shadows of love

Dear Santiago

The dinner slowly came to an end after that. One by one, they all left the dining hall while still joking about my horrible dancing skills. I was collecting the empty plates quietly when I suddenly heard Santiago’s voice behind me.

“Ivy.”

My hands froze instantly. I slowly turned around and saw him standing near the doorway with his hands inside his pockets. The others had already gone upstairs, leaving only the two of us in the quiet dining hall.

“Yes?” I answered nervously.

“Come with me.”

My heart started beating wildly. I followed him silently through the long hallway until we reached the balcony outside his office. The night breeze was cold against my skin, and for some reason I suddenly became very aware of how close he was standing to me.

Neither of us spoke for a few seconds. Then Santiago leaned slightly against the railing and looked at me.

“Do you always act that crazy when nobody is around?”

My eyes widened immediately. “I—”

A small laugh escaped his lips. An actual laugh. I stared at him in shock because I had never seen him look this relaxed before.

“You were rolling on the floor,” he added while shaking his head slightly.

I covered my face in embarrassment. “Please stop reminding me.”

To my surprise, his smile only widened a little. The silence between us no longer felt cold or uncomfortable. Instead, it felt strangely calm. Then his expression slowly changed.

“What Lorraine did earlier was wrong,” he said quietly.

I looked up at him in surprise.

“She talks too much,” he continued. “You shouldn’t let her treat you like that.”

I forced out a small smile. “I’m used to it.”

The moment those words left my mouth, something in his expression darkened slightly.

“You shouldn’t be.”

My chest tightened unexpectedly. For some reason, hearing those words from him affected me more than they should have. Santiago stared at me for a few quiet seconds before speaking again.

“And another thing.”

“Hm?”

“If you ever dance like that again…” he paused dramatically.

I wanted the ground to swallow me whole already.

“…close the curtains first.”

I gasped loudly while he finally laughed properly this time. My jaw dropped in disbelief.

“You were really watching the whole thing?!”

“You were entertaining,” he admitted shamelessly, and started walking back to his office

I groaned in embarrassment while he continued laughing softly. And somehow, hearing Santiago laugh because of me no longer felt humiliating. Before I could notice my face started turn pink, I was blushing.