The morning passed in an unreal haze for Élisa. Every word from Clara's journal echoed, amplified by the vision of Adrien in her room. Lunch was an ordeal; her plate remained untouched. She had to talk to him, confront him, but a dull fear mixed with an attraction she couldn't comprehend paralyzed her. In the afternoon, as she dragged her feet towards her literature class, the deserted university hallway suddenly became a trap.
Adrien was waiting for her. His massive body blocked the way, his eyes fixed on her. A heavy silence settled, more oppressive than any reproach. Élisa felt her heart pound against her ribs, a panicked bird in a cage. He said nothing, merely watched her, and that naked intensity was a question in itself. Had he read on her face what she had discovered? Did he know she had seen the pages about Clara?
"You look... thoughtful this morning," he finally said, his deep voice breaking the silence. He took a step closer, and Élisa instinctively recoiled until her back hit the cold wall. He cornered her, his arm resting just above her head, trapping her between his body and the stone. The air became electric, saturated with his presence, the familiar musk that had haunted her last night.
"I miss her," he murmured, his eyes momentarily distant. His voice was soft, too tender, almost caressing, when he spoke Clara's name. "Clara... she was so alive." He spoke of her in the past tense, with a melancholy that tore at the mask of coldness he usually wore. This unexpected tenderness for her sister disconcerted her even more. It was a crack, a glimpse of a humanity she hadn't yet perceived in him, but it made their interaction even more dangerous.
The physical tension was suffocating. Their bodies were so close Élisa could feel the heat radiating from his. His intense gaze never left her, and she felt her cheeks flush. He slowly lowered his arm, and his hand brushed her shoulder, gliding down her bare arm. He touched her without rushing, a touch of almost unbearable lightness, but it sent a jolt through her. A shiver ran through her, and her legs trembled, but she didn't move. She didn't flee. Her body betrayed her fear, but something, an irresistible force, held her rooted there, captive to his gaze and his unexpected touch. He lowered his head, his warm breath brushing her temple. "What are you looking for, Élisa?" he whispered, the challenge in his voice mingling with an intimate familiarity.