❝Little did she knew,
he thinks about her too.❞

•••

S O F I A

EVERYTHING, CRUMBLED DOWN everything that, I believed in fell apart, like a perfect-picture burned at the seams, forlorn, absurd, were now the vivid torturous images, that plagued my mind as I gulped, lowering the glass of water I was holding. It was becoming more and clear that, I was not yet; prepared to face Mia. It is against my will to stay locked up in a room, confide in there till the wedding; it was ridiculously cowardly.

I was everything, but I was not a coward. I knew the sin, I committed was beyond forgiveness. I did not deserve sympathy. The way the last few days, have passed, without any signs of mockery or expositions, I am beginning to reach a solid conclusion.
I was wrong, my involvement with Taehyung, was wrong. The feelings I possessed towards him, shouldn't be there in the first place. I should've kept my distance, I should've been careful.

But there was no point in regretting over my actions anymore, what ever has taken place between us, between the three of, with Mia also being involved in the judgment, nothing will change. Whatever that was happening will continue to do so. The only difference was that Mia no longer trusts me, she hates me.

And she has every right to do so.

A heavy knock against the dark oak door, pulled me out of my reverie as I straighted up, squaring my shoulders, not long before regarding the door with a dull stare, I sighed out with trepidation, gnawing at my tired bones, before with no further announcement the door was pushed open. Dismayed, he stood staring darkly at my figure, that somehow appeared to be shrunk when, he stepped fully inside the room. His face was sullen, as he pushed his hands into the holes of his pockets, and I sucked in the air, breathing into the musky scent of, his cologne.

       “I hate to see you this way,” Jimin murmured, drawing near me, as I stood up hotly cheeks ablaze, raising to my feet. He moved standing a foot have from me, for I gulped hardly, forcing myself to behold his hard stare, that was annoyed at my firm posture, and my clear sense of bravado, in the act of appearing headstrong in front of him.

I mean who was I fooling? This was Park Jimin, he knew everything about me. He was always aware of my troubles, even the lies I told him, the betrayal that, I rewarded him with for his everlasting love, his companionship, his serene presence that never ceased to amaze me at, how fast I grew on him.

“Sofia?” He spoke again, this time a little more gently, heat rushed to my cheeks as he grazed my face, with his warm callus hands.

“I am fine,” was my short reply. I was not fine at all; of course.

         “Keep saying it, but before that ask yourself truly, are you fine?” Jimin laughed, shaking his head, in mild disbelief as he closed the distance between us, my heart raced and my eyes narrowed when I caught the mirthless smile, that was dangerously dancing across his lips,“I will be watching you tonight.”

“Is this how you will treat me from now, Jimin?”

He scoffed, mockingly in amusement as he pulled me along with him, towards the door, but I stopped prying my elbow free from his hold, that was for some reason still gentle. I scowled, bitterly staring at his unfazed face,“Why are you treating me, like you  are disgusted of me?”

“That’s not it,” He grunted sharply. Disbelief, flared across his dark orbs as he glowered, turning back to gaze back at me, steadily.

“It’s not you that I do not trust you,” He paused, as I waited surprisingly calm as the man continued to stare down at me,  his hand came up to my face, as he wipes the single, treacherous tear that escaped my eye, drawing in an arid breath he continued,“I don't think, that I will ever trust, Taehyung. He is just another reason behind your many reasons, of how easily you pushed me away, Sofia.”

     “I never pushed you away,” I whispered, dazedly staring up at his handsome face, as he smiled moving to stand beside me, for some reason he seems shaken, by my blunt words that pained his soul, even to know that was something, but hear me say that without any such hesitation was a completely different matter.

So, he sighed running his hand across his face tiredly, while his other hand firmly gripped my elbow, as Jimin regarded me with one of his many boyish grin,“Promise me that you won't seek him tonight?”

From the way he asked me, sounded no more than a silly joke, but who could ignore the way his eyes gazed at me. It was as if, a child was pleading for his favourite toy, to stay forever his. God, such innocence, such love and so much of hope, who wouldn't want to stare back into those eyes, and say the words he so desired to hear back.

“I won't. There is no ‘us’ any longer,” and so I did promise, even though it would be hard.

I can not be near Taehyung, I can push him away and, I can not look at him. But, he would always be there, even if our place was not beside each other. I knew for sure that, his place was sealed forever in a very treasured place in my heart.

“Where's Jungkook?”I asked, shortly in awhile, with my eyes wandering around to find him, as Jimin sighed his hand slithering down my waist leading me outside of the room.

“He left earlier but don't worry you still have me.”

       “Somehow, I always do,” I muttered underneath my breath, but I was aware he heard me, with the way he pushed closely to his side, in a reassuring manner that, paralyzed my already befuddled senses, was a gesture I could never get used to.

He walks before me, as we made our way towards his parked car. After helping me settle in, he walks to his side of the car and gets in, hastily putting on his seat belt, whilst I do the same.

