EPISODE 2 -Assigned

Adriano’s gaze lingered a second longer than necessary.

Then he looked away first.

Not because he wanted to

But because she did.

Alessia shifted uncomfortably, adjusting her grip on the notebook. “I should go,” she muttered, more to herself than to him.

Adriano didn’t stop her.

He never did.

He just watched.

As she walked away.

As her pace quickened the moment she got closer to the main courtyard

Closer to him.

His jaw tightened slightly.

Predictable.

The noise hit her before she even saw the crowd.

Laughter. Shouting. Excitement.

And at the center of it

Lorenzo De Santis.

Of course.

Alessia slowed down instinctively, her steps losing confidence as she blended into the background. Girls surrounded him, voices overlapping, hands reaching, attention desperate.

And Lorenzo?

He looked bored.

Completely.

Utterly.

Uninterested

“Lorenzo, are you coming tonight?”

“You promised last time!”

“Just one picture, please!”

He barely glanced at them.

“Not interested.”

The words were casual. Dismissive.

Like they didn’t matter.

Because they didn’t.

Alessia’s fingers curled slightly around her notebook.

Why do they still chase him?

Then again

Why did she?

“Move.”

The voice wasn’t loud.

But it cut through everything.

The crowd shifted instantly.

And before Alessia could react

He was right there.

Closer than she expected.

Too close.

Her breath caught.

Lorenzo’s eyes dropped to the notebook in her hand.

Then slowly

Back to her face.

Recognition flickered.

And then

A smirk.

“Well,” he said lazily, “this is interesting.”

Her heart started racing again.

“I—”

“You’re in my class, right?” he cut in, tilting his head slightly.

Alessia nodded quickly. “Y-yes.”

He hummed, pretending to think.

“Quiet. Always sitting in the back.”

Her stomach dropped.

He noticed?

“Didn’t think you had a voice,” he added, almost amused.

Heat rushed to her cheeks.

“I do.”

“Yeah?” His eyebrow lifted slightly. “Prove it.”

She froze.

Words—gone.

Confidence—nonexistent.

Lorenzo chuckled softly, shaking his head.

“Thought so.”

“Lorenzo.”

A sharp voice interrupted.

Both of them turned.

Marco.

“Coach is looking for you.”

Lorenzo sighed lightly, running a hand through his hair. “Of course he is.”

He glanced back at Alessia.

Just for a second.

But it felt longer.

“Don’t disappear,” he said, almost casually.

“Wouldn’t want to lose my…” he paused, eyes flicking to her notebook again.

“…academic lifeline.”

And just like that—

He walked away.

Like the moment didn’t matter.

Like she didn’t.

But Alessia stood there.

Frozen.

Heart still racing.

Mind replaying every word.

He noticed me.

That was enough.

More than enough.

From a distance

Adriano watched.

His expression unreadable.

But his focus?

Sharp.

Unwavering.

“She’s smiling again,” he murmured under his breath.

There it was.

That same expression.

Soft.

Unaware.

Unprotected.

And it wasn’t because of him.

His fingers curled slowly into a fist.

Not tight enough to hurt.

Just enough to feel.

Back in the hallway, Alessia finally moved, her steps slower now.

Careful.

Like she was carrying something fragile.

Something dangerous.

She didn’t notice the figure stepping into her path until it was too late.

“You dropped this.”

Adriano held out a pen.

Her pen.

She blinked. “Oh-I didn’t even realize…”

“I know.”

His tone was calm.

Too calm.

Their fingers brushed for a second as she took it.

And for a brief moment-

She looked at him.

Properly.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

Adriano nodded once.

Nothing more.

But his eyes didn’t leave her.

Not even when she walked away again.

Later that night

In a room filled with screens

Adriano sat in silence.

One screen.

One focus.

Alessia.

Walking into her house.

Closing the door.

Safe.

For now.

His hand rested near the keyboard.

Still.

Patient.

Calculated.

“She thinks today was important,” he said quietly.

A pause.

His gaze darkened slightly.

“But she doesn’t know…”

His lips curved just barely.

“…it was just the beginning.”

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