🌙 At first— Sofia told herself it was fine. Kenzo was busy. Not distant. Not careless. Just… busy. And she understood that.
She wanted to understand that. So she didn't complain. Didn't question. Didn't ask for more. But understanding something— doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.
Days started to blur into a pattern. Kenzo would message. But shorter. More rushed.
"Sorry, I'm tied up today."
"Can we talk later?"
"I'll make it up to you."
And Sofia would reply. "It's okay." Again. And again. Until "it's okay" started to feel like a habit— not the truth.
One evening— she found herself back at the café. The same one. The same table. But this time—there was only one cup of coffee. She hadn't even planned to meet him. But her body brought her there anyway. Because some places— hold memories stronger than people.
Her phone buzzed. Kenzo. "I'm really sorry. I can't make it tonight."
Sofia stared at the message. Her expression didn't change. But something inside her— did. Not breaking. Not shattering. Just… sinking.
She typed slowly. "Okay." No extra words. No reassurance. No pretending. Just honesty— in its simplest form.
Across the city— Kenzo stared at her reply. His chest tightened. Because this time— it didn't feel okay. Not even a little. He leaned back in his chair. Surrounded by work. By expectations. By pressure. But all he could think about— was her.
"I'm doing this for my future," he muttered.
But a quiet thought followed— What if she's not in it anymore? That thought— shook him.
Meanwhile— Sofia finished her coffee alone. She didn't wait longer than she needed to. Didn't check her phone again. She just stood up— and left.
That night— she didn't text him first. Not out of anger. But out of exhaustion. Because being patient— was starting to feel like being invisible.
Kenzo noticed. Of course he did. No message. No "goodnight." Nothing. He picked up his phone. Typed. Stopped.
Because for the first time— he didn't know how to fix it. Not with a message. Not with a promise. Because this wasn't one moment. It was a pattern. And patterns— don't change overnight.
The next day— they saw each other again. Same campus. Same paths. But something felt… off. Not distant. Not broken. Just not the same.
"Hey," Kenzo said carefully.
Sofia looked at him. "Hi." No smile. No warmth. Just… polite. That hurt more than anything.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Sofia nodded. "I'm fine."
And this time— it wasn't a lie. Because she had stopped expecting enough— that it no longer hurt the same way. And that— was the scariest part.
Kenzo swallowed. Because he realized— this wasn't the kind of distance that asked to be fixed. This was the kind that quietly accepted things as they were.
And if he didn't do something— not later— not eventually— but now— he might lose her— without her even asking him to stay.
✨ End of Chapter 34