I swallowed hard, trying to suppress the lump in my throat. I had known I would see him eventually, but I thought I could face it. I had planned to avoid him, hoping to keep my distance until the end of the event.
Fate, it seemed, had other plans.
Justin snapped his fingers in front of my eyes, jolting me back to reality.
"What do you want to drink?" he asked gently, sensing my distraction as I glanced around the dimly lit bar.
Justin had been a reliable friend since I first moved to California. We became close when we discovered we lived across the hall and attended the same university, though our fields of study couldn't have been more different, his was Business Management, while mine was Engineering.
Since then, he had always been there for me. A month into university Daniel started visiting whenever possible, the three of us were like an inseparable trio, spending weekends together and occasionally extending our hangouts into Mondays when Daniel could skip a few lectures at the university to join us.
There were numerous occasions in our first year of university when Justin, being the gentleman he is, had to swoop in and rescue me from guys trying to flirt despite my obvious disinterest.
We called it the "rescue ruse," where he would wrap his arm around my waist and give a light kiss on my temple, and then I would leave with him. He hasn't done the rescue ruse since our second year of university. I've been able to handle those situations on my own since then. It turns out, all I had to do was speak thoughts.
Justin doesn't really know about Raymond. All he knows is that I dated someone in senior year who broke my heart. But that's only half the truth. Raymond did break my heart, but what we had, it wasn't all a lie.
Keep being delusional, you fool.
Daniel always cautioned me about the deceptive nature of people wearing masks. He'd say, "You never really know who's lurking behind a friendly smile." His words echoed in my mind, a reminder of the countless times I'd been fooled by appearances. By him.
"Nothing, thanks. I think I'll just go to my room and get some sleep. I'm tired," I replied, attempting to sound casual.
Justin's gaze bore into mine, studying my expression.
"What?" I asked, struggling to conceal the flood of emotions welling in my eyes.
"Are you okay?" Justin's concern was palpable as he studied my expression.
"Yeah," I murmured, more to convince myself than him.
"Alright. I'll catch you later, then," he replied, his brow furrowing with worry. The way he looked at me, I knew he sensed something was amiss.
"Okay, bye," I managed, heading towards the bar's exit.
Justin persisted, asking if I knew the guy from the library or if he was bothering me. I just shrugged, not wanting to delve into it further, and he let it drop.
The next morning, I woke up with the realization that I now lived in the same hotel as that heartbreaker, Raymond Reynolds. Just the thought was enough to set my mind spinning, memories of pain and weakness flooding back.
To distract myself from those haunting thoughts, I decided to head to the gym. Running for half an hour always helped clear my mind, even though I'd never been particularly athletic. It had become my solace seven years ago.
I had changed my whole fucking personality seven years ago.
In those early months, I barely left my room. Thankfully, my sister was away visiting our grandparents, and my mom took on extra work to save for my college expenses.
Then, unexpectedly, I received a scholarship I hadn't even applied for. Someone must have submitted my research work to them. I suspected Noah, since he was the only one who knew how to navigate the bureaucracy at Amanda Corp's head office.
***
I heard the doorbell downstairs but ignored it, not wanting to face anyone. Turning away, I settled into a comfortable position, hoping for more sleep.
A sudden thud beside me jolted my eyes open. There stood Daniel, a shoebox thrown onto my side table. His eyes bore a mix of anger, concern, and something I couldn't gauge.
Before I could gather my thoughts to ask, he tossed clothes at me. "Get up, you have five minutes to make yourself presentable," he said curtly, leaving my room abruptly.
Confused but compliant, I took a quick shower to ease my stiff back, then reluctantly donned the yoga pants and t-shirt he'd chosen. I'd never been one for sports, but when Daniel set his mind to something, resistance seemed futile.
Downstairs, Daniel waited in the kitchen with a smoothie. "Drink this, you'll need it," he said, avoiding my gaze as he handed me the drink. I downed it in one gulp.
"Let's go!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands and heading for the door.
"Where?" I asked, trailing after him like a lost puppy. He simply grabbed the keys and held the door open for me. To the park," he answered casually. I continued walking towards his car, but he reached for my hand and guided me onto the path.
"We run!" he exclaimed, taking off with surprising energy. Utterly bewildered, I started to chase after him.
I panted heavily, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I struggled to keep pace with Daniel. Sweat poured down my face, stinging my eyes, while my legs screamed with each pounding step. The scent of fresh air mingled with the sharp tang of cut grass and the earthy aroma of pine enveloped me, grounding me in the intensity of the run.
As we pushed forward, my body protested, muscles aching and lungs burning, yet I was determined to keep going. Each stride felt like a battle against exhaustion, but I focused on the rhythmic thud of my feet hitting the pavement, the sound echoing in sync with the racing of my heart.
"Deep breaths Soaf, that's the key. Focus on your breaths." Daniel encouraged, his voice cutting through my laboured breaths. We paused briefly, the world around us still and quiet except for the soft rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze.
