Tangled in His Obsession (Seraphina)

Seraphina could never have guessed that, after eight long years, Leandro’s promise to “grow old together” would still echo in her ears as if it were just yesterday.

How had she responded back then? She hadn’t. Overcome with shyness, she couldn’t find her voice.

Just then, an empty taxi happened to pass by. Noticing the couple on the side of the road, the driver pulled over willingly.

Seraphina quickly slipped her hand out of Leandro’s and hurried into the taxi.

Her cheeks were aflame, and in the presence of the stranger driving, she dared not look back at Leandro. Seeing her flustered state, he didn’t press further. Instead, he told the driver, “Buddy, it’s starting to snow. Drive safe, and don’t let her get a scratch.”

“Don’t worry,” the driver responded with a nod, “I’ve been behind the wheel for twenty years. Safety is my middle name!”

Leandro then gave Seraphina another glance and asked, “You’ll be back early tonight?”

“I’ll return in the afternoon,” Seraphina quickly replied.

Leandro chuckled softly, said no more, and stepped aside.

The taxi pulled away slowly. Seraphina didn’t dare to look at Leandro until they were some distance away. Then, ever so cautiously, she edged closer to the window to glimpse back at where he stood.

in the same spot, unmoving, as the snow began to fall thicker. The snowflakes settled in his hair, a makeshift emblem of their unfulfilled promise of growing

snow danced around her, she realized it was far

slim they would share another snowy

present, Seraphina was about to help Valerio into the

your car?” she

the street’s closed,” Leandro explained. “I had to park at

paused for

over,” Leandro

this, Seraphina instinctively raised her eyes to the swirling

could look away,

his own scarf and wrapping it

cold,”

safe than sorry,” Leandro insisted,

foolishly as he

and then pulled his hood

donning the hood, he

Whether it was the snowfall or the rare moment