4SINS: DECEPTION OF LUCIAN MARCUS GREY

8

Lucian stood by the large window in the library, watching the afternoon light fade. The quiet hum of the space around him barely registered as he wrestled with the thoughts swirling in his mind. He had just finished going over some notes for an upcoming project when his phone buzzed.

 It was a message from Glaryse."Hey Lucian, I'm sorry, I can't make it to the library today. Something came up, and I'm really busy. Hope we can catch up another time."

He glanced at the message, his face betraying no emotion. He lingered on the screen for a moment, fingers hovering over the keys, but he didn't respond right away. His expression remained inscrutable. 

A faint grin began to form on his lips, and the familiar spark returned to his eyes. So, that's how it's going to be. 

 He shifted his posture slightly and, with a casual swipe, typed a simple reply: "Alright, next time then. I'll be waiting." 

 He wasn't going to let her slip away easily. 

 Later that evening, the soft glow of Café Soul Ace warmed the air, the clinking of cups and the hum of quiet conversations surrounding Glaryse as she worked behind the counter. Zarisha was at her side, effortlessly navigating the evening rush. The café, though still busy, held an undercurrent of tranquility that usually calmed her. Tonight, however, Glaryse's mind was elsewhere.

She kept drifting back to Lucian—the way he'd smiled the last time they spoke, the easy confidence he wore like a second skin, and the way he made her feel like she wasn't just another face in the crowd. But the more she thought about him, the more her emotions twisted into something she couldn't untangle. She hated how her heart fluttered at the mere thought of him, only to feel heavy with the realization that it would never be enough.

Zarisha noticed the distant look in her eyes. It wasn't like Glaryse to zone out, especially during a busy shift. They'd only known each other for a few months, but the closeness they'd found had been instant. Zarisha was sharp, and she could read Glaryse like a book.

"You've been zoning out," Zarisha remarked, voice casual, though the concern in her gaze was palpable. "It's like you're somewhere else entirely."

Glaryse blinked, pulling herself from the fog of her thoughts. "Oh, sorry. I guess I'm just... tired," she offered, though even she knew the excuse didn't ring true.

Zarisha raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Tired? Come on, I know you better than that. What's really going on? Is this about Lucian?"

The sound of his name landed like a heavy stone in her chest, the familiar flutter of her heart quickly giving way to the tight knot in her stomach. She turned away slightly, not wanting to show how much his name had affected her.

"I don't know," she whispered, more to herself than Zarisha. "It's just... I can't stop thinking about him. And it's confusing."

Zarisha didn't rush to offer advice or solutions. She simply stood quietly, waiting, knowing Glaryse would speak when she was ready.

"You mean... feelings?" Zarisha asked gently, as though testing the waters.

Glaryse hesitated, the weight of her emotions settling heavily in her chest. She had never been good at talking about feelings, especially not when they involved someone like Lucian. But there was no escaping it anymore.

"Yeah," she said slowly, the words foreign on her tongue. "It feels silly, though. I think... I've started to like him. More than I should."

Zarisha's expression softened, her gaze full of understanding. She waited for Glaryse to continue, sensing how difficult this was for her to admit.