Page 23 of The Bittersweet Bond

Evin wandered through the impressive ruins of Mission Santa Esperanza with her friends. The towering stone arches and the sunlight streaming through the open windows seemed to block out the outside world for a moment. Milka had been assigned to a different group that day, which left Evin exploring the site with Ben, Hannah, and Dominic. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the past few days—especially her argument with Bas.

“You good?” Ben’s voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her back to reality. “You seem kind of out of it today.” “Yeah, I’m fine,” she replied with a forced smile. Ben didn’t look convinced.

The group stopped at a quiet corner of the mission to light candles. The stillness of the Santa Esperanza, the flickering light of the flames, and the majestic atmosphere only seemed to amplify the weight pressing on Evin’s chest. The conflict with Bas and the uncertainty of her future felt heavier than ever.

Asshe turned to rejoin the others, her foot caught on a rough patch of ground, sending her sprawling onto all fours. She let out a sharp gasp as silence fell around her. “Evin!” Hannah called out, struggling to stifle her laughter. Dominic and Ben looked startled at first, but once they saw she was okay, Ben burst out laughing.

Just as Evin started to get up, Ben teased, “Wow, Evin, again? You don’t need to drop to your knees for me!” He reached out a hand to help her up. “I’ll give you attention either way!” Despite the embarrassment, Evin couldn’t help but laugh along as she brushed the dust off her knees. “Just wanted to check how clean the floor was,” she said with a crooked grin.

But as her gaze returned to the flickering candles, the weight of her choices pressed down on her again. Still, maybe this was the moment she needed to finally find some clarity. While the others laughed, Evin tried to join in, even as her thoughts kept circling back to Bas and the decisions she needed to face. This trip, she hoped, might give her the chance to figure out who she wanted to be and what she really wanted. For now, she allowed herself to enjoy the lightheartedness of her friends, even as the shadow of her worries lingered.

Once their school obligations were done, the group decided to take a well-deserved break. They wandered through the quaint streets of the town until they stumbled upon a small, cozy café. Its rustic wooden tables and vibrant flower boxes on the windowsills made it irresistibly inviting. The afternoon sun poured through the large windows, bathing the room in a warm, golden glow that made the polished wooden floors shine.

Evin chose a table still bathed in sunlight while Milka and Hannah immediately dove into a deep conversation about their last test. Dominic leaned over to chime in with a comment, but Evin noticed movement beside her. Ben had taken the seat next to her. Leaning back in her chair, Evin half-listened to Milka and Hannah discuss their grades, relieved not to be part of the debate.

“You’ve been pretty quiet today,” Ben noted, leaning toward her slightly. His voice was soft but curious, his smile carrying a sincerity that both unsettled and intrigued her.

"Just enjoying the break," Evin said, absentmindedly twirling a strand of hair around her finger, her gaze lingering on him.

“You know, you have this way of looking at things, like you’re always two steps ahead." Ben’s eyes glinted with mischief. Evin laughed softly. She wasn’t entirely sure how to handle Ben. “What do you think I’m observing?”

“I don’t know. Maybe how boring I actually am,” he teased, grinning. “Who knows?” she shot back, raising an eyebrow challengingly. “But maybe you’ll surprise me.”

As Ben held her gaze, a smile tugged at his lips. “What?” Evin asked, curious about whatever thought had just crossed his mind. “I’m just thinking I need to convince you I’m not as dull as you think,” he said, his grin widening.

Evin tilted her head, trying to peek at his phone as he scrolled. “What are you planning?” she asked playfully. Ben smirked, not looking up. “I was hoping we could find something cool to do in Santa Cielo. I mean, I wasn’t really planning on just touring churches,” he joked, leaning in slightly.

She chuckled. “Oh yeah? And what kind of trouble are you thinking?"

"Something exciting." He winked, letting the words linger between them.

“Something not on the itinerary.”

“You looking for trouble?” she asked with a playful smile.

“Maybe,” he said, echoing her tone, his eyes fixed on hers. “Or maybe I just wanna see you let loose. Bet you’d be a lot of fun.”

Evin felt a flush creep up her cheeks, but she refused to show it. The little flirtation with Ben stung in a way she hadn’t expected. It hurt, but it also fueled her frustration and made her play along.

“Who knows?” she said with a laugh. “But you’d have to earn that kind of fun.”

Ben grinned confidently. “Challenge accepted.”

For a moment, his words made her forget the weight in her chest. It was easy, losing herself in the warmth of his attention—like she wasn’t carrying something heavy underneath it all. It was like he’d unlocked a part of her she’d almost forgotten.

Milka’s loud voice snapped Evin back to the group as she recounted a mortifying moment in class.

“I swear, I spent the whole lesson with ink smeared all over my face because my pen exploded. And no one said a word!” Milka rolled her eyes and shook her head dramatically.

Evin grinned. “Maybe they thought it was your new look.”

Milka snorted and nudged Evin playfully. “Oh yeah, the ‘totally-confused’ look. Super trendy.”

The group chuckled as Milka theatrically slammed her pen down on the table. “And you, Evin? When was your last big performance?”

Leaning back in her chair, Evin shook her head with a smile. “Me? My last highlight? Probably when I managed to trip down the stairs on my way to lunch. In front of everyone. Absolute masterpiece.”

The group burst out laughing, and Ben, sitting next to Evin, shook his head in mock disbelief. “How does that even happen?”

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