Seraphina's POV
After an hour of resting in my room, Mira called us, so we went out wearing our outfits for the adventure. I also brought a go bag for my essentials. Actually, Mira gave it to me earlier because she said I would need it for the trip.
I went down the stairs, and everyone was already ready to go.
"Let's go, guys!" Mira excitedly exclaimed, and we went out to ride the van heading to Sumaguing Cave. I was a bit nervous because this was my first time. I didn't know what to expect. All I knew was that caves could be scary because of the darkness.
"We will be meeting our tour guide there. He will also be our guide for the rest of the trip," Mira informed us.
After a few minutes, we arrived at our destination. Our tour guide greeted us with a warm smile. As usual, Mira and Dominic were the ones talking a lot, while Lucca, Damian, and I quietly followed behind.
According to our tour guide, exploring the cave would take around two to three hours, depending on our pace. If we moved quickly, we could finish earlier. If not, it would take longer. That was when my worry started to grow. Compared to the others, I was definitely the least fit for this. Should I regret coming with them? Or should I have just stayed in the villa instead?
"Give me your bag."
I looked at the person who spoke. That was when I realized Mira, Damian, and Dominic were already following the tour guide, while Lucca and I were left behind.
"No need. Thanks," I said to Lucca. It was my things, and I didn't want him carrying them. Besides, I still felt awkward after what happened last night.
"This is your first time, isn't it? It will be difficult for you. Now give me your bag," he said firmly.
"It's not that heavy," I insisted.
He looked me straight in the eye, and I couldn't hold his gaze for long. I looked away and forced a smile before starting to descend the stairs into the cave.
"Take my offer to work in my company," Lucca said, making me stop.
I looked at him in shock, and he took that moment to grab my bag. I couldn't stop him. He placed it on his back, carrying both our bags.
He walked ahead while I stood frozen. Did I hear him correctly? Was he asking me again to accept his offer? I thought he had already given up after getting mad at me before.
I composed myself and followed Lucca's lead. I couldn't see Mira anymore since we had stayed behind. I didn't know where we were headed, I just kept following him. I just hoped he wouldn't leave me behind.
Then the real adventure began as we entered the cave. The path was narrow, and I started feeling exhausted as I carefully stepped down, afraid of slipping.
"Take my hand."
While I was holding onto a sharp stone to steady myself, Lucca offered his hand. I didn't refuse and took it.
When I placed my hand in his, he gently gripped it to help me down. Even through his grip, I could feel how soft his hand was. He was truly rich, his hands had never known hard labor. Suddenly, I became conscious of what he might think of my hand. It was rough, a sign of the hard life I had growing up.
The tour guide kept reminding us to follow instructions and stay close. I was behind the group, but Lucca didn't leave me. This was the second time I had seen him act gentle and not get mad at me. The first time was when he saw me crying at the waiting shed after visiting my biological mother.
I could see concern in him, but he always held himself back, never fully showing it. After that, he went back to being cold and distant. I wouldn't be surprised if, after this trip, he became cold again.
"Are you still okay, Sera?" Mira shouted inside the cave, looking up at me.
Dominic and Damian also looked in our direction and saw Lucca holding my hand to help me. I felt my face heat up. Thankfully, it was dark.
I couldn't let go of his hand; if I did, I would fall.
We continued like that for hours.Lucca letting go first to get down, then helping me again each time I needed support. We didn't talk, but I didn't refuse his help either. I was grateful.
When we finally reached the bottom, as the tour guide announced, we took a group photo. I was panting and wet from the water inside the cave. Mira, Damian, Dominic, Lucca, and I posed together.
After that, Mira requested another photo with her boyfriend. Dominic, Lucca, and I sat on a rock while waiting.
"Are you okay, Sera?" Dominic asked while smiling.
Honestly, I was tired and already thinking about going back up. The fact that there was only one exit made it even more exhausting.
"I'm fine," I said. Of course, I couldn't voice my real feelings. Who was I to complain? This was a sponsored trip. I didn't spend a single peso. I should be grateful.
"Here, take my water," Dominic offered.
"It's yours, isn't it? I have mine in my go bag," I said, then turned to Lucca for my bag. When I opened it, I realized I had left it on my bedside table.
