Luca felt unsettled the next few days into his vacation.

Lucy already started to live out with Gabe for a couple of days. She told her mom that she was busy doing a project and Gabe's place was near campus.

He had gone into a nearby hotel for a while, with the excuse that it's closer to a couple places he needed to attend to.

Even then, Luca found himself helping his mom at the shop. His days were filled with keeping track of orders, assisting with deliveries, and trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy amid the recent upheaval in his life.

As Luca navigated the daily tasks at the shop, the familiar faces of regular customers and the rhythmic sounds of the bell above the entrance offered a temporary respite from the turmoil within.

Who would dare to record Luca in the privacy of his own home?

Luca made sure to update Theo on everything that is going on - sans the cameras and stalker situation.

One evening, as Luca was sorting through a new shipment of products, his phone buzzed with messages from Theo. He hesitated before opening it.

Theo: Finally decided to grace me with your presence?

Theo: You haven't been responding lately.

Luca sighed but decided to keep the conversation straightforward.

Luca: Look, Theo, I'm dealing with some serious stuff right now. Lucy had to move out, and there's a lot happening at home.

Theo: But you promised to reply

Theo: I don't see you replying

Luca took a deep breath, feeling the weight of Theo's messages adding to the stress he was already under. He tried to maintain his composure and replied to Theo's barrage of messages.

Luca: I get it, Theo.

Luca: Things have been crazy.

Luca: I've been busy with family stuff

Luca: It's not about ignoring you.

Theo: Family stuff?

Theo: You just don't want to talk to me.

Theo: I give you all the attention in the day but you don't respond

Theo: Whatever.

Theo: Do what you want.

Theo: You always do.

Luca closed the conversation, he was already stressed and bitter as is.

As Luca set his phone aside, he couldn't shake off the frustration that lingered after the exchange with Theo.

The toxic energy in Theo's messages added another layer to the challenges he was already facing.

He took a moment to collect himself before returning to the tasks at the shop.

Days passed, and the situation at home remained tense. Lucy continued to stay with Gabe, and Luca was trying to make sense.

He worked alongside his mom, juggling responsibilities and trying to maintain some sense of normality.

One evening, as Luca was closing up the shop, he received a call from Lucy. The urgency in her voice immediately grabbed his attention.

"Luca, you need to come to Gabe's place. Now," Lucy said, her tone a mixture of anxiety and urgency.

"What's wrong?" Luca asked, his concern deepening.

"I can't tell you over the phone. I'm not sure if you should be alone to hear this," She stated and Luca's blood run cold.

A sense of foreboding settled over Luca as Lucy's words hung in the air. Without waiting for further explanation, he quickly closed up the shop and hurried to Gabe's place, his mind racing with worry.

When he arrived, Lucy greeted him at the door with a solemn expression. Gabe was pacing in the background, adding to the tension in the room.

"What's going on? What's so urgent?" Luca asked, his voice tight with anxiety.

Lucy hesitated for a moment before leading him to the living room. Gabe took a deep breath, his expression mirroring Lucy's concern.

"It's best if you turn off your phone," Gabe recommended.

Luca was confused but he turned it off nonetheless.

"Alright, let's get you seated and then we'll start. Bunny, you get the powerpoint ready," Gabe said as he led Luca towards the couch.

Luca looked at Gabe funny, "Bunny? That's what you call my sister, of all things?"

Gabe shrugged, "if it fits, it ships."

Lucy shot Gabe a look, but her focus shifted back to Luca. "Just sit down, Taya. We need to show you something important."

As Luca settled onto the couch, he couldn't shake off the feeling of impending dread. Lucy began setting up the presentation on the TV while Gabe took a seat next to Luca.

The room dimmed as the lights were turned off, and the PowerPoint presentation started. The title slide simply read "Unraveling the Mystery."

"Alright," Lucy started in a narrative voice. "This investigation started the day Taya came back from City D. It was supposed to be a happy and nice day but instead, it started to unravel into a series of unsettling events. It started with learning about Taya's boyfriend and Gabe pointed out that he went to Pion University here."

Lucy then changed the slide, showing a picture of Theo's ID when he attended Pion University.

"Meet Theo," Lucy continued, her tone taking on a more serious note. "Taya's dear boyfriend and apparently, the orchestrator of our current predicament."

Luca's eyes widened in confusion. "What?"

Gabe chimed in, "We've been digging into Theo's background, and it seems he has a history of following you around. This doesn't help when his academic history happens to be the same exact as yours. While it is common for some people to attend the same academic institution, it doesn't make sense to randomly transfer schools and attend the very same classes as said boyfriend."

