Lucas

She almost never says a rude "ugh" This was one of the things that Lucas didn't understand right away. Mia can be stubborn, argumentative, irritable, and defend her point of view—but when it comes to everyday things, she has a surprisingly soft delivery. If she doesn't like the food, she will almost never say:

• It doesn't taste good. Instead, it sounds something like:
• Mm... I guess it's just not quite my taste. or — I don’t usually eat this kind of thing, but thank you. or — A little too much for me, I guess. Lucas quickly realized that this was her way of not offending the person. She doesn't pretend to like everything. But he doesn't cut with words. And for some reason, this is precisely what grabs him. Because he himself is the opposite. If you ask him directly whether it’s tasty, he will answer honestly and without embellishment. Mia instinctively smooths out the edges. He began to notice when her “politeness” was a disguise Over time, Lucas learned to read her better than words. Now he doesn't even need her to say anything. If she doesn't like the dish, he notices sooner. On small things. She: eats slower than usual makes too small pieces drinks more water imperceptibly stops reaching for the plate At the same time, outwardly she still remains polite. And Lucas once said, almost thoughtlessly:
• You don't like it. Mia blinked.
• What?
• Dish.
• No, everything is fine. He looked at her with his calm gaze.
• Harper. You ate three pieces in fifteen minutes. Pause. — …I just don’t like this texture. And then he finally understood: Mia doesn't hide her emotions perfectly. She just hopes no one will look that closely. Except Lucas.

That she hardly drinks coffee At first he thought that she, like half the students, lived on caffeine. It turned out not to be the case. The first time he mechanically brought her a regular latte, it was during a late-night project. Mia took a small sip, winced, and said, almost offended:

• Why is it bitter? He looked at the glass.
• Because it's coffee.
• Disgusting. He remembered it ever since. If Mia drinks anything coffee-based, it's always an iced latte, and almost always with syrup. Usually vanilla or caramel. He knows one more thing: she almost always tastes the drink very carefully first, as if checking to see if it has been spoiled. She is very picky about food. This surprised Lucas at first. Loves spicy food, but smart spicy food He remembered how she once rolled her eyes at someone: — I like spicy food. And then the man poured sauce on the food purely for the sake of pain. Mia then said: "It's not spicy for the taste. It's spicy for the suffering." Lucas remembered this phrase for a long time afterwards. He knows she likes it when the spiciness enhances the flavor, not kills it. Sweet - similar. Not cloying. If the dessert is too sweet, Mia takes a couple of spoonfuls and pushes it away. She avoids fish. Not because he doesn't like the taste. Due to a genetic trait, she is easily choked or choked on small bones. That's why she doesn't eat fish with a lot of bones at all. Lucas remembered it instantly. If they're out together choosing food, he automatically rules out options that include bony fish. Permitted safe-zone: salmon trout And yes, he remembers it better than some of her friends. Her skin is too soft. He noticed this by accident. One day she wiped her hand with a napkin after using lemon, and after a few minutes the skin turned noticeably red. He frowned.
• Your hand is red. — My skin is stupid. It gets irritated quickly. After that, he began to notice more. Mia's skin reacts to a surprising number of things: acid like lemon juice cold dry air too rough fabric stress He knows that her skin blushes easily. And gradually begins to distinguish the shades of this blush.

Hobbies / sports / daily habits Lucas is not one of those who lives only for work. He has habits that keep his head in order. Hall Yes. Runs 3-4 times a week. Not bodybuilding. Target: strength health posture endurance Split usually: upper body lower body pull full body / mobility Favorite exercises: Deadlift Pull-up Incline Bench Press He loves the feeling of progress. Swimming As a child, I was seriously involved in swimming. He still swims sometimes to clear his head. In the water he is unusually calm. Cars Yes, it's just a hobby. But not in the “look at this car” format. He likes the engineering side: suspension chassis balance motors aerodynamics He can literally spend hours discussing mechanical details. Equipment/assemblies Likes to collect: PC setups keyboards audio gear He has a mechanical keyboard that he customized himself. And yes, he notices latency in things that others don't. Music Music for him is a way to regulate his state. Listening: alternative R&B indie lo-fi jazz instrumental During work - often without words. What does he do when he is stressed? A very characteristic thing. When Lucas is nervous or thinking: twists the ring on his finger or runs his hand through his hair He also starts drinking more coffee. What he doesn't like about people/everyday life Very annoying: being late without reason loud chaos disrespect for other people's time hysteria games of ignoring He can't stand unresolved tension. If there is a problem, he prefers to talk. And a little fact about Lucas that only his closest friends know: Despite all this cold/composed image… If he is at home, relaxed and there is no one around - He can wear an oversized hoodie, drink coffee, and watch cat videos. And he won't admit it to anyone.

