AEAO

fourteen

It was a quiet evening when Shi and Luca found themselves sitting on the balcony of her apartment, overlooking the sprawling city of Los Angeles. The sky had faded into soft shades of orange and pink as the sun dipped below the horizon, leaving behind a peaceful calm that seemed to settle around them.

Luca sat beside her, his legs stretched out, and a can of soda in his hand. Shi leaned back against the armrest, her head resting comfortably against his shoulder. The peaceful hum of the city below and the occasional chirp of crickets from the nearby park added to the sense of tranquility.

"Have you ever thought about what your future looks like?" Shi asked, her voice soft but curious. They'd been talking about everything and nothing for hours, and she was starting to feel like they were getting to know each other on a deeper level.

Luca paused, his gaze drifting across the city as he considered her question. The thought had crossed his mind before—his future, where he saw himself in a few years. But it was always a little murky, especially when it came to his family. That was something he didn't share often, especially not with people outside his closest circle. But tonight, with the warmth of Shi's presence and the quiet around them, it felt like the right time.

He took a deep breath, shifting in his seat to face her more directly. "I've thought about it," he started slowly, his voice quieter now. "But... the truth is, my future has always felt kind of complicated."

Shi tilted her head, her interest piqued. "Complicated? How?"

Luca paused again, running a hand through his hair. He hadn't planned to open up about this tonight, but something about Shi made it feel easy to share. She had a way of making him feel safe, like he wasn't being judged for whatever was going on in his life.

"My family situation isn't exactly what you might expect," Luca said, his tone a little heavier. "I grew up in a pretty broken home. My parents split up when I was really young, and I haven't really had much of a relationship with my dad. He's been in and out of my life, but it's never been consistent. He's a good guy when he's around, but it's like he can't commit to being a real father."

Shi listened intently, her gaze soft but attentive. She could tell there was more to Luca's story than he was letting on, but she didn't want to push him. She simply stayed quiet, allowing him the space to speak.

Luca continued, his voice a little more vulnerable than usual. "My mom, on the other hand... She's always been there for me. She raised me on her own, did the best she could. But there was always this... distance, you know? Like, she tried to give me everything, but I could tell that the love she gave wasn't enough to fix everything that was broken. I don't blame her, not really. But it's hard, Shi. It's hard not to wonder if I'm just... always going to be missing something."

Shi felt a pang in her heart. She'd known Luca had been carrying something heavy with him, but hearing him say it out loud made her heart ache for him. She knew what it was like to feel like there were pieces of your life missing, like you couldn't fit everything together, no matter how hard you tried.

"I get that," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I mean, I didn't grow up with my biological dad either. I don't know if I ever will. But... I have Keanu now. And I've had him for years. He's more of a dad to me than anyone ever could've been."

Luca turned his head to look at her, his brown eyes searching her face, as if taking in her words. "I've seen how close you are with him. It's pretty amazing. And I get it. It's just... sometimes I wish I had someone like that. Someone who's always been there, no questions asked. But I don't. And I don't know if I ever will."

Shi reached out and placed her hand on his, giving it a soft squeeze. "You don't need to have the perfect family, Luca," she said softly. "You don't need to have everything figured out right now. You're not alone in this. You have people who care about you—whether it's me, or your mom, or anyone who loves you for who you are."

Luca's lips curled into a small smile, but his eyes remained serious. "I don't know what I did to deserve that kind of love, Shi. But I'm glad I have it. And I'm glad I have you."

Shi smiled back at him, warmth flooding through her chest. "And you'll always have me. I'm not going anywhere."

Luca let out a sigh of relief, his shoulders finally relaxing for the first time in a while. It was as though a weight had been lifted off him just by sharing his truth. He knew it wasn't easy, and it wasn't something he could say to just anyone, but with Shi, it felt right. She understood him in ways that no one else did.

"Thank you for listening," Luca said, his voice quieter now. "It's not easy talking about this stuff, but I guess it's been on my mind a lot lately."

Shi nodded, her eyes soft with empathy. "I understand. And I'm glad you shared it with me. I'm always here for you, Luca. No matter what."

Luca smiled, his heart swelling with affection for her. "I'm really lucky to have you."

Shi smiled back, her heart beating a little faster as she looked into his eyes. "No, Luca. I'm the lucky one."

They sat together in silence for a moment, the weight of their shared words lingering between them. The sunset had faded now, and the city lights twinkled below them, creating a perfect backdrop to the quiet moment they shared. Despite the uncertainties Luca had in his life, one thing was clear: with Shi by his side, he finally felt like he wasn't so alone. And maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay.

For the first time in a long while, Luca believed in that hope.