It didn't happen all at once. No sudden fight. No explosive argument. Just small things. Small moments that slowly started to build. It started with time.
Kenzo got busy. More responsibilities. More expectations. Deadlines that didn't wait.
And Sofia— she understood. At first. "Sorry, I can't walk you home today." "Got something I need to finish." "Rain check?"
Sofia would smile. "Yeah, it's okay." And she meant it. Until— it kept happening.
Three days in a row. Then four. Then a week. The messages were still there. The "good mornings." The "good nights."
But something felt…different. Less present.
Sofia sat alone at a café one afternoon. Two cups of coffee in front of her. One untouched. She checked her phone again. No message. Ten minutes passed. Then fifteen.
Finally— her phone buzzed.
Kenzo:
"Hey, I'm really sorry. Something came up. I can't make it."
Sofia stared at the screen. Her chest tightened— but not in the same way as before. This time— it felt heavier. Not confusion. But disappointment.
She typed a reply. Stopped. Deleted it. Then finally sent— "It's fine." But it wasn't.
That night— they called. Something they hadn't done in a while.
"Hey," Kenzo said. His voice tired.
"Hey," Sofia replied. A pause. Already— it felt off.
"I'm sorry about earlier," he said. "I really couldn't get out of it."
Sofia nodded— even though he couldn't see her. "I know." Another pause. Then she asked— "Kenzo… are you still choosing this?"
Silence. Not long. But long enough. "Of course I am," he said quickly.
Sofia closed her eyes briefly. "Then why does it feel like I'm the only one adjusting?"
That— caught him off guard. "What do you mean?" he asked.
Sofia sat up. "I mean I keep understanding. I keep making space. I keep saying 'it's okay' even when it's not." Her voice didn't rise. But it carried weight. "And you just… assume I'll always be okay with it."
Kenzo frowned. "That's not fair."
Sofia let out a breath. "I'm not trying to be fair. I'm trying to be honest."
That— shifted the tone. "I've been busy, Sofia," Kenzo said. A hint of frustration now. "I'm not doing this on purpose."
"I know that," she replied. "Which is why I didn't say anything before." A pause. "But at some point, effort has to show up in more than just words."
Kenzo ran a hand through his hair. "So what, you think I'm not trying?"
Sofia hesitated. Because that wasn't exactly it. "I think you're trying," she said carefully. "But not in the ways that matter right now."
Silence. Because that— was hard to hear.
Kenzo exhaled sharply. "I can't be everywhere at once."
"I'm not asking you to be," Sofia said. Her voice softer now. "I'm asking you not to disappear into everything else and expect me to just wait."
That— hit again. Kenzo looked away. Even though she couldn't see him. "I thought we were past this," he said quietly.
Sofia's chest tightened. "So did I."
Silence filled the call. Heavy. Uncomfortable. Because this time— it wasn't about fear of losing each other. It was about whether they could actually keep each other.
"I don't want to fight," Kenzo said finally.
Sofia's voice softened. "Neither do I." A pause. "But ignoring this won't fix it."
Kenzo didn't respond immediately. Because deep down— he knew she was right. But knowing— and fixing—weren't the same thing.
"I'll try harder," he said.
Sofia closed her eyes. There it was again. Trying. "Okay," she whispered.
But this time— it didn't feel as reassuring. Because effort— without change— was starting to feel like a promise that kept repeating itself. And Sofia wasn't sure how many more times she could believe it— before it stopped meaning anything at all.
✨ End of Chapter 28