Clothing / style Lucas's style is quiet luxury + smart casual + clean masculine silhouette. He hates flashy brands. No giant logos. If something is expensive, it should be visible from the fabric, fit and details, not from the labels. Basic wardrobe palette: black graphite dark blue cream grey white warm brown Loves quality materials: cashmere merino wool heavy cotton leather linen blends Most often worn by: Everyday straight/slim trousers quality jeans premium cotton T-shirts quarter zip sweaters overshirts bomber / wool coat Shoes Likes: clean leather sneakers loafers boots What he doesn't like in clothes Can't stand: acid colors cheap polyester ill-fitting clothes hyperstreetwear overload Its principle: “Better 10 perfect things than 50 random ones.” He wears a watch almost always. Minimalistic, expensive, without ostentation.

Allergies/sensitivities There are no serious diseases. But there are a couple of things. Mild pollen allergy in spring In spring sometimes: sneezes eyes turn red mild nasal congestion appears Not critical, but annoying. Intolerance to very large amounts of lactose Not hard. Coffee with milk - ok. Cheese - ok. A liter of milkshake is a bad idea. He also has a sensitive stomach to very fatty foods. So after the triple cheese burgers he's not thrilled.

Tastes in food Lucas isn't picky in the sense of "ugh, I won't eat that," but he has very specific quality standards. He can easily eat plain rice with chicken after a workout and be satisfied, but if he goes to a restaurant, he notices everything: the quality of the ingredients, the balance of flavors, the texture, the presentation. He's irritated by expensive food that looks impressive but tastes mediocre. He's not a fan of ultra-sweets. She doesn't like desserts where the sugar overwhelms everything else. If it's sweet, then it should be balanced: tiramisu dark chocolate desserts cheesecake without a ton of syrup soft vanilla ice cream Favorite cuisines: Japanese Especially: sushi/sashimi donburi ramen grilled fish Loves pure, clear tastes. Korean Thanks to Noah I loved: bulgogi samgyeopsal kimchi fried rice Mediterranean Very often eats: grilled salmon steak grilled vegetables olive oil / cheeses Loves good coffee. And a really good one at that. He is one of those people who can tell a good espresso from a bad one by its smell. Morning standard: double espresso or flat white. Other drinks he likes are: cold brew sparkling water match sometimes good tea in the evening He rarely drinks alcohol. Not because he is principled, but because he simply doesn’t like to lose control. If he drinks: whiskey red wine occasionally cocktail What doesn't he like? Really dislikes: too fatty fast food cheap energy drinks overly sweet soda overcooked meat synthetic flavors It's especially annoying when people pour ketchup on a good steak. He literally looks like this: "For what?"

If you asked Lucas in the first few months of dating him what he thought of Mia Harper, he would have answered something like this: — She's talented. Stubborn. Annoying. And that's all. But the problem is that that would only be half the truth. From the very beginning, it wasn't Mia's looks that caught his attention—although, yes, he noticed her immediately. It's hard not to notice a girl with her looks. But looks alone rarely captivate Lucas for long. Something else caught his attention. She didn't bend. Most people around Lucas either tried to please him or became nervous around his straightforwardness. Mia wasn't. She might get annoyed, argue, roll her eyes, get angry... but she never tried to fit in. If she thought he was wrong, she said so directly. And this is what began to attract him. At first, Lucas teased her almost experimentally. He was curious: how quickly would it flare up? How exactly will he answer? will it break under pressure? It didn't break. Vice versa. She started biting back. And that's when he realized he was in trouble. Because Mia became the person next to whom he… felt more than usual. She irritated him because she knew how to knock out emotions. It was intriguing because it wasn’t superficial. She was attractive because she combined softness and character. Mia appears very delicate—her blond hair, large, light eyes, and soft features. Many people automatically feel the urge to treat her as fragile. Lucas quickly realized how wrong this was. She is emotional, but not weak. Soft, but not spineless. Sensitive, but far from stupid. And the more he got to know her, the more he began to notice the little things. He knows: the way she frowns when she's concentrating; as if you are tired and rub the bridge of your nose; as if irritated, he slightly presses his lips together; how he starts twirling a ring or a strand of hair when he's nervous. It reached a level that began to frighten Lucas himself. He noticed that he was automatically monitoring her condition. Have you eaten? Did you get enough sleep? Why is it silent today? Why does the voice sound quieter? And the most unpleasant thing for him: her mn

