"What is she doing?" Alliana asked her friend, Olivia, as the two of them crouched behind a hedge, peeking through the gaps in the leaves. Their eyes were trained on Hannah, who stood just a few feet away, pacing aimlessly near the school gate, her fingers tightly gripping the strap of her bag.
"She... maybe... I don't really know," Olivia murmured, squinting at the girl who, moments ago, had been glancing over her shoulder like someone was following her. "I think she's looking for someone?"
With every step Hannah took, her eyes darted around—quick, paranoid, as though shadows might leap out from the trees. Her hand kept brushing against the strap of her bag, gripping it tighter, like it was the only thing anchoring her to reality.
"Is she alright?" Alliana asked again, this time more to herself than to Olivia. Her voice trembled slightly, and her brows pulled together in concern, a tight line forming between them. The change in Hannah's demeanor is so noticeable because that wasn't the Hannah she knew. Not even close.
A tight knot twisted in Alliana's gut as she watched. Hannah—her cousin, her closest friend—was usually the kind of girl who could silence a room with a single look, who walked with the unwavering confidence of someone untouchable. But now? She looked… small. Haunted.
And Alliana felt it. She didn't know why—but she knew.
Something is wrong. Something was very wrong.
That unease only deepened with every excuse Hannah offered. Every time Alliana asked her about what was going on, she was met with the same flat response: "I'm just tired. Training's been tough lately."
Tired? Hannah? Who would believe that? It's clearly a lie. A clumsy one, at that.
Frustration clawed at Alliana's chest. She hated this helplessness that she was feeling—knowing something was wrong but being kept in the dark by the very person she was worrying about.
"Come on, we're talking about Hannah. Who dares to bully her?" Olivia finally said, waving a dismissive hand, unconvinced that anything serious could shake the Salvador family's little princess.
And who could blame her for thinking that way?
Hannah Salvador—the firstborn of the powerful Salvador family—was practically royalty. Her brothers were fiercely protective. Her father's name made grown men tremble. To hurt her would be like throwing a punch at a lioness and hoping to live to tell the tale.
Still, Alliana's instincts screamed otherwise.
But after a moment, she let Olivia pull her toward the car, hesitating only briefly. She convinced herself that if Hannah wouldn't talk, then maybe all she could do now was wait. And hope.
What she didn't know… was that Hannah hadn't had a peaceful moment in days. Not that anyone is bothering her, but her mind wouldn't let her rest.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Not long after the two of them left, Benjamin arrived to pick up Hannah. He greeted her with a polite nod as soon as he saw her. "Señorita," he said, his voice laced with concern.
He went out and opened the door for her like he always did, but this time, there was a slight glint in his eyes that he tried to hide. Something had changed—and not just in Hannah.
It's not only Alliana who noticed the changes in Hannah's demeanor. For days now, he'd watched her unravel, the bags underneath her eyes growing bigger with each day that passed.
Hannah sat still in the backseat of the car, her shoulders stiff beneath the weight of exhaustion, dread, and unspoken fear. Her reflection in the tinted glass window looked like a stranger—pale, hollow-eyed, with no trace of the dazzling light she once carried.
Now, silence filled the vehicle like a ghost. Her presence was still quiet but no longer peaceful but instead, suffocating.
"Señorita…" Benjamin called out to her, his voice was laced with worry as he worriedly glanced at her through the rearview mirror while driving.
"Señorita... would you like me to turn the car around? We could go home instead," Benjamin offered gently, even though he already knew that her answer could cost him more than his job.
Sheldon had been very clear.
"No detours. Take her to the restaurant. No questions."
But watching Hannah now, withdrawn and pale, Benjamin's instincts screamed louder than his orders.
For a second, Hannah's lips parted. She wanted to say yes—God, she wanted to say yes. Her heart yearned for the safety of her bedroom, the darkness of solitude where no one could reach her.
But she knew that disobeying her brother Sheldon—who had personally instructed Benjamin to bring her to the restaurant—would only make things worse.
Instead, she forced a smile, small and weak, and gave a tiny shake of her head.
Benjamin gripped the steering wheel tighter, and the car glided away.
He couldn't understand it fully, but he knew that Hannah couldn't really go against her brothers, especially Sheldon, who held the power in the entire family.
However, seeing her like this, Benjamin made a vow to himself that if he were to ever have a daughter in the future, he would never make her do anything against her will.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The restaurant was elegant—walls covered in deep mahogany, gold chandeliers casting soft light over expensive cutlery and white linen-covered tables.
Hannah walked in alone, her movements controlled but uncertain, every step betraying the tension knotted inside her. It felt like she was just walking into danger all over again.
The manager saw her and approached with a warm smile. "Miss Salvador, this way please."
He led her straight to a private VIP room. As the door opened, Hannah froze.
There he was.
The man seated at the corner table near the wide glass window, staring out at the serene lake just beyond the glass with his features illuminated by the soft lighting, turned slowly at the sound of her entrance.
"Sir Racca?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
The man smiled, his expression warm, his presence non-threatening.
She let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. It was him—the same man from the photo Sheldon had sent her two days ago, the same photo that she didn't see the first time she went out for the blind date. This time, it's no longer a mistake.