At last Jimin, turns his head towards me and smiles, shortly before he ignites the engine to heat and, I fall back strangely feeling at ease to finally have the car moving. The tension, that lingers in the air around us was apparent, as I swallowed furrowing my brows. No soon, did few certain unnecessary thoughts, clouded my head forcing me to lean back uncomfortably.

I could not help but wonder, what if tonight was the night, everyone were going to find out what happened between us. What if, this was just a trick to lure me into some trap? No, no. This was not a trick, even though how little I knew of Mia, I know she was rational enough not to humiliate her fiance like that. This was just a dinner, a gathering. Surely.

“What is it?” I asked, when I turned only to find him stealing a glance at my face.

          “We can turn back if you want. You seem quite bothered for some reason, Sofia,” He expressed openly, reaching out to capture my hand into his before giving it a firm squeeze he drops it down. I sighed, shrugging my shoulders turning to face fully towards him when the car came to an abrupt stop, as I glanced ahead only to be greeted by the sight of a blazing red light.

My breath hitched I couldn't find the perfect words but before I could say anything his phone rang, echoing in the quiet car, as he huffed out, visibly not pleased with the interruption browsing his hands into the pocket of his coat, he fishes out a lightening screen. It did not go unnoticed how, he scowled when, he stared at the screen, setting his face to a firm stone he accepted the call, not long after that, he brought the phone towards his ear and listened, prosaically to who ever was on the phone.

“Yes. I was on my way, it would take us no more than ten minutes,” Jimin spoke, clearly sounding discouraged and exhausted to carry the conversation any further,“It doesn't matter she is with me,” I heard him tersely state, before he abruptly hangs up the phone. His eyes, stared blankly at the road ahead, as instead of driving the car ahead, he drives it at the side of the road, halting at a calm pace.

My eyes, stared unfocused as I waited for him to say anything, when minutes passed and the silence, that was beginning to draw between was getting too deafening. I turned peeking a glance at his fine face, that was burried in between his arms that rested on the steering wheel.

It was strange. Just after the phone call, he seems to be reacting in such an odd manner, it puzzled me to see him this way, it was like he wasn't just tensed but, rather something might be irking him to a point, he was in his head battling many assumptions; I presume.

“Are you alright?” I asked, carefully reaching out to caress his hair, as his whole body stiffened completely baffled by my touch. He raised his head, eyes staring vaguely at my face as I tried my best to offer him a smile, even though I knew that was pointless.

“Who was it?” I chose to ask, this time when he didn't answer. He kept staring at me, testing me searching for answers, or looking for anymore lies perhaps. I could see that his eyes, were doubtful, they were brilliantly full of questions. Questions that he did not want to know the answers of.

          “Taehyung——” The name barely escaped his lips, before the uncanny feeling gnawed down at me, making my stomach churn with a gut twisting ache. Aghast, I stared knowing fully that he was watching my reaction. So, I forced myself to take deep breaths, trying to calm the rapid beats of my pulsing heart.

“He wanted to know if you are okay and that how you are doing,” I decided to let him speak and not to say anything,“I don't know want he wants from you, anymore.”

“Don’t talk like that, after all he is your brother,” I fired, definitely not liking the way he was talking about Taehyung. I understand how he feels, but he needs to know that, I feel uncomfortable when he talks like that.

      “You have no right to defend him. He used you, manipulated you,”he pauses for a frantic time and takes a deep breath, then again parts his lips to continue where he left off,“What ever happened you're not at fault here, Sofia. He was an adult, but you're too young to be easily taken advantage of. He should've not crossed the boundaries, everything happened because he took the initiative to start something which he knew would not have any end for either of you.”

“What are you talking about?”I questioned, too frightened after listening to him. I am afraid if he continues to say more, I would go mad. My body trembled, as I pulled my hand out of his hold when he tried to reach out to me.

“My little dove, admit you were vulnerable and he saw that, and he took advantage of it,” he continues to say more, as tears blurred my vision, and I placed my hands against my ears, refusing to hear anymore, but that didn't seem to stop him, he was just too caught in his own conclusions to care for what torture he was putting me through.

At this moment, I resented him. I resented the man he has become, so clouded by his anger, his envy that, he doesn't care if he was hurting me.

“Don’t misconcepte his lust for love, Sofia. He is not worthy of your love—” he would've continued to say more but I interrupted him, glaring at his face I leaned forward, pushing my weight against my seat, I stared at his stone cold face, that felt too foreign to look at.

Eyes aflame,“You know nothing about us,” I hissed at his face, as he gripped my wrists tightly pulling me close.

“There is need to confront me, Sofia what you need is a professional’s help, to help you recover,” He gruffly stated, as my eyes grew wide and I scoffed, staring at his face with undeniable hatred, and frustration.

“You think a professional can help me recover my love for, Taehyung?”

He glowered hearing my words, leaning back in his seat he let goes of my wrists, as I sighed turning to stare out of the window.