Family Father - Daniel Moreno 48 years old Senior investment partner at a large venture capital fund in San Francisco. A tall, collected, charismatic man with a strong business acumen, Lucas inherited his composure, discipline, and ability to calculate consequences. He is proud of his son, but expresses it sparingly. He's the kind of father who doesn't say "I'm proud of you" every week, but who helps without words when needed. The relationship with Lucas is respectful, sometimes tough. Mother - Sofia Moreno 45 years old Interior architect. The complete opposite of his father in terms of energy. Warm, social, emotionally intelligent. It was from her that Lucas took his hidden softness and good taste. She reads to her son better than anyone else. She is usually the first to notice if someone important appears in his life. And yes, she will figure out Mia quickly. Younger sister - Elena Moreno 16 years old Dark hair, lively brown eyes, a hurricane of a character. Very smart, very sarcastic. The only person in the family who can tease Lucas with impunity. He adores his sister, although he acts like an irritated older brother. Friends Lucas has few friends. There are many acquaintances. True ones are few. Noah Park 21 years old Korean-American. 182 cm. Dark hair, neat haircut, glasses. Studying data science. Calm, smart, sarcastic. Of Lucas's friends, Noah is the most rational. Often the only one who notices Lucas's emotions before others. It was he who first realized:

• You like Harper. Jayden Ross 20 years 188 cm, light brown hair, athletic build. Studying business/econ. Very sociable, charismatic, noisy. The complete opposite of Lucas. Loves parties, people, get-togethers. His function in the company is to get everyone out of the house. He constantly trolls Lucas about Mia.

Lucas started programming at 13. At 15 I was already writing normal pet projects. At 17, I was doing freelance orders. By 18, he had a strong portfolio and a GitHub that really impressed recruiters. He currently works as a backend/software engineer at a fast-growing AI/SaaS startup in San Francisco. Specialization: distributed systems backend architecture performance optimization AI infrastructure He is valued for solving complex engineering problems without making a fuss. For the money, it's very good for a 20-year-old. Annual income with bonuses and equity: ~$170,000–$220,000 per year. For an ordinary student, it’s space. But among wealthy families, this doesn't look like "majority," but rather like: “He's really very good himself.” Car Porsche 911 Carrera But there is an important nuance. This is not a gift from parents. He bought it himself - partly cash + financing. Not because I wanted to show off. Lucas really loves cars as engineering systems. Loves the precision of mechanics. Apartment My parents have a large house in an expensive area near San Francisco. But Lucas lives separately. He has a modern apartment in a good area of ​​the city. Not a penthouse or a palace. A minimalist apartment with panoramic windows, high-quality appliances and a very clean interior. The apartment is a gift from my parents, with partial investment. His parents contributed the bulk of the down payment, and Lucas is covering the rest himself. Interior: warm wood graphite light stone huge monitor setup mechanical keyboard a very expensive coffee machine His apartment reflects him perfectly. On the outside, there is a cold aesthetic. Inside, it is surprisingly cozy.

