METANOIA

3. GLAMOUR?

Chloe picked up the parchment, her fingers trembling slightly—whether from nerves or the closeness of Luis, she didn’t bother to figure out. Luis was standing just a heartbeat away, his shoulder brushing hers as he leaned forward to read the glowing script.

“Careful,” she teased, her voice low. “This contract isn’t just paper. It has… consequences.”

Luis arched a brow. “Consequences, huh? Are we talking doom-and-gloom, or ‘I might make you blush a lot’ kind of consequences?”

Chloe snorted, the sound warm and teasing. “A little of both. Mostly the second one if you keep smirking like that.”

He grinned, eyes sparkling. “You mean this smirk?” He leaned closer, his lips almost brushing hers. “Because I think it’s contagious.”

Chloe felt heat rise to her cheeks but refused to step back. Instead, she nudged him gently with her elbow. “Don’t start now. We’re signing a contract, not auditioning for a romance drama.”

Rebecca, perched on the edge of the table, clapped her hands lightly. “Oh, please. You two are practically a rom-com waiting to happen. Now, just sign already. The glamour won’t wait forever.”

Luis reached for the quill, and as he did, their hands touched on the table. He hesitated, then squeezed her fingers lightly. “You know,” he murmured, “I think I like the part of this contract that lets me stay near you.”

Chloe’s breath hitched, and she swallowed, pretending to adjust the parchment. “Don’t make me regret writing it,” she whispered back, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her amusement.

With a small grin, Luis dipped the quill into the ink. Their hands remained touching, brushing occasionally as he signed. Each spark of contact sent a thrill up Chloe’s arm. She signed after him, deliberately letting their fingers linger together just a second longer.

Rebecca raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. “Finally. It only took what… five near-kisses and thirty flirting lines?”

Luis leaned back slightly, eyes fixed on Chloe, a lazy, satisfied smile on his face. “Worth it,” he said simply.

Chloe smirked, pretending to be annoyed, but her heart was racing. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“And yet,” he countered, stepping just a fraction closer so that she could feel the warmth radiating from him, “you like it.”

She blinked, then looked away with a laugh she couldn’t quite hide. “Maybe a little.”

Wednesday, 30th

The documents hovered in Luis’s hands like they were extensions of his grin. Chloe couldn’t decide if she wanted to punch him or kiss him—it was confusing, infuriating, and somehow… thrilling.

“Don’t tell me we’re going to…” he began, voice slow, teasing.

“Going to miss me and baby girl? Never,” Chloe snapped, swinging the papers in his direction. They didn’t just flutter—they lifted on their own, spinning in the air before vanishing in a swirl, as if the universe itself was tired of her arguing.

Luis chuckled, taking a step closer, his cologne faint but intoxicating. “Wow. Hot. That’s… really hot.”

Chloe rolled her eyes. “Hot? Really? Papers disappearing is hot now? I must’ve missed that memo.”

“I have a question,” he said, leaning lazily against her desk, eyes glinting like mischief. “Why do you get the shabby apartment while I get the royal suite? Seriously, it’s unfair.”

Chloe tilted her head, mock-innocent. “Well, Mr. Glamour, apparently writers royalty earns better. You, with your ridiculous charm and dangerous smile, just happen to cash in on the perks.”

Rebecca piped up from the corner, hands on her hips. “It’s 2009, not a fairy tale. I know witches in shabby apartments, but still—why isn’t Chloe in the royal one?”

Luis moved closer, lowering his voice so it brushed against Chloe’s ear. “Maybe because she’s… distractingly tempting, and they don’t want her mixing with royalty?”

Chloe felt her cheeks heat. “Distractingly tempting? You’re impossible. And maybe I like my little shabby kingdom.”

“Yeah?” he teased, leaning in so the air between them practically crackled. “Then why do you make it so hard to resist walking in here?”

Chloe tried to glare, but her lips betrayed her with a smirk. “You’re a menace, Luis. Absolute menace.”

“Menace?” He whispered, one finger brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. “I thought I was… fun.”

She shivered, pretending to push him away. “Fun? More like dangerously distracting.”

Luis leaned back just enough to smirk. “Exactly. That’s my specialty.”

Rebecca groaned. “Oh, stop! You two! You’re turning a simple apartment argument into a… whatever this is!”

“Whatever it is,” Chloe muttered, “is completely out of control.” But she couldn’t deny the thrill in the air.

Luis’s grin widened. “Out of control suits us.”

Chloe tried to redirect, grabbing a stack of papers. “Fine. Let’s talk business. But keep your hands to yourself.”

“Oh, I’ll keep my hands… busy elsewhere,” he whispered, eyes twinkling with mischief.

Chloe gasped dramatically, though a shiver ran down her spine. “Luis! You—ugh! Stop being sexy when I’m trying to be angry!”

He laughed, a low, playful sound that echoed through her apartment. “Angry, flustered, irritated… babygirl, you wear all my favorite expressions.”

Chloe threw a pillow at him, missing spectacularly. “Get out! Both of you—get out! You’ve ruined my living room and my patience!”

Luis caught the pillow mid-air and tucked it under his arm like a trophy. “Ruined? Nah. Enhanced. Glamourized, even.”

Chloe groaned, sinking into her chair. “You’re impossible. Absolutely impossible.”

“And yet,” he said, voice softening, “you love it. Admit it.”

Chloe’s lips twitched. She couldn’t lie—not really. “Maybe. But don’t push it.”

Luis leaned in one last time, enough for her to feel his warmth. “Oh, I will push it. That’s my job.”

