Aria
Valentina locked the door to their dorm room and pulled the curtains shut like she was preparing for war.
Aria dropped her bag onto the floor, heart still rattled from the encounter with Alessio.
"What are you doing?" She asked, her fingers trembled slightly as she reached up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Valentina turned, her arms crossed and expression unreadable. "You need to think about what you're doing."
"I am thinking," Aria said. "That's the problem. I can't stop thinking and panicking."
"I'm serious." Valentina's voice was low, edged with something that sounded dangerously close to fear. "I'm scared for you Aria."
"Why?" Aria asked, confused.
This isn't a fairytale, Aria. This isn't enemies-to-lovers movie or some toxic romance book you stay up late at 2AM to read. Alessio Moretti is mafia royalty. His world isn't built for girls like us."
"I know what he is."
"No, you don't." Valentina stepped forward, eyes burning. "You know what he looks like. You know the feeling of being seen by someone powerful. You know that he's powerful. But you don't know him. You don't know the extent of his power or cruelty."
Aria swallowed. "Then help me out."
Valentina blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Help me with this situation. I don't know what to do." She sighed.
Valentina walked closer to her and hugged her. "You Aria is a very smart girl, you are the smartest and most intelligent girl I know. I'm sure you will figure something out." She consoled her.
"I'm not that smart, at least not in this type of situation. My dad is in the hospital, his time running out. Alessio is stalking me now while saying things I don't understand, and his father is blowing my phone off with texts. I'm fed up." Aria cried.
"You know I'm here for you right? Anytime you need me, you can always talk to me."
"I know."
Then Aria tilted her head. "Okay… now it's your turn."
Valentina blinked. "My turn?"
"You've been acting weird since the auditorium. Distracted. And don't think I didn't notice the way you were staring at him."
Valentina flushed. "Who?"
"You know who. Tall. Grim. Built like a nightmare. The guy standing behind Alessio, looking like he would strangle anybody that dare to breathe on Alessio." Aria said wriggling her brows.
Valentina's face scrunched. "He's not that scary."
Aria laughed. "So you were staring."
Valentina huffed, getting up to pace. "Okay, maybe I was. But not because I'm interested. He… unnerves me. He looked at me like he knew something about me I didn't want anyone to see. He also said something cryptic to me."
"What did he say?"
Valentina hesitated, then mumbled, "He said, 'I don't trust easily, but I can smell trouble in heels.'"
Aria's jaw dropped. "And you liked that?"
Valentina groaned. "No! Maybe. I don't know. There was something about him. Like he wasn't just standing guard—he was calculating. Watching. He looked at me like I wasn't just a student in heels. Like he knows who I truly am."
"Well, he might. Considering the fact that they ran a background check on me, you name might have came up in the process."
"Hmm, true." Valentina sighed.
A slow smirk crept onto Aria's lips. "Plot twist: Valentina's heart gets hijacked by the mafia's most dangerous shadow."
"Not happening," Valentina said quickly. "I don't do cold men with bulletproof hearts."
"You do now."
They both laugh, then Aria suddenly sat up straight.
"What's wrong?"
"I think I have an idea."
"An idea?"
"Yes, I want us to create a situation where I will 'accidentally' run into Alessio again. Something subtle. Natural. No chasing, no desperation. Just... enough to keep him curious."
Valentina stared at her for a beat, then exhaled loudly and slumped onto the edge of the bed beside her.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," she muttered.
"Is that a yes?"
"It's a conditional yes. On one condition: we do this my way. Carefully. Strategically. No heart-eyes. No falling. You get close, you stay sharp, and you remember why you started this in the first place."
Aria nodded. "Deal."
Valentina leaned back, fingers tapping against her knee in thought. "You'll need a reason to be somewhere he will be. Somewhere low-profile but not suspicious. You want to hook him emotionally, not just physically."
"I was thinking maybe the university fundraiser next week—"
"Too formal. Too many eyes. You need a casual space. Something simple enough to make him think it's a coincidence."
Aria smiled. "That's why I asked you."
But Valentina wasn't smiling. Her brows were still drawn tight.
"What?"
"I'm worried for you," she admitted. "
Aria reached out and touched her hand. "You don't have to protect me from this, V."
"Yes, I do," she said softly. "You're my best friend. And you're walking into a den full of wolves with honey on your skin. And I'm still annoyed you didn't let me pay for your dad's hospital bills. If you had agreed, we wouldn't be in this situation now."
"I'm sorry. You know how much I hate to impose on you. You've done a lot for me already."
"You are not imposing. You are my best friend, and best friends support each other."
"I'm sorry." Aria said, hugging her.
They were quiet for a moment, the weight of the moment settling. They are both on the edge of a dark world that could send them flying if they misstep.
One chasing a man with secrets.
The other being watched by one.