Luca's confusion deepened, and he felt a knot tightening in his stomach.

"But that doesn't make sense. Theo wouldn't do something like this," Luca protested, his voice laced with disbelief.

Lucy sighed, her expression sympathetic but determined. "Taya, we know this is hard to believe, but the evidence is there. We found evidence that Theo has been following you from day 1. Day 1! He's in every single picture of us!"

She then changed it to a slide filled with pictures. She clicked on the remote and it changed to other slides, each one focusing on a random dark shadow that Luca could immediately recognize from far away.

Gabe added, "We understand it's a shock, but we wouldn't bring this up if we weren't sure. We've been thorough in our investigation."

As the slideshow continued, Luca's eyes flickered across images capturing moments he had shared with other people. The shock settled into a heavy realization as Lucy narrated the unsettling details.

"We tried tracing his movements, his texts, his appearances," Lucy explained, her voice tinged with frustration. "He strategically placed himself in your life, Luca. With Wei recently in the picture, he had to make his move. These pictures, they're not random. He was always there, lurking, and we believe he's the one responsible for those invasive pictures taken in your room.

He has an online account you see. It's hidden and only a few people have access to it. Normal people won't find that weird, but we will because we know he's never been in there."

Luca's disbelief was gradually chipped away by the mounting evidence. He stared at the screen, his mind racing to comprehend the elaborate deception woven by someone he thought he knew. The realization that Theo had meticulously orchestrated this intrusion into his life left a bitter taste.

Lucy continued, "I know you won't accept these and say it's someone else, but look at this other social media account. It's talking all about you, and it's very specific. We know why he didn't bother you the past couple of years - that's because you ran away. But he saw you during the anniversary festival and made plans to follow you there.

He's been trying to isolate you from others. Think about those times where people tried to make plans, but you chose to continue with his instead of theirs, regardless of how recent it was. You don't even race as much as you used to."

As the images and information unfolded, Luca's resistance waned. He couldn't deny the striking consistency in the patterns Lucy and Gabe had uncovered. His sanctuary, his personal space, had been invaded in ways he couldn't have fathomed.

Gabe leaned forward, his gaze fixed on Luca. "We've already taken steps to report this to the police, but we wanted you to know first. You deserve to be part of the decisions moving forward."

A mixture of anger and vulnerability swirled within Luca. He felt a need to confront Theo, to demand answers for this violation. He also felt anger for Lucy and Gabe, for barging into his relationship and telling him all of this.

Lucy spoke softly, "Taya, we didn't want to do this alone. We're your family, and we couldn't let someone hurt you like this."

"Why should I believe this? You didn't like the fact that I wasn't back together with Wei. This whole investigation seems like an invasion of my privacy too," Luca's frustration burst forth, his voice edged with anger.

Gabe and Lucy exchanged glances, understanding the weight of Luca's words. Lucy, maintaining her composure, responded, "Taya, we get that this is a lot to take in, and we're sorry for any pain it's causing you. But we had to do something when we found out about those pictures. We couldn't just let it slide."

Gabe added, "The intention was never to invade your privacy. It was to protect you. We care about you, and when we saw what was happening, we couldn't turn a blind eye."

Luca, still seething with frustration, retorted, "Protecting me? This feels more like you're controlling my life. I can handle my own problems, and I don't need you to play detective with my relationships."

Lucy's expression softened. "Taya, we know it's a delicate situation, but we're here for you. We didn't mean to upset you, but we couldn't keep this from you."

The room fell into a heavy silence, the tension palpable. The revelation had strained the bonds within the makeshift family, leaving them all grappling with the aftermath of the truth.

"I'm not believing this," Luca said as he got up and left to go back to his hotel room.

As Luca stormed out of Gabe's place, the heavy silence lingered behind him, echoing the fracture in the once-tight bonds of their makeshift family. Each step he took carried the weight of disbelief, anger, and hurt.

Back in his hotel room, Luca grappled with the conflicting emotions that raged within him. The revelation about Theo's actions had shattered his perception of reality. Trust, once assumed and unwavering, now lay in shattered fragments.

His phone buzzed with notifications, but Luca ignored them. He needed space to process everything that had unfolded. The air in the room felt suffocating, and the walls seemed to close in on him.

He replayed the images from the presentation in his mind – the pictures, the shadows, the invasive violation of his personal space. The person he thought he knew had turned into a stranger with sinister motives.