And just like that, the air in her shabby apartment was thick with laughter, teasing, and a little spark that promised—if they survived the paperwork—they’d survive anything together.

As Chloe tried to focus on the meeting, Luis had other plans. He leaned casually against the table beside her, his arm brushing hers with every subtle movement, each touch deliberately distracting.

“Che,” he whispered, voice low and teasing, “you really shouldn’t wear that dress today. It’s… unfair to everyone else.”

Chloe snapped her eyes to him, narrowing them. “Unfair? Luis! Do you want me to be professional, or do you just enjoy torturing me?”

“Torture?” He smirked, leaning closer, his lips just grazing her ear. “No, no… I call this… enhanced attention. You’re welcome, by the way.”

Chloe flushed, trying to tug her arm away, but he lightly trapped it under his. “Luis! People are watching!”

He chuckled softly, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Good. Let them watch. I like everyone knowing… who you belong to.”

Chloe’s pulse spiked. She tried to hide the shiver running through her body, but failing spectacularly. “Luis! Stop saying stuff like that!”

“Or what?” he whispered, letting his lips brush her temple. “You’ll… what… push me away? I think you secretly like it.”

Her hands clenched, trying to maintain her composure. “I—ugh! I do not! You’re impossible!”

He leaned back slightly, giving her that smug grin she hated—and loved. “Impossible? Maybe. Irresistible? Definitely. Admit it, Che. Admit it.”

Chloe groaned, burying her face in her hands for a moment. “I… maybe… stop teasing me!”

Luis laughed softly, sliding one hand along her chair back, close enough to make her shiver. “Stop? But we’re just getting started.”

Meanwhile, the group around them noticed the chemistry, whispering and exchanging glances. One of the girls from earlier nudged another. “He’s so… bold with her! I think she likes it too.”

Chloe’s ears burned. “Luis! Did you hear that? People are watching!”

He leaned down, voice only for her. “Let them watch. I like it when they see how… you react to me.”

Chloe’s breath hitched slightly. “You’re so… infuriating! And… distracting!”

Luis smirked wider, eyes darkening playfully. “Distracting, huh? That’s my specialty. I could do this all day… and night.”

Her cheeks flamed red, and she had to turn away, trying to hide the flutter in her stomach. “Luis! Stop talking like that! People will think—ugh!—we’re—”

“We are what, Che?” he whispered, leaning in closer, so close she could feel his warmth. “We’re… perfectly chaotic. That’s all.”

Chloe swallowed hard, trying not to notice the butterflies—or the heat—that Luis seemed to conjure just by existing next to her. “Chaotic… maybe. But I am not falling for your… smirking charm.”

Luis grinned, brushing a strand of hair from her face, letting his fingers linger. “Falling? Oh, Che… you already have.”

Chloe gasped, turning her head quickly, trying to hide her blush. “Luis! Stop it!”

He only laughed softly, leaning back just enough to tease her from across the table, eyes glittering with promise. “Stop? I don’t think that word exists in my vocabulary… not when it comes to you.”

The doorbell rang sharply, echoing through Chloe’s small apartment. Chloe jumped, startled.

“Who’s there?” she called, her voice tight.

“Ah, my dear,” a familiar, rough voice replied. “You haven’t paid your debts.”

Luis narrowed his eyes, stepping closer to the door. “Who are you hiding behind, huh?”

Before Chloe could answer, the man barged in, his eyes cold and sharp. “I want money from my—”

Luis moved faster than the man could react and landed a solid punch, sending him staggering backward.

“Leave him alone!” Chloe shouted, standing behind Luis. “He’s my dad!”

The man muttered something incomprehensible, then scrambled to the door and ran. Luis turned to Chloe, his expression a mix of disbelief and concern.

“So… this is why?” he asked softly, gesturing to where her father had just fled. “Money troubles, drugs… all this mess?”

Chloe’s hands trembled. Tears glimmered in her eyes, but she wiped them angrily. “Because he’s the only one I have left!” she snapped, voice cracking.

Luis exhaled slowly, trying to keep the anger out of his voice. He was about to reach for her hand when he realized he’d accidentally stepped into the one room she had forbidden him to enter.

The door creaked as he looked around, and something on the desk caught his eye: a letter.

Dear…

Luis read it silently, his heart tightening with each line.

> “I’m writing a story about a person — Luis, who is me — and Kevin, who I wanted to become. Starboy, everyone’s favorite… Luis, villain… and we’re all trapped in everyone’s lives…”

The words hit him like a blow. He realized suddenly: Chloe had been hiding this part of her life from him. She didn’t want him to see, didn’t want him to understand, didn’t want him to feel betrayed.

She had built a world for everyone else, but never for him.

Luis turned, intending to speak — but Chloe entered the room before he could.

“I told you not to—” she started, but Luis held up his hands.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, his voice quiet but firm.

Chloe looked away, trying to hold herself together. “I thought… you’d be mad. I didn’t want you to… I didn’t want you to see me like that. You’re the only one who’s always been… me, and I didn’t know how to—”

“No, silly,” Luis interrupted gently, taking a step closer. “Why would I be mad? I never thought… that you were hurting so much. That all this time, you’ve been living like this. I… we both knew, in some way, didn’t we?”

Chloe couldn’t hold it anymore. The tears she’d been holding back spilled over. She sank to the floor, crying quietly, the weight of years pressing down on her chest.

Luis knelt beside her, hesitating only for a second before wrapping his arms around her. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “You don’t have to carry it alone anymore.”

For the first time in a long while, Chloe let herself collapse entirely — into his arms, into the safety of someone who finally understood.