Page 71 of The Bittersweet Bond

Most of the girls were already warming up. Nele was standing in the front row, and Evin noticed her watching her through the mirror. But it didn’t faze Evin. She confidently made her way to the barre and began stretching. She had almost three hours of practice ahead today, including rehearsals for the performance after the regular session.

“You’re cutting it close today,” Nele remarked casually as she tightened her pointe shoe ribbons.

Evin, who was stretching her leg on the barre, remained calm. “Practice hasn’t started yet,” she replied evenly, her gaze fixed on her reflection in the mirror.

Nele raised an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly toward Evin. “You sure you’re taking this seriously enough?” Her tone was light, almost nonchalant, but the barb was unmistakable.

Evin met Nele’s gaze in the mirror. “More than ever,” she retorted without blinking.

Practice began, and Evin stayed focused. When the music started, she felt every note as if it resonated in her very core. It was as though she glided through the choreography with a grace that surprised even herself. Nele noticed too. Her glances darted toward Evin repeatedly, as if searching for a flaw, but today, there were none.

Just 15 more pounds.

The thought whispered in the back of her mind as she danced through the routine. She saw the excess weight in the mirror, even as her body performed magic today. It’s fine, you’re on the right track. Everything was going as it should—at least for today.

When Evin left the building, the cool air brushed against her skin. The parking lot was already cloaked in darkness, and for a moment, she felt free and safe—until her eyes landed on Sergej.

He was leaning casually against a dark car, the headlights casting a veil of light over his dark brown clothing. Despite the chilly weather, he wasn’t wearing a jacket—just a simple, loose-fitting T-shirt that revealed glimpses of tattoos on his arms. His striking jewelry glinted faintly in the dim light, and the details immediately drew Evin’s attention.

He looked effortless, so grounded. His eyes met hers long before she approached him.

With a crooked smile, Sergej pushed himself off the car and walked toward her, the muscles under his tattooed skin subtly visible.

He looked... fucking hot.

“You look... energized,” he said with amusement, his gaze sweeping over her as if he were searching for something only he could see.

His voice sounded rougher than last time they met, almost as if the quiet of the night had rubbed off on him.

Evin felt her heartbeat quicken, and for a moment, despite the cool evening air, she felt warm. His presence was so strong, so captivating, that she momentarily forgot to breathe.

So she quickly climbed into Sergej’s car without asking where they were going. The thought of not knowing his destination caused a flicker of unease, but she kept quiet. The streets blurred past them, Sergej driving in silence, his eyes fixed on the road with a focus that suggested he had a clear plan.

After a while, he stopped in front of an unassuming building. It was an older house, with nothing remarkable about it at first glance.

“We’re here,” he said calmly, opening the door and leading the way without explanation. Evin hesitated briefly before following him.

Sergej led her up the cold, dimly lit stairwell to the top floor. When they reached the last door in the attic, he unlocked it and stepped inside without much ceremony.

As Evin crossed the threshold behind him, she wasn’t sure what she had expected—but the apartment surprised her.

The room she entered felt empty and cold. A large bed was tucked against one wall, a sofa sat in the center with an overflowing coffee table in front of it.

The space was bare except for a massive TV on a stand, a half-wilted plant beside it. The heavy scent of weed lingered in the air, and Evin suddenly felt out of place. Her eyes landed on the overflowing ashtray, and the uneasy sensation in her stomach grew stronger.

“Come on, let me show you something,” Sergej said, as though the room was entirely ordinary. He led her through the apartment to a terrace door.

And then it was like stepping into a completely different world. As Evin walked through the narrow door onto the rooftop terrace, the sight before her stole her breath. The stark contrast to the bleak, impersonal apartment was staggering.

The terrace’s atmosphere was breathtaking.

Sprawled out before her was a stunning view of the city.

The night sky stretched infinitely above, and the glittering city lights below spread like a vast ocean of stars.

Sergej had placed white candles of various sizes all around, their flickering light casting a warm, golden glow over everything. On the table in front of her were bowls of fresh fruit, snacks, and a bottle of wine.

It was meticulously arranged—almost too perfect. It was as though Sergej had poured effort into this rooftop escape to make up for the cold sterility of the apartment.

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