In the spotlight

38

Matteo Rodriguez

"You left me without a care in this world. Why do you care now?" Her blue and brown eyes glistered with a hint of sadness under the crystal chandeliers, and I felt my heart breaking.

In this moment, I didn't want anything else more than just to let her see into my thoughts. What went down in my head that morning and what is going on in it right now. I was willing to do anything just so I could kiss her one more time.

"I left because..." I gulped, trying to calm down my anxiousness. "Because I thought I wouldn't be good enough for you." I sighed heavily once I said these words.

"Oh, please." She scoffed as she rolled her eyes at me. She clearly didn't believe one word of mine. We turned around once the song had ended and changed pace when the other one started.

"I made the biggest mistake of my life when I left Marseille. I wish every day that I stayed and did everything differently. I know that I can't make it go away, but I will try everything in my power to gain your trust back." Saying these words out loud has felt so much greater than I initially thought.

The confidence in my voice has visibly surprised her a little. I was very determined about what I've just said, because it was the truth. I wanted her back desperately.

"In truth, I have cared all along. Not a single day has passed by without you occupying my thoughts." Her eyes widened a little as I slowly spinned her during our dance. I could feel all the curious eyes watching us sway away to the music, but at that moment it was only the two of us on that floor.

"I also know that it won't change anything, but if you really want to know, I would take my chance to explain why I did what I have done." She sensed my seriousness, and her face reflected that she was battling with her emotions.

"I uhh.." She bit on her lower lip hesitantly. "I don't know." She sighed as she shook her head.

"I will think about it, I guess." Right at the moment I wanted to speak up again, she preceded me. "God, I want to hate you so much. Why do you have to make it so damn hard?" She admitted it with a sour face. She wasn't aware of it, but those words have given me more hope than anything has ever before.

"Because I like you, Sofia." I admitted to my feelings I have been trying to deny for so long. I heard her suck in a sharp breath. "I have been liking you since the very first day I laid my eyes on you in Milan. And I do not want to deny it any longer." My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest as I was trying my best not to mess up the dance moves as we were coming to a halt.

"I'm sorry..." She gulped before breaking up our hands. "I need time to think." She mumbled before turning her back to me and leaving the dance floor completely. I watched her beige dress glitter as she left and disappeared between a flock of people.

This conversation went much better than I expected. I couldn't help but smile at her reaction. For the first time after months, I have finally felt positive. I have returned to my previous seat once I made sure that Haydar didn't follow her.

I didn't expect but hoped that I would see her close to me during the night. Unfortunately, this didn't turn out to be the case. Well, after midnight, I've grown a little tired after this whole week and decided that I should leave and maybe try again with her tomorrow.

I said my goodbyes to my sister and everybody who was left sitting around our table and stood up with the glass I had borrowed from the bar in my hand. I haven't drank anything today since I will have to drive Isabella's car home while shes staying until the morning, but returning the glass to the bartender was the least I could do.