Chasing the final ride

The more I spent time with Luke, the more I realized how quickly I had grown accustomed to him. It wasn't just his motorcycle skills or the way he knew every corner of the city—it was something about the way he made me feel. Light. Alive. Like I could forget about everything and just be in the moment.

The late-night rides had become our thing, our unspoken routine. We'd race through the city streets, challenge each other with new routes, and compete to see who could reach the highest speeds. But it wasn't all about the adrenaline. It was the conversations in between. The laughter. The little moments that made me feel like I wasn't just passing time until my final days.

One Saturday afternoon, after a particularly exhausting day of wandering around the city on foot, I found myself looking at my phone, debating whether to text Luke or not. I hadn't seen him in a couple of days, and a part of me missed his presence. He had this way of making everything feel effortless, like you could talk for hours without running out of things to say.

Without overthinking it, I sent him a quick message:

"Hey, wanna hang out today? I've got nothing planned."

It took him less than a minute to respond:

"You're not out exploring some secret cafe, are you?"

I couldn't help but laugh at that. He knew me too well.

"Maybe." I sent back with a playful emoji. "I'm taking a break for today."

His reply was immediate: "Good. I'll pick you up in 30 minutes. Be ready to eat."

I raised an eyebrow at the message. Eat? That was unexpected. Luke wasn't exactly the type to invite someone over for a casual meal. Then again, he had a habit of surprising me. I wasn't sure if I was excited or nervous—maybe a little bit of both.

Thirty minutes later, I was standing in front of my apartment building, the cool breeze ruffling my hair as I waited for him. I didn't know what he had in mind, but part of me felt excited to see what he had planned. I had learned by now not to try to predict him. He had a way of keeping things fresh and spontaneous.

The sound of his motorcycle engine cut through the air, and I turned just in time to see him pull up to the curb, his black Harley gleaming in the sunlight. He slowed to a stop, taking off his helmet with one swift motion, revealing his tousled black hair and that trademark grin of his.

"Ready for an adventure, sunshine?" Luke's voice was playful, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

I smiled, shaking my head. "What do you have in mind this time?"

"Come on, just get on. I'll explain later," he said, giving me a teasing glance.

I raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. I wasn't one to shy away from an adventure, especially not with him. I mounted my bike and followed him as he led the way, weaving through the busy streets. We didn't talk much during the ride, but there was something comforting about the silence between us. It wasn't awkward—it was just... easy.

We ended up at a small, cozy restaurant tucked away in a quiet part of the city, far from the bustling crowds. The place looked like something out of a movie—dimly lit, with wooden tables and lanterns hanging from the ceiling. It had an intimate, almost homey vibe to it. The kind of place that didn't need to impress with flashy signs or Instagram-worthy aesthetics. It was simply... good.

Luke led me to a table by the window, where we could look out over the city while we ate. As we sat down, I couldn't help but notice how comfortable we were in each other's company. There was no pressure, no need for small talk. We just were, and it felt... nice.

He ordered for us—some sort of Korean BBQ set, with various meats, vegetables, and sauces. I didn't really know what I was getting myself into, but I was eager to try it. Luke was the kind of person who liked to share his favorite things with others, and I was always open to new experiences.

As the food arrived, he immediately set to work, expertly grilling the meat on the tabletop grill, flipping the pieces with ease. I watched him for a moment, fascinated by how natural he was at it, the way his hands moved with practiced confidence.

"Need some help?" I asked, eyeing the grill and the growing pile of food.

Luke chuckled, glancing at me. "I got it, don't worry. You just enjoy the view."

I rolled my eyes but didn't argue. The view was nice, sure, but I was more interested in the company. I had never imagined that a meal would be this... fun. We were both laughing as we played around with the food, making little jokes about the odd combination of flavors.

"So, tell me more about yourself," Luke said, his tone casual, but there was an underlying curiosity in his voice. "You keep a lot of things to yourself, don't you?"

I blinked, a little taken aback by the question. It wasn't that I was hiding anything from him—it's just that I hadn't really thought to share much about myself. I was here, living in the moment, just trying to enjoy my last few months without overthinking everything.

"I guess I'm just... private," I said after a pause. "Not really the type to share everything. It's not like I'm trying to be mysterious, I just don't... know how to talk about it."

Luke studied me for a moment, his expression softening. "You don't have to tell me everything, Iris. I'm just asking because I want to know you better. I want to know the real you."

I felt my heart skip a beat. There was something so earnest in his voice, so genuine, that it made my chest tighten in a way I wasn't ready for. He had a way of looking at me that made it impossible to lie. He made me feel like maybe—just maybe—I could open up a little.

"I guess I'm just not used to it," I said softly, staring at my plate. "Not used to... people caring."

Luke's gaze never wavered. "You don't have to be used to it. I'm here now. I care. And I want to be here for you, however you need."

I felt a wave of emotion crash over me, but I quickly pushed it down. Don't get emotional, I reminded myself. I couldn't let myself get attached, not when I knew how this would end.

But somehow, hearing him say that made me feel a little bit lighter.

We finished our meal, and Luke insisted on paying, of course. I wasn't about to argue. He was stubborn when he wanted to be. Afterward, we walked around the city for a bit, stopping at a nearby park where we sat on a bench, watching the lights flicker in the distance. It felt like the most ordinary night, but with Luke, nothing was ever just ordinary.

"You know," Luke said, breaking the silence, "I never thought I'd meet someone like you."

"Someone like me?" I raised an eyebrow, glancing at him.

"Yeah," he said, looking down at his hands. "Someone who just... gets it. Someone who can keep up with me, but also knows how to just be quiet when it's right."

I didn't know how to respond to that. I wasn't sure why it felt like a compliment or why it made me feel so... vulnerable. But it did. His words lingered in the air, and I couldn't quite shake them.

"I don't know what it is," Luke continued, his voice softer now. "But I like it. I like being around you, Iris. I don't know why, but I do."

The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard. For a second, I almost wanted to reach out, tell him everything. But I held back. I wasn't ready for that kind of closeness—not yet.

"Well, I like being around you too," I said with a smile, my voice teasing. "You're not as annoying as I thought you were at first."

Luke laughed, that familiar warmth filling his eyes. "You're lucky you're cute, sunshine."

I rolled my eyes, but the warmth spreading through my chest didn't fade.