It wasn’t until Felix had left my side, and when I happened to set my eyes on Lucas walking towards me, amidst a crowd that parted like a wave before him in all his splendor, gawking at the prince-like young man, did I realize I could finally breathe.

I admit, I didn’t feel comfortable at all in the room. I’d had one too many disrespectful glares directed at me, and above all else, with Felix tending to his duties as the ‘favorite’ cousin of the family, I had no one else who seemed to want to talk to me.

Who’d want to, really? I was a mere son of a servant who worked for the Madam. I realized then that the world was seriously made up of some selfish people, but it was also full of people who were selfless as well.

Lucas blended in so well with them, I didn’t have a thing to say to him when he walked up to me with all his natural magnificence, curious eyes focused on us both as he commanded the room with his grand presence.

I gulped.

He ran a hand through his hair, sighing visibly, “What a pain.”

I simply nodded, ignoring the way he eyed me suspiciously. He must’ve read the hesitant expression on my face. I couldn’t simply tell him I knew about his secret little job. Thankfully, he didn’t pester me about it. Instead, he returned to watching the crowds of people festering amongst the tables.

The staff behind us worked quickly, moving in speeds I didn’t think were humanly possible, and all the while catering to the guests inside the ballroom and out on the veranda, where, the starry night was beginning to grow visibly.

I breathed in their presence, in knowing I was around familiar faces and not . . . strangers.

Lucas turned to me, “I saw you talking to Felix.”

“Oh.” I looked away, to at least hide my expression of annoyance.

He seemed to find that amusing, “Yeah. He’s like that.”

“Blunt.” I added, smiling again after such a long while.

Lucas caught that, holding onto it for some reason as I stared back at him, “Yeah.”

We stayed silent for a minute, simply people-watching. I could feel him tense from time to time as the guests shifted from one place to another. I wondered if he’d seen his father yet. I knew I wasn’t going to. The man terrified me, and I hadn’t even set my eyes on him.

Honestly, the atmosphere was thick with toxicity, and I could feel it affect me in a negative way. I couldn’t stop twiddling my fingers, searching for any fabric to make the usual sweater-paws I made out of habit.

Instead, I kept my arms crossed.

“Felix will be staying with us for the next couple of days.” He told me, tone dreary.

I answered in an equally miffed way, “Wonderful.”

“I can’t believe the party was held here.” He complained, watching the guests in disgust. “I can’t believe he’s here. I can’t believe we’re here.”

Somehow, this irked me.

“Complaining?” I asked.

He glared at me, “Fighting?”

“I am not starting any fight.” I said, astounded at his observation, “You’re the one complaining.”

“I”m not complaining.” He argued back, hands on his hips and looking down at me in anger.

I gazed up at him, “I thought you said we couldn’t fight.”

“I did.”

“Then what are we doing now?”

Lucas began to pout.

I cursed under my breath.

“What? Why do you keep cursing at me?” He said, “And you do it in Spanish. I can’t understand you.”

“Oh don’t lie about that.” I told him, “You’ve learned enough Spanish from me. You know what I’m saying.”

“I’m trying not be mean.” He emphasized the word ‘mean’, making me wince.

I dropped my arms, frustrated at that point, “Curse at me all you want. I’m Mexican, I can handle it all.”

“How dare you make me curse.” He raised his voice, “Don’t instigate anything.”

At that point, a few people began to look our way. I chose to ignore them, mainly because I was still staring daggers at Lucas, who, was doing the same to me.

We were fighting. It was inevitable.

And we were fighting for a stupid reason too. We were simply annoyed with each other, and possibly tired from putting up our walls for this party. It was all going to our heads.

Mr. Rangel appeared at our sides, clearing his throat and gaining our attention instantly.

We both looked at him, both realizing we weren’t in our own little world like always.

“I am sorry to disrupt.” He said, clearly saving our skin. “Young master Lucas, your father would like to speak with you immediately. He stated it is quite urgent.”

“Father?” Lucas rolled his eyes at me, “This is why I didn’t want you here . . .” He muttered, as lowly as he’d spoken when he told me of his dad.

The room grew quiet.

I must’ve drowned out everything. I couldn’t hear anything but the sound of my own rushing heart sinking. I already wasn’t feeling good, and now this?

Did he hate me that much? Yes. He’d clearly said it now, in front of Mr. Rangel, in the presence of his family. It made me want to run away from it all, even though I’d heard it from him multiple times. Why was it different now?

