Twisted Rumours (Twisted series fanfiction #2)

17. SOFIA/TAEHYUNG

[TAEHYUNG'S POV]

An air of melancholy surrounds Sofia tonight. She seems to be much quieter than usual and has been avoiding eye contact with me. I ponder whether sorrow or weariness weighs upon her soul.

Maybe it is because of you.

"Is everything alright, puella?" I grab her hand on the table and brush my thumb over her knuckles. Sofia does acknowledge my touch and words, but she doesn't look at me.

She keeps looking at her glass of wine as if it is the most interesting thing she has ever seen.

"I asked you something." I repeat, my voice gentle but firm.

Her eyes move from her glass of wine, but they rest on the window behind me.

NOT AT ME.

AND IT FUCKING HURTS.

"Nothing." She answers. That is how she is anwering me.Her replies, like whispers lost in the wind.

By one-word answers or avoiding eye contact altogether. While past encounters exuded authenticity, tonight's interaction feels contrived and distant, shrouded in a veil of pretense. It's like she's a completely different person now, and I'm left wondering what changed between us.

It feels like she's completely shutting me out, and I'm at a loss on how to reach her.

"You are a terrible liar, Puella. Tell me what is wrong." I try to break the silence, hoping to get her to open up and share her feelings with me. "And fucking look at me."

Her black cat like eyes move ever so slowly and lock in mine , revealing a vulnerability I've never seen before.

"I am just doing what we were supposed to do." She answers, her voice lower than usual.

"And what is that?" I ask, trying to understand her perspective. But a part of my mind knows where she is hinting at.

"Continuing this facade of a fake relationship," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "No matter how much I want it to be real." She whispered the last part to herself, and it was not meant for me to hear, but I did.

She loves you , I realize, as the weight of her words settles in my chest. And suddenly, the vulnerability I saw in her eyes makes sense. She's been putting on a facade to protect herself, but her true feelings are now laid bare. It's clear that she's struggling with the idea of keeping up the act when she wants something genuine.

She thinks I don't love her, but little does she know that I want this to be as real as she wants it to be.

You love her.

realization hits me like a ton of bricks. I, the man, who thought I had everything under control, am now faced with the truth that I have feelings for her too.

Everything in my life was planned and perfect, but Sofia came in like a whirlwind, disrupting my carefully constructed facade and revealing emotions I never knew I had.

We both fell for the tempting unknown, still unsure if it was worth it or where it would lead us. One thing I know for sure: My heart is a captive of hers, bound by invisible threads of love. Sofia has brought chaos into my life, but also a sense of exhilaration and possibility that I never knew existed.

I feel a sense of freedom and excitement when I'm with her, like I'm finally living instead of just existing. It's terrifying and thrilling all at once, but I wouldn't change a thing.

Even if she wants to.

"So, you are suggesting we go take our steps back and become just like some unknown persons who are just together for benefits?" I ask, my voice tinged with uncertainty. Deep down, I know that losing Sofia would be unbearable, but the thought of risking everything for her is equally daunting.