Royale: Infanta Sofia

Chapter 12: Unspoken Observations

Third Person's POV

As Sofia and Rohan continued their walk, the conversation turned to matters of the heart.

With a heavy heart, Sofia confided in Rohan about her own feelings, her voice trembling with uncertainty as she spoke.

"Sofia, there's something I need to tell you," Rohan began, his tone serious. "I've noticed that you've been feeling down lately, especially when it comes to Lucas. Is everything okay?"

Sofia sighed, her gaze falling to the ground as she struggled to find the right words. "It's... it's complicated, Rohan. I... I think I'm in love with Lucas."

Rohan's eyes widened in surprise, his expression a mix of empathy and concern. "Oh, Sofia. I had no idea. But what about Emily? I thought Lucas was spending a lot of time with her lately."

Sofia's heart sank at the mention of Emily's name, her feelings of jealousy and insecurity bubbling to the surface once more. "I know, Rohan. But I can't help how I feel. And seeing Lucas with Emily... it just makes me feel so... so..."

Rohan placed a comforting hand on Sofia's shoulder, his touch a soothing balm to her troubled soul. "It's okay, Sofia. You're allowed to feel whatever you're feeling. But have you considered talking to Lucas about it? Maybe he feels the same way."

Sofia shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears. "I don't know, Rohan. I'm scared of ruining our friendship. What if he doesn't feel the same way? What if things become awkward between us?"

Before Rohan could respond, their conversation was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. Turning around, they saw Lucas standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable as he watched them with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

"Sofia, Rohan, what are you two doing here?" Lucas asked, his voice tinged with unease.

Sofia's heart skipped a beat at the sight of Lucas, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she realized he had overheard their conversation. "Lucas, we were just... we were just talking."

Lucas's gaze flickered between Sofia and Rohan, a flicker of jealousy sparking in his eyes before he quickly masked it with a forced smile. "Right, of course. Well, I'll leave you two to it then."

As Lucas turned to leave, Sofia's heart sank at the distance that had suddenly sprung up between them. She wanted to call out to him, to explain everything, but the words caught in her throat, leaving her feeling helpless and alone.

And as she watched Lucas walk away, Sofia couldn't help but wonder if their friendship would ever be the same again.

---

As the days turned into weeks, a subtle shift began to permeate the dynamic between Lucas and Sofia, one that did not go unnoticed by their observant circle of friends. Orson, Shaun, Dwayne, Skye, Elise, Alessia, Clarisse, and Arianne exchanged knowing glances as they observed the growing distance between the two friends, their concern mirrored in the furrow of brows and the whispered conversations that passed between them.

"I can't help but notice that Lucas and Sofia seem... different lately," Skye remarked, her voice hushed as they gathered in a secluded corner of the school courtyard.

Arianne nodded in agreement, her gaze fixed on Lucas and Sofia as they sat together at a nearby table, their once-easy camaraderie tinged with an undercurrent of tension. "Yeah, they used to be inseparable. I wonder what's going on."

Orson furrowed his brow, his mind racing with speculation as he observed the subtle nuances of their interactions. "Maybe they had a falling out or something. But knowing Lucas and Sofia, they'll probably work it out on their own."

Shaun nodded in agreement, though a flicker of concern danced in his eyes. "I hope so. They've been through so much together. It would be a shame if their friendship fell apart because of some misunderstanding."

"They'll be okay," Elise remarked, her voice filled with quiet confidence

---

As days turned into weeks, Lucas found himself spending more and more time with Emily, the girl who had captured his attention in recent months.

They shared laughs and inside jokes, their easy camaraderie providing a welcome distraction from the turmoil brewing within Lucas's heart.

But even as he enjoyed Emily's company, Lucas couldn't shake the nagging feeling of guilt that gnawed at him from within.

Deep down, he knew that his true feelings lay elsewhere, that it was Sofia who held the key to his heart.

Yet, whenever he thought of approaching Sofia, a wave of shame washed over him, memories of their last encounter casting a shadow over his confidence.

He couldn't shake the feeling of regret that lingered in the back of his mind, the knowledge that he had hurt Sofia deeply with his actions.

Pride and shame warred within Lucas, his inner turmoil threatening to consume him as he struggled to reconcile his desires with the reality of his past mistakes.

He longed to reach out to Sofia, to apologize for his behavior and confess the depth of his feelings for her. But fear held him back, fear of rejection and fear of facing the consequences of his actions.

And so, Lucas remained trapped in a cycle of indecision, torn between his longing for Sofia and his reluctance to confront the truth.

As he continued to spend time with Emily, he couldn't help but wonder if he was only prolonging the inevitable, if his pride would ultimately cost him the chance at true happiness with the one person who truly mattered to him.