I choked up.

Lucas stepped towards me, expression changing instantly, “Sammy—”

“I’ve only been trying to help you.” I replied, in a small voice.

He appeared taken aback at my tone.

I couldn’t help but feel my eyes sting.

Was I . . . crying . . . ?

Carefully, I wiped my growing wet eyes, totally in disbelief. Was it because of the contacts? Was I not used to them? Probably.

Lucas stared at me in shock.

“I’m—I already know I don’t belong here, but—I only wanted to help you—” I said, more to myself than to him. I didn’t know why I was feeling so emotional. No—I did know. It was the environment.

I could feel the discomfort in the room, the same feeling I’d felt when I noticed how out-of-place I was amidst all this splendor. The eyes of those wealthy people stabbed at me, judging me as I cowered in their presence. It was a world I’d never known, never belonged in. It was suffocating.

“Sammy.” He said again, though I didn’t look at him.

“I need . . . air . . .” I said, voice small, turning.

Lucas grabbed my arm, but I shook him off.

I needed to be alone.

Alone.

Leave it to me to abandon the important celebration I was supposed to attend with the star of the event. Now I’d left my post to retreat to the garden once more, specifically in the shelter of the fairy-lit gazebo placed near the lapping water of the large swimming pool.

Truthfully, I knew I was blowing things out of proportion, but I could not help it. I’d never done anything like that, attending such an extravagant party. It must’ve gone to my head quite quickly, too quickly.

And speaking with that young man Felix didn’t help anything. Not to mention the fact that he must’ve been gossiping about me in there. Though I didn’t want to believe the boy had a wicked heart. He most likely did not.

I leaned against the white wood, sitting on the railing whilst I breathed in the flowery aroma I’d smelled when I first came there.

I remembered the time Lucas took hold of me when I fell into the pool. That boy wasn’t the same one who said he didn’t want me by his side at the party. And I wasn’t a delicate person to begin with. I could’ve handled his statement. I only wondered why I took it so badly.

It was probably because I felt alone.

Whenever I felt alone, I’d always be a time-bomb.

Yeah, it must’ve been that. Lucas should’ve seen it coming. He was such an idiot at times. Now he must’ve been speaking with his father, glad that he’d gotten rid of me so easily. Though he was thoroughly surprised at the fact that my eyes began to water.

And it wasn’t because I was feeling too emotional (partly). The contacts were hurting my eyes, so much that I had to take them off. I could barely see anything from afar, but close things were easier for me.

I hung my head low, sighing in exasperation.

I must’ve looked like a complete fool in front of everyone. Though no one was really looking our way anyway. I hoped the Madam didn’t see that little outburst.

Gently, I rubbed at my eyes, feeling them water under my touch. A tear streaked down my cheek, indicating to me they were still somewhat irritated.

Close by, a hand reached out, grabbing my arm. It was so surprising, I jumped at the contact, unable to remember if I’d seen anyone following me.

Was it Felix again?

I turned, only to find I wasn’t looking into baby blue eyes, instead they were replaced with familiar grey ones, the ones that stared deeply into my very being.

“Lucas . . . ?” I said, eyes wide with confusion. “What’re you . . . ?”

“I’m not just going to abandon someone who’s crying.” He stated angrily, gripping my arm and watching me, concern etched in his features.

“Your dad—” I reminded him.

“He can wait.” Lucas replied, rolling his eyes at me once more. “Or did that fight not affect you in any way?”

“It—it didn’t.” I told him the truth, though of course he didn’t believe me.

He knitted his brows together, “Then why are you crying?”

“I’m not.” I said, pointing to my eyes, “My contacts were hurting.”

Lucas dropped his intense gaze, exhaling in relief after observing that I was indeed okay and not crying as I was before. He didn’t let go, “You scared me.” He said, tugging me along, “C’mon—”

“N-no.” I took my arm away from him, “I”m not going back there.”

He glared, “Why?”

“Because . . .” There was no real reason as to why. I was Sammy, for goodness sake, I could handle a few snobby people. I wasn’t delicate. I wasn’t.

Lucas didn’t waver from his spot. “We’ll be late for the next dance.”

“Well, it’s a good thing we’re not dancing.” I muttered.

“What are you talking about? Of course we’re dancing.” He replied, taking my hand instead.

I followed behind, watching his back, “Are you doing this to make fun of me?”

He stopped suddenly, “Why would I do that?” He questioned, “I may be terrible, Sammy, but I don’t particularly like the sight of people crying.”

