❝ 𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 ❞ ʲᵃˢᵖᵉʳ ʰᵃˡᵉ ( EN )

☇ 𝟮𝟯

Theodora stood in the middle of the clearing, breathing heavily, surrounded by the oppressive shadows of the trees. Her body was there, but her mind seemed to drift elsewhere, drawn into a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. I must prepare myself to lose him. Those words echoed in her head, over and over, like a painful mantra she repeated to protect herself. It was a shield, an armor against the storm that was Jasper. But despite that, every glance, every movement he made, shook her deeper than she would admit.

The morning mist rose gently, curling around her legs, cold and insidious, much like the distance she tried to build between them. The wisps of fog seemed to embody the confusion within her, the inner struggle she couldn't quell. I must be like this mist, elusive, distant. But even that veil she tried to build crumbled at the slightest move from Jasper.

The sun, barely visible through the clouds, cast a cold light over the clearing, highlighting the contrast between what she wanted to be and what she felt. Coldness. Distance. Those were the words she repeated, as if hoping her heart would eventually accept them. But every beat brought her back to him, stronger, more painfully.

She clenched her fists, feeling the tension in her muscles, the lump of anxiety in her throat. Stay strong. Show nothing. Yet her thoughts betrayed her at every moment. You must prepare for the pain. For the loss. But how do you prepare for a pain that already gnaws at you, that grips every part of your being?

In front of her, Jasper watched her, motionless as a statue, his golden eyes more intense than ever, contrasting with his dark demeanor. He wore a black track jacket, perfectly fitting his lean figure, and gray cargo pants that seemed to absorb the light around him. His posture was relaxed yet alert, like a predator observing its prey. Theodora felt a shiver run through her, a mix of apprehension and excitement. He is so at ease with his emotions, so at peace. She, on the other hand, was a stormy sea, overwhelmed by violent waves of emotion she could no longer control. I must be a storm that touches no one, not even him.

She had tied her hair in a carefully braided ponytail that fell elegantly down her back. She wore a long-sleeved black crop top that revealed a thin line of skin at her waist, black leggings hugging her curves, and a pair of comfortable sneakers. She knew she had to be ready to move, to dodge, to react.

"Ready?" he asked, his deep voice resonating in the forest's silence, like a challenge thrown into the cold air.

"Yes," she replied, though her voice carried a hint of nervousness. But there was also a coldness she couldn't mask, a determination to prove she could face what was coming.

Theodora felt the weight of her emotions pressing down on her, her stomach knotting under the pressure. She could feel his gaze on her, piercing, and yet she refused to meet his eyes. She knew she would see things there she wasn't ready to confront. Don't let him see what you feel. Stay cold.

Jasper watched her for a moment, his brows slightly furrowed, a questioning glint in his eyes. But he didn't press. "Today, I'm going to teach you to listen to your intuition," he stated as he took position, ready to make the first moves. "The key is to anticipate, to sense danger before it manifests. Focus on my movements, on every detail, and react before I act."

Theodora nodded, clenching her fists to chase away the cold numbing her fingers. She could feel her heart beating faster, each pulse echoing in her temples. She didn't want to fail; she didn't want to appear weak. Not in front of him. Not now. The pressure to prove herself weighed heavily on her shoulders.

Jasper took a step toward her, his movements almost imperceptible, like a shadow gliding through the mist. Without warning, he launched a swift strike, aiming for her shoulder. Theodora stepped back just in time, feeling the rush of his fist brush her skin, but her mind was elsewhere. She kept repeating: Keep your distance, don't get too attached. Prepare for the inevitable. Her movements, though precise, lacked the fluidity she usually had, as if her mind was pulling her back. She was fighting herself as much as she was fighting him.