitantly… she took the flower.
Her stomach fluttered violently.
Her fingers trembled.
She turned toward Adrian, eyes dropping to the ground.
"Here," she whispered, offering him the rose. "This is… for you."
Adrian looked at the rose first.
Then at her.
Then at the rose again.
Something warm flickered in his eyes—gentle, amused, touched, and a little shaken all at once.
He accepted the flower slowly, brushing her fingertips without meaning to. The accidental touch sent a warm shock up Elena's arm.
"Thank you," he said softly.
Her heart jumped.
He lifted the rose closer, inhaled the scent, then smiled—small, sincere, disarming.
"This is beautiful."
He's talking about the rose, she reminded herself desperately.
Just the rose. Only the rose.
But his gaze lingered on her a little longer than necessary.
Too long.
Too warm.
Too soft.
She swallowed, stepping back, trying to hide her unstable breathing.
Behind them, Mia whispered to Grace, "I swear, I felt sparks."
Grace nodded seriously. "We are watching a romance novel form in real life."
Hannah clapped her hands quietly. "I love this town."
Olivia smirked. "Elena is going to faint again."
Elena shot them all a glare that had no real strength.
Adrian shifted, still holding the rose delicately between his fingers. "Mrs. Hale, thank you," he said politely. "This is very kind."
"Oh, I'll give her a bouquet for your wedding," the old woman winked.
Elena nearly died.
"Okay, Mrs. Hale, we're going now!" she squeaked, dragging her friends away before the woman planned their future children.
But Adrian stayed behind for a second, looking down at the flower… and smiling to himself in a way Elena didn't see.
He tucked the rose safely inside his jacket pocket.
Then he followed her.
After the long, laughter-filled town tour, the girls begged Adrian to drop them back at the university so they could grab their bags before heading home. Adrian agreed easily, parking near the entrance while Elena's friends tumbled out, waving wildly as if they'd known him for years.
"BYE ADRIAN!" Grace shouted.
"DON'T FORGET US!" Mia added.
"VISIT AGAIN!" Hannah waved.
Olivia smirked. "Don't let Elena bully you."
Elena gasped, her face flushing. "I do NOT bully people!"
Olivia winked and slammed the door.
The car grew quiet immediately.
Almost too quiet.
Elena sank into the seat, exhaling heavily. "I'm so sorry," she finally said, covering her face with her hands. "I know they're… a lot."
"They're wonderful," Adrian said honestly, starting the engine.
"Chaotic," Elena corrected.
"In a good way," he countered. "They care about you deeply."
Elena softened. "They do."
The car rolled out of the university gates, the midday sun making the streets shimmer. Elena watched the familiar shops pass by, fingers twisting nervously in her lap. She needed to say something—something important.
"Adrian?" she murmured.
"Yes?"
"I… wanted to apologize. Again."
"For what?" he asked, genuinely confused.
"For today. For the market. For Mrs. Hale. For the flower thing. For my friends talking nonstop. For—basically everything."
He turned slightly toward her, eyes amused. "You don't need to apologize for any of that."
"But Mrs. Hale thought we were—" She wanted to sink into the seat. "Boyfriend and girlfriend."
He chuckled quietly. "That part was… surprising."
"I'm sorry," she whispered again.
"You say that too much," he said gently.
"I mean it too much."
The corner of his lips curved.
A few moments passed in silence before Elena's voice dropped lower—more cautious, more fragile.
"And… please don't talk about today's flower thing in front of Sienna." She swallowed. "She'll misunderstand. Or she'll joke. Or—"
"I won't," he interrupted softly. "You have my word."
She breathed out in relief. "Thank you."
He glanced at her again, expression warm. "Is she always that… expressive?"
Elena hesitated. "She's very bold. Very confident. She likes teasing. She likes being the center of attention. But she's also sensitive." Her voice gentled. "She doesn't like sharing the spotlight."
Adrian nodded slowly. "I see."
To change the subject—and save her sanity—he asked, "What about you? What do you like?"
Elena blinked. "Me?"
"Yes," he said, smiling. "Elena likes what?"
She fiddled with a loose thread on her skirt. "Um… I like books. Flowers. Art. I like watching the sunrise. And… fairy tales."
"Fairy tales?" he repeated, amused.
She nodded shyly. "I always believed everyone has a prince charming somewhere."
"And do you still believe that?"
She looked out the window as if the world might provide an answer. "I… hope so."
He studied her profile for a moment—soft, calm, glowing faintly in the passing sunlight. Something tugged in his chest.
"And what do you dislike?" he asked.
She smiled faintly. "People who lie. And people who play with feelings. And… loud places." She laughed lightly. "I panic."
"I'll remember that," he murmured.
"What about you?" she asked, curious now. "What does Adrian like?"
He thought for a moment. "I like hard work. Independence. And… people who are honest."
Elena's heart dipped strangely.
"And dislikes?"
"Arrogance. And hurting others." His gaze softened. "And making someone uncomfortable."
She looked down at her hands. "You're… very considerate."
"Not always," he admitted. "But I try."
The conversation dissolved into a peaceful silence, the kind that didn't feel heavy or awkward. Outside, the roads widened, leading toward the gates of the grand estate.
As the mansion came into view, Adrian slowed the car slightly.
The car rolled to a stop in front of the entrance. Before Elena could reach for the door, Adrian stepped out and opened it for her. The gesture made her heart skip painfully.
"I can walk," she whispered.
"I know," he said softly, helping her anyway.
When his hand wrapped around hers, even briefly, her heart turned into a fluttering storm.
Just then, a sharp, familiar voice echoed across the courtyard.
"ADRIAAAAN!"
Elena stiffened.
Sienna ran toward them, heels clicking, hair perfect, smile bright. She didn't slow down—didn't hesitate—just flung herself into Adrian's arms with absolute confidence.
He caught her.
Elena stood frozen, something inside her quietly cracking.
"You left me sleeping!" Sienna whined playfully, hugging Adrian as if they hadn't seen each other in months. "You could've woken me up!"
Adrian cleared his throat. "You looked tired."
Elena lowered her gaze. Her heart stung, but she smiled politely like she always did.
Sienna finally looked at her, smirking.
"Wow, Elena. Took my boyfriend on a full-day date without telling me? Shame, shame."
Elena smiled tightly. "It wasn't a date. I was showing him the town. With friends."
Sienna laughed dramatically. "Relax! I'm joking!" She nudged her arm. "You get too serious."
But Elena didn't laugh.
Because it wasn't funny.
Because her chest hurt.
Because Sienna's tone—light but sharp—landed exactly where it wasn't supposed to.
Adrian glanced at Elena, sensing her discomfort. She looked away immediately.
Sienna continued, oblivious. "Anyway! Come inside. Dad is waiting, you have to see the plans I made for tonight!"
Elena forced a smile. "I'll go to my room."
Sienna had already pulled Adrian away, chatting excitedly.
Adrian looked back once—just once—his eyes lingering on Elena with a quiet, unreadable expression.
Elena lowered her head before he could see the hurt in her eyes.
She whispered softly, to no one but herself—
"It wasn't a joke to me."