Returning home, Daniel handed me the key with a knowing smile. "Until tomorrow," he said, a hint of satisfaction in his tone. Later that morning, alone in my room I thought about the run. After the rush of adrenaline subsided, I felt exhilarated yet strangely calm. My heart, which had pounded fiercely during the run, now settled into a steady rhythm. A warm, tingling sensation spread through my limbs, a sign of the endorphins coursing through my veins. I took deep breaths, relishing the clarity of mind and the sense of accomplishment that washed over me. Despite the physical fatigue, I felt alive, rejuvenated by the surge of energy that had propelled me forward. As I stretched out my tired muscles, a smile tugged at the corners of my lips. The world seemed clearer, more vibrant somehow.
That's how my running routine began. A ritual of pushing past physical limits, each step a testament to my determination to move forward, leaving behind the memories of Raymond.
***
I walked into the gym expecting it to be empty, but I was greeted by the sight of a guy doing push-ups, shirtless. His muscles rippled with each flex, and as I squinted to get a better look, I realized it was Raymond himself. My eyes wandered shamelessly over his perfectly sculpted abs, momentarily short-circuiting my brain.
I had to get out of here. I took a step back to tiptoe out of the gym and my right foot collided with something hard, causing me to lose my balance and end up on the floor with a loud thud as my back hit the ground. A groan escaped my lips as I rubbed my throbbing head, only to discover I'd collided with a wooden block on the floor.
"Well, that's one way to make an entrance," I muttered to myself, hoping he hadn't noticed my less-than-graceful gym debut.
I came back to my senses as someone crouched on the floor right next to me. Blinking, I focused on the masculine and very much shirtless silhouette. My heart surged with a mix of distress. I took in a deep breath, and his familiar scent enveloped me, stirring memories I thought I'd buried long ago.
"Oh God, prince-" he winced, the name he once called me hanging in the air, now a painful echo of our past. "Sophie, are you okay?" I lifted my gaze, drawn irresistibly to the deep blue pools that held mine captive. In those eyes, I saw a flicker of concern. His presence stirred a storm of emotions within me. Longing, regret, and a hint of unspoken words yearning to be voiced.
I flinched at the sight of his hand reaching out, hesitating involuntarily. His touch paused, registering my reaction, and I noticed his jaw tense, a subtle tic along his beautifully chiseled jaw.
"I'm just helping you sit, Soaf." he murmured, his voice tinged with a firmness that veiled a hint of sorrow. His hands were gentle as they guided me to sit, his touch stirring a whirlwind of memories. My focus shifted to the warmth of his fingers brushing against the nape of my neck, the flex of his arms as he steadied me. I put both my hands on the floor as I sat, holding on to the ground for support.
"My name is Sophie." I said firmly, my voice cutting through the tension.
My head throbbed, so I reached for the back of my head where I took the hit when I fell. I winced as I felt a little bump there.
"Do you feel like throwing up?" Raymond asked, his blue eyes boring into mine.
"What?" I replied, thrown off by the question.
"Just checking if you have a concussion." he said, as if this were the most normal thing to ask.
"I am not, thank you very much," I replied, flashing him a sarcastic smile while rolling my eyes.
"How many fingers do you see?" he asked, waving two fingers in front of my face like he was trying to swat a fly.
"Two. I am not having a concussion, Raymond," I replied, pushing myself up to stand. I wobbled but quickly caught my balance.
"So, you keep saying," he shrugged a shoulder, his skepticism as clear as day. His eyes followed me as I tested my footing, his concern mixed with a hint of amusement.
"What?" I snapped, annoyed at the amused smile he was clearly trying to fight.
"Nothing," he said, attempting to conceal his grin.
"Of course you find this funny," I said, my words coated with annoyance.
A smirk curved his lips, displaying the beautiful dimple on his right cheek. "Confusion," he stated simply, as if it were a fact.
"What?" I repeated, feeling my irritation rise.
"Confusion. That's a symptom of a concussion," he said, his eyes crinkling with amusement.
"What -"
"And that's the third time you've said what. Memory loss. Another symptom."
"Oh, shut up," I huffed, crossing my arms to keep myself from wiping that annoyingly beautiful smirk off his face or, worse, from wrapping them around him just to feel the warmth of his body in my embrace.
"So, I've been told countless times by you," he replied, his full smile spreading across his lips. It was wide enough to make my heart skip a beat, sending a flutter through my chest.
Keep it together, Soaf.
"Yeah, whatever. I'm going to check on Justin. He's probably awake by now," I said, turning on my heel to leave the situation and the gym, needing to escape the intensity of the moment.
"Oh yeah, can't keep your pretty boyfriend waiting," I heard him sneer as I stepped out, the words stinging despite my best efforts to ignore them.
Justin isn't my boyfriend. But Raymond didn't need to know that, smirking I walked through the lobby.