Dominic laughed at me. "Just take it."
Before I could refuse, Lucca suddenly offered his bottle.
"Finish it. I won't drink it," he said with a blank expression.
I looked at Dominic, who took back his bottle and subtly told me to accept Lucca's instead.
"Thank you," I said, then drank the water quickly. My thirst was finally gone.
"Sera! Let's enjoy the water!" Mira shouted and waved at me.
She was already playing in the water, but I hesitated because it was too cold.
"I can't handle the cold water," I said, my voice echoing.
Mira frowned and came over to pull me. "You can," she said, grabbing my hand.
Even if I resisted, she wouldn't listen. So I just gave in and joined her, even though the water was freezing.
"Mira, aren't you getting cold?" I asked.
She kept smiling as she moved away from the boys.
"I saw it," Mira whispered, still smiling.
"Saw what?" I asked.
"Lucca is being gentle today. He carried your bag, offered his hand, and even gave you his bottled water? That's unusual for him," she said.
"Is this why you dragged me here even though you knew I was cold?" I asked, frowning.
"Yes," she admitted without hesitation.
I rolled my eyes, and she laughed loudly.
"Mira, lower your voice. They'll hear us," I said.
"No, I won't. Is this the first step for Lucca to become your friend?" she giggled.
"I doubt it."
"Why? He's making an effort, can't you see?"
I wanted to tell her that he had been helping me even before, but I stopped myself to avoid being overheard.
"You are enjoying the cold water too much, ladies," Dominic said as he joined us, splashing water at us.
"Stop it!" I shouted, but I was laughing. It felt like we were kids playing in the rain again.
Lucca's POV
Damian and I were just watching the three of them play in the water while our tour guide observed nearby. We were sitting on a large rock a little farther away from them.
"I saw what you did today," Damian started the conversation.
I sighed. Dominic's words had really affected me. He was right. I should double my efforts since time is running out. After getting the ring, I won't be able to endure all of this anymore.
"Dominic talked to you, and I assume he got mad and told you again to win Seraphina's favor?" Damian added when I stayed silent.
"This is just an act," I said.
"Even before?" he asked, then laughed. "You've never helped a woman before, Lucca."
Damian was right. I had never helped any woman before or made this much effort. Even my ex never experienced the care and effort I was now giving to Seraphina.
"But I know you're just doing it for the ring. I'm hoping you'll get it sooner," Damian said while smiling.
"How about you? Since when have you been pretending to like Mira?" I turned the question back, slightly curious about what Damian was thinking.
"You never care about my personal life, do you?" Damian asked, smirking.
"I don't. But Mira is Seraphina's friend," I answered.
"It won't affect your efforts toward Seraphina, don't worry," he said.
"I know this is your way of forgetting your ex."
Damian's expression changed, but he didn't reply.
I didn't push the conversation further. I just kept myself busy watching the three of them enjoying the water. Then my eyes landed on the person I had been observing even before.
Only now did I realize how beautifully she smiled. Though I rarely see it, since Seraphina is usually like me, seeing her smile feels better than seeing her cry.
Then I remembered the time I saw her at the waiting shed, when her mother hurt her. Even though I didn't show any emotion, deep inside I felt something for her. It was more like concern… and an urge to protect her from the people who kept hurting her.
Seraphina's POV
I stopped splashing water on Mira and Dominic when I felt that someone was looking at me. When I looked up, Lucca was staring at me with his usual blank face.
I stared back for a few seconds, but I couldn't hold it and looked away. Dominic noticed the sudden change in my mood, then glanced at Lucca's direction.
"Did he offer it again?" Dominic asked.
"Offered what?" Mira asked curiously.
"Lucca's offer," Dominic responded.
"Ahh… so it seems like Lucca kept insisting that you work with him? Why is that?" Mira asked, looking at Dominic.
Dominic pretended to cough and didn't answer Mira's question, which made me curious as well.
"I didn't tell him yet, but I'm planning to accept his offer," I said, then continued. "May I ask you, Dominic?"
"What?" he asked.