As the night wore on, Luca found himself unable to escape the haunting thoughts. The questions piled up, demanding answers he wasn't sure he was ready to confront.

Luca kept his distance from Lucy, Gabe, Kai, and Wei. He did help his mom around the shop, but it didn't take long before his vacation came to an end.

He was not happy it turned out this way.

He was pissed that Lucy and Gabe were trying to meddle into his relationship, but at the same time, he couldn't help but fear what they said was true.

The last days of Luca's vacation passed in a haze of conflicting emotions. He couldn't shake off the feeling that the ground beneath him had shifted, and the once-clear path ahead now appeared uncertain and treacherous.

As he packed his bags to leave, the air was heavy with unsaid words and unresolved issues. Lucy and Gabe, understanding the complexity of the situation, gave him space. They respected his need for distance, even if it meant sacrificing the closeness they had once shared.

On the day of his departure, the makeshift family gathered in awkward silence. Each glance, each gesture carried the weight of unspoken apologies and the acknowledgment of a fracture that might take time to heal.

Luca, though still angry, couldn't ignore the concern in Lucy's eyes or the sincerity in Gabe's attempts to bridge the gap. As he hugged his mom goodbye and exchanged strained farewells with the others, he couldn't escape the sense of loss that hung in the air.

When he arrived back at City D, he couldn't help but feel relieved that Theo was there to pick him up, even though he was 15 minutes late.

"Taya!" Exclaimed Theo as he went in for a hug.

"Hey," Luca responded, his voice a mixture of exhaustion and residual frustration.

Theo pulled back, his eyes searching Luca's face. "You okay? You seem... off."

Luca hesitated, unsure of how much he wanted to share. The events of the past weeks had left him emotionally drained, and he wasn't eager to dive into the complexities of his inner turmoil.

"Just tired," Luca replied, offering a weak smile. "It's been a lot."

Theo's expression shifted, a hint of concern lingering in his gaze. "Anything you want to talk about?"

Luca considered the offer but decided against delving into the details. "Nah, just family drama. Let's focus on the drive home."

Theo nodded, respecting Luca's boundaries. As they drove through the familiar streets of City D, Luca stared out of the window, the city lights blurring into a mosaic of memories and unresolved emotions.

Arriving at his apartment, Luca was greeted by the familiar surroundings that, for a moment, offered a sense of stability.

Theo helped Luca take out his luggages and made way to press the elevator.

Luca for some reason couldn't help but feel uneasy as he watched Theo. He quickly texted Noah to come to his place.

The way Theo moved, it was as if he was familiar with the building.

He knew which way the elevator was, the floor that Luca lived in. The floor that Luca lived in.

Despite the couple weeks of dating, Luca has never invited Theo over to his place.

Never.

Luca sees his home as a sacred place and only a handful of people have ever visited. Luca can literally count using his fingers.

Luca watched as they walked up to his apartment door, and Luca inputted the password on the lock.

As the door swung open, Luca stepped into his apartment, an intimate space that held his most private moments and cherished memories. He couldn't shake the disquiet that settled within him as Theo followed him inside.

Theo's demeanor, though seemingly innocent, fueled Luca's unease. The casual exploration of the apartment, the way he glanced at the framed photos on the wall, all added to the growing discomfort.

"Do you want to get freshened up while I heat up some food I made?" Theo asked as he moved to the kitchen.

Theo has been inside Luca's apartment.

Luca was sure of it.

The way Theo moved around in his kitchen, knowing exactly where the spoons, pots, and other necessities were.

Luca quickly glanced at his phone and sent Noah a text.

Luca: Answer keep mute.

Luca then dialled Noah's number, regardless of whether the older picked it up and slid the phone into his sweater.

"Dae," Luca confronted.

The tension in the room escalated as Theo turned, his expression a mask of innocence. "What's up?"

Luca hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "How do you know where that particular bowl is stored?"

Theo looked down at the bowl he was looking at and answered with an innocent look, "it was in the cupboards, like the rest of them."

Luca's eyes narrowed slightly, a spark of suspicion flickering within him. "Yeah, but not that specific bowl."

Theo looked at the bowl again, "oh. I mean it's just a bowl."

"Yeah, just a bowl," Luca repeated. His tone was sharp, and his eyes remained fixed on Theo.

"Taya, why are you standing there? Go get fresh before we eat." Theo hurried Luca over to the bathroom.

Luca had purposely dropped his sweater on his sofa before he went to take a shower. While he was in the bathroom, he looked at every nook and cranny to see if there was anything suspicious.

