If you only knew...

8.Alone with you

*Background song in the cover video*

Ana's POV

The clock edges closer to 5 am, and I can almost hear the insistent buzz of my alarm creeping into my dreams. With a heavy sigh, I muster the strength to pull myself from the cozy embrace of my blankets. A splash of cold water on my face jolts me awake, cutting through the remnants of sleep and preparing me for the day ahead. When I step outside, I see Xavier walking towards me.

"Good morning, Ana," he says, letting out a playful yawn as he rubs the sleep from his eyes. "Sorry to keep you waiting; I just couldn't wake up." There's a charming spark in his expression that momentarily captivates me before I snap back to reality.

"No problem, let's hop in the car and go over the plan. I'm pretty excited about this!" I say, feeling really pumped.

As we step in the car, I can't help but notice Xavier's heavy eyelids drooping with sleep. He's struggling to focus on the stack of papers in his lap, the details blurring together. Without a second thought, I reach over and snatch the papers from him, my voice breaking the silence as I begin to read them aloud. A wave of relief washes over him, and he shifts into the driver's seat, letting me take the reins of information.

Just then, I sense a tension hanging in the air, and I decide it's time to address something that's been nagging at me. "Hey, about Marco's reaction yesterday..." I start, feeling a flicker of guilt for having skirted around the topic so far. "I hope it didn't make you uncomfortable..." I continue, my tone sincere, hoping to peel back layers of our unspoken thoughts.

No, it's all good. I really hope everything worked out for you in the end," he says, a playful grin spreading across his face. "I can't figure out why he was so shocked. It felt like I was a ghost to him—maybe I just wasn't at my best!"

I shyly reply, "The truth is, his reaction was all about how stunning you are."

He bursts into laughter, shaking his head. "Wait, he thought that?! I find that hard to believe, but for the sake of your argument, I'll play along!"

"You really are..." I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper, feeling a flush creep across my cheeks as I avert my gaze. There's a rush of shyness as I grapple with the weight of my honest thoughts.

He looks momentarily stunned by what I've just said, his eyes widening in surprise. For a brief moment, he seems at a loss for words, as if my words have rendered him speechless. Instead, he shifts his attention back to the road, gripping the wheel tightly as silence fills the space between us.

Xavier(V) POV

My heart races when she makes this bold statement about me. I can hardly believe she is so direct—and that she is actually considering how I look.

As I scramble for words, my mind feels like it is in freefall, desperately searching for a response.

"I... I don't really know what to say..." I stammer, averting my gaze from hers. Instead, I force myself to focus on the road ahead, even though I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks, a giveaway to how fluster I truly am.

"Haha, don't say anything you flustered creature!" she answers laughing out loud. Is she playing with me?..

"Are you teasing me now?" with a hint of nervousness, I speak up, my voice filled with embarrassment.

"A little, but honestly, I wasn't joking earlier. You are genuinely beautiful! And it's not just Marco who has picked up on it," she chuckles, as her gaze seeks any hint of my reaction.

"Can you please stop?" I plead, my voice trembling and barely above a whisper. A wave of vulnerability washes over me, evident in the way my cheeks flush with shyness. "It's just... I'm really not comfortable hearing this from someone who's engaged," I add softly, my tone drifting into a distant echo of my unease.