"Do you have any idea why he offered me a job in his company? As far as I can see, he doesn't like me. He said I annoy him every time we meet."
Dominic coughed again before answering. "He may be like that, but deep inside, he's a caring person." Then he smiled at me.
That made me stop questioning him, even though I still had so many things I wanted to ask. Maybe he didn't dislike me that much after all. Maybe there was still a chance for us to become friends in the future, since all of us were already connected in some way.
After half an hour, we decided to go up to finish today's adventure. This time, I felt really cold and couldn't even hide my shivering.
"If you knew you would get cold, then why did you play in the water?" Lucca murmured behind me.
He helped me go up by pushing my legs while I held onto the rope, but I still heard his question.
"I enjoyed the water," I said.
"Tsk," he replied.
I shook my head. I should accept the fact that Lucca is really a moody person. Sometimes he acts as if he cares for me, then suddenly gets mad at me for no reason. A while ago, he was nice while talking to me, and now he was like a father nagging his child for playing in the water.
We stayed quiet after that. The conversation didn't continue, but he still helped me go up.
After an hour, we finally arrived upstairs. My body was trembling from the cold, and my legs were sore from today's trip. We walked on, but I could no longer take it and stopped.
Lucca also stopped, then suddenly removed my bag from his back and knelt down, which confused me.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"You can't walk upstairs, right? Get on my back."
I was shocked by what he said. I never expected him to offer something like that just because he knew I was tired.
"No. I'm fine. It won't take long to get upstairs, right?" I refused, shaking my head.
"With those trembling legs? I doubt it," he said, looking at my legs. I tried not to tremble, but my body wasn't cooperating.
"Do you want me to carry you on my back, or in front?" Lucca asked.
My eyes widened, and I didn't think twice before agreeing to his back. So we ended up doing a piggyback ride. He carried both our bags in front while holding my legs so I wouldn't fall.
I felt shy and worried because he was carrying me while also holding our bags.
"Should I carry the bags? Won't I become heavier?" I asked while hugging Lucca from behind. I didn't really have a choice, if I didn't hold on, I would fall.
"I don't even feel like I'm carrying you," he said.
I didn't know how to take that. Should I be offended because he might be calling me too skinny, or should I be thankful that I wasn't heavy enough to strain him? I chose the latter.
After a minute, we finally reached the top, and Lucca put me down.
"Thank you, Lucca," I said sincerely.
He didn't even react and walked ahead toward the van.
Even though he didn't respond, I was still grateful that he helped me a lot today.
When we got back to Mira's villa, each of us went to our own rooms. I immediately took a bath, and luckily there was hot water. I badly needed it since I was still shivering from the cold.
After a few minutes, I changed my clothes and combed my hair. I decided to lie down on the bed because I was starting to feel the soreness in my body.
Lucca's POV
After taking a shower, I went out of the bathroom. But as I opened the door, I saw two people lying on my bed. I stopped drying my hair with a towel and frowned at them.
"Why are you here? Don't you have a room?" I sarcastically asked, then went to the cabinet to get some clothes. I didn't mind them being there, so I still changed. After all, we were all men, and being naked didn't matter at all.
"I should congratulate you for today's activity," Dominic said, then clapped his hands.
"Today's activity wasn't that hard," I said while still drying my hair with a towel.
"You know I'm not talking about our activity today. I'm talking about the effort you showed toward Seraphina," Dominic said, smiling at me, but I didn't respond.
"Finally, you are listening to us. If you had done that even before, you probably would've already gotten the ring," Dominic added, pretending to think deeply.
"Keep whatever you're thinking to yourself, Lucca. Women are soft, and you will probably soften Seraphina," Damian added.
"Is that all? Because I want to rest," I said, trying not to show more emotion. I had enough today, and I needed to recharge.
Dominic laughed. "You're just avoiding this conversation."
"So what? Don't I have the right to be mad and annoyed?" I asked with a frown. If only I could rip Dominic's neck, I would have done it long ago.
"Take a deep breath, dude. You're getting so hot-tempered. We just wanted to rest here and have a little chat with you, whether you like it or not," he said, grinning.
I took a deep breath to control my emotions. This day was too much for me. Everything was too much for me.