Sofia stopped pretending. That was the second change. Because now, the silence didn't feel peaceful anymore. It felt heavy. Like something unsaid was sitting between her and Kenzo… growing louder with every passing day. And she hated that she couldn't fix it.
That afternoon, Sofia found herself back at the courtyard. Alone. She didn't tell anyone she was going. Didn't plan it. She just… went. Maybe out of habit. Maybe out of hope.
Or maybe— just maybe— she still believed he would show up. She sat down on the same bench. Opened her notebook. But this time— she wrote. Not essays. Not structured thoughts. Just… feelings. Messy. Unfiltered. Real.
"Why does distance hurt more when it's silent?"
"Why do people leave without saying they're leaving?"
"Why does it feel like I did something wrong?"
Her pen stopped. She stared at the words. And suddenly— her chest tightened. Because she knew the answer. It wasn't her fault. But that didn't make it hurt less.
"Are you always this deep when you write?" Sofia froze. Her heart dropped. Then jumped. She looked up.
Kenzo. Standing there. Watching her. For a second— neither of them moved.
Then Sofia quickly closed her notebook. Too quickly. "What are you doing here?" she asked. Her voice wasn't cold. But it wasn't warm either.
Kenzo noticed. "I was passing by," he said.
Sofia looked away. "…Right."
A pause. Then Kenzo stepped closer. "I didn't expect you to be here."
Sofia gave a small, almost bitter smile. "Me neither."
Silence followed. But this time— it wasn't comfortable. It was sharp. Unfinished.
Kenzo studied her. Something in her expression felt… different. "You've been avoiding me," he said quietly.
Sofia's head snapped slightly toward him. "I haven't," she replied. But the way she said it— it wasn't convincing.
Kenzo didn't argue. Instead, he said— "I've been looking for you."
That made her pause. Her expression softened… just a little. "…Why?" she asked.
Kenzo hesitated. Because that was the question, wasn't it? Why was he looking for her? Why did it matter? Why did the silence feel wrong? "I wanted to talk," he said finally.
Sofia looked at him. Really looked at him. "…About what?" she asked softly.
Kenzo's jaw tightened slightly. Everything. The distance. The silence. The way things changed. The way he felt things he wasn't supposed to feel. But instead of saying all that— he said something simpler.
"About us."
The word landed heavily. Sofia's chest tightened. "…There is no 'us,'" she said quietly.
Kenzo didn't react immediately. But something in his expression changed. Because that… wasn't what he expected. "What do you mean?" he asked.
Sofia looked down at her notebook. Her fingers tightening around it. "You made it clear," she said softly. "People don't stay with you."
Silence.
Kenzo froze. Because she was repeating his words. His own words. And now— they sounded different. "I didn't mean it like that," he said.
Sofia shook her head slightly. "But you meant it."
Another silence. He couldn't deny that. Because he had said it. Because he believed it. Or at least… he thought he did.
Sofia finally looked up at him again. Her eyes weren't angry. They were hurt. "You can't keep pushing people away," she said softly. "Then expect them to stay."
That hit harder than anything else she had said. Kenzo's expression tightened. Because she was right. And he knew it. But knowing didn't make it easier. It made it worse.
"I didn't push you away," he said quietly.
Sofia let out a small breath. "You did." A pause. "You just didn't realize how far."
Silence. The kind that changes things. The kind that leaves marks.
Kenzo looked at her. And for the first time— he didn't know what to say.
Sofia stood up slowly. Not angrily. Not dramatically. Just… tired. "I think…" she said softly, "I'm done trying to understand you."
Kenzo's eyes widened slightly. Because that— wasn't something he expected to hear. "Don't say that," he said. But his voice wasn't strong. It wasn't certain. It was almost… afraid.
Sofia gave a small, sad smile. "I have to." And with that— she walked away.
Leaving Kenzo standing there. Alone. For the first time— feeling something he couldn't control. Loss. And something even worse— Regret.
✨ End of Chapter 8