I traced the word on the sand.

"Ava, can we be friends?"

"Sure Liam"

He smiled and came near me.

I smiled back but my eyes met with the name I was tracing a few seconds ago.

"Are you following me?" I demanded, my tone tinged with irritation as I glared at Romano.

"No, Miss Psycho," he responded, his voice carrying a hint of annoyance, yet he winced slightly as he sat down, nursing the spot where I had kicked him earlier.

A few hours before this encounter, tensions had risen between me and my father, Mr. Luca. He had summarily dismissed my ideas, asserting his authority over my mission, and my frustration had reached its limit.

"I'm sure about what I'm doing, Mr. Luca," I had retorted, the argument growing heated. "You can't just dismiss all my ideas without giving them proper consideration."

Mr. Luca's response had been laced with arrogance, a common demeanor when conversing with me. "You're here for a mission, Ava, and you will follow my orders," he had declared, effectively shutting down any further discussion.

His words had pushed me to the brink, and I couldn't hold back the tears that welled up. With a deep breath, I made a decision. "Then it's up to you. I'm going to Paris, and you can't stop me. Goodbye," I had declared, hurling my phone away in frustration before he could respond.

As I gathered my essentials and left the house for the airport, I couldn't help but feel conflicted about the impending trip. Doubts gnawed at me, and the entire journey felt like a trap I was willingly walking into.

My taxi had broken down en route to the airport, and I'd been forced to find alternative transportation. While waiting for a bus, an eerie feeling settled over me as though I was being observed. I glanced around, but nothing seemed amiss, so I brushed off my unease.

Throughout the journey to the airport, that strange sensation persisted, and I constantly checked my surroundings for any unusual activity. Despite my vigilance, nothing happened until I boarded the plane.

As I settled into my window seat, my mind began to wander. I had always favored window seats, a preference that was the complete opposite of my twin sister, Olivia. She had despised them, and when we traveled together, she'd sit beside me, guarding me as if she feared I might tumble out through the window.

Reflecting on these memories, I felt a tap on my shoulder, jolting me back to the present. Acting on instinct, I'd reacted swiftly, delivering a kick to an unexpected intruder's nether regions.

"Are you following me?" I had demanded, my gaze unwavering as I confronted the intruder.

"No, Miss Psycho," Romano growled, still nursing his injury, but his eyes held a defiant gleam.

"Then what the hell are you doing here on this plane with me?" I had questioned, choosing to disregard his discomfort.

"I'm not following you, but accompanying you," he had asserted, straightening up in his seat.

"And did Amara tell you to do this?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, why would she?" he responded.

"Then why? I don't recall inviting you," I replied, skepticism coloring my tone.

"I don't need anyone's permission to do anything. I felt like going with you, so here I am," he declared.

Before I could engage in further argument, the announcement to fasten seatbelts for takeoff had interrupted us. I had decided then not to pursue the conversation any longer; Romano was unlikely to reveal anything voluntarily, and I couldn't afford to reveal my own suspicions.

Throughout the flight, Romano remained uncomfortably silent, his presence weighing heavily on my mind. I couldn't help but steal glances at him, inadvertently pushing my mission to the back of my thoughts.

Tension coursed through me. How could I proceed with my mission when he was constantly by my side? What would his reaction be if he learned about my true purpose? Was it possible that he was involved in the very matter I sought to investigate?

He attended the same college and was acquainted with Olivia. Furthermore, he was her boyfriend. My mind swirled with doubts and unanswered questions.

Upon landing, we retrieved our luggage and headed for the airport exit. It was then that I heard my name being called, and I turned to see my best friend and cousin, Karen, approaching to greet me.

"Karen?" I exclaimed, taken aback by her presence. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to pick you up, silly," she replied casually, shrugging.

"But..." I began, my question cut short when Karen noticed Romano standing beside me.

"Hi," Romano introduced himself, extending his hand for a handshake. "I'm Romano."

Karen's gaze flickered between us, her expression inquisitive, and I tried to convey with my eyes that she should remain silent about Romano's unexpected arrival.

"Hi, I'm Karen, Ava's cousin and best friend," she responded, though her curiosity remained apparent.

I interjected, explaining, "He followed, or should I say, accompanied me here."

Karen nodded and took my bag before leading us to her car. As we arrived at her home, she showed us our respective rooms, with me sharing one with Karen and Romano in the adjacent room.

After I emerged from the bathroom, Karen questioned the situation. "Ava, what's all this? Why is her boyfriend here? You didn't bring him along, did you?"

I considered my response carefully, aware that Karen was well-informed and perceptive. "I didn't know he would follow me," I replied. "I don't fully trust him yet."

"Yet?" Karen inquired, her pacing revealing her restlessness. "Are you unsure about trusting him or not?"

I remained silent, uncertain of how to articulate my feelings. Romano had an uncanny way of making me believe I could confide in him, and that was a dilemma I couldn't easily resolve.

"Be careful, Ava," Karen warned, her concern evident. "You can't afford to get emotionally involved. Remember, this is just a mission. Your feelings could jeopardize everything."

"I know," I finally replied, my eyes welling up with tears as I explained the depth of my emotions. I assured Karen that I would bury these feelings once my mission concluded. Romano had never belonged to me, and I understood that our paths could never converge in this lifetime.

That night, Karen took Romano to a club, suggesting that I would join them after completing my pending college project. I was surprised by his easy agreement; it seemed counterintuitive for him to leave me alone in the house if his purpose was to keep an eye on me.

_______***_______

Happy reading.