Raisa leaned against the balcony railing, the city skyline spread before her like a shimmering sea of lights. The cool breeze tugged at her hair, sending strands whipping across her face as she stared at her phone, her heart pounding from the unexpected conversation with Zayn. "He actually opened up to me," she murmured, disbelief tinging her voice. "What does it all mean?"

The phone vibrated in her hand, a reminder of her digital life, the world of curated images and staged smiles. "Oh no!" she exclaimed, her heart dropping as she saw Kendra’s name flashing on the screen. Kendra was always a whirlwind of energy, and Raisa knew their chats could range from uplifting to chaotic in a heartbeat.

"Hey, where are you?!" Kendra’s voice came through, bubbling with excitement and urgency.

"On my balcony. Just… thinking," Raisa replied, still caught up in the whirlwind of emotions Zayn had stirred in her.

"Thinking? About what? Spill it!" Kendra pressed, her tone playful yet insistent.

"Zayn. We talked today… deeper than usual," Raisa admitted, biting her lip as she recalled Zayn’s genuine vulnerability, a side of him she hadn’t expected.

"Ooh! Tell me everything!" Kendra squealed, her enthusiasm infectious.

"It’s just… I didn’t know he felt so pressured," Raisa explained, glancing down at the busy streets below, where people rushed about, each lost in their own world. "He’s an architect, and he wants to impress everyone, but he feels so alone."

"Sounds like you two had a moment," Kendra teased, but there was sincerity in her voice. "And what about you? How do you feel?"

Raisa sighed, leaning her head back against the cool metal railing. "I don’t know. He makes me feel… connected. But then I remember I’m just this influencer in a bubble. What do I even know about real struggles?"

"Stop it! You’re so much more than that!" Kendra shot back. "You’re real, Raisa. And Zayn sees that."

Just then, a loud honking interrupted their conversation. Raisa peered over the edge of the balcony and spotted a sleek black car pulling up to the curb, its headlights illuminating the sidewalk. Her heart raced when she recognized Luca stepping out, his presence commanding even from afar. "Ah! Kendra, I think Luca is here!" she exclaimed, the surprise and intrigue evident in her voice.

"Oh! What’s he doing there?" Kendra asked, her curiosity piqued. "Does he know about Zayn?"

"No! I don’t think so," Raisa replied quickly, her stomach twisting with a mix of excitement and dread. "He’s probably here for work."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Before she could hang up, Kendra blurted, "Go talk to him! It might distract you from Zayn!"

Raisa hesitated, glancing back at Luca, who was checking his phone, his brows furrowed in concentration. "What if he wants to talk about business? Or—"

"Just go! You’ll never know until you try!" Kendra insisted.

Taking a deep breath, Raisa straightened her posture, trying to shake off the anxiety that curled in her stomach. "Okay, I’ll go."

As she stepped inside her apartment and made her way to the front door, Raisa couldn’t shake the feeling that this encounter might change everything. She opened the door, and Luca looked up, his face breaking into a smile that made her heart skip a beat.

"Hey, Raisa!" he greeted, his voice smooth and warm.

"Hey, Luca! What brings you here?" she asked, attempting to sound casual.

"I was just meeting with a client nearby and thought I’d swing by to see how you’ve been," he replied, stepping closer, his eyes sparkling with genuine interest.

Raisa felt a flutter in her chest. "I’m good! Just… enjoying the evening."

"Mind if I join you? It’s a beautiful night," Luca suggested, gesturing toward the balcony.

"Sure!" she said, unable to hide her excitement. They stepped outside together, the city noise fading as they took in the view.

As they leaned against the railing, the silence was comfortable. Raisa’s heart raced, torn between the magnetic pull she felt toward Luca and the lingering thoughts of Zayn.

"You okay? You seem a bit… distracted," Luca observed, turning to her with a curious tilt of his head.

"Just… things on my mind," she replied, careful not to reveal too much.

"You know, I sometimes think we all hide behind our screens too much," Luca said, his tone suddenly serious. "I appreciate how real you are, Raisa. Not everyone is like that."

Raisa’s breath caught. "Really?" she asked, feeling vulnerable under his gaze.

"Yeah. It’s refreshing," he said, his smile returning. "And it’s okay to feel unsure. We’re all trying to figure it out."

In that moment, the air felt electric, and Raisa's thoughts drifted back to Zayn. "I just wish things were clearer," she admitted softly.

Suddenly, the moment was interrupted by a loud "Bam!"—a door slamming below them. Raisa glanced down to see Zayn walking past, his expression troubled.

"Ah! Zayn!" she exclaimed, instinctively moving to call out to him, but he was already gone, swallowed by the night.

Luca watched her, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. "You care about him, don’t you?"

Raisa bit her lip, her emotions swirling. "I… I’m just trying to understand everything."

"It’s okay to have feelings for more than one person," he said, his voice steady. "Just remember to be true to yourself."

But before Raisa could respond, her phone buzzed again, cutting through the tension. She looked down, her heart sinking as she saw Kendra’s name flashing on the screen again. "Wait! Just a second!" she said, fumbling to answer it.

"Raisa! You’re not going to believe this, but I think I saw Zayn with someone else!" Kendra blurted out, her tone a mix of excitement and concern.

Raisa's heart dropped. "What?! Who?"

"I don’t know! But he looked… happy," Kendra said.

Raisa felt a wave of conflicting emotions crash over her—fear, confusion, and a strange sense of loss. "Oh no…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

As she looked up at Luca, she felt the weight of choices pressing down on her. "What am I supposed to do?" she murmured, feeling utterly adrift under the vastness of the night sky.

"You choose, Raisa," Luca said gently, reaching out to touch her arm. "What matters most to you?"

With the city’s hum surrounding them, Raisa felt the path ahead shifting like the clouds above, and in that moment, everything felt impossibly complicated yet achingly real.