A portrait of the unseen [COMPLETE]

vacation

The next morning, we woke up early to catch our trip. Despite the events of the previous night, we were determined to make the most of our time together. As we gathered our belongings and prepared for the day ahead, I couldn't shake the lingering sense of unease that had settled over me.

"I remembered the photos I had taken of the flowers I planted as a child," I said, showing them to Lexa. "Look how healthy and beautiful they've grown."

Lexa's eyes lit up with amazement as she looked at the photos. "Wow, they're stunning! You did an amazing job."

"Yeah, it's one of the things I'm proud of," I replied, trying to push away the uneasy feeling creeping into my mind.

Lexa's mention of seeing something similar at the mansion of her CEO sent a shiver down my spine. "Um, yeah, I guess flowers like those are pretty common," I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

Thankfully, Jess didn't seem to catch on to our conversation as she continued packing her things. When Lexa asked if I had any photos of my house, I hesitated before shaking my head. It wasn't something I was ready to share just yet.

"No, I don't have any photos," I replied, avoiding Lexa's curious gaze.

We continued packing in silence, the weight of our unspoken thoughts hanging heavy in the air. Despite our attempts to distract ourselves with the task at hand, the events of the previous night still weighed heavily on my mind.

As the day drew to a close, we settled in for the night, exhaustion pulling at our bones. I found myself worrying about where will Jess sleep since she we're sleeping beside me when Lexa wasn't around

"Are you okay?" Lexa asked, sensing my hesitation.

"Yeah, just tired," I replied, trying to brush off my concerns.

"Are you sure?" Lexa asked once again, and I burst my problem, letting her know that I worried if it itvokay if  jess would sleep at the couch, Lexa suggested that we could stay at her condo

"I'm not sure about staying at your condo," I admitted, my voice filled with uncertainty.

"Why not? We'll be safe there," Lexa reassured me, reaching out to take my hand.

"But what if someone sees us?" I asked, the fear evident in my voice.

Lexa's expression softened, her eyes filled with understanding. "We'll be okay, Ryu. I promise."

But the memory of the paparazzi lingered in my mind, a constant reminder of the dangers that lurked beyond our control. I couldn't bear the thought of putting Lexa at risk of subjecting her to the scrutiny of others.

As we debated our sleeping arrangements, a loud crash echoed from the living room. Rushing to investigate, we found Jess asleep on the couch, her phone slipping from her grasp as she drifted off to sleep.

We shared a laugh at the sight, the tension of the moment easing as we basked in the warmth of shared laughter.

"Looks like Jess has already claimed the couch," Lexa said, a playful smile on her lips.

"Yeah, looks like it," I replied, feeling a sense of relief wash over me.

And as we settled in for the night, the worries and uncertainties of the day slowly melted away, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and connection. Despite the challenges we faced, we knew that as long as we had each other, we could weather any storm that came our way.

The morning sun was just beginning to rise as we finished preparing for our trip. I glanced around my small apartment one last time, making sure we had everything we needed. Just as I was about to check again, a van pulled up in front of the building. It was Cole and Steve, our friends, who would be joining us on this adventure.