Our conversation flowed so effortlessly that I felt myself being drawn to him more and more.
"Leon?" I said.
"Yes, Valeria?"
"Why did you leave your previous city? Was it really just for school? What happened to your family?"
"Just for school," he said, but his tone made it painfully obvious he was hiding something.
"But—" I began, only for him to cut me off.
"It's getting really late. Come on, we're leaving."
"Where?"
"Someone seems to have forgotten all her belongings in the dorm."
Right… I had completely forgotten about the dorm fire, my things—everything.
"Um, Leon… Can you at least give me a sweater? If I wear it under your jacket… I'll be outside in pajamas."
"Oh—right. I totally forgot about that. Wait here."
He came back with a black turtleneck.
I went to the bathroom to put it on. It was a bit big on me, but I wasn't exactly tiny either.
"How does it look?"
"It's fine."
"You can take your jacket back now, thank you."
"No, keep it. I don't want you getting cold. I'm dressed warm enough."
He was wearing a dark coffee-black sweater—stylish and put-together as always.
We headed down to the car.
"I'm curious," I said. "Do you ever wear colors? You're always dressed so dark… Doesn't it suffocate you?"
"I like black. It calms me."
"Such a soul-drainer…" I muttered, laughing.
He shot me a mildly annoyed look, then chuckled too.
"We shouldn't park too close to the dorm. It'll draw attention. I don't want any trouble," I said.
We got out and walked a little. After a while, Leon handed me something.
"Here, wrap this scarf tightly. Don't let your face show," he said.
He had pulled up his hood and put on something that looked almost like a mask.
There weren't many people left around. The fire had been extinguished, and the burnt building stared back at us in the darkness.
"How are we even getting in? The lower floors must be completely burned," I said.
"Come with me," he said and took my hand.
We began climbing the fire escape at the back.
He held my hand so firmly that I felt like even if I slipped, nothing would happen.
"Leon…" I whispered. "Do you think this is safe?"
"No," he said honestly. "But I'm here. And all your things are up there. If you want, I can go alone."
"No, I'm coming too."
Luckily, my room was on the side with the balcony, and it didn't look as damaged as the others. Still, everything was covered in soot.
"Be careful," Leon said.
We stepped inside through the balcony.
It wasn't a pretty sight, but at least it wasn't completely destroyed. I went straight to my closet and started stuffing whatever clothes survived into bags.
Leon looked around, occasionally pointing at items. "Do you really need this one?" he'd ask.
After the clothes, I grabbed a few valuable items.
My handbag was somehow intact—only the strap had partially melted. My cards and money were safe, which made me breathe a long sigh of relief.
"Valeria."
"Yes, Leon? Sorry, I'm almost done."
"This bracelet and photo… Are they yours?"
He held a slightly burned photograph and a steel bracelet.
"Oh…" I said, avoiding his eyes. "They were from someone. Not that important. You can keep the bracelet if you want."
"Thank you," he said quietly—there was a hint of sadness in his voice, but I didn't push it.
I had finally finished gathering everything. I turned toward him, ready to speak, when suddenly—
"Hey! Is someone there? Hey!"
Leon immediately switched off the light and grabbed my hand.
"We need to go. Now."
We grabbed the bags and started heading down. The voices were getting closer.
"Aah!"
"What happened?"
"I tripped… It's fine, I just can't put weight on it, but I can go."
"No, don't force it. Hold on," he said.
He took the bags from me, and we somehow made it down. After we got far enough away:
"Stop. Let me see your wrist."
"I said it's nothing, Leon. I'm fine."
"No," he insisted, checking it.
"You strained it… clumsy girl."
"I'm used to it, don't worry," I said.
We reached the car and loaded the bags. I didn't have much to begin with.
Leon turned to me.
"Well then, young lady… Now it's my turn to get to know you. Who exactly are you?"