Settling in the apartment was easier than I thought. but the difficult aspect was being in the same vicinity as Nikolai yet having such a huge distance between us. I didn't know what made us suddenly so close off, maybe the realization that we were now both on the run to win our game, him trying to make me fall in love while I, trying to win this game all the while getting out of it unharmed. The first few days in the apartment felt like walking on eggshells. Despite the luxurious surroundings and the convenience of having everything we needed at our fingertips, there was an undeniable tension lingering in the air. Nikolai and I seemed to be constantly at odds, our interactions fraught with unspoken resentment and simmering frustration. The fight over where I would sleep was just the tip o
