"And why is that?" I frown, feeling like her past is more complicated than expected. "I...hm. Long story short, and this is going to be a bit weird to say it like that, but I was an orphan for a long time, then I was adopted by a woman when I was fourteen. I started working at a coffee shop during summer when I was sixteen, and that's how I met Gael."
"And what about your mother nowadays?" I do not give my opinion about this, knowing this will not be right. "I...I left her for Gael. She was...it was really hard to live with her, she was addicted to drugs and alcohol, so once Gael asked me if I wanted to leave, I followed because I never felt safe with her."
"You went through so much crap..." I breathe out. Hearing all those things from her makes me realize that I complain over small things. My problems are nothing compared to hers, yet, she is only twenty, and given the way it is going right now, this might not get better soon.
"That's life, I guess," she taps her hands on her thighs and slides them forth. "But whatever, I think I said much more than I should have..."
"This stays between us, don't worry," I reassure her so that she does not regret talking to me. "Thank you..." she smiles, tenderly, but her attention goes onto her watch.
I stay quiet, expecting her to tell me she has to leave.
"I have to take care of someone. It's urgent, but I'll come back if you want, alright?" she gazes up at me, but after what happened earlier, I cannot give in so easily. "Can't you stay?"
"Well, it's an order from Gael," she does not answer with certainty, so I grab hold of my phone. "Let me text him."
[ Can't you send someone else instead of Eliana? I'll pay you more if I can have her in my room for the rest of the night >
< She's everyone's favorite, Emilio. How much would you pay? ]
[ As much as I have to >
< 550$? ]
[ alright >
"You can stay with me," I peek up at her to check her reaction but read some relief, and I get on my bank account to make the payment instantly. "Thank you for doing this."
"No need to, I want to make sure you do not have to deal with perverts or drunk guys," I put my phone down now that it is done, and I hide my hands in my pockets to get in the back of sofa and feel more comfortable. There is almost one hour left, so we can learn a lot more about each other.
•••
2 am.
'ELIANA'S P.O.V'
"See you tomorrow, Mister Miller," I bow to him, putting an end to an amazing night spent by his side, and he bows back to me. "See you tomorrow, sweetheart. Rest a lot," he offers me one last smile before leaving, and I wait for him to be out to focus on something else.
If he was not there, this day would have been the most horrible one ever. It started badly, but once I was with him, he managed to make me erase the pain.
"Eliana," Gael calls me, making me turn around. "Come here," he tells me to do, his hands remaining in the pockets of his trousers. I walk up to him, and once I am close enough to him, he lets his voice out, but only in a whisper. "Have you told anyone about Luca?"
