Since they had decided on a date, it was time to take it seriously.
Under Kate's suggestion, Luca changed into a more low-key outfit: a down jacket, casual jeans, sneakers, and a scarf.
Although his outfit was simple, Luca's stylish and handsome appearance, along with his tall, muscular build and strong, straight legs, made him stand out even in a crowd, regardless of what he was wearing.
He put on his watch, ran his fingers through his hair, casually tousling it. His deep eyes, high nose bridge, and sharply defined features gave him an effortlessly cool look.
"Man, I'm too good-looking for my own good!" he muttered, admiring himself in the mirror for a few more seconds before reluctantly leaving his room.
Kate and Theron had agreed to meet at the Hilton Hotel where Theron was staying, and from there, they would head to the Berlin Film Palace next door to catch a movie.
Luca grabbed a cab to the Hilton and sent a message to Theron.
She replied that she'd be down soon.
However, after more than ten minutes, there was still no sign of her.
Luca was a bit annoyed. Even a big star is no different from regular girls—always making you wait.
"Don't rush. The longer a girl takes, the more she cares about you," Kate texted back.
"Alright," Luca muttered, though he wasn't so sure. No matter how the date went, he felt like he'd be the one getting the short end of the stick.
After another five or six minutes, a woman who looked like Theron finally appeared on the street.
She was tall and slim, dressed in a white down jacket, blue jeans, a big black scarf, and sneakers. She wore a white knit hat that covered most of her face, giving her a youthful, trendy, and vibrant look. From a distance, she could have passed for a college student in her twenties.
But her brisk walk, icy demeanor, and piercing blue-gray eyes fixed on him like sharp swords betrayed her older, more intense vibe.
For some reason, Luca started feeling nervous. His feet instinctively wanted to retreat, but he still stretched out his arms in a friendly gesture.
"Hey, Sally, long time no see!" he greeted her with a charming smile, moving in for a typical Brazilian hug and cheek kiss—the customary greeting in his culture.
What he didn't expect, though, was her response.
Without a word, Theron raised her fist and punched him straight in the stomach.
Bam!
Luca doubled over, clutching his stomach, unable to breathe, his handsome face twisted in pain.
"Why the hell did you hit me, Sally?" he gasped, feeling wronged. He was sure he hadn't done anything to offend her, so why the sudden attack?
"You jerk! After what you texted me, I told you I'd hit you, and I always keep my word," Theron said coldly.
Text?
Luca was completely baffled. It was Kate who flirted with you, not me. Why am I getting punched?
"Sally, I'm sorry!" Luca apologized immediately. The number one rule for men in danger: apologize first, no matter who's right or wrong.
"Hmph!" Theron snorted, lowering the leg she had been about to kick him with, and stormed off.
Luca rubbed his sore stomach and reluctantly followed her.
Standing at 6'3" in shoes, with Theron just an inch shorter in her footwear, the two of them, dressed similarly, looked like a couple as they walked together.
Theron walked in silence ahead, while Luca trailed behind, unsure of what to say. Apart from chatting briefly in a bar one night, they hadn't really gotten to know each other. Theron wasn't as lively as Britney or as warm and funny as Aniston.
She was cool and reserved—and had just punched him, leaving Luca even more at a loss for words.
"Theron, are you okay with the cold here?" he asked.
Before she could answer, he shrugged and added, "I'm really struggling. It's over 30 degrees colder here than in Rio. I almost froze to death getting off the plane today."
Theron's lips curled into a brief smile before she went back to her usual expressionless look.
Luca took a step closer, walking alongside her as he spoke. "As soon as I got to the hotel, I filled a tub with hot water and soaked in it for ages before I started to feel normal again. When you texted me, I was still in the bath. I had planned to stay in there all day."
"Are you saying I interrupted your bath?" Theron asked, frowning.
"Of course not. I just wanted to say that I'm very clean now," Luca replied with a mischievous smile.
Theron paused for a moment, her eyes narrowing, before she lifted her leg and aimed another kick at him.
Luca laughed and easily dodged. Just as Theron was retracting her leg, he stepped forward, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her lightly on the lips.
Theron froze, eyes wide with shock, not expecting the timid rabbit to turn into a cunning wolf so suddenly.
But she wasn't one to stay stunned for long. In less than three seconds, she snapped out of it. Clenching her fists, she pulled her arm back half a foot before launching it forward with all her might toward his stomach.
But Luca was too quick. With a sly smile, he backed away just in time, avoiding her punch.
"Sally, I'm so glad to see you. Consider that kiss my gift to you. Did you like it?" he teased.
"You! Are! Dead!"
Theron, enraged at being toyed with by this cheeky guy, dropped all pretense of being the composed celebrity and charged at him in a fury.
Luca wasn't about to stick around and get punched again. He took off running at a speed just fast enough to stay ahead of her but slow enough to keep her chasing, always just out of reach.
Their playful chase down the street soon caught the attention of passersby, who thought they must be a sweet couple, playing around like this out of genuine affection.
If Theron had known what they were thinking, she'd have been furious. She wasn't playfully chasing him—she really wanted to beat him up. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't catch him.
After running a hundred meters or so, they reached the Berlin Film Palace, the main venue for the Berlin Film Festival.
During the festival, the palace was a bustling hub of activity, with crowds of people flocking there for the film screenings. Over 400 films were being shown, all for free.
Luca and Theron were here to watch a movie too.
As they approached the entrance, Luca stopped and turned to her with a grin. "Sally, there are a lot of people and reporters around. Be careful not to get recognized."
Theron stopped as well. Her cheeks were flushed, making her even more striking, but the fierce glint in her eyes made her look dangerous.
Luca chuckled softly, pulling his hat down and raising his scarf. "Sally, can you still recognize me?"
"Childish!" Theron scoffed, giving him a disdainful look before pulling up her own scarf and heading inside.
"Don't get lost in the crowd," Luca said, taking her hand as they navigated through the throng of people like a couple.
Suddenly, he felt a sharp pinch on his waist. He winced, realizing the "farmer and the viper" analogy all too well.
"You okay?" Theron asked coolly.
"Just... some cramps," Luca replied with a strained smile, wiping the sweat from his brow. "So, what movie are we watching?"
Inside the palace, an electronic display listed the films showing, including Going All the Way, 20 30 40, Winter 25 Degrees, A Kiss of Love, Beautiful Homeland, and Intimate Strangers—along with films featuring the two of them, Monster and Buried.
"Let's watch your movie. I want to see how bad the judges had to be to put your film in the main competition," Theron teased.
"Hey, I didn't do too badly," Luca protested.
"Yeah, sure," she replied with a smirk as they headed into the theater to watch Buried.
(End of Chapter)