chapter 3 the disbelief

As I found myself mesmerized by the proximity of his lips, feeling my knees weaken, Anna's sudden entrance jolted me back to reality. With a swift push, I distanced myself from Andreo, my heart still pounding with confusion and desire. As I hurriedly fled the scene, Anna's puzzled expression followed me. "What's going on?" she inquired, her tone tinged with concern. "N-nothing, Anna," I stammered, attempting to compose myself. "I'll be upstairs reading a book." But even as I retreated to the sanctuary of my room, I couldn't shake the image of Andreo's perfect lips from my mind. "Valentina, get your head out of the gutter," I scolded myself. "He's your stepsiste.r's boyfriend." Lost in my thoughts, I was startled by a gentle knock on the door. "Yes, come in," I called out, expecting Anna. Instead, it was Andreo, holding out my forgotten phone. Reluctantly, I accepted it, feeling a surge of conflicting emotions. "Well, thank you, but you may leave," I muttered, trying to mask my attraction with disdain. "Ouch, that stings," he remarked, his tone laced with amusement. Slowly, his gaze swept across my room. "Oh, so you're a bookworm," he observed, his eyes lingering on me while he gently bit his lip. Before I could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps sent him retreating. Kristen barged in, demanding to know why Andreo was in my room. Ignoring her annoyance, he simply walked away, leaving Kristen behind. "What did he do?" she interrogated me, her tone sharp with accusation. "He just brought my phone, that's all," I replied, feeling a surge of defiance against her hostility. With a final warning, Kristen stormed out, leaving me alone to wrestle with the tangled web of emotions that Andreo had stirred within me. As the days passed, I made a concerted effort to avoid Andreo, but he seemed to have other plans. Every time I turned a corner, there he was, a mischievous glint in his eye as he teased me relentlessly. From playful remarks to lingering glances, he made it clear that he enjoyed getting under my skin. Despite my attempts to ignore him, his presence became an unavoidable part of my daily life. However, our interactions were often cut short by the arrival of my family members. Whether it was my dad, Anna, Sofia, or Kristen, they always seemed to appear at the most inconvenient moments, interrupting any chance of a meaningful conversation. As the weeks flew by, I found myself counting down the days until I would leave for college. With each passing moment, the anticipation grew, and the thought of escaping Andreo's teasing became my sole focus. But amidst the chaos of packing and saying goodbye, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was still unfinished business between us. As the deadline for my departure loomed closer, I couldn't help but wonder what would become of our tangled relationship once I leave for college. 

 the day arrived for me to leave for college, I had already packed my bags and was ready to start this new chapter of my life. The thought of not having to deal with Kristen anymore at the same college brought a sense of relief. Maybe things would finally get better from now on, I hoped. Meeting my new roommate, Maddy, was a pleasant surprise. She seemed kind and welcoming, which helped ease some of my anxiety about starting college. However, as I moved into the new dorm, I quickly realized that not everything would be smooth sailing. The noise from my neighbors' room was deafening, making it impossible to settle in. Summoning up my courage, I knocked on their door, hoping they would lower the volume. To my dismay, the door swung open, revealing Andreo standing there. My heart sank at the sight of him. Why did he have to be here, of all places? It felt like the worst day of my life, knowing that I couldn't escape his presence, his teasing, his constant bullying. But as I glanced into the room, I noticed another woman on Andreo's bed. Was he cheating on Kristen? The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, and I felt a surge of disgust wash over me. I coughed "What is that smell?" I thought to myself, noticing the distinct odor of illegal substances wafting from the room. "What do you want?" Andreo snapped, cutting off my thoughts. I stuttered, asking politely if they could lower the volume so I could focus. His response was harsh and dismissive. "No, get lost," he said, slamming the door in my face before I could say anything else. I stood there in shock, unable to comprehend his sudden hostility. Maddy pulled me aside, her expression serious. She explained that everyone was afraid of Andreo, even the teachers. His nickname was "le diable" - the devil. She warned me to stay away from him, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over me as I realized just how dangerous Andreo truly was..