SCENE:THE SECRET FOLLOW

The next day, Ethan woke up to an unsettling stillness that seemed to permeate every corner of the house. The tension of the previous day weighed on him, but there was something else gnawing at him—something he couldn't quite put his finger on. He couldn’t shake the image of Lily, her face etched with fear, the way she’d walked away from him the day before. And despite everything, the anger he had felt seemed to settle into something else, something softer. It felt like regret, and it bothered him.

Bored and restless, Ethan found himself walking aimlessly, his feet carrying him through streets he didn't recognize. His mind wandered, replaying the moment with Lily over and over. He told himself he should just let it go, but the feeling of unfinished business lingered. Without really deciding to, he kept walking, each step pushing him further from his frustration.

Suddenly, he saw her.

Lily, walking ahead of him, her pace slow, but purposeful. She held a basket in her hands, seemingly on some errand. His heart skipped, and for a moment, he froze. She was as beautiful as ever, even from a distance, her presence like a magnetic pull that he couldn’t resist. The urge to approach her was there, but something held him back. He couldn’t bring himself to face her—not after everything that had happened.

Instead, he began to follow her. Not in a way that would be obvious, but enough to stay close, hidden in the shadows. He watched as she moved gracefully, her hair swaying with every step, her eyes focused ahead, unaware of the gaze on her. The way she walked, so intent on her task, made something inside him stir—admiration, maybe even longing. But he pushed those thoughts aside, convincing himself it was just curiosity.

She reached the market, walking through the stalls, picking out items with care. Ethan stayed hidden, observing her every move. He couldn’t explain why, but he felt compelled to watch her. There was something captivating about her, something that made him feel both alive and disconnected at the same time.

After she completed her shopping, she turned and began heading back home. Ethan, still shadowing her, knew exactly where she was going. The knowledge felt strangely unsettling, as though he was crossing some invisible line he hadn’t intended to. But he couldn’t stop himself. It was like an invisible thread was pulling him forward, and he was too far gone to pull away.

As Lily reached her home, Ethan paused at the corner of the street, watching her disappear behind the old worn out door. His heart pounded in his chest, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. The tension in his mind only grew stronger.

He turned and began heading back home, but this time, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted inside him—a feeling that was deeper than just curiosity or attraction. It was something unfamiliar, something that felt both exciting and terrifying at the same time. And for the first time in a long while, Ethan realized that he wasn’t sure what would come next.

SCENE:WHAT IS LOVE?

Ethan entered the house, the familiar scent of the village air mixing with the warmth of the home. The tension in his chest felt heavier than ever, and he knew he couldn’t keep this feeling locked inside any longer. He needed someone to talk to. He found his brother, Ben, sitting by the fire, absently stirring the pot of food they were preparing for dinner.

"Bro," Ethan began, his voice tinged with uncertainty, "how does it feel to be in love?"

Ben looked up, eyebrows raised in surprise. "What's up with that question, man? You serious?"

Ethan sat down beside him, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I’m serious. I... I think I’m falling for someone. And I don’t know what to do with it."

Ben chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Ethan, the one who’s always been so sure of everything, asking me about love." He leaned back, his expression turning more thoughtful. "But I get it. Love’s not easy. It’s not something you can win with tricks. You gotta feel it, and you gotta be real. If you want advice, though, here’s what I can tell you."

Ethan listened closely, feeling every word Ben said was exactly what he needed.

"First, be humble," Ben said, his voice steady. "Don’t try to act like you know it all, or that you’re perfect. People can tell when you’re being fake. Especially someone like her. Be genuine with her. Show her you care, not just with words, but with your actions. You don’t have to go all out, just show her you’re real and that you’re there for her."

Ethan nodded, processing the advice. "Okay, be real. What else?"

"Patience," Ben continued, his eyes fixed on the fire. "You can’t rush love. If you push too hard, you might scare her away. Take it slow. Get to know her better, learn what she needs, how she feels. You need to build trust first before anything else happens."

Ethan felt a tight knot in his stomach. "But what if she doesn’t feel the same way? What if she’s not interested?"

Ben turned to him, his gaze firm yet kind. "That’s where understanding comes in. Not everything goes the way you want. Sometimes, she might not feel the same, and you have to respect that. Don’t take it personally. It’s not always about you. Just be there for her, listen when she talks. Be someone she can trust, someone she can rely on. The rest will follow, in its own time."

Ethan let out a long, slow breath. It was a lot to think about, but Ben’s words made sense. "So, take it slow, be patient, don’t try to force anything."

Ben smiled, a knowing look in his eyes. "Exactly. Just be yourself. The right person will see that. And when they do, it’ll happen naturally. But you’ve got to be ready to understand her, respect her, and be there when she needs you. That’s how love works."

Ethan sat back, the weight on his chest feeling a little lighter. His brother had given him a new perspective, and though he still didn’t have all the answers, he knew now that he wasn’t alone in this.

Ethan leaned back against the wall, taking in a deep breath. Ben's words hung in the air, making him feel even more conflicted. He hadn't expected this conversation to go in that direction.

Ben, looking at him with a raised eyebrow, broke the silence. "But I know you have your girlfriend, Cotilda, right? Who is this girl you’re talking about now?"

Ethan froze, his gaze dropping to the floor. His heart beat faster, and his mind raced. "Ben... I—" He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Hell no. I never loved Cotilda. She's just forcing this on me."