Lucas doesn't divide people by status, popularity or money. There are three categories for it. The first one is random people Majority. He's polite and correct with them, but emotionally distant. He doesn't act rudely without reason, but he doesn't invest in them either. His default mode is calm politeness. He doesn't try to please everyone. If a person thinks he's arrogant, Lucas doesn't care. The second is the people he respects. There are few of them. These are people with competence, discipline, or strong thinking. He respects those who are honest and able to admit their mistakes. With people like these, Lucas becomes engaged. He begins to argue, discuss, and listen. For him, respect is almost more important than sympathy. The third is close An extremely rare category. People who end up there are those he trusts enough to allow them to see his weaknesses. With them, he is no longer the “cold Lucas Moreno.” He can be funny. Lazy. Tactile. Caring. Even a little clingy, although he would deny it to the last. He is very protective. If someone important to him is in trouble, he turns on instantly. At the same time, he hates falsehood. Can't stand: passive aggression; manipulation; ostentatious superiority; incompetence + ego. I am especially irritated by people who talk loudly about things they do not understand.

Lucas's main trait is internal control. He rarely acts impulsively. Before speaking or doing something, he usually considers the consequences. This makes him appear cold or emotionally detached, although this isn't entirely true. He does have emotions—he just doesn't like to relinquish control over them. Lucas is rational. His brain constantly analyzes systems: people, processes, conversations. He quickly notices patterns and weaknesses. This makes him strong in programming, but also in social interactions. He's extremely good at reading people. He dislikes superficiality. Small talk tires him. Conversations for the sake of conversation also do. He's interested in people who can argue, make arguments, and have their own point of view. Lucas has a dry, precise sense of humor. He rarely makes loud jokes. His jokes are often delivered in a serious tone, leaving you unsure for the first few seconds whether they're sarcastic or not. He loves to tease. And he does this not out of cruelty, but out of curiosity. He's interested in observing people's reactions, especially those who aren't afraid to respond. Despite his confidence, he's not a narcissist. He's simply aware of his strengths and doesn't pretend they don't exist. Another important feature is reliability. If Lucas promises something, he will do it. If he is there in difficult times, there is no need to panic. He doesn't tolerate chaos without a reason. He dislikes drama, manipulation, and emotional games. His weakness is emotional vulnerability. It's hard for him to admit that someone has become important. He dislikes dependence, even emotional dependence. So when he gets attached, he resists at first. Lucas isn't jealous or possessive in the toxic sense. But he does have a nasty habit of withdrawing when he feels his feelings are threatened. Inside, he is much softer than he appears. With close people, a completely different side appears: caring; patient; attentive to detail; at times absurdly affectionate. And yes, he has a “puppy mode” that only a few people see.

Full name: Lucas Adrian Moreno Age: 20 years Height: 186 cm Date of birth: November 12 Major: Computer Science / Software Engineering Lucas is the type of person most people notice before they even meet him, but not because of his ostentatious beauty. Rather, it's his presence. He knows how to occupy space even in silence. When he walks into a room, people can't help but notice him—not because he's loud, but because he exudes a calm confidence. He has dark brown hair, thick and dense in texture, with a natural, soft wave. It usually looks slightly tousled, as if he'd simply run his hand through it and left it that way. It often falls over his forehead, especially when he spends long periods of time at his laptop. Sometimes it covers part of his eyes, giving him an even more lazy and slightly unapproachable appearance. His eyes are a deep dark brown, almost chocolate brown in good light. His most distinctive feature is his gaze. Lucas rarely looks fussy; his gaze is calm and long, often making people uncomfortable. It feels as if he's analyzing you layer by layer. When he's serious, his gaze is almost heavy. When he's amused, a foxy cunning appears in his eyes. The eyebrows are thick, expressive, with a slight, natural arch. They make facial expressions very readable—especially sarcasm. Her facial features are distinct but not harsh. She has a well-defined jawline, a straight nose, and high cheekbones. Her lips are smooth, with the lower lips slightly fuller than the upper. She rarely smiles, but a genuine smile completely transforms her face—from coolly inviting to unexpectedly warm. His build is athletic, but not overly muscular. He's not a muscle man. Rather, he's strong and functional: broad shoulders, strong forearms, and a toned back. This is the result of his swimming background and his current workouts 3-4 times a week. Her skin is light olive and tans easily. Her left hand has long, thin fingers with prominent veins—the hands of a programmer who types and trains a lot at the same time.