Episode 4 . ︎ᡣ𐭩 ݁˖

Leroy tore his eyes away from the painting and stepped back so suddenly that the chair behind him scraped lightly against the wooden floor.

As if distance alone could somehow clear his thoughts. As if standing farther away from both Alina and that painting would magically erase the tension tightening inside his chest.

For several seconds, he said nothing. His jaw remained tense while his gaze fixed somewhere near the window instead of the canvas.

Instead of her. Then finally—

“Today’s session is over,” Leroy said firmly. “Go home. Right now.”

The sudden coldness in his voice hit the room instantly. And just like that, the warmth from moments ago disappeared.

The small smile on Alina’s face faded almost immediately. Her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of her paint palette. For a second, irritation flashed openly across her expression.

She hated this. Absolutely hated it. The way Leroy always pulled away after moments like this. The way he acted as though creating distance would somehow solve everything.

As though pretending nothing had happened could erase the tension constantly building between them.

It annoyed her even more because she knew he felt it too. Still, Alina swallowed her frustration quietly. Arguing now would only make him retreat further. So without another word, she began packing her things slowly.

The soft sounds of brushes clinking against glass jars filled the silence between them.

Leroy remained standing near the tall window with his arms crossed tightly over his chest. He avoided looking at her. Avoided looking at the painting.

Avoided acknowledging the fact that his thoughts had been completely ruined the moment he saw it.

The late afternoon sunlight stretched across the studio floor while silence settled heavily around them again.

By the time Alina finished putting away her supplies, the atmosphere had become painfully awkward.

She picked up her bag and walked toward the door quietly.

Leroy still didn’t move. Didn’t stop her. Didn’t say goodbye.

But just as her hand reached the doorknob—

She suddenly paused.

“Oh, right,” Alina said casually, as though she had almost forgotten something unimportant.

Leroy glanced at her over his shoulder.

“There’s a trip from my college tomorrow,” Alina continued.

Leroy frowned slightly.

“It’s a three-day trip,” Alina explained while leaning lightly against the door. “Everyone has to bring one family member or guardian along.”

Leroy’s expression remained blank for exactly two seconds. Then suspicion slowly appeared in his eyes.

“And?” Leroy asked carefully.

“My dad’s busy,” Alina replied with a shrug. “Mom has an appointment with some VIP client.”

Then she added very casually—

“So Dad told me to take you instead.”

Leroy’s brows immediately pulled together.

“What?” Leroy asked flatly.

Alina nearly smiled at his reaction but managed to stop herself just in time.

Barely.

“He said he trusts you more than me,” Alina replied innocently. “You know that.”

A dangerous sentence. A very dangerous sentence.

Because responsibility was one of the few things Leroy could never easily refuse.

And Alina knew that perfectly well.

“The bus leaves tomorrow morning,” Alina added while opening the door. “Be ready, okay? I’ll wait for you.”

Leroy straightened slightly.

“Alina, wait a second—”

But she had already waved casually.

“Bye, Leroy.”

And before he could properly respond—

She disappeared outside. The door clicked shut behind her. Silence returned instantly. Leroy stood there motionless for several long seconds.

Then slowly, he looked toward the abandoned painting still sitting on the easel. His expression darkened slightly. Something about this entire situation felt suspicious.

Very suspicious. Too suspicious.

Meanwhile—

Outside, Alina practically skipped down the road with barely contained excitement.

The cool evening wind brushed lightly against her cheeks while she clasped both hands behind her back.

Her smile kept growing bigger with every step.

“Will he ever realize I never actually told Dad anything?” Alina whispered dramatically to herself.

Then she laughed quietly under her breath.

It was the kind of laugh that sounded far too pleased with itself. Far too proud. Like a tiny villain successfully completing the first step of an evil master plan.

By the time she reached home, her imagination had already completely taken over.

Three whole days. With Leroy. No interruptions. No escaping her. The thought alone nearly made her scream into a pillow.

The moment she entered her room, she threw herself face-first onto the bed dramatically before kicking her feet excitedly against the mattress.

“I seriously can’t wait for tomorrow…” Alina groaned happily into the blanket.

But later that night—

Reality finally caught up to her. Alina suddenly sat upright in bed with widened eyes.

“…Wait.”

A horrifying realization hit her instantly.

If Leroy contacted her father—

Everything would collapse immediately.

Her father would obviously say he had no idea what Leroy was talking about.

Which meant—

Alina would die from embarrassment before tomorrow morning even arrived.

She stared at the ceiling for several long seconds.

Then determination slowly replaced the panic in her eyes.

“…Okay,” Alina muttered to herself seriously. “Emergency damage control.”

A few minutes later, she stood outside her father’s study wearing the most innocent expression she could possibly manage.

After taking one deep breath, she knocked softly.

“Come in,” her father called from inside.

Alina entered carefully.

Her father sat behind his desk surrounded by paperwork, barely glancing up at first.

“What happened?” he asked distractedly.

“Dad,” Alina started sweetly while clasping her hands together behind her back, “there’s a college trip tomorrow…”

Her father finally looked up properly.

And over the next several minutes, Alina carefully twisted the story in her favor with terrifying skill.

According to her revised version of events—

Leroy had personally offered to accompany her because he was worried her parents’ busy schedules might make things difficult for her.

Responsible. Thoughtful. Completely believable. Perfect. Balanced perfectly on both sides.

By the time the conversation ended, her father looked genuinely relieved.

“That’s good then,” he said. “I was wondering how you’d manage alone.”

Alina smiled sweetly.

“I know, right?”

Her father nodded approvingly.

“Leroy’s reliable. I trust him.”

Alina almost laughed out loud hearing that.

Instead, she simply nodded politely before leaving the study as calmly as possible.

The moment the door closed behind her—

Her composure completely broke. A huge grin spread across her face immediately.

“Mission successful,” Alina whispered proudly to herself.

Now there was only one thing left to worry about—

Whether Leroy would actually show up tomorrow morning.

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