Under One Sun

Chapter 4: Can't Get You Off My Mind

The next morning, the group had a rare free day. No excursions, no classes, just time to relax and explore Malaga. Bruno was up early, buzzing with energy, more so from the events of yesterday than the actual rest. He couldn't stop thinking about Olivia—how they'd teased their friends, snuck off together, and how they'd shared that moment on the bus. Every time he glanced at her, his heart pounded.

"So, what's the plan for today?" Annie asked, scrolling through her phone as they gathered in the kitchen for breakfast.

"Well," Bruno said, glancing at Olivia with a shy grin, "I've got an old friend who lives here in Malaga. I was thinking we could all head over to his place and catch up. It's not far, and he'd be cool with meeting you guys."

"Sounds good to me," Anthony said, giving Bruno a nod. "I could use a chill day after all the running around yesterday."

Olivia smiled, meeting Bruno's gaze. "I'm down. Should be fun."

The group set off after breakfast, walking through the narrow streets of Malaga under the bright Spanish sun. Bruno found himself naturally gravitating toward Olivia, walking close enough that their arms would occasionally brush. She didn't seem to mind, and Bruno felt his heart leap every time she smiled at him.

When they arrived at his friend Mateo's apartment, Bruno introduced everyone, and they all sat around chatting and catching up. Mateo was a warm, welcoming guy, and his place had this laid-back vibe that made it easy for everyone to feel at home.

But as much as Bruno enjoyed catching up with Mateo, his attention was constantly drawn to Olivia. The way her eyes lit up when she laughed, the way she absentmindedly played with her hair—he was mesmerized. Every little thing she did seemed to pull him in deeper, and no matter how much he tried to play it cool, he couldn't help the way he felt.

At one point, when everyone was lounging around the living room, Olivia stood up to get some water from the kitchen. Bruno watched her go, feeling an almost magnetic pull to follow. Without really thinking, he got up too, casually saying, "I'll help you."

In the quiet of the kitchen, away from the group's laughter, the tension between them became undeniable. Olivia turned to face him, and their eyes locked. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air around them was thick with anticipation.

Bruno stepped closer, his heart pounding in his chest. "I can't stop thinking about you," he whispered, his voice low.

Olivia's breath hitched, her eyes searching his. She didn't say anything, but the look she gave him was all the encouragement he needed. He reached for her hand, gently pulling her closer, and the moment stretched between them, filled with unspoken words and growing heat.

But before anything could go further, they heard a noise from the living room, and Bruno quickly stepped back, his heart racing. They exchanged a quick look—half flustered, half excited—before rejoining the group as if nothing had happened. But something had definitely shifted between them.

Later that evening, after spending hours at Mateo's, they decided to head out to dinner. They found a cozy little restaurant tucked away in a side street, and the mood was light and easy as they ordered tapas and drinks. Despite the teasing from their friends about their closeness, Bruno and Olivia managed to keep things undercover, exchanging stolen glances and secret smiles throughout the meal.

When they finally left the restaurant, the night had grown late, and everyone was tired. Olivia, however, was struggling with her shoes—blisters forming from the hours of walking.

"Your shoes are killing you, aren't they?" Bruno asked softly, noticing the pained look on her face.

Olivia nodded, trying to laugh it off. "Yeah, just a little."

Without a second thought, Bruno knelt down and untied his shoes, pulling them off and handing them to her. "Here, take mine."

"Bruno, you can't be serious," Olivia protested, but Bruno just smiled.

"Seriously, take them. I'll walk barefoot. You shouldn't have to suffer."

She hesitated but eventually gave in, slipping into his much-too-big shoes. "You're crazy," she whispered, her smile softening as she looked at him.

"Maybe," he replied, grinning as he stood up, barefoot on the cool pavement. "But I don't mind."

They walked back to the host family's house, Bruno casually strolling barefoot like it was no big deal, while Olivia's heart swelled with appreciation. He didn't just say things; he showed them, and that meant everything to her.

When they finally got back, the house was quiet, the host family having already retired to their rooms. Olivia and Bruno lingered in the living room, settling on the couch as Annie and Anthony headed off to bed. It was just the two of them now, the soft glow of a lamp casting a warm light over the room.

Bruno couldn't stop thinking about her, how close she was, how easy it felt to be around her. As they sat there, Olivia leaned into him slightly, resting her head against his shoulder. For a while, they just sat like that, comfortably quiet, wrapped in the softness of the moment.

After a while, Olivia shifted, lifting her head just enough to press a light kiss to Bruno's cheek. "Goodnight, Bruno," she whispered, her lips brushing his skin.

Bruno's heart practically exploded in his chest. He was going crazy over this girl, and she didn't even seem to realize the effect she had on him. But as she pulled away, giving him that same sweet, sleepy smile that had captivated him from day one, he knew one thing for sure—he didn't want to let this feeling go.

"Goodnight, Olivia," he whispered back, watching her as she stood up, heading off to her room.

As she disappeared down the hallway, Bruno leaned back on the couch, running a hand through his hair, his mind spinning. He was falling for her—hard—and no amount of trying to keep it cool was going to change that.