The player and the shy girl (english version)

conflicts and relevations.

"Fine, I'll do you this favor, but you know I'm out at the first sign of trouble!"

"Okay," he replies, smiling.

"Yeah, now you're smiling because I did you a favor."

"Come on, you know I love you."

"I know, I know. Shall we pay?"

"Let's go."
We rise from the table, head to the register, settle the bill, and leave.

We walk a bit and find a bench to sit on. I glance over as she pulls out her things and rolls a cigarette.

"I thought you were going to quit," I tease, laughing.

"I don't smoke often! You're acting like I'm addicted."

True, she hardly smokes—just now and then, and I won't lie, I do it sometimes too.

"Alright, alright, roll one for me too, you good girl," I say, and she gives me a look.

"Stop with that stare, I did you a favor," I laugh, and she rolls her eyes.

She hands me the cigarette, and I light it with my lighter.

We sit and chat about random things again.

"Emma?"
I hear Lucas's voice from behind me. I turn around, surprised to see him looking at me.

"You smoke?"

"No," I reply, meeting his gaze.

"Then what's that in your hand?"
He asks, serious now.

I spot my aunt passing by and quickly move Lucas in front of me.
"Throw the cigarette away," I urge Mia. She hears me and tosses it, but unfortunately, I didn't manage to get rid of mine in time, and my aunt is coming our way...

"Crap," I whisper.

Lucas looks at me, trying to figure out what's happening. He turns to see my aunt approaching, clearly angry.

"Emma, what's going on here?"
She demands, her eyes locked on me.

"What's the matter?"
I ask, my heart racing in panic.

"Are you smoking?"
She inspects me closely.

"I'm the one smoking," Lucas interjects, meeting her gaze.

"Lucas?"
My aunt says, surprised.

"Yes?"

"I just thought I saw Emma holding a cigarette."

"It was mine, I just asked her to hold it while I grabbed my lighter."

"Alright then," she says, looking at me with concern.

"Yes, I know, don't give me that look," I reply, meeting her gaze.

"Soon you have practice."

"Yes, I know."

"We'll go together," Lucas adds, looking at me with an icy stare.

"Really?"
I shoot him a skeptical look.

"Yes," they both say seriously, their eyes on me.

Mia watches me, aware that I'm in for another round with Lucas and how he'll leverage this against me, having saved me from my aunt's wrath.

"Are you changing?"
She asks, eyeing me.

"I need to grab my bag."

"Alright, let's go," she says, looking at me.

Wait, what? What do you mean by "let's go"? There's no way I'm letting you control me.

"What are you staring at? Let's move!"
He urges.

"No, you're not coming with me; you'll wait here!"

"Yeah, right."
I reply, and my aunt shoots me a warning glance.

"What?"

"Come on, Lucas, just ignore what she says."
My aunt nudges him to follow.

"I have the car; I need to get it."

"Go with him, Emma; don't leave the poor kid alone," she insists.

Yeah, right, like he'd care if he came alone...

"Fine," I say, waving goodbye to Mia as I leave with Lucas.

As we distance ourselves from my aunt, we walk toward the car. Once we arrive, he turns to me.

He pushes me firmly against the parking wall, locking eyes with me.

"How can you smoke? Did she get you into it?"

"I don't think that concerns you."

"Your parents took months to have you, and now you want to ruin your health?"
He's serious now. "There are no second chances in life, Emma, don't waste your health like this!"

I stare at him, wide-eyed.

"You don't know anything about this; don't talk!"

"I know, that's why I'm talking."

"It might have been a miracle that you lived! BUT believe me, miracles don't come in bunches!"

"I told you, you don't know anything about this, so just shut up!"
I yell at him, and he stares back, taken aback.

"I know what happened, Emma,I know about you and your parents."

"Don't ever mention my parents again!"
I say, my eyes brimming with tears.

"Who told you?"
I shout, my voice strained.

"Calm down! I understand!"

"You can't understand anything,you have no idea how I feel after everything that happened. Only I know what it feels like, not you. You haven't lived it, so you can't understand! No one does!"

I shove him.
"Are we leaving, or am I going alone?"

He opens the car door, and I climb in, sitting in the passenger seat in silence. Tears begin to flow.