“You were alone, with no one by your side after your parents died,” This time he spoke in a gentle, and a more appealing tone that soothed my
ears,“You were lost, Sofia stop trying to look for your home in people. Perhaps, the home you thought you had with him, wasn't there to begin with.”

“I thought about it. I thought about it a lot, Jimin,”I said through grifted teeth and I wasn't lying completely. What he said was not the truth, it wasn't just my solitude that me feel drawn towards, Taehyung it was my own being that yearned something real, something no one but only he, could offer.

The truth was and, will always be,
that, the two us were too careless yet; the emotions and the feelings we felt for toward each other was the closest thing to anything real we ever felt in our lives. I might sound arrogant, but I know that, Taehyung did not forget his relationship with Mia, because she was just a plain woman in his life, he chose forget to about it because he was forced choose that life.

What he wanted was too feel alive again, to feel free away from all those  restrictions that, bounded him to a life others planned for him. When ever we were together, I saw it in his eyes how, he felt like was young again, he could live the youth that he was deprived of. Taehyung wasn't always so serious, he was forced to mature, to grow up.

The expectations and commitments that kept him their prisoner, were slowly, unknowingly slaughtering him. And the saddest thing was, I knew how hurt, Taehyung was and how he was suffocating; yet I was helpless. Because I wasn't the one, that could set him free from the prison he chose for himself, it was in his hands. His hands alone.

“Can we talk about this later, Jimin others are waiting for us.”

Some how he seemed a little calm and controlled and didn't protest my request, thus he obliged, silently.

•••

I swallowed great gulps of fresh air, when we arrived at our destination. Stepping out of the car, I marched forward ready to face whatever awaited for me. It was out of notion how I've learned to not fear anymore, probably, because there wasn't much left for me too lose anymore.

  “Lets go shall we?”Jimin, commented coming to stand beside me, as I smiled weakly locking our arms together.
We padded, side by side towards the big entrance, a wooden door adorned with many beautiful engravings greeted our sight, as we stood firm facing towards it. I prayed, silently for tonight to turn well ,while Jimin rang the bell, that was audible enough for us to hear, even from outside.

       “Good evening,”said a young boy, possibly same age as myself, I glanced at him with a quiet gaze taking in his physiognomy. He has wild bottle-blonde curls, falling ridiculously over his neatly shaped brows, when inspecting further I've come to realize, that the boy standing before me has the darkest charcoal eyes, I've ever seen. With olive skin, and toned muscles, he appeared to be athletic, as I lowered my gaze, my eyes fell upon a tattoo over his left arm that was visible, as his sleeves were rolled up giving a clear view of his veins that were stretching out, like thin slithering snakes. He had ear piercings and, one over his lips as well, which gave him a sharp look.

I made a mental note, to maintain my distance from him. Probably, because he was staring at me, as if he knew everything about me. Also, I  definitely didn't like it when, our eyes collided, he had the most provoking smile. He stares at, Jimin for a while and, as the two men continued to stare at each other I understood that two were in fact aquatinted with each other.  The tension in the air was palpable, as then I decided to step forward and introduce myself rather than hiding behind, Jimin like some lost child.

The boy with the wild blonde curls notices me and then smiles gleefully showing his crooked tooth to me.

     “You must be Sofia,”he speaks, offering me his hand which, I gladly took,“I am Sebastian. Mia's younger brother,”he introduces himself, and I find his voice, surprisingly soft and warm, unlike his cold appearance.

“It's nice to meet you Sebastian,”I said with a smile.

“Pleasure is all mine,”he didn't let go of my hand and was grinning for some reason, I followed how his eyes scanned my figure, not long his gaze landed on to my breast. Prevert.

He did not try to hide it, when I once again met his eyes and scowled. His eyes they brightened upon seeing the look across my pale face, as Sebastian smirked fully aware that I've indeed seen through his facade. His was just putting on a show, the way his eyes continued studying my face was obvious that, he was just trying to seek something, I somehow knew, but could not point my finger at.

“Bash, let the guests in, can't keep them waiting at the door,”I heard Mia shout from the other end and that's when he let goes of my hand, moving away a little, giving space for Jimin and I to enter.

“Jerk,”I hear Jimin murmur, as we entered the house together adjacent to each other. Unaware, and yet fully on guard. Apprehensive stabs at my heart, as I walked in while setting my face calm, and stoic.

TO BE CONTINUED

Author's Note:

Hey! Guys I hope y'all enjoyed reading this update. And that everyone are doing fine and taking care of themselves.

Okay, I am just so shaken right now. I didn't expect when I first started writing this story, that I would ever receive any support, or encouragement. I am just really overwhelmed with the amount of love and support, each of you has shown to my book, my writing. It means the world to me and I can never be grateful enough.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING 300K POSSIBLE. 🥰😝😭💜🙈❤️

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Love,
Shafaq-Shapel ♥

EDITED
JULY. 21ST. 2020