The Bet & The Heart.

CHAPTER VIII

The sunlight streamed through Sofia's curtains, illuminating her room in a golden hue. She stirred awake, feeling a mixture of anxiety and hope fluttering in her chest. The memory of last night—of laughter and lingering silence—haunted her thoughts. She couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them, but the weight of unspoken words pressed heavily on her.

After a restless night, she finally mustered the courage to face the day. She dressed in a simple outfit, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach as she made her way to the kitchen. The aroma of coffee greeted her, but the warmth was overshadowed by an underlying tension.

Syafiq was already there, leaning against the counter, lost in thought. He looked up as Sofia entered, and for a moment, their eyes locked. It was as if the world around them faded away, leaving just the two of them in an electric silence. Sofia's heart raced, the moment both thrilling and terrifying.

"Good morning," Syafiq said, his voice soft, almost tentative. He glanced at her, searching her face for any hint of the emotions he felt swirling within him.

"Morning," Sofia replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She busied herself with pouring a cup of coffee, deliberately avoiding his gaze. The air crackled with unspoken words, each of them acutely aware of the distance that seemed to stretch between them despite being in the same room.

As they stood in the kitchen, the tension thickened, both longing to bridge the gap but too afraid to take the first step.

"Nice day," Sofia said, the comment sounding hollow even to her ears. She tried to fill the space with small talk, but the words felt inadequate against the weight of their unspoken feelings.

"Yeah," Syafiq replied, running a hand through his hair, frustration evident on his face. He wanted to tell her everything—the bet, his feelings, the fears that had kept him awake at night—but the words stuck in his throat. He could feel his heart pounding, a relentless drum echoing in the silence.

Sofia's mind raced as she glanced at him. What if he felt the same way? What if he wanted to talk, but was just as scared as she was? She took a deep breath, trying to summon the courage to break the tension.

"Syafiq, I—" she began, her voice trembling slightly, but just as she opened her mouth, a loud noise from the house interrupted her. Both of them instinctively turned towards the sound, the moment shattered like glass.

"Um, I should go check on Aunt Emelda," Syafiq said, relief mingled with disappointment in his tone. He hesitated for a moment, looking at her as if waiting for something to happen, but the silence hung heavy between them.

"Right. I'll... I'll be in my room, packing," Sofia said, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. They both knew they were avoiding the real conversation, and the unsaid words lingered in the air like a thick fog.

As Syafiq walked away, Sofia felt her heart sink. She wanted to scream, to shake him out of his hesitation, but instead, she stood rooted to the spot. The world around her continued, but within her, a storm raged—a mix of longing, fear, and a desperate need for honesty.

They each retreated into their thoughts, the silence that followed echoing louder than any words they might have said.

Sofia paced her room, the soft sound of her footsteps barely breaking the oppressive silence. Her suitcase lay open on the bed, half-filled with clothes, but she couldn't focus on packing.

Thoughts swirled in her mind like leaves caught in a gust of wind, chaotic and overwhelming.

How could she pack when her heart felt so heavy? The weight of unspoken words with Syafiq pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe. She folded a shirt, but her mind drifted back to their earlier conversation, the way they had danced around their feelings, each hesitant to take that crucial step.