Maybe ...?
1121 Words
Arsenio gave another hug, his hands playing with her blonde hair lovingly, "i won't run away again, sofia. you don't have to be afraid anymore."
sofia's chest swelled to hear it.
those words ...
arsenio let go of his embrace, then landed a brief kiss on his forehead only a few seconds then smiled shyly, "see you in the evening, babe."
sofia didn't move from her spot until she saw him disappear from behind the penthouse door.
arsenic...
***
sofia drove her flying car with mixed feelings.
'is it possible for a person to fall in love with two people at the same time?'
sofia could no longer claim that the kisses were just a mistake. he had to admit that every time he did it with arsenio, he felt something, urgency.
i will not run away again. you don't have to be afraid anymore.
arsenio's words kept ringing in sofia's head.
'that's what i said before he left for indonesia.'
***
flash back
***
brack!
sofia opened the door so hard that she heard a loud bang against the wall, but damage to the door wasn't something she was worried about right now, seeing the many brown boxes in the room was her concern.
he wanted to prove mateo and abigail's words were a lie, but his hopes were crushed when he saw the chocolate boxes stacked on the wall.
"sofia?"
sofia glanced at arsenio's parents, then only him. he opened his lips, but no words came out as it was still hard to believe that he was leaving.
"maybe you can persuade, arsenio," faye said, she's been trying to persuade since knowing her son's wish, but failed.
"what for? it's his own wish, fay," denis disagreed with his wife's idea, "you know, he's always wanted to work with me rather than with—"
"hush," faye stopped her husband from saying further, "if you need anything, your dad and i are outside, okay?"
"i understand, mom," arsenio replied without any enthusiasm at all.
faye gave sofia a gentle smile before leaving with her husband out.
sofia stepped closer.
"hey." arsenio greeted with a small smile on the corner of his lips, "i thought you were going to the prom." he didn't think he would be here so early.
sofia furrowed her brows. when you've been caught red-handed like this still trying to act innocent like it's so disgusting, "cut the crap! what's the meaning of all this!?"
arsenio checked his surroundings before replying simply, "moving out...?"
"really, arsenal?" sofia said sharply. he is already angry like this he is still acting dumb?
arsenio sighed, then said, "what do you want from me? you knew this would happen."
"i didn't expect this at all! because we promised to work in the restaurant together!" sofia snapped angrily that she didn't keep their promise.
"you know what position i went to college for. being a manager wasn't my goal," arsenio said with a heavy sigh, "promise?
sofia didn't buy it. she would have believed if he had told her from the start instead of hiding it until she had to know this from others, "this must be about dominic, right? i told you i would take care of him!"
"this isn't about dominic!" arsenio denied coldly, "i have no reason to be here. you and our friends have found happiness on their own, so it's time for me to do it too."
sofia believed her suspicions even more when she noticed his aggressive response, "you don't have to go to indonesia to do that." he knew very well he was not very happy working there, he repeatedly said he wanted his father's family to open a branch in new york instead of working away from his parents and friends.
even though indonesia is a second home for him, arsenio can't stop thinking about that possibility because maybe with it, both his parents can live a harmonious relationship.
"sofia, it's not because of me, you or my parents, it's about finding myself," arsenio confessed, "so as a friend, i ask you to understand my decision."
sofia turned her face bitterly. for that one he couldn't answer, that's just what he heard.
"besides, you won't miss me too much, there is dominic who will always accompany you," arsenio said, shaking his head, not understanding why he was making his departure to indonesia bigger, "he could be—!"
slap!
arsenio lost for words got a slap on his left cheek. she didn't look at him even so, just holding her cheek which was throbbing in pain from the slap.
"you..." sofia started, her breath coming out of breath from all the emotions burning in her chest, "that's right. i won't miss you too much because dominic will replace you. he will be my new best friend. therefore, have fun in indonesia, don't take care of me here. run away from all your responsibilities!" he shouted with all his heart and soul, then left when he was done.
***
flashback done
***
sofia took a deep breath.
back then, what he meant by 'ran away' was purely about their friendship.
he didn't know that he loved her all along from his confession.
sofia took another deep breath.
junior high school.
sofia doesn't know how she can secretly love him all that time, with her playboy master acting, she always thought he was a ladies man.
much that doesn't make sense, but... she asks him to believe it.
believe if it relates to her feelings.
and sofia tried to believe him without a clear explanation.
'that kiss on the forehead really shook my deepest heart.'
the kiss was brief, but there was meaning other than determination alone, when he felt her lips tremble, he felt her fear if he chose not to trust her.
and ...
sofia is touched by it.
'but how can i still love him?'
sofia is sure after arsenio went to indonesia, dominic fully claimed his love, he doesn't even remember about his feelings for her a few days before, but now?
her feelings for him came like a storm, and she couldn't stop it.
'perhaps ... indeed that feeling hasn't gone away. just hiding?'
remembering how sofia tried to forget arsenio.
'i need reassurance. i need dominic.'
he can't be like this.
he wants to end this feeling of dilemma.
sofia parked her car in the restaurant parking lot, she took her cell phone to call someone. he calmed his pounding heart as he waited for the call to be picked up.
[hello?]
sofia was relieved to have the phone picked up, that meant she wasn't so mad at him anymore, "dominic, we need to talk, just the two of us."
- Writer
