Unchosen Crown

TAKE THE HIT

The words exploded from Oliver's lips, as sharp as shrapnel.

"What was your plan, after all?" He turned abruptly, unable to face her. The heat of his fury was almost palpable, evident in his labored breathing.

"My plan?" Sofia's voice trembled, brimming with frustration about to overflow. Their gazes met, sparks flying in the fierce battle. "You dare question my actions after what I witnessed?"

Oliver clenched his fists, his words dripping with desolation. "There was no need to take things so far! What did you expect to achieve? To push him to the limit?"

"You brought him back!" Sofia stepped forward, eyes blazing. "I tried to be understanding, but you just don't respect boundaries, do you?"

A roar erupted from Oliver's throat, shaking the space between them. "I'm sick of boundaries! I've been confined in a bubble my entire life. Never allowed myself a single moment of impulsiveness, of freedom. Never."

The coldness in Sofia's voice made the air suffocating. "And yet, you have the power to change anything with a snap of your fingers. But you must consider the consequences, Oliver."

"What are you implying?" He narrowed his eyes, defiant.

"I'm saying, Your Majesty," the title sounded like a sharp taunt, "that you now have a family. You can't ignore us in your selfish bubble anymore."

"Don't use sarcasm with me." Oliver's harshness was echoed by the exhausted sigh Sofia let out, as if their souls were both tormented. "I'm not a reckless child anymore. You know I would never let anything lack for you. This accusation is unfounded."

Sofia stared at him, stubbornness etched in her eyes. "Don't underestimate me. I know you can hardly wait to be rid of me."

The intensity of Oliver's anger dissolved into a contemplative sigh. His voice softened into a whisper of appeasement.

"Sofia, be honest: are you happy like this? Do you believe your destiny is to live with someone incapable of truly loving you?"

She hesitated, a silent tear glistening in her eyes before they met his, overflowing with raw sadness. "You can't deny we have good moments, Oliver. We talk, we have Lily..."

"Is that enough for you? Just conversations?" He approached cautiously, his insistence gentle yet impetuous. "A bond we will always share doesn't answer if you're truly happy with the fantasy we play out daily."

"It's not a fantasy, Oliver! Lily is real, not part of any theater!" Sofia retorted, but her rhetoric sounded empty against his growing impatience.

"That's not what I meant." He interrupted her, throwing more truths against her inconsistent arguments. "You know my love for her is genuine and greater than anything. I'm talking about us."

Sofia exhaled a weary sigh, her graceful movements leading her to settle into the armchair that stood out in her room like a point of elegance amid the wreckage.

"Maybe there was a chance... if you at least tried." Sofia's voice trembled, exposing her vulnerability.

Oliver let out a bitter laugh, a lament disguised as desperation. "True love can't be forced. It grows and blossoms naturally, without impositions. If you had ever truly experienced it..." His voice faded as he met her piercing gaze, laden with a harsh truth she struggled to accept.

"This shouldn't be a surprise." Sofia's bitter irony gave way to resignation.

"You know I can't reciprocate those feelings." Guilt punctuated Oliver's words. She shrugged, a simple gesture amid their conflicting hearts. Kneeling down, he took her hands in his. "I really tried, but there are insurmountable barriers within me. I'm not straight, Sofia. Not even bisexual."