Ben stayed silent for a moment, studying his brother’s face. Then he nodded slowly. "Mmmh, okay." His tone turned serious. "Just be careful, Ethan. Cotilda loves you a lot. You don’t want to hurt her."

Ethan felt a pang in his chest, but the weight of his feelings for someone else was growing stronger each day. He nodded but didn’t say anything. It was a lot to process—his emotions, his relationship, and now, the reality that Cotilda’s love was deep, even though his heart wasn’t in it.

Ben, sensing Ethan’s struggle, clapped him on the back. "Just think things through, man. Love’s tricky, but being honest with yourself and everyone around you is the best way to go."

SCENE:STAY AWAY FROM ME

Ethan spotted Lily sitting alone on the grass, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees as she stared off into the distance. The late afternoon sun bathed the field in a golden glow, but the tension in the air felt cold and heavy. He hesitated, knowing she probably didn’t want to see him, but something inside him pushed him forward. He had to try.

“Lily,” he called out softly, his voice gentle but uncertain.

She didn’t even flinch. “What do you want, Ethan?” Her voice was sharp, like a blade cutting through the quiet. She still didn’t look at him.

“I just… I wanted to talk.”

At that, Lily stood up abruptly, her eyes blazing as she finally faced him. “Talk? Now you want to talk?” She let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head in disbelief. “Why are you here, Ethan? To hurt my hand again?” She held out her hand as if daring him. “Go ahead. Hurt me, Ethan. Hurt me!” Her voice trembled, not from fear, but from the sheer force of the anger she’d been holding back.

Ethan felt his chest tighten, guilt hitting him hard, but he stepped closer. “Lily, I’m not here to hurt you. I’m serious. I want to know you better.”

She scoffed, folding her arms tightly across her chest. “You think you can fool me with that? I’m not like those other girls you charm with your fake smiles and sweet words. I see right through you.”

Ethan’s jaw clenched, but he kept his voice steady. “I’m not trying to fool you, Lily.”

“Oh, really?” she snapped, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Then what are you doing here, acting like you care? You walk around this village like you’re better than everyone, like we’re trash beneath your feet. And now you suddenly want to act like you’re interested in me?”

Ethan swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her words settle deep in his chest. He knew he’d messed up, and he could see how much he’d hurt her. But he wasn’t ready to give up—not yet.

SCENE:SHE IS SO STUBBORN 

Ethan trudged back home, his feet heavy as his mind replayed the conversation with Lily over and over. Each word she said seemed to echo in his ears, stinging more than he’d expected. How had she seen through him so easily? He had always been able to get what he wanted, but this... this felt different. The way she stood her ground, unwavering—it unsettled him in a way no rejection ever had.

When he entered the house, his mother immediately noticed his downcast expression. She was in the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel as she looked up at him with concern.

"Hey, Ethan. What’s wrong?" she asked, her voice warm but gentle, as if sensing his mood from the very air around him.

Ethan didn’t answer right away. Instead, he  trudged up to his room. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion. As he flopped onto his bed, his phone buzzed with a message from Cotilda. But he barely glanced at it. He didn’t feel like talking to her, not now. She was one of the many girls who chased after him, yet all he could think about was Lily—the girl who didn’t even seem to care.

He opened Cotilda’s texts, reading through them absently. She was asking if he was okay, offering the usual sweet words of comfort. He sighed, tossing the phone aside. He didn’t want to deal with her right now. The thing was, he couldn’t understand why Lily had such an effect on him. She wasn’t like the other girls. She didn’t want his money or his attention. It was like she was... immune to him. And that made her all the more intriguing.

A soft knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, and his mother stepped in, her gaze soft but knowing.

“Ethan, are you okay?” she asked, her voice full of concern. “You’ve been so quiet today. Something’s on your mind, isn’t there?”

Ethan hesitated. He didn’t want to burden her with his feelings, but after a moment of silence, he sighed deeply and sat up.

“I met someone... and she doesn’t feel the same way,” he admitted, his voice low and uncertain. “I don’t know what to do. She’s different from everyone else. She doesn’t care about the things I usually use to get what I want.”

His mom sat beside him, her eyes filled with understanding. “Ethan, sometimes the things we think are important—like money or status—don’t matter to the right person. The person who truly matters will see you for who you are, not what you have. If she’s not interested in you for the right reasons, then maybe she’s not the one you’re meant to be with.”

Ethan frowned, his frustration bubbling up again. “But she’s so stubborn. She won’t let me in. No one else has ever been like that with me. I don’t know how to get through to her.”

His mom smiled softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Maybe you don’t need to ‘get through’ to her. Maybe you need to show her the real you, without all the tricks. If she’s truly the one for you, she’ll appreciate that more than anything else.”

Ethan sat in silence, letting his mother’s words sink in. It wasn’t the advice he’d expected, but it made sense in a way. For the first time, he wondered if he’d been going about this all wrong. He didn’t need to impress her with grand gestures or show her his wealth. He needed to be honest with her, to let her see him for who he really was—flaws, insecurities, and all.

His mom gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead before standing up. “Just be yourself, Ethan. That’s all you can do.”

As she left the room, Ethan felt a small flicker of hope ignite in him. Maybe there was more to love than he had ever realized.