Shadow Of The Heart: A Dance With Deception Duet

Prologue

"Kai!" I yell gleefully, squirming to escape his playful grasp. "You're going to make me late!" I gasp between fits of laughter, the sound bubbling up like music, pure and bright. But he’s relentless, tackling me back onto the bed, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes. I toss and turn, trying to break free, but he knows just where to target—my most ticklish spots.

"Well, the more late I make you, the less chance of you leaving, hey?" His voice is teasing, his cheeky smile lighting up his handsome face. In that moment, I can’t help but feel a surge of affection.

"I really have to go, Kai," I insist, though my heart sinks as his playful demeanor falters, his smile fading like a sunset. For a brief moment, I wish I could just stay here with him, forever suspended in this bubble of laughter and love.

He’s irresistible, with warm brown eyes that draw me in, making me feel like I could melt right into them. His pitch-black, curly hair is a temptation I can’t resist toying with, and his face—a sculpted masterpiece—makes my heart race. It’s hard to believe someone who looks like a Greek god would choose to be with someone as ordinary as me.

"Okay, go to your class, but I'm booking a whole night with you tonight, got that?" He winks playfully, pulling me against his solid, muscular frame. I lean into him, savoring the moment, trying to breathe him in as if I could capture his essence forever. For a fleeting instant, everything feels beautifully, tragically real.

Then I open my eyes.

The gut-wrenching, sickening feeling of loneliness washes over me like ice water. I’m no longer enveloped in his warmth; instead, I’m surrounded by the stark silence of my empty room. The loving, playful memories fade, replaced by the bitter taste of pain and sadness that clings to my heart.

With a heavy huff, I pull myself off the bed, the fabric of the sheets slipping away like the dream itself. I push down the whirlwind of emotions, steel myself for another day another day without him. The ache in my chest is familiar, a constant reminder of what I long for. But even in this crushing solitude, I cling to the hope that tonight, when the stars align, I might once again find my way back to him.