I stayed silent.

I’d forgotten about the boy twelve years ago. The one who wasn’t crying. Despite my childish antics then, Lucas seemed to refuse to cry, even in the midst of a day so marked in death.

The fact that crying affected him so much, so much that he was actually being kind—did it mean he had a heart?

I didn’t speak as he picked up where we left off.

I didn’t want to know if my observations were true or not.

He held onto me firmly, hand around my waist, placing us into position.

We were at the center of the ballroom, which had now been filled with other dancers. Still, I couldn’t see anyone else, since I didn’t have my glasses. I could only see Lucas.

Maybe that was a good thing. I wouldn’t feel claustrophobic with so many eyes on me, because only two mattered at the time. His.

Lucas entwined our hands, and placed my other hand on his shoulder, not saying a word. I held him gently, uncertain at our close proximity. Which was funny, since we’d already been closer than this on multiple occasions.

The memories made me feel hot. I hoped it didn’t show on my face.

But even if it did, Lucas didn’t say anything about it. He simply looked into my eyes with a seriousness I never knew he had. He must’ve done this with other people multiple times. I wondered how many others were in my place before. I was merely just a number to him.

This hurt in a way I couldn’t describe. I wasn’t anyone special to him, and I didn’t want to be either. So why . . . ? Why was I irritated at his past?

He brought me closer until we were nearly flush together. My hold on his shoulder tightened as he did so.

Oh. He was still trying to seduce me. Right?

His face displayed that of utter concentration as the soft piano music began, steering me as we danced slowly, much more slowly than the crowd of people around us. He must’ve known I didn’t know how to properly waltz.

“You don’t need to do this.” I told him, after a long minute of simply swaying to the intricate keys.

Lucas brought a hand up to wipe at my face, “What else would I have done to make you stop crying?”

Kiss me.

I averted my gaze quickly. Did I really just think that? Did my mind really just go there in such a bad time? I hid my expression of worry. What did I just do?

“Nothing else.” I replied softly.

Lucas continued to hold onto me, hands staying in place on my waist, not treading into other unnecessary areas. It was like he was handling glass, keeping me far from the other dancers who were watching us with curious eyes.

We didn’t speak for the longest time. And for a moment, I found that before, the place had made me feel totally unwelcome. But now, now it was just as if Lucas and I were back in our own little bubble.

Felix did say Lucas only wanted his money to get rid of his father.

How much of it could I believe?

Lucas brought his lips to my ear, whispering, “My relatives are rather cruel.” He told me, hold tightening as we followed the music, “I didn’t want you to see the world I live in.” He admitted, “That’s why I didn’t want you here.”

I looked up at him, regarding the serious face he had on. He wasn’t lying.

“Then get out.” The words tumbled out of my mouth. “Leave . . . this place.”

Lucas stopped.

I waited for him to speak.

Did I say something wrong? I probably did. Maybe that was why he halted our dancing. Maybe that was why he appeared so confused.

“Lucas.” I reached out to him. He still hadn’t let go of my hand.

Lucas stepped closer to me, invading my space. Lightly, he brushed his fingers against my cheek. I stayed frozen.

The music in the room was beginning to fade out, as well as the dancers on the floor. The room lights had dimmed, inviting in the brightness of the moon outside through the windows.

Everything but Lucas was a blur in my vision. It made it easier for me to see that something was troubling him.

“What’s wrong—?” I asked.

He didn’t let me finish.

Lucas intertwined my other fingers in his, bowing his head low, and giving my hand a kiss.

He held a sort of regal aura as he did so. It made me, who was totally unprepared for it, rather flustered.

I could feel my cheeks burn.

“Thank you for this dance, Sammy.” He said, tone of voice steady, polite.

Still in a daze, I nodded.

Lucas gave me a long, long look, analyzing me with those grey eyes. There was something on his mind, but what?

I couldn’t figure it out. And it was too late to do so.

Because when he tore his gaze away, so did he. Leaving me behind on the empty dance floor, arm still extended out to him.

Slowly, I brought my hand close to my chest. Aware of the people watching me, even though I paid no attention to them.

Lucas had kissed me again. It was small, but it was still a kiss. At the thought, my breathing hitched rather rapidly.

This was . . . what? What was this . . .?

I clutched at my shirt, feeling my heartbeat.

“Lucas . . .” I said, quietly, to myself.

What had he done to me?