everybody talks | luke castellan

bumpy bumper bump

As Silena's gentle laughter filled the air, Alessandra couldn't help but feel a pang of unease gnawing at her insides. She pushed the thought aside, dismissing it as foolishness. She couldn't afford to be distracted by such trivial matters, not when there were monsters to fight and quests to embark upon.

But try as she might, Alessandra couldn't shake the lingering sense of discomfort that settled in the pit of her stomach. The memory of Luke's smile, the warmth of his gaze—it haunted her, taunting her with its tantalizing allure.

"It's not like that, Silena," Alessandra insisted, her voice betraying a hint of defensiveness. "I barely know him. We just bumped into each other, that's all."

Silena raised an eyebrow, her expression one of gentle amusement as she regarded Alessandra with a knowing glint in her eye.

"Alessandra, dear, denial doesn't suit you," she said, her tone teasing but firm. "Sometimes, the heart knows what the mind refuses to acknowledge."

Alessandra bristled at Silena's words, her jaw clenching as she struggled to suppress the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She couldn't afford to be vulnerable, not now, not ever. Love was a luxury she couldn't afford—not when the fate of the world hung in the balance.

As Alessandra continued to deny her feelings, Silena's patience began to wear thin. She had seen this pattern before, the stubborn refusal to acknowledge the truth that lay right in front of one's eyes.

But Silena knew better than to push too hard especially when it came to Alessandra. Instead, she adopted a more direct approach, her tone firm but gentle as she addressed Alessandra once more.

"Alessandra, darling, I understand that this may be difficult for you to accept," Silena began, her voice tinged with a hint of frustration. "But denying your feelings won't make them disappear. It's time to stop running from the truth and face it head-on."

Alessandra bristled at Silena's words, her defenses rising as she stubbornly clung to her denial.

"I'm not running from anything," she insisted, her tone defensive. "I just, I can't afford to let myself get distracted. Not when there are so many other things to focus on."

Silena regarded Alessandra with a knowing look, her eyes softening with understanding.

"I know you're afraid, Alessandra," she said gently. "But love isn't a weakness—it's a strength. It gives us the courage to face our fears and the strength to keep fighting, even when the odds are stacked against us."

But deep down, beneath the layers of denial and fear, Alessandra couldn't ignore the whisper of longing that stirred within her heart. It was a dangerous game she played, dancing on the precipice of desire, but try as she might, she couldn't deny the truth any longer.

With a heavy sigh, Alessandra conceded defeat, her shoulders sagging with resignation as she finally admitted the undeniable truth.

"I suppose, you may have a point, Silena," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe, just maybe, there's a part of me that feels something for him."

Silena's smile widened into a knowing grin as she reached out to squeeze Alessandra's hand in a gesture of support. "That's the spirit, dear," she said, her voice filled with warmth and encouragement.

"Embrace your feelings, Alessandra. Life's too short to deny yourself the chance at happiness."

As Alessandra made her way out of Aphrodite's cabin, her mind whirring with newfound revelations, she was so lost in thought that she didn't notice the figure approaching until it was too late. With a sudden jolt, she collided with someone, nearly stumbling backward in surprise.

"Oh, sorry," Alessandra mumbled, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she looked up to see who she had bumped into. And there he was—Luke Castellan, standing before her with a curious expression in his eyes.

Luke offered her a sheepish smile, his gaze flickering with amusement. "No problem," he replied, his voice warm and friendly. "I should have watched where I was going."

Alessandra felt a rush of heat rise to her cheeks at the unexpected encounter, her heart pounding in her chest as she struggled to find the right words. "Yeah, me too," she managed to say, her voice slightly breathless.

There was a moment of awkward silence as they stood there, unsure of what to say next. Alessandra shifted on her feet, her gaze flickering nervously to the ground before darting back up to meet Luke's eyes.

Alessandra let out a nervous chuckle, trying to lighten the mood with a joke.

"Well, it looks like we're destined to keep bumping into each other every time we meet," she quipped, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Luke's eyes sparkled with amusement, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Yeah, maybe it’s just the fates doing their job," he replied, his voice tinged with humor.

“Have you been avoiding me?” Luke asks.

Alessandra's heart skipped a beat at Luke's question, her mind racing as she struggled to come up with a response.

"Avoiding you? No, of course not," she stammered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I've just been... busy."

Luke's eyebrows arched in disbelief, a skeptical expression crossing his features.

"Busy, huh?" he remarked, his tone laced with amusement. "Seems like every time I see you, you're running in the opposite direction."

Alessandra's cheeks burned with embarrassment at Luke's observation, her mind racing as she tried to come up with a plausible explanation. "It's not like that," she insisted, her voice tinged with defensiveness. "I've just had a lot on my mind lately."

Luke's expression softened, his gaze searching hers for any sign of sincerity. "Well, if you ever want to talk about it, I'm here," he offered, his voice gentle.

Alessandra's heart fluttered at Luke's words, a wave of gratitude washing over her as she realized that maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to face her fears alone.

"Thanks, Luke," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I appreciate that."

As the tension between them eased, Alessandra found herself feeling strangely relieved, grateful for Luke's understanding and patience. With a shy smile, she nodded in response to his offer before bidding him good night.

"Good night, Luke," she murmured, her voice soft as she turned to leave.

"Good night, Alessandra," Luke replied, his gaze lingering on her retreating figure.

As Alessandra made her way back to her cabin, her mind whirled with thoughts and emotions. She couldn't deny the flutter of excitement in her chest, the way her heart raced whenever she was near Luke.

She had a crush on Luke Castellan only after two days of proper meeting.