Broken

Chapter 7: So Please Let Me

Thankfully, the dinner didn't go awkward although it was very silent. But the ambience was warm as Eddie surprisingly enjoyed the food Sophia cooked for him. She didn't cook much for him, as she only cooked dishes with ingredients that she could salvage from the fridge. Nonetheless, the food was delicious.

Post-dinner, the two washed the dishes together, with Sophia washing the plates while Eddie wiped them and put them back on their rack.

While Sophia had finished with the plates and washing her hands, Eddie decided to break the ice of silence.

"Soph?"

She turned her head to him, "Hmm?"

Hesitated, he proceeded, "Thank you... for what you've done."

With a smile on her face, she simply kissed his cheek, making Eddie smile a little.

After they were done with washing the dishes, Sophia grabbed her bag that she put on the sofa and was about to leave, but not before Eddie stopped her.

"Soph..."

Stopped in her tracks, she turned around, seeing Eddie with hesitant but hopeful expressions on his face.

"Yes, Eddie?"

He scratched his head a little, "Would you ehm... would you stay the night...?"

A low exhale came out of her mouth, as she smiled at Eddie and shook her head.

"Thought you never ask."

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The clock struck midnight. Sophia ended up staying the night at Eddie's house, as she slept on Eddie's bed, with Eddie beside him.

While Sophia was sleeping peacefully, Eddie had trouble sleeping. Turning his body to left at one moment and then right at the other, he somehow struggled to get a good night's sleep. Yet somehow, when he felt he had fallen to sleep, the nightmare returned back to haunt him again.

This struggle didn't go unnoticed as Sophia woke up to find Eddie stirred in his sleep, cold sweat on his face. In an attempt to wake him up, she wiped the sweats off his face.

"Eddie. Eddie, wake up", she shook his body gently.

To no avail, he was still trapped in the clutch of the nightmare. But Sophia didn't give up that easily, as she shook his body again.

"Eddie, wake up."

As if he's broken from a chain, he finally woke up from his haunted slumber, sat up from his sleeping position and panting for air. Immediately Sophia hugged him, feeling worried as she rubbed his back, trying to calm him down. Feeling comfort in her embrace, Eddie hugged her back. In the embrace of her warmth, he felt comfort, and peace.

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His inability to sleep led him to his personal balcony, which is near his room, separated by a double glass door. A small table and two chairs were there, located close to the door. There, Eddie stood, looking up to the sky, with his arms folded on the railings.

Noticing Eddie on the balcony, Sophia wrapped the sheets around her body and approached him outside. Gently she wrapped her arms around his waist and lay her head on his back. Rubbing her hands, Eddie turned around in her embrace, their eyes looking at each other,

The two stayed like that for a moment, with Sophia wrapping her arms around his neck, while Eddie rubbed his hands on her waist.

"I guess...", Eddie broke the ice by trying to explain, "I guess I owe you a lot of explanation."