Bab 17: Breaking The Ice, Step By Step IV
The next day, Leone was lying in bed, his laptop resting comfortably on his lap. His fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard, the faint glow of the screen illuminating his sharp features. The room was quiet except for the soft clicking of keys as he worked, his mind absorbed in tasks that demanded his focus.
Hours passed, and eventually, Leone leaned back against the pillows, pausing for a moment to stretch. As he glanced toward the clock, he noticed something unusual. Evelina hadn't come by to speak with him today.
Has she finally given up? he wondered, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. The idea seemed to amuse him, a quiet satisfaction settling in his chest.
Closing his laptop with a decisive click, Leone set it aside, folding his arms behind his head.
That's for the best, he thought. It makes everything simpler. No need for her to waste any more of her time. I can get back to my usual routine.
He swung his legs off the bed, the cold touch of the floor jolting him fully awake. Rising, he stretched briefly before heading toward his study. As he walked down the quiet hallway, his gaze drifted to the familiar shelves lined with books. He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, releasing a soft sigh. I'm bored, he mused, an unusual restlessness stirring within him. Maybe I should read something.
Pausing before the shelves, Leone let his fingers glide over the spines, lingering for a moment before pulling out a book. His brow arched slightly as he inspected it. Oh, they've brought a new collection of novels, he noted, a faint hint of intrigue flickering in his eyes.
He slipped on his glasses, settled into the chair by the desk, and opened the book. The quiet solitude of the study wrapped around him like a warm blanket, offering a brief escape from his restless thoughts.
Unbeknownst to him, Evelina was just outside, crouched by the window ledge. She had climbed up with careful precision, staying hidden in the shadows. A small notebook rested in her hands as she jotted down observations—what time Leone came to the study, the name of the novel he was reading, how long he lingered on certain pages, even the faint expressions that crossed his face as he read.
Her initial focus was sharp and purposeful, but as she glanced at him again, something shifted. The way his glasses sat perched on his nose, the faint crease of concentration on his brow, and the soft light spilling over him made her pause.
He looks... Her breath caught in her throat. Kinda attractive, actually.
A gentle breeze swept through the open window, rustling the curtains and sending her hair fluttering lightly. It caught his as well, a brief tousle that only seemed to emphasize the unexpected warmth spreading in her chest. For a moment, it felt as though time had frozen, the world narrowing to just the two of them.
Her heart skipped a beat. Then it skipped again.
But reality had other plans. Her footing slipped against the ledge, and before she could steady herself, she tumbled with a startled gasp. The thud of her landing shattered the peaceful atmosphere.
Inside, Leone's head jerked up at the noise. His gaze darted to the window, his book momentarily forgotten. Narrowing his eyes, he stood and walked toward it, his steps slow and deliberate as he scanned the view below.
But by the time he looked down, Evelina had already scrambled to her feet and darted behind a nearby tree, clutching her notebook against her chest. Her heart hammered, a mix of adrenaline and embarrassment coursing through her.
'Oh, thank goodness,' she thought, pressing her back against the bark. 'He would've caught me if I hadn't crawled here so fast.'
Peeking cautiously from behind the tree, she checked if Leone was still at the window. Fortunately, he wasn't. She exhaled a shaky sigh of relief, her pulse finally beginning to slow.
Back in the study, Leone lingered by the window for a moment longer, his brow furrowed. Sensing nothing amiss, he turned back to his desk, though a faint unease remained.
Later that Afternoon
Leone sat in his study, the room steeped in quiet. The soft rustle of pages as he turned them was a soothing rhythm, offering him a rare sense of tranquility. His fingers traced the edge of the book absently as he read, the world outside forgotten for a time. But the peace was fleeting.
A sharp, intrusive image flared in his mind—a flash of screeching metal, the dizzying tilt of a car careening off the road. His pulse quickened.
"Agh," he exhaled sharply, gripping the book tighter.
"Not again," he mumbled, trying to force his focus back to the words on the page. But the memory refused to fade. It grew more vivid, the shriek of metal against metal piercing his thoughts. He could almost hear the rail bending, see the car lurch violently before plummeting.
His chest tightened as the haunting sensations washed over him. He felt the weightlessness of the fall, the icy grip of water flooding in, and the panic clawing at his chest. His hands trembled, rising instinctively to cover his ears as he heard it—his own voice, raw and broken.
"I'm sorry... sorry... sorry..."
The words echoed like a phantom in his mind, distant yet relentless, each repetition dragging him deeper into the memory. His breathing quickened, his knuckles white as he removed his hands from his ears and clutched the book.
