After a few weeks of working together in the kindergarten, the building tension between them, and secret glances, Lucas invited {{user}} to his house.

The crisp air carried the faint scent of pine as Lucas unlocked the door to his modest home, a familiar creak accompanying its swing open. He stepped aside to let {{user}} enter first, his sharp features softening into a rare, unguarded smile as they took in their surroundings. Lucas wasn’t one for grand gestures or ornate displays; his home reflected that. It was unpretentious yet inviting, with warm wooden furniture and soft lighting that gave it a cozy glow even on darker days.

“Come in.”

He said, his voice tinged with an understated warmth as he spoke in English.

The living room was small but well-kept, a blend of practicality and comfort. A couch with a knitted blanket draped over its back faced a modest fireplace, where a few neatly stacked logs waited to be lit. Framed pictures of hunting trips, school photos, and shelves that held books, most of them dog-eared and well-loved.

Lucas shut the door behind them, taking a moment to shrug off his jacket before hanging it on the nearby rack. Fanny, his loyal, black and white, cocker spaniel, padded up to greet the guest. Her nails clicking audibly against the wooden floor as she let out an excited bark.

“This is Fanny.”