The Supernova Effect

Chapter 11

Nova

Sofia was still elegant even in pieces, still polished in that effortless rich-girl way, but grief had folded something in her. Her shoulders curved inward. Her hands shook around the water bottle I gave her.

"Thank you," she whispered.

I nodded and sat across from her, Daisuke standing beside the island like he didn't know whether to comfort her or explain himself to me first.

Eventually, Sofia told us everything.

She had come out to her parents.

Told them the relationship with Daisuke was fake. Told them she couldn't keep pretending. Her father kicked her out before she could even pack properly. Her mother cried but didn't stop him.

The whole time she spoke, Daisuke stayed quiet.

Not distant.

Just familiar with her pain in a way that made my stomach twist.

"I don't know where to go," Sofia admitted, wiping under her eye.

Daisuke's voice softened. "You can stay here."

Her eyes flicked to me.

I forced a small smile. "It's okay."

And it was.

It should've been.

But when Daisuke warmed up the food he had made for us, when he found her clothes, when he touched her hand and she relaxed like he was the safest thing in the room—

something ugly stirred in me.

Not hatred.

Worse.

Jealousy I had no right to feel.

Because Sofia wasn't trying to steal him.

She was just someone who had known him longer in a world I still didn't understand.

I went upstairs before I could embarrass myself.

In his bathroom, I turned the faucet on just to cover the sound when my breathing finally broke.

A few minutes later, Daisuke found me.

"Nova?"

I wiped my cheeks quickly and stepped out.

He looked at me once and immediately knew.

"You were crying."

"It's stupid."

"Stupid enough to make you cry?"

I looked away.

He came closer, careful this time. "It's about Sofia."

I hated that he could read me so easily.

"I know she's going through something serious," I said quietly. "And I feel terrible because all I can think about is how she knows you. Like really knows you."

His face softened.

"She does," he admitted.

That hurt, even though I asked for honesty.

"But not like you," he said.

I looked up.

Daisuke stepped closer, brushing his thumb against my jaw.

"Sofia and I survived the same kind of world. That's all."

My throat tightened.

"She feels safe with you."