"Felix…" I breathed out, barely audible, staring at him in disbelief. My heart thundered in my chest, pounding so fast it hurt. We stood there, motionless, locked in each other's gaze. "What are you doing here?" It was the only sentence I could manage. My mind was blank. After everything that had happened between us, I no longer knew how to talk to him.
What unsettled me even more was the fact that he was here—in Los Angeles—right in front of me, when just a few days ago, he'd looked after me in a drunken state in a New York club.
Could it be… that he was following me?
"I'm sorry if I startled you. That wasn't my intention," he said, avoiding my eyes and glancing somewhere behind me.
Did he mean he had been following me through the park? That someone had been following me? The footsteps I heard, the silhouette in the trees… and then I'd run straight into his arms.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, my voice barely steady. At that, he finally looked at me.
"Never mind," he murmured, running a hand through his black hair. The gesture was so familiar, and for a second, I couldn't tear my eyes away from him.
I wasn't a teenager anymore. I wasn't his girlfriend anymore. But the pull he had on me… it was still there. I shouldn't have felt this way—not after the past, not after everything I'd endured. But the heart rarely listens to reason.
"Can I have a moment of your time, Selena? Can we talk?"
I gave him a hesitant nod. We sat on the nearest bench, side by side. My nerves felt raw, like they had the night of our first date. I twisted my fingers in my lap, avoiding his gaze. He leaned forward, hands resting on his knees, head lowered as if the weight of the world sat on his shoulders.
It was painfully awkward. The silence dragged on, and I didn't know how to break it.
"Is it true… that we saw each other at that club in New York?"
He lifted his head slightly, looking at me from under his lashes.
"You don't remember?" he asked. When I shook my head, he added, "I'm not surprised. You could barely stand. You weren't really there."
"What were you doing there, Felix?" I asked, my voice softer. "What happened to you? How did you even leave…" I bit down on my tongue before I could finish the sentence.
"Variation?" he said, finishing the thought with a hollow smile. "Someone took me out of there. Brought me to New York to start over—far away from Los Angeles."
"Hero?" I asked.
His expression faltered. His gaze turned sharp with tension as he looked at me fully this time.
"You met him? When?" There was panic in his voice.
"Maybe I'm overthinking it… but he tried to hurt me in New York. During the races. Did he already know who I was then? Was it because of you? Did he want revenge—for what you went through because of me?" I asked, not breaking eye contact. "Who is he, Felix? Someone warned me to stay away from him… said he was dangerous."
"Don't worry, Selena," he said quickly. "Nothing will happen to you. I won't let anyone hurt you."
"Is that why you came back? Did you know I was in danger?"
His eyes fell shut, as if my question pained him.
"I'm sorry I've brought trouble into your life again. I promise I'll deal with it. Lucas… he'll never get near you again."
"Lucas?" I repeated, confused. "Who is he, Felix? He doesn't seem like just any man."
"He's family," Felix said after a pause. "I owe him a lot. And… now he's all I have."
But his voice betrayed him. He didn't sound grateful. If anything, he sounded trapped.
"It's not just gratitude, is it?" I whispered. "You don't really want him in your life."
He pressed his lips together and ran both hands through his hair in frustration.
"After all these years," he muttered, "we're not close enough anymore for me to tell you everything." His words hit like a slap.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly, rising to my feet. "It's getting late. I should go home."
"Let me walk you," he offered, getting up beside me. "I'll feel better if I do."
I hesitated, unsure, but eventually nodded.
"I'm sorry for what I said back there," he added as we walked. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
"It's okay. You're right. I'm not the person who should know everything about your life now."
"It just… it kills me how long we've been apart," he said suddenly, and I noticed the shimmer of tears in his eyes. "There wasn't a single day I didn't miss you. I was lost for a long time. The treatment… the pills… I wasn't myself. I was trapped in another world."
"I know," I replied softly. "At the beginning of your treatment, I visited you often. But you didn't recognize me. I understand what you mean."
He walked beside me in silence, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his black jeans, his steps matching mine.
"I'm sorry," he said, his voice breaking. "For all the pain I caused you when we were teenagers. I ruined your youth."
I stopped in my tracks. He turned around, eyes wide, when he saw the anger on my face and the tears in my eyes.
"How can you say that, Felix?" I snapped, no longer able to hold back the storm inside me. "You were the best part of my teenage life. I loved you more than life itself—even though I suffered. You have no idea how much I cried, how much I missed you when I realized I'd really lost you. I was so lost after that… I couldn't love anyone else, because I kept holding on to you!"
He stepped toward me and wrapped his arms around me tightly, burying his face in my hair. I didn't resist. I let the tears fall.
"Even though I realized how toxic we were together," I whispered against his chest, "I never stopped thinking you were the most important person in my life."
"Selena," he murmured, pulling back just enough to look me in the eyes, "is there any chance you'd let me prove how much I've changed? Would you give me a second chance—to protect you, to be there for you every day?"
I clenched my eyes shut, tears rolling freely down my cheeks. He gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
"No," I said softly. "Because I'm afraid. I'm afraid you'll hurt me again."
"Are you not already hurting, pushing me away?" he asked, his voice trembling. "You said I'm special to you, that you miss me, that you can't love anyone else. And still… you'd rather not give me a chance to show you that I've changed? That I could make you happy this time?"
