The Bet & The Heart.

CHAPTER XI

Sofia nodded slowly, her heart heavy with the weight of their conversation. "I hope you take care of Aunt Emelda... and yourself while I'm gone," she said softly, her voice trembling. "And I hope you find joy in riding that motorcycle of yours. It deserves someone who can truly appreciate it." The reality of their separation felt crushing, and she longed to bridge the gap between them, even as the distance widened.

Syafiq's voice was laced with bitterness as he replied, "So, it's really happening, then? Nadhir as your husband? Just think about it—while you're here, crying over what we had, he'll be the one standing by your side, living the life I always wanted with you." The words hung in the air, a painful reminder of the reality they now faced. "You've made your choice, Sofia. I hope he can give you everything I couldn't."

In a fit of anger and heartbreak, Syafiq stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. The sound echoed like a final nail in their already fragile relationship. Alone in the silence, Sofia felt the weight of despair crash down on her.

She stumbled to the floor, her heart racing as tears streamed down her cheeks. The letters lay scattered around her, each one a painful reminder of the love that had once flourished between them. With trembling hands, she gathered them, her sobs growing louder with each piece she picked up.

The words she had penned, filled with love and longing, now felt like daggers piercing her heart. She clutched the letters to her chest, the ink smudging under her fingertips as she sank deeper into her grief. The reality of her choice settled in, heavy and suffocating.

"I never wanted this," she cried out, her voice breaking as she hugged the letters tight. "I never wanted to lose you."

Syafiq stormed out of the house, the weight of his anger propelling him forward as he paced the driveway. The world around him blurred as he struggled to process the hurtful words exchanged just moments before. His heart raced, fueled by a mix of rage and despair.

How could she do this to him? How could she stand there, looking so torn while being tied to someone else? He clenched his fists, recalling the letters he had seen—the intimate words meant for another. Each letter felt like a betrayal, every sweet memory they had shared now tainted by the knowledge that they had been shared with someone else.

He glanced at the motorcycle parked nearby, the machine he had poured his heart and soul into restoring. It had been a symbol of freedom, of escape—something he had always hoped to share with Sofia. Now, it felt like a cruel reminder of everything he had lost.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, kicking the gravel beneath his feet in frustration. He wanted to scream, to let the world know how betrayed he felt. His friends had warned him about getting too close, but he had ignored their advice, blinded by the connection he felt with Sofia.

As he leaned against the motorcycle, the cold metal pressed against him felt grounding. He closed his eyes, trying to quell the storm inside. Memories flooded back—her laughter, the warmth of her touch, the way she had looked at him as if he were everything. But now, that light was gone, overshadowed by the reality that she would soon be someone else's.

"I should've seen this coming," he whispered to himself, the pain of realization settling in. "Someone like her could never be mine," 

As Syafiq stood by the motorcycle, his mind racing, he felt an overwhelming urge to leave. The pain was too raw, too close to the surface, and he knew he couldn't stay in a place that reminded him of what he had lost. The sound of his own heartbeat thudded in his ears as he pushed himself off the bike, determined to put distance between himself and the house that held so many bittersweet memories.

He walked toward the street, the setting sun casting long shadows on the pavement. Each step felt heavy, as if the weight of his heartache was anchoring him to the ground. He wanted to escape—to find solace somewhere far away from the reminder of Sofia and her choices.