Darkroom
Sophia had her back to Rocky, developing photos.
Rocky glanced at the countless strips of negatives hanging around the room and the clipped, drying photos. "Haven't seen your cousin around lately. Guess he's finally given up, huh?"
Sophia's body stiffened slightly. "Maybe."
Was he about to shed his role as her fake boyfriend?
Did that mean his attitude toward her would return to its old coldness and distance? Just the thought made her feel vaguely uneasy, her chest tightening.
"Then I suppose it's time for this fake boyfriend to bow out gracefully." It was about time. He had no intention of being her stand-in boyfriend forever, nor did he want her to think that all his care and tenderness were just an act—all because he was playing the part of her boyfriend.
What was coming would come, no matter how much she wished this moment would never arrive.
Sophia hid her emotions perfectly, replying as if nothing were wrong, "Yeah… Thank you for all your help lately. Without you, this would've dragged on forever." Her voice trembled almost imperceptibly.
She ought to extract herself from this sweet illusion sooner rather than later. But the tenderness, humor, and affection he'd shown after dropping his cold and distant facade had won her over, making her reluctant to let go. Even though she knew it was all an act, she'd still lost her heart to him.
She didn't want to share his tenderness and devotion with another woman—she wanted him all to herself.
But how? She had no idea.
Recalling every moment since they'd met only made her more discouraged. It seemed all she'd ever brought him was trouble. Maybe he wouldn't want anything to do with her ever again.
"I've overstayed my welcome. It's time I went back," she said. There was no reason for her to remain at his place anymore.
"That won't do." He had no intention of letting her leave.
Sophia was taken aback, spinning around to face him. "Why can't I move back to my own place?"
"Because I need your help," Rocky said with complete seriousness.
Help? With what? Sophia eyed him suspiciously.
She couldn't understand what a man who seemed capable of almost everything would need her to do, but she still agreed. "If it's within my abilities…"
"You can definitely do it," he assured her.
"What is it?" she asked, puzzled.
Rocky's green eyes softened as he gazed at her. "This time, it's my turn to need a girlfriend to put an end to Susan's endless harassment."
So now she was to pretend to be his girlfriend? Sophia hesitated.
She did want to stay by his side. She could help him. But she was afraid she'd only fall deeper. "But how long can you keep up the act? What if Susan pressures you to marry after a while?"
"Then we'll get married," he replied matter-of-factly.
She stared at him, stunned. "Marriage isn't a game. At most, I can pretend to be your girlfriend."
"Who said anything about pretending?" he clarified leisurely. "I said I need a woman to put an end to Susan's incessant harassment, and you're the only one who can make it happen."
"The only one?" She was confused. Why would he say that? "It's not like I'm the only woman in the world."
"But they're not the one I want." A captivating smile slowly spread across his face. He reached out and pulled her into his embrace, just as he always did. "You're the only one I want."
Sophia had intended to break free from his warm hold, but his sudden declaration hit her like a bomb, leaving her stunned and unable to react for what felt like an eternity.
He said he needed a girlfriend!
He said she was the only one!
He said she was the one he wanted!
Rocky chuckled softly, brushing a strand of her hair aside as he patiently waited for her to regain her composure.
From the moment he realized he cared about her and knew what he wanted, he hadn't hesitated.
Slowly, Sophia's scattered senses returned. She gazed blankly into his soft green eyes, then jolted again, stammering, "I—I don't understand what you mean."
He was pleased to note that she had grown quite accustomed to his embrace. "What I mean is, I want to keep you by my side forever and never let you go."
"Why?" she murmured, dazed. Then, as if something had occurred to her, her eyes lit up. Her lips parted several times, but no complete sentence emerged. "You… you…"
Rocky finished for her with a smile, "I like you."
"How… how is that possible?" she whispered.
"Why wouldn't it be?" he countered.
She stared at him, mesmerized, her emotions still unsettled. "When did you realize?"
"Realize what?" Rocky feigned ignorance.
"That you liked me." She felt as though she were floating on clouds, light and unsteady.
"After your cousin showed up," he answered truthfully before adding, "I volunteered to be your fake boyfriend for two reasons. First, to make my rival back off and admit defeat. Second, so I'd have an excuse to get closer to you—to narrow the distance between us and make you adapt to me, to my touch, without being able to refuse."
And the results hadn't disappointed him.
"So you were toying with me from the very beginning?" Sophia frowned, displeased, and glared at him.
He calmly explained, "How could that be called toying? I was finding a way to make you fall in love with me."
She jolted, suddenly feeling exposed and embarrassed. "Who—who said I fell in love with you?"
"It's fine if you won't admit it. I have a lifetime to wait for you to say it yourself."
She flushed and remained silent.
"But I remember that time you got caught in the rain, came down with a fever, and kept murmuring my name in your sleep, begging me not to leave." He spoke as if to himself, then teased her with a grin.
Instantly, Sophia felt all the blood rush to her face, her cheeks burning as if on fire. "Did I… say anything else?"
"A lot," he deliberately paused.
"Like what?" she asked, nervous.
"You also said you loved me deeply, that you'd never marry anyone but me in this lifetime… things like that." He made it up on the spot with a straight face.
In truth, she'd only murmured his name and begged him not to leave. The rest was his improvisation. After all, she'd been asleep and wouldn't remember.
Oh, how could she? She almost wished she could bury herself in a hole. How could she have said such embarrassing things in her dreams? She had no face left to see him. "Oh heavens, please don't say anymore," she groaned softly.
He seized the opportunity. "So you admit it?" He'd used a little trick, but it was harmless. Surely she wouldn't hold it against him.
She buried her face in his chest. "Mhm."
He smiled, holding her tighter. Though he couldn't predict who his other half would be, he was more certain than ever that the one he wanted was her—Sophia.