Sophia’s POV
I woke up and reached for my phone first thing, hoping for Luca’s reply. The message I sent last night sat there, marked as read, but no answer. I stared at the screen for a few seconds, then set the phone down. He probably fell asleep. Yesterday had been exhausting for everyone. Still, the quiet left a strange feeling in my chest that I couldn’t shake.
Mum was already in the kitchen when I came downstairs. She slid a plate of toast and eggs toward me. “You look tired. Everything alright with the project?”
“It’s fine,” I said, forcing a smile. “Just a lot of research.” I didn’t mention the notebook, the strange SUV, or Luca’s silence. She is already worried enough.
School felt off from the moment I walked through the gates. I kept scanning the hallways for Luca’s familiar
