“Go away, Benita. I don’t want to talk.”
Sophie groaned, pulling the blanket over her head as the loud knocking on her apartment door continued. She had ignored every call, every message, even the ones from work. She couldn’t face anyone. Not after what Benita had told her last night.
Alex is getting married.
Those words had shattered something inside her.
She had tried to tell herself it was a mistake, a misunderstanding. But no matter how much she tried to deny it, the truth was suffocating.
There was no way she could go to work and face Alex again. Not after what she had heard. She felt like a loser.
The knocking stopped.
Finally,
She exhaled and curled into a tighter ball. But just as she closed her eyes, the doorbell rang.
Her heart skipped a beat.
That wasn’t Benita.
Dragging herself out of bed, she shuffled to the door and cracked it open.
Alex.
Her breath caught. He was standing there, looking… worried. His suit jacket was gone, his sleeves were rolled up, and his usually perfect hair was slightly disheveled, like he had run his fingers through it too many times.
“Sophie.” His voice was soft, cautious. “Why weren’t you at work?”
She hesitated, gripping the doorframe. “I didn’t feel like going.”
His brows furrowed. “Are you sick?” He stepped closer, reaching out to touch her forehead. “You’re warm. Should I take you to the hospital?”
She shook her head.
“Sophie,” he pressed, his hand now moving to her cheek. “What’s wrong?”
She closed her eyes, leaning slightly into his touch before pulling away. “Nothing. I just didn’t feel ok.”
Silence stretched between them before he finally sighed. “I brought you dinner.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“You should eat something.”
“I said I’m not hungry, Alex.”
He exhaled through his nose but didn’t push further. Instead, he set the bag of food on the table and sat down beside her on the couch. For a while, they just sat in silence, the air heavy between them.
Alex was the first to break it.
“Sophie.”
She didn’t answer.
“Sophie, look at me.”
Reluctantly, she turned her head toward him. His blue eyes were filled with concern, searching her face for answers.
“What’s wrong?”
She hesitated. Should she ask? Should she just pretend she didn’t know? But the pain in her chest wouldn’t let her hold back.
“Is it true?” she finally whispered.
Alex frowned. “Is that true?”
Her throat tightened. “That you’re getting married.”
The question seemed to knock the air out of him. He stiffened, his jaw locking.
For a moment, he said nothing.
“Yes.”
The single word sliced through her like a knife.
Her hands curled into fists. She had prepared for this answer, but hearing it from him made it so much worse.
“So it was true,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Sophie—”
She let out a bitter laugh, cutting him off. “Wow. And here I was, thinking I was just being paranoid.”
“It’s not what you think.”
“Oh, really?” She turned to face him fully now, anger creeping into her tone. “Then explain it to me, Alex. What exactly is it?”
He ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated. “It was supposed to be an arranged marriage.”
Her heart clenched. Was it?
She held onto that word, not daring to hope. “Supposed to be?”
“I’m not going through with it.”
His voice was firm, determined.
She searched his face, looking for any sign of a lie. But all she saw was sincerity.
A tear slid down her cheek before she could stop it. She quickly wiped it away, but Alex noticed.
“Sophie…” He reached for her, but she shook her head.
“I just…” She took a shaky breath. “I thought you—”
Her words broke off.
She didn’t even know what she wanted to say.
That she thought she meant more to him? That she thought what they had was real? That she had let herself hope?
Alex sighed and pulled her into a hug before she could stop him. She let him.
Just for a moment.
She buried her face in his chest, inhaling his familiar scent, letting herself feel the warmth of his embrace.
Then, slowly, she pulled away.
Her eyes locked onto his.
And before she could talk herself out of it, she leaned in and kissed him.
Soft. Hesitant at first.
But then, she felt him freeze.
She felt him still.
“I love you,” she whispered against his lips.
Alex didn’t say anything.