The Bet & The Heart.

CHAPTER IX

The following morning, Sofia sat alone in her room, the quiet stillness pressing in around her. A half-open scrapbook lay on the desk, its pages empty and waiting, much like the uncertain days that stretched out before her. She traced the edge of the cover with trembling fingers, as if searching for the courage to begin. In just a few days, she would be leaving, and the thought of walking away without leaving something behind felt unbearable. She needed to create something meaningful—something that would capture what words couldn't, a silent testament to the time she had spent with Syafiq.

The air was heavy with a sense of finality, a bittersweet mix of love and regret. As Sofia reached for the first photo—a picture of the cliff where they had gone diving together—she couldn't help but recall how different things had been in the beginning. When she first arrived, Syafiq had been distant, his kindness cool and measured, as though he was keeping her at arm's length. There was a guardedness in his gaze, a hesitation in his voice that made her wonder if he had already made up his mind about her before she even had a chance.

Yet as the days passed, that coldness had thawed, little by little. She remembered the thrill of diving into the water below, the feel of his steady hand pulling her up after the plunge. She had started to see a different side of him—one that made her hope there was something real between them, something more than just fleeting moments.

She recalled a conversation they had shared, where Syafiq had admitted that he felt there weren't any significant memories in his life. His words had stuck with her, igniting a determination within her. She hoped that she had changed his mind, that their moments together had been significant and meaningful enough.

Sofia began to fill the scrapbook, not just as a way to hold onto the past, but to leave a part of herself behind—a reminder for Syafiq of what they had shared. Each photo and memento she added felt like an act of faith, a silent wish that he would understand what she couldn't bring herself to say out loud. There were the daisies they had planted together, a symbol of the delicate bond they had nurtured, the flyer from the night festival where they had strolled through the crowd, lost in the moment. There was also the comforting aroma of kuih seri muka that still lingered in her memory, a taste of the warmth they had created in the kitchen together.

As she filled each page, she couldn't ignore the ache that settled deep in her chest. The scrapbook wasn't just about remembering the good times; it was also about coming to terms with what had been lost and what could never be. It was a final gift, an unspoken goodbye, and a hope that even if she had to leave, a part of her would remain in the life she was about to leave behind—a hope that he would find the significance he was searching for within the pages of her heart.

With a trembling hand, Sofia took a deep breath and closed the scrapbook, feeling the weight of her emotions settle around her. The letter she had written for him was already in his room, waiting for the right moment to be discovered. It was her heart laid bare, a confession of everything she had felt but couldn't say out loud.

With the scrapbook securely tucked under her arm, Sofia made her way toward Syafiq's room, her heart racing with anticipation and anxiety. She needed to give him something important before she left. But as she reached the living room, her aunt looked up from her knitting, a knowing smile on her face.

"Are you looking for Syafiq?" her aunt asked, a hint of encouragement in her voice.

"Yes, I need to give him something," Sofia replied, trying to sound confident, but the words felt heavy in her throat.

Her aunt's expression shifted slightly. "Oh, sweetheart, he's not in his room right now. He just left for work a little while ago."

Sofia's heart sank at the news. A mix of sadness and relief washed over her. On one hand, she was disappointed that she wouldn't see him, that she would have to wait longer to share her thoughts and feelings. But on the other, a small part of her was grateful for the reprieve. The thought of facing him, of revealing everything in that moment, felt overwhelming.