Bleeding Summer

 Severa's POV

Christmas morning arrived with golden sunlight slipping through the curtains, warming the hotel room despite the cool December breeze. The festive spirit was in the air, but I couldn't quite bring myself to enjoy it—not when my thoughts were tangled between the past and the present.

The memories of last night played on a loop in my mind. The way Eugene held my hand during the fireworks. The way neither of us let go, even during the drive back to the hotel. The way we stood outside our rooms, lingering as if waiting for something—waiting for one of us to break the silence, to take the next step.

But nothing happened.

And now, I was here, curled up in bed, staring at the ceiling while my phone buzzed with messages from my family in Italy.

I sighed and reached for it. Multiple notifications from my mother, aunts, uncles, and younger cousins flooded the screen, all sending their Christmas greetings. I exhaled and started returning calls, beginning with my mother.

"Severa! Buon Natale, amore mio!"

"Merry Christmas, Mama," I said, forcing a smile even though she couldn't see me.

Her voice was warm, overflowing with the kind of holiday cheer I should be feeling. I imagined the chaos happening back home—our estate filled with laughter, the long dining table covered with food, my younger cousins running around as my aunts scolded them.

"We miss you, sweetheart. It's not the same without you here," my mother said.

"I miss you all too."

For the next hour, I spoke to different family members, exchanging greetings and holiday stories. My grandmother scolded me for not coming home, my younger cousins excitedly told me about their gifts, and my aunts and uncles asked if I was eating well.

And then, finally, I heard a familiar deep voice.

"Severa."

I stiffened slightly. "Kuya Seven."

My eldest brother rarely called unless it was important. And the fact that he took the phone from everyone else meant this wasn't just a casual chat.

"How are you?" he asked, skipping any pretense of small talk.

I hesitated. "I'm fine."

"Are you?"

I sighed. "I don't know, Seven. Everything is... complicated."

"Is it about the project? Or something else?"

I paused. "Eugene's here."

Silence.

Then, after a moment, Seven said, "I see."

That was the thing about him—he never reacted the way I expected. He took his time, carefully choosing his words.

"Did you expect this to happen?"

"Not at all. I thought I'd just oversee the project and leave. But now, he's here, and it's like... the past isn't staying in the past."

Seven exhaled. "You never told us what really happened in Esperanza."

I swallowed. "Because it didn't matter anymore."

"That's a lie, Severa. You wouldn't be this unsettled if it didn't matter."

I clenched my jaw. Even though I never told my brothers the full story of what happened ten years ago, they knew. Maybe not the details, but they knew something had broken me. They never asked, never pushed, but that didn't mean they didn't see through me.

Before I could respond, another voice cut in.

"Oi! Give me the phone!"

There was a shuffle, followed by an exasperated sigh from Seven. And then, Sebastian's voice filled my ear.

"Sev! Merry Christmas!"

I sighed, a small smile forming despite myself. "Merry Christmas, Kuya Seb."

"Why do you sound tired? Did you and Eugene have a wild night?" he teased.

"What?!" I sputtered, sitting up straight.

"I mean, you guys are spending the holidays together in a hotel. What else am I supposed to think?"

"Sebastian Achilles Frierez-Medici, if you don't shut up, I will end this call."

He laughed. "Fine, fine. But seriously, I heard from Lucien that Eugene claimed you as his girlfriend. Is that true?"

I groaned. "Lucien needs to mind his own damn business."

"So it's true?"

I hesitated. "I... I don't know, Kuya. It was just to get Lucien off my back."

"And yet, you didn't deny it to Eugene either," he pointed out.

I pressed my lips together.

"Sev," he said in a gentler tone. "What are you doing?"

I closed my eyes. "I don't know, Seb."

"Do you still love him?"

That question hit harder than I expected.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

Sebastian sighed. "You can lie to me, but you can't lie to yourself."

I exhaled shakily. "Seb, it's complicated."

"Love is always complicated," he said casually.

I rolled my eyes. "We're not talking about love."

"Oh, we definitely are," he countered. "You just don't want to admit it."

I groaned. "Sebastian, I called to say Merry Christmas, not to have an intervention about my love life."

"Fine, fine. I'll stop. For now." He paused. "But, Ate... just think about what you really want, okay?"

I swallowed. "I will."

"Good. Now go enjoy your Christmas with your 'not-boyfriend' Eugene."

Before I could reply, he hung up.

I stared at my phone, feeling more exhausted than when I first woke up.

Damn Sebastian.

I tossed my phone aside and flopped back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.

What did I really want?

Before I could dwell on it further, there was a knock on my door.

I froze.

Only one person would be knocking at this time.

I walked over, hesitating for a moment before opening it.

And, of course, there he was—Eugene, standing with his hands in his pockets, looking at me like he had been waiting all day.

"Hey," he said softly.

"Hey," I replied, my voice quieter than I intended.

We stood there for a moment, just staring at each other.

Then, finally, he sighed. "Can I come in?"

I swallowed and nodded, stepping aside to let him in.

As the door closed behind him, I realized something.

Sebastian's words were still ringing in my ears.

"Just think about what you really want."

And the truth was...

I didn't know anymore.