Chapter 9 Luciana had been lost in her memories when the low timbre of Thiago's voice gently pulled her back to the present . She turned , surprised , and looked out the window , only to realize the McLaren had stopped along the street where Silverlake High School stood . The late - summer night air clung to the skin like sticky honey . A few customers lingered by the food truck , their chatter floating lazily through the warm air . Back in such a familiar place , Luciana's lashes fluttered slightly . Then , like the bloom of a shy flower , a pair of soft dimples appeared on her cheeks . She smiled sweetly and without a guard . " You want me to treat you to the burritos from here ? " " When did I say it'd be your treat ? " Thiago said , locking eyes with her . " I remember for the entirety of our senior year , you bought me 98 burritos in total . I'm repaying them to you now . " Luciana fell silent . Then , he strode toward the food truck and ordered , " I'd like 98 burritos , please . " The customers nearby were speechless . The vendor's smile froze instantly , his expression shifting from friendly to utterly baffled . He stared at Thiago like he was here to cause trouble . " Hey , kid . I don't even have 98 tortillas here . What makes you think I can make you 98 burritos ? " Luciana didn't think Thiago would be this unhinged . She quickly stepped before him and pulled out her phone . " We'll take just two . How much for that ? " Moments later , two steaming hot burritos were handed over . She passed one to Thiago and said , " I'm sorry for stuffing you with burritos throughout senior year . I only meant well . If my action had upset you , I sincerely apologize . Sorry . " Thiago kept his hands in his pockets , his lips curling into a smirk that carried a hint of wickedness . Luciana froze mid - gesture with her burrito still in the air . Was he refusing to take it because he wasn't willing to accept her apology ? Or did he seriously expect her to eat 98 burritos in return ? If she did that , she wouldn't even need a trip to the emergency room ; she would just drop dead on the spot . " Hey , Luciana . My arms are sore from basketball today , " Thiago suddenly said . She grunted lightly in response , her voice lifting at the end as if she hadn't quite caught what he meant . " My arms are sore , and I can't hold the burrito . Can you feed me ? " Thiago's dark eyes held a universe of stars , his gaze so deep and tender that it was dangerously easy to fall in . Luciana instinctively took a step back , cold sweat trickling down her back . His shimmering gaze made her heart tremble as she stared at him in quiet panic . " No ? I'll go ahead and order 96 burritos , then . " Before he could even turn around , Luciana bit her lip , then tugged gently at his sleeve . With a hint of nervous bravery , she held the burrito up to his lips . " Careful , it's hot . " Thiago lowered his head to look at her . In those few silent seconds , it felt like the world around them had stilled . Her grip on the burrito tightened , and her heartbeat thundered in her ears . Just as she was about to pull back , he reached out and gently wrapped his fingers around her hand . Then , he leaned in and took a bite . The sudden touch made Luciana forget how to breathe . Her wide , luminous eyes shimmered with ripples . A smile crept onto his face . " Still the same , old taste . " " Their burritos have always been good , " Luciana said , eager to withdraw her hand . " I've only taken one bite , Luciana . " " Let go for a sec . I'll tear the wrapper a little . " " Okay . " For the next few minutes, they simply stood by the food truck with her holding the burrito and him taking quiet bites . To Luciana , even the warm summer breeze felt different tonight . It carried a clean , gentle scent , just like his hand . If only … he had feelings for her . Every time he got a little closer , the wall she worked so hard to build around her heart seemed to crack just a bit . Now , it was starting to sway . She looked down at the worn - out canvas shoes on her feet , faded from too many washes , and glanced at the designer sneakers he was wearing . That flicker of hope she had just felt quickly snuffed out . Chapter 9 " When will I ever stop daydreaming like this ? " she thought bitterly , After finishing their burrito , Luciana returned to Thiago's McLaren . " Where do you live ? I'll send you home . " " Ember Lane . Thanks , " she said , not daring to meet his eyes . She was afraid her overflowing feelings for him would escape from her gaze , Thiago started the car . His long , defined fingers tapped idly on the steering wheel , but his expression gradually darkened , " Ember Lane isn't a safe neighborhood . " Ember Lane was a run - down area near the campus , surrounded by noisy construction sites and home to a mix of all sorts of people . It was far from ideal . Still , as long as the rent was cheap and the commute was convenient , Luciana didn't mind . She simply smiled , unconcerned . " I've been living there since freshman year . It's fine . I don't really have anything worth stealing anyway . " What she left unsaid was that on the nights she came home late from work , there were often drunk men loitering near the entrance , sometimes even pounding on her door . However , they always gave up after a while . As long as she stayed silent and waited it out , nothing happened . In two more years , she would graduate and find a job . By then , she would move to a better place . Until then , she had to bear with it . About 30 minutes later , the McLaren pulled up outside the complex . Piles of construction debris littered the narrow alley , making the already cramped entrance feel even more suffocating , It was also hardly a place suited for a sports car . Luciona unfastened her seatbelt . " Thank you for the ride . Drive home safely . " If she were right , this would be the last time she had a private moment like this with Thiago . What a perfect way to end a three - year - long one- sided crush . He casually grunted in response . Inside the dim car , his expression was unreadable , Alter alighting , Luciana headed toward her apartment building , Her footsteps were swift and purposeful , as if she was trying to escape the endless darkness behind her . With her head down and her focus on the road ahead , a sudden chill crept up her spine when she heard footsteps behind her . They grew louder and faster with each passing second . Something felt off . Then , a disgusting voice tore through the stillness of the night . " Hey , pretty chick ! Wait up ! " The voice was lewd , with the man slurring from alcohol . He oozed malice , like some devil straight out of hell . Luciana's heart immediately pounded like a drum . Fear surged through her , swallowing her whole . Crap . It was that drunk guy again . Clutching her phone tightly , she broke into a sprint and practically flow down the dimly lit street . " Hey , why are you running ? Wait for me ! " She dared not look back . It felt like all the blood in her body had rushed straight to her head . She pushed her legs to their limit, sprinting with every ounce of strength she had . The wind howled past her ears , and her heart pounded so violently that it felt like it might burst through her chest . Her footsteps became faster and lighter . Finally , she spotted the dimly lit stairwell up ahead . Without a second thought , she dashed over . The air was thick with the musty , decaying scent of old buildings , and the weak light above flickered in the dark . At that very moment , all she could think about was finding a safe shelter . Reaching her door , Luciana slammed it open , dove inside , and used every ounce of her strength to shut it behind her . A loud bang echoed through the narrow hallway like a warning shot . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!