He found another small camera pointed towards the showers. Luckily, not inside it.

He purposely took his time in the bathroom, in case Noah was actually coming to his apartment.

Theo smiled as he set the table for dinner. Luca felt uneasy within the confines of his own home.

As Theo served the meal, Luca couldn't shake the feeling that every bite carried a bitter aftertaste. The unease lingered, and he found it challenging to engage in any semblance of normal conversation.

Theo, oblivious to Luca's internal struggle, attempted small talk. "How was your vacation overall, Taya? I missed you."

Luca, keeping his guard up, replied curtly, "It was... eventful."

Theo raised an eyebrow, "Eventful? Anything you want to talk about? I know you told me there was some problems that happened in the middle."

Luca's mind raced with conflicting thoughts. On one hand, he wanted to confront Theo about the cameras, the invasion of his privacy. On the other, he feared what other hidden truths might surface.

"It wasn't much. Just Lucy and mom got into an argument so she stayed somewhere else for a while," he said.

"Lucy's allowed to go to Gabe's place? Your mom actually allowed that?" Theo was confused.

"Yeah, she really likes Gabe-" Luca then froze as he stared at Theo with wide eyes.

A tense silence settled between them as Luca tried to gauge Theo's reaction. Sensing Luca's sudden unease, Theo arched an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "What's wrong, Taya? You look uneasy."

Luca, his mind racing, decided to tread carefully. "How did you know Gabe?"

Theo looked confused, "you told me about him before you left. Did you forget Taya? It's not like you to forget."

Luca took a couple of deep breathes. "They were right," he mumbled, before speaking loudly, "I didn't even know about Gabe until after I arrived at City B. I never spoke about him to you. How would you know?"

Theo's attempt to play innocent fell apart as Luca confronted him with the undeniable discrepancy. Luca's heart raced, the pieces of the puzzle clicking into place with an unsettling clarity.

"What are you talking about, Taya? I remember you telling me about Gabe," Theo insisted, though a flicker of uncertainty betrayed his facade.

"No, I didn't," Luca retorted, frustration and suspicion mounting. "I never mentioned Gabe to you before. You knew about Lucy staying at his place before I even told you. How do you explain that?"

Theo's composure wavered, and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The atmosphere in the room became charged with tension as Luca pressed for an explanation.

"Look, Taya, maybe I heard it somewhere else. People talk," Theo attempted to deflect.

But Luca wasn't buying it. The revelation about the hidden cameras, Theo's familiarity with his apartment, and now this unexplained knowledge about Gabe—all of it pointed to a calculated invasion of his personal life.

"That doesn't explain how you knew where my condo was. I never invited you or anything. Nor did I ever tell you my favorite foods, despite you bringing them every single time. Or whenever I told you a location, and you just magically appeared within a couple of minutes," Luca said, his voice steady, though his eyes bore a mixture of betrayal and anger.

Theo, now caught in a web of undeniable proof, struggled to conjure plausible explanations. The air in the room grew heavy as Luca awaited a response, demanding honesty and accountability.

Luca watched Theo carefully and then felt cold all over when Theo looked at him straight in the eyes, with an extremely cold expression.

The room seemed to close in on them as the silent confrontation continued. Luca's trust had been shattered, and the person he thought he knew so well had become a stranger—a stranger who had invaded his privacy in the most insidious ways.

Theo's cold stare held a glint of something darker, a revelation that sent a new wave of unease through Luca. In that moment, Luca realized that he might be dealing with more than just an overbearing and possessive partner. There was a calculated intensity in Theo's demeanor that hinted at a deeper, more sinister motive.

Breaking the silence, Theo spoke, his voice devoid of the warmth Luca had grown accustomed to. "Taya, you're making a big deal out of nothing. I know everything about you because I care. I just wanted to be a part of your life, to know you inside out."

Theo's words, instead of soothing Luca's concerns, only intensified his discomfort. The invasion of privacy, the hidden cameras, the unsettling knowledge—none of it aligned with Theo's supposed care and concern.

"No, Theo, this is not care. This is control," Luca declared, his voice firm.

"Are you sure? Is that what Lucy and Gabe conjured over the course of your vacation? They really are too dramatic," Theo laughed coldly.

Luca wanted to be anywhere but here.

"I found about it myself," Luca lied as he stared as Theo got up from his seat and walked over to Luca, caging Luca in his.

Theo's proximity sent a chill down Luca's spine, but he held his ground, refusing to show fear. "Your lies won't work anymore, Theo. I've seen enough to know the truth."

