|CHASING VERONICA|

|CHAPTER FOUR|

It had been the same old, same old for Veronica. Her days blended together, each one a predictable repetition of classes, work, and the comforting rhythm of her routine. There was a strange calm in the monotony—a sense of control. She woke up, went to class, worked at the thrift shop, came home. Rinse and repeat.

But everything changed the moment the Lantern Festival was announced.

A bright, colorful poster was plastered on the bulletin board outside the library. "The Lantern Festival—A Night of Light, Music, and Celebration!" It caught Veronica's eye as she walked by, and for the first time in a while, something sparked inside her. The festival had always been a city tradition, but she had never given it much thought. This year, though, there was something alluring about it—maybe it was the lanterns or the promise of something new. Either way, she decided to go, pushed by a mix of curiosity and the infectious excitement of her friends.

As the days passed, the anticipation in the air was palpable. Her friends Sarah, Jack, and Alex were already planning their night, talking about which food stalls to hit and which booths they’d try to win prizes from. Even Alex, who usually preferred staying in, was looking forward to seeing the lanterns and experiencing the energy of the night.

Veronica, despite her initial reluctance, was drawn into the whirlwind. Maybe it was the lanterns glowing in the dark sky, or maybe it was the thought of just getting out for once, but by the time the festival evening arrived, she found herself slipping into her jacket and heading out the door to join them.

The festival was already in full swing when she arrived. The streets were lit with the soft glow of lanterns floating in the air, casting gentle shadows on the crowd below. The music, the laughter, the scents of food—everything was alive. Veronica's friends were already waiting near the entrance, hands full of fried snacks and brightly colored drinks.

“Finally! I was starting to think you were gonna bail on us,” Sarah grinned, pulling Veronica into a hug. “We already got food, but there’s more if you want to grab something.”

Veronica smiled but felt strangely out of place. She wasn’t used to the hustle of events like this, and it took her a moment to adjust. As they wandered through the crowded park, filled with people moving between food stalls and game booths, Veronica let herself be carried by the energy of it all. There was an almost magical quality to the lanterns, their soft glow lighting up the night sky, the colors swirling around her like a dream.

But then, just as they passed the open field next to the park, her gaze landed on him.

He was standing by the edge of the crowd, leaning against the metal railing that separated the festival from the racecourse. His posture was relaxed but still commanding, like he owned the space around him. His black leather jacket was open, revealing a chest completely bare—no shirt, just smooth, tanned skin and muscles that rippled beneath the dim light. Tattoos snaked across his torso, dark ink on pale skin, and there was something raw and magnetic about the way he stood there, his abs visible and gleaming in the soft glow of the lanterns.

Veronica’s breath hitched. There he was. The man who had been lurking in her thoughts, the mysterious figure who had watched her in the thrift shop. But now, he wasn’t just a shadow; he was real, and her pulse quickened at the sight of him.

He wasn’t alone. Veronica noticed a group of friends surrounding him, loud and animated, talking and laughing among themselves. One of them, a tall guy with dark hair, slapped him on the back and said something Veronica couldn’t hear. The man laughed, his eyes crinkling as he spoke. He was... human. For a moment, his cold, enigmatic demeanor softened as he interacted with his friends, his voice low and easy. The laughter in the air felt different when it came from him, like the man who had been a stone wall just days ago was suddenly someone real.

Veronica’s eyes couldn’t help but linger on him. Her heart raced, and she found herself mesmerized by the way he moved, his gestures relaxed, his smile almost charming. The soft glow of the lanterns highlighted the tattoos on his arms, the raw masculinity of his exposed chest, and the carefree nature he shared with his friends.

Then, without warning, his laughter died down. He stepped away from the group, his face returning to that familiar, unreadable mask. He didn’t say goodbye to his friends—he just walked off to the side, taking a white T-shirt in his hand and casually slinging it over his shoulder. He didn’t look back at the group or anyone around him, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

It was as though, once the moment of warmth had passed, he was back to being the same distant figure he had always been. Veronica felt her breath catch in her throat, the warmth that had spread through her chest when he smiled dissipating just as quickly. It was a stark contrast—the sudden coldness that returned with his stoic silence.

“Whoa. What’s up with you?” Sarah's voice interrupted Veronica’s trance. She had been watching her friend for a moment, puzzled.

“What?” Veronica blinked, trying to pull herself together.

“You’ve got that look in your eyes,” Sarah teased, noticing her distracted expression. “Is it the festival, or is there someone else here you’re into?”

Veronica, her heart still pounding, quickly shook her head. “No, nothing like that,” she said, though her voice was a little shaky. She forced a smile. “I’m just... thinking.”

She didn’t dare glance back at him. She couldn’t, not with the heat rising in her chest again, a mix of attraction and fear she couldn’t understand.