Days melted into weeks, and their park meetings became a cherished routine. As they strolled hand-in-hand, a comfortable silence often settled between them, punctuated by bursts of laughter and stolen glances. Yet, a question lingered in Lisa's mind.

"Hey, Luka," she began one evening, a playful glint in her eyes. "It seems like the park has become our default meeting spot. Don't you ever get tired of the same view?"

A hint of surprise flickered across Luka's face. "Tired? Never," he replied, his voice warm. "The park holds a special place in our story, doesn't it?"

Lisa smiled, her heart swelling with affection. "True enough," she conceded. "But how about a change of scenery sometime? Maybe..." she trailed off, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Maybe what, Lisa?" Luka prompted, intrigued.

"Maybe you could visit me at my place?" Lisa suggested, her voice laced with a hint of nervousness. "I have a half-day tomorrow, and we could spend some quality time, just you and me."

A slow smile spread across Luka's face. "Just you and me?" he echoed, his voice husky with unspoken desire.

"Well, yes," Lisa stammered, blushing slightly. "Unless you'd rather do something else..."

"No, Lisa," Luka interrupted, his voice gentle. "Visiting you sounds perfect. I'll be there at 6 PM sharp. Just let me know if there's anything you'd like me to bring."

The next day, Lisa left work a little early, eager to prepare for Luka's visit. She bustled around her apartment, a whirlwind of activity. She straightened furniture, tidied the clutter that usually accumulated, and even vacuumed the carpets. Suddenly, her phone rang, and Selene's name flashed on the screen.

"Hey girl!" Selene's enthusiastic voice filled Lisa's ear. Lisa informs Selene about Luka visiting her place.

"So, the big night, huh? You sure have your hands full with Luka coming over."

Lisa chuckled. "You could say that. I'm just trying to make the place a little presentable."

"Don't worry," Selene chirped. "Any place is presentable with Luka around. Just focus on having fun and maybe..." she trailed off, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"Maybe what?" Lisa pressed, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

"Maybe create a little romantic ambiance," Selene suggested. "Candles, music, the whole shebang!"

Lisa's cheeks flushed at the suggestion. "Maybe," she mumbled, a playful edge to her voice.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

After hanging up, Lisa hurried to the kitchen, her mind buzzing with ideas. She lit a few scented candles, their warm glow filling the room with a soft light. She put on a playlist of her favorite music, a mix of upbeat and romantic tunes. By the time the clock struck 5:55 PM, Lisa's apartment felt transformed, a cozy haven ready for an evening of connection.

Just then, a knock on the door startled her. Rushing to open it, she found Luka standing on the doorstep, a bouquet of her favorite flowers in his hand. His smile faltered slightly at the sight of the overflowing trash bag in her hand.

"Hi Lisa," he greeted, his voice laced with amusement. "You seem to be working hard."

Lisa's cheeks burned with embarrassment. "Ahh, Luka! Why are you here so early?" she stammered, shoving the trash bag behind her back.

"Early?" Luka chuckled, glancing at his watch. "It's already 5:55 PM, precisely the time we agreed on."

Lisa's jaw dropped. Had it really taken her that long to clean and decorate? "Oh," she mumbled, feeling a wave of self-consciousness. "I guess I got a little carried away cleaning..."

"Don't worry about it, Lisa," Luka reassured her, his eyes reflecting the warm candlelight. "The place looks lovely. Now, why don't you throw that trash away and come join me inside?"

A surprised gasp escaped Lisa's lips as Luka took in her apartment. "Wow, Lisa," he exclaimed, his gaze sweeping across the spacious room lined with bookshelves and comfortable furniture. "This place is much bigger than I imagined for someone living alone."

Lisa, ever so slightly flustered, offered Luka a seat on the plush couch. "Is that a problem?" she queried, a playful edge to her voice.

Smiling, Luka shook his head. "Not at all," he assured her. "It's quite nice, actually. Plenty of space to relax." He reached into a bag he was carrying and pulled out a beautiful bouquet of lilies, their white petals tipped with a delicate pink. "These are for you," he said, handing them to her.

Lisa's heart swelled. "Oh, Luka, they're beautiful! Thank you so much." Taking the flowers, their sweet fragrance filling the air, she placed them carefully in a nearby vase.

As she turned back to Luka, she noticed him eyeing the drinks on the coffee table. "Here, have a beer," she offered, reaching for a bottle.

Luka hesitated. "Actually, Lisa," he began, "I don't drink alcohol."

A slight frown creased Lisa's brow. "Oh? Really?" she said, surprised. "Suit yourself then," she added, popping the cap off the bottle and taking a swig.

The conversation flowed easily as they caught up on each other's days. Lisa, a touch more talkative due to the beer, decided to delve a little deeper.

"So, Lisa," he began, his voice taking on a thoughtful tone, "how would you react if someone close to you, someone you considered important, just disappeared without a trace?"

Lisa seemed to ponder her question for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. "Well," she began slowly, "if I were to speak hypothetically, and of course, I haven't experienced this personally –"

"Right," Luka continued, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice. "But hypothetically speaking, if someone close to me vanished, I suppose I'd feel a mix of emotions – worry, confusion, maybe even a touch of anger. Depending on the person, of course."

Lisa's breath caught in her throat. "Wait a minute," she stammered, her mind racing. "Are you planning on leaving?" The playful banter had vanished, replaced by a sudden sense of dread.

Luka's hand shot up in a placating gesture. "No, no, not me personally," he assured her quickly. "It's just...well, how do I put this? It seems my time here is coming to an end soon. I have to go...elsewhere."

Relief washed over Lisa, momentarily erasing the fear that had gripped her. "Oh, that's all?" she exclaimed, her voice lighter. "You had me worried for a second there. So, you're going to another country? No worries, we can still stay in touch. Texting, video calls, all that fun stuff."

Luka's smile faltered slightly. "Another country," he echoed, his voice vague. "Yeah, you could say that."

"When will you be back then?" Lisa pressed, her earlier boldness emboldened by the alcohol.

Luka shook his head. "I don't know exactly, Lisa. It's uncertain."

A wave of sadness washed over Lisa. The thought of Luka being gone, not knowing when she would see him again, filled her with a deep sense of loss. Fueled by the beer and the emotions swirling within her, she reached out and impulsively wrapped her arms around Luka, her head resting on his chest.

"No matter where you are, Luka," she mumbled, her voice thick with emotion, "I will always love you. But promise me you'll return here from time to time. Even a short visit would be enough for me."

Luka held her close, his touch a warm comfort. "Thank you, Lisa," he whispered, his voice filled with a strange mix of emotions that Lisa couldn't quite decipher.

They sat there for a while, lost in their own thoughts, the silence filled with unspoken feelings. The conversation eventually resumed, with Lisa showing Luka pictures that she has drawn and sharing funny stories. Luka, in turn, regaled her with tales of his travels, his voice tinged with a touch of nostalgia that sent shivers down Lisa's spine.

As the night wore on, Lisa glanced at the clock. It was getting late. " Lisa now mildly conscious lean on Luka.

A LOUD THUD…….