"Found out about what, Taya? That I care about you? That I want to be a part of your life?" Theo's voice dripped with a chilling mix of mockery and disdain.

Luca, feeling the weight of the moment, maintained his composure. "I found out about the cameras, about you invading my privacy. This is not care; it's a violation."

Theo's expression shifted from cold amusement to a more menacing glare. "You're overreacting, Taya. I did it for us. To protect you."

Luca scoffed, disbelief coloring his features. "Protect me? By spying on me? That's not protection; it's control. And I won't let you manipulate me into thinking otherwise."

The tension in the room escalated as Theo's demeanor grew more confrontational. Luca's mind raced, seeking a way out of the suffocating situation.

"Let me prove it to you, Taya," Theo insisted, his tone unnervingly calm. "Let me show you that everything I did was for your well-being."

Luca, however, wasn't about to entertain any more manipulation. "No, Theo. It's over. I won't let you continue this invasion of my life. We're done."

Theo's laughter echoed through the room, a haunting sound that deepened the unease in Luca's chest. The proximity of Theo, now standing over him, intensified the feeling of entrapment.

"Let me show you Taya. Let me," Theo's once calm and calculated demeanor shattered, replaced with a feral hunger burning in his eyes.

A sinister smirk curled his lips as he advanced towards Luca, his hands reaching out to claim him.

Luca's heart pounded in his chest, a desperate rhythm that matched the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

Panic clawed at his throat as he fought against Theo's tightening grip, feeling the weight of his control pressing down upon him.

The room suddenly felt too small, the walls closing in as if to trap him in this nightmare.

"Get off of me," Luca's voice trembled with defiance, a desperate plea for liberation. But his words were met with Theo's mocking laughter, a chilling symphony that echoed through the room, amplifying Luca's growing unease.

Theo's hands roamed across Luca's body, their touch invasive and predatory. Luca's skin crawled at the sensation, his muscles tensing as he fought against the violation. His mind raced, searching for an escape, a way to break free from Theo's grasp.

"Now, now, Taya," Theo sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "You can't escape me. We're bound together, forever."

Luca shuddered at the contact, his instincts warning him to fight back against the invasion. His limbs shook as sweat ran in rivulets down his temples.

"Please, Theo, just stop." Luca begged. He couldn't believe how helpless he felt, his strength seemingly sapped away. Theo had managed to overpower him without resorting to force. Luca hadn't even noticed.

"He said to stop!" Yelled a familiar voice as they ripped Theo away from Luca and punched Theo.

Theo stumbled backwards, his expression turning murderous as he glared at both Noah and MIles who had come to his rescue. Noah's arms reached out to steady Luca as he wobbled unsteadily on his feet, fighting to remain upright despite the overwhelming dizziness that washed through his body. His head throbbed as if someone was hitting it repeatedly. It felt as if his brain was vibrating from side to side like a tuning fork.

"Hey there, you're safe now. You did the right thing calling us," Noah said as he wrapped a steadying arm around Luca's waist.

Miles frowned disapprovingly as he eyed Theo warily. "He told you to leave him be. If you dare try something like that, you'd wish you never existed." His gaze hardened. "Understood?"

"Yes sir," Theo growled as he scowled and took a menacing step backwards.

Miles turned towards Luca, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're okay," he murmured in reassurance.

"We'll talk later," Noah whispered before nodding in affirmation towards MIles.

"Okay, let's go. Is there anything you need to take first though, Luca?" Miles asked but Luca shook his head.

"I have everything I need," he said quietly, a bit shocked by how quiet his own voice sounded. The pounding behind his eyes seemed to have faded along with the ringing in his ears. Luca could focus now, and although he was still somewhat woozy, he knew things were starting to make sense again.

They all nodded before leaving the condo.

As Luca stepped out of the condo, a mix of emotions swirled within him—relief, anger, and a tinge of sadness. The weight of the recent revelations and the confrontation with Theo still lingered, but the support from Noah and Miles provided a glimmer of solace.

The trio made their way down the hallway in silence, the gravity of the situation palpable. Noah, sensing Luca's need for a moment to process, walked alongside him with a comforting presence.

Once they reached the elevator, Miles broke the silence. "Luca, we're here for you. Whatever you need, we've got your back."

Noah added, "You don't have to go through this alone. We'll figure things out together."

Luca managed a small, appreciative smile, grateful for the friends who stood by him in this tumultuous moment. The elevator doors opened, and they stepped in, leaving behind the unsettling chapter that had unfolded in Luca's condo.