With a sudden snap, the book slammed shut, the sharp sound breaking through the suffocating silence. Leone stared at it for a moment, his chest heaving, before pushing it aside. The room felt stifling, the walls pressing in on him.
He stood abruptly, almost knocking the chair over, his movements erratic and unsteady. His breaths came in shallow gasps as he moved toward the door. He couldn't stay here—not like this. He needed air, space, something to pull him out of the suffocating grip of his thoughts. Without a backward glance, he left the study, his steps hurried and uneven, heading to the only place that might calm him—the garden.
Evelina, hidden nearby, saw him rushing out of his wing. A flicker of concern crossed her face, and she quietly followed him at a safe distance.
Leone walked hastily through the garden, the familiar sounds of rustling leaves and chirping birds a distant hum in his turbulent mind. He moved as if propelled by an unseen force, his tension visible in the tightness of his shoulders and the jerky swing of his arms. The vibrant flowers and towering trees passed him by unnoticed, their beauty lost on someone locked in an internal battle. He pushed forward until he reached his secluded spot by the pond.
Here, the world seemed to hold its breath. The rushing chaos in his chest began to ease as he took in the gentle ripples of the water, their rhythmic dance providing a fragile sense of grounding. Leone leaned against the sturdy trunk of a tree, closing his eyes as he sought solace in the stillness. The cool air brushed against his skin like a faint whisper, soothing the jagged edges of his thoughts. His hands, clenched into tight fists at his sides, slowly began to relax. The trauma still gnawed at him, an ever-present ache, but the garden offered him something he desperately needed—a chance to breathe.
It wasn't a cure. The memories still lingered, haunting the corners of his mind. But here, in this quiet sanctuary, they felt less suffocating, like distant shadows he could momentarily escape. With a deep, measured breath, he pushed the image of the crash into the recesses of his mind, forcing it down where it couldn't hurt him for now.
As Leone calmed, Evelina finally reached the edge of the clearing. She peeked out cautiously, her heart racing as she observed him from afar.
Why did he suddenly run off like that? she wondered, concern knitting her brow.
Her gaze fell on him, and for a moment, she was struck by the way he looked under the afternoon sun. The soft light filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows across his face. His disheveled hair and the slight furrow in his brow gave him an air of quiet vulnerability.
For a fleeting second, he looked fragile, almost... human.
Her heart skipped as she watched him, The familiar pull of empathy twisted in her chest, but there was something else—something deeper. She found herself taking a step closer, as if the tension in his figure was reaching out, drawing her in, and she couldn't look away.
Evelina hesitated a few feet away, unsure of how to proceed. He hadn't noticed her yet, his focus still on the pond, lost in whatever thoughts had driven him here.
The sound of her foot pressing against a dry leaf shattered the silence.
Leone froze, his head snapping toward her. His eyes narrowed with an edge of surprise, and for a moment, Evelina's heart skipped a beat.
"What are you doing here?" he asked sharply, his voice low and laced with something unreadable.
Evelina flinch, her face reddening slightly.' That's right, what am I doing here?'
"I…" Evelina faltered, clutching her notebook tightly against her chest. Forcing herself to straighten, she met his piercing gaze. "I saw you leave in a rush. You looked upset. I wanted to make sure you were okay."
I thought she had given up. What is she doing here? Leone's expression darkened, his jaw tightening. For a moment, Evelina was certain he would dismiss her outright. But then, to her surprise, he sighed, his posture softening just a fraction. "I didn't ask for your concern," he muttered, turning his gaze back to the pond.
"I know," she replied quietly, taking a tentative step closer. "But sometimes people don't ask for what they need."
His lips twitched at her words, almost forming a bitter smile. "And you think you know what I need?"
"No," she admitted, her voice soft but steady. "But I know what it's like to carry something heavy. Sometimes, it helps to have someone around—even if they're just sitting quietly."
I used to do that a lot with Liam, back when we were together, Evelina thought, her expression darkening as she clenched her notebook tightly. I was so stupid... pouring out my pain to that bastard.
Leone's sharp eyes caught the subtle change in her expression, his gaze flicking to her clenched notebook. He studied her for a long moment, as he didn't respond, his eyes flicking to the pond. His fingers clenched into fists at his sides. He was silent, as if battling with himself. Then, unexpectedly, he sighed—a quiet, reluctant sound—and turned to face her fully.
"Sit." Leone's voice wasn't as harsh as she expected. Evelina blinked, caught off guard, then hesitated before she spoke. "Are you serious?"
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
EnHui
EnHui Hello beautiful readers !!
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