"I'm sorry I took so long. Did you wait long?" She asked awkwardly, stepping in while keeping a respectable distance.
The man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gazed at her—long and deep. The silence stretched until Hannah fidgeted in place.
"No, it's okay. I was enjoying the view," he finally said, rising to pull out the chair for her.
Feeling the weird tensions, a chill danced up Hannah's spine, worried that he is another creep.
She tried to brush it off, forcing a smile.
"Indeed, the lake's lovely," she said, but Alfonzo wasn't looking at the lake. He was looking at her. And he didn't blink.
Hannah sat stiffly, acutely aware of his stare. He didn't ogle, nor did he leer—but something about his unwavering gaze unnerved her.
"I—Is there something on my face?" she asked, trying to keep her tone light.
"You look familiar," he murmured. "Like the woman who got into my car the other day, thinking it was a taxi," Alfonzo continued.
She didn't understand it the first time, but then a memory came up in Hannah's mind, and her eyes widened. A blush crept to her cheeks.
Before she could deny it, he clapped his hands together. "It was you!" Alfonzo exclaimed, remembering her clearly now.
"I—I didn't mean to," Hannah rushed out, mortified. "I wasn't used to riding alone. I thought it was a taxi. I'm really sorry," she said quickly, mortified by the situation.
She's not expecting that she accidentally mistook her blind date as a cab driver.
To her surprise, instead of reacting with anger or offense, Alfonzo laughed. A warm, genuine sound.
"No worries. I honestly thought that was just how girls flirt around here. Guess it really was just a misunderstanding," he said with a smile.
Seeing that he really didn't take it to heart, Hannah let out a nervous laugh as her anxiety began to ease slowly. His warmth was disarming. He had a kind smile—sincere, almost boyish—and slowly, the awkwardness melted.
The tension shattered, melting into something far more pleasant. Conversation flowed easily. They exchanged stories and jokes, filling the room with an unexpected warmth.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Before they knew it, the once-lively restaurant had grown quiet. The buzz of conversation faded, and the clinking of plates stilled. Hannah glanced at her watch and blinked, surprised by how late it had gotten.
"It's getting late," she said, her voice light, though she was already mentally retreating. "I should head home."
"Yes," Alfonzo agreed, standing with her. "We've been here for hours. I honestly didn't notice."
"Neither did I," Hannah replied, offering a polite smile.
They walked toward the exit, the soft glow of the chandelier casting long shadows behind them. The air outside was crisp, and the night had fallen into that quiet lull just before midnight.
"I really enjoyed tonight," Alfonzo said as they stepped down the stairs. "You're easy to talk to. It's rare."
Hannah nodded, keeping her expression warm but measured.
"Maybe we could do this again sometime?" he asked, his tone casual, but there was a hopeful glint in his eyes.
Hannah hesitated.
A part of her wanted to say no. The night had been pleasant, yes—but something about it felt... off. Not because of him, necessarily, but because of her.
She couldn't shake the lingering fear. The exhaustion. The mask she had worn the entire evening. She didn't really want to, but her smile didn't falter.
"Sure," she said, out of formality. "That sounds nice."
Alfonzo beamed at her answer, clearly unaware of the reluctance behind her words.
He walked her to the car and pulled the door open—gentle, courteous, and perfectly timed like everything else he did. Hannah offered another polite smile as she stepped in and sat in the car.
For a moment, she was truly touched. A gentleman, she thought, and with a smile, she thanked him. She then closed her eyes when Alfonzo shut the door, but that's when she heard it.
A voice. Low. Familiar. Acidic.
"You seem very happy, my dearest."
Hearing that voice, Hannah's blood ran cold and she froze.
No. No. That wasn't possible. She didn't want to believe the thought running wild in her mind.
Slowly—dreading what she might see—Hannah turned her head towards the driver's seat. She was telling herself that it was impossible, but when she fully saw the man sitting there, her heart stopped.
It wasn't Benjamin. It wasn't her loyal, warm-eyed driver who had been with her family for years.
It was Ivan.
His lips curled into a slow, mocking smile upon seeing her reaction. He was watching her through the mirror, his eyes like blades, glittering with amusement.
"Did you miss me?" he asked, his tone playful—but the threat underneath it was unmistakable.
Hannah's throat closed. Her lungs were closing as if they had forgotten how to breathe.
Her fingers curled tightly around the seatbelt strap as her mind screamed at her to move, to speak, to do something—but she was paralyzed. Her body refused to move.
Outside the car, Alfonzo had turned away, his figure getting smaller as the car began to drive away from the restaurant as Hannah, trapped and trembling, stared into the eyes of her nightmare made flesh.
***🦋***
Author's Note
So... Is he the knight in shining armor—or just the devil in disguise?
Alfonzo's got the charm, the smile, and the perfect words. But don't let that fool you—there's something about him, isn't there? That unblinking stare. That mysterious timing. That feeling like he knew more than he should.
What do you think? Is Alfonzo just a smooth talker? Or is there a storm beneath that calm lake of his smile?
Stay close, dear reader. The game is just beginning... and Hannah has no idea just how high the stakes really are.