"I'm scared, Felix. So scared. I need time. You have to let me think this through." My voice cracked. "I need time…"
I stepped back, spotting the bus stop up ahead. I glanced over my shoulder—he was still standing there, unmoving, disappointment written all over his face. I bit my lip and quickened my pace, almost running.
I was scared. Everything was happening too fast.And I couldn't shake the feeling that Felix… was still living in another world.
*
I had always loved attending street races, especially when my best friend was the star of the show. The sound of engines roaring, tires screeching, and people shouting created an energy that pulsed through my veins. Mike and I stood side by side, cheering Eve on with all we had. Every time she crossed the finish line first, it felt like we were winning too.
And this time was no different. Eve blazed past the finish line in a blur of speed, the wind tugging at her as she pulled off her helmet with flair. Her blonde hair spilled out like liquid gold under the floodlights, and the crowd erupted into cheers, chanting her name like she was some kind of racing goddess.
Mike ran to her, kissed her without hesitation, and wrapped his arms around her waist, proudly declaring himself her man for the whole world to see. The applause grew louder, whistles pierced the air, and laughter echoed all around. I stood off to the side with my arms crossed over my chest, watching them with a quiet smile. They were magnetic together—two people so in love with both speed and each other that it was impossible not to root for them.
That's when the organizer's voice rang out, sharp and excited.
"People, we have a new star tonight! Who dares to race him?"
Heads turned. A tall figure stepped forward, face hidden beneath a sleek black helmet. He stood perfectly still, exuding a calm, unshakable confidence that unsettled me.
"This is a good friend of mine," the organizer continued, placing a hand on the man's shoulder. "I heard he's in Los Angeles for a while and managed to drag him here. You're in for a treat."
Jake, our top local racer, the only one Eve couldn't beat, raised his hand and stepped forward. His smirk said it all—he couldn't wait to prove himself.
"Perfect, Jake!" the organizer grinned. Then he leaned in to whisper something to the stranger, who nodded slowly. "Now let's make this even more thrilling," he added, louder this time. "Pick someone who loves adrenaline in their veins!"
The helmeted man didn't hesitate. He pointed—directly at me.
At first, I thought it was a mistake. I turned around, checking if someone was behind me. But no. I was standing completely alone.
"Me?" I asked, frowning, pointing to myself in disbelief.
"The beautiful girl with the ponytail and red lips—welcome to the race!" the organizer shouted gleefully.
I hesitated, my body tensing. But Eve gave me a thumbs up, and Mike whooped like I was about to win the damn thing. I forced myself forward, nerves prickling down my arms.
Jake already had a blonde girl standing next to him. I, meanwhile, approached the stranger, feeling like I was walking into a trap I couldn't see.
"This is going to be one hell of a ride!" the organizer shouted.
I climbed onto the back of the motorcycle, awkwardly wrapping my arms around the man's waist. My cheeks burned as his hands reached back and adjusted mine, pulling them tighter against him.
"Why did you choose me?" I asked, my voice barely audible over the growing buzz of the crowd.
A girl in a crop top and cutoff shorts raised her hand at the starting line, preparing to signal the start.
"Because I know you love danger, Selena," he said at last, his voice low and unmistakably familiar.
My blood froze.
I should've let go and jumped off right then. I should've run as far as I could. But I didn't. My arms instinctively tightened around him, just as the flag dropped and the bike shot forward.
The tires screamed as we took off.
The speed stole my breath. My hair whipped against my cheeks. Every turn was sharp, precise, reckless. And yet, somehow, his control was flawless. He blocked Jake again and again, never letting him overtake us. It was like watching a master at work. He didn't just race—he dominated.
I had always believed Jake was the best rider I'd ever seen. But tonight, someone else took that title.
When we crossed the finish line, the crowd erupted again—but my legs trembled as I climbed off the bike. I barely managed to stay on my feet. Jake stormed toward us, furious.
"You cheated, you bastard!" he shouted, grabbing the stranger by the jacket.
The man didn't flinch. "Easy, man. Learn how to lose."
The organizer quickly intervened, shoving Jake back as tempers flared.
The man pulled off his helmet with slow, deliberate hands. A cascade of messy black hair spilled out from a loosely tied ponytail. He ran his fingers through it, unrushed. Unbothered.
Hero.
I stared at him, stunned. Jake cursed under his breath, but Hero didn't even glance his way. His gaze was fixed on me.
"Did you enjoy the ride, Selena?" he asked, a crooked smile curving his lips. "Do you feel alive?"
I didn't answer. I couldn't. My heart was beating too fast, my stomach flipping as memories flooded in.
Why was he here? Was he really following me? Did he come to punish me for not keeping my promise?
"Why are you here?" My voice trembled.
"Because you never listen," he said softly, stepping closer. "And naughty girls need to be punished…"
His fingers brushed my chin. My skin turned to ice under his touch.
"I haven't seen Felix," I blurted. "If that's what you think—"
"Liar," he said flatly, his eyes narrowing. "I know you saw him. I know you hugged him."
My breath hitched.
So it hadn't been a coincidence. Someone had been following me that day in the park—and it wasn't Felix.