The night air was cool. Quiet. The streets were almost empty as Liam and Sofia walked side by side.
The soft glow of streetlights followed their steps. "…You went back," Sofia said casually. "…Yeah."
"…I figured." Liam glanced at her. "…You always figure things out." Sofia smiled faintly.
"Not always." "…You did this time." "…Maybe." Silence settled between them. But it wasn't uncomfortable.
It never really was. When it was just the two of them. "…So?" Sofia asked after a moment. "…So what?"
"…How do you feel?" Liam let out a small breath. "…Tired." Sofia laughed softly.
"That's honest." "…What about you?" he asked. "…What about me?" "…You heard everything."
"…I did." "…And?" Sofia looked ahead. The light from a streetlamp brushed softly against her face.
"…She's serious," she said. "…Yeah." "…More than before." Liam nodded slightly.
"…That's what makes it complicated." "…Is it?" He glanced at her. "…You don't think so?"
Sofia shrugged lightly. "…I think it just makes things clearer." "…Clearer?"
"…Yeah." She slowed her steps slightly. "…Before, she didn't understand anything."
"…Now, she's trying to." "…That's not confusion anymore." Liam frowned slightly. "…Then what is it?"
Sofia looked at him. "…A choice." The word landed quietly. But firmly. Liam stayed silent.
Because that meant. Sooner or later. Mandy would choose. "…And what about you?" Liam asked suddenly.
Sofia blinked. "…Me?" "…Where do you stand in all this?" The question was direct. Unexpected.
But real. Sofia stopped walking. Liam took a step ahead. Then stopped as well. "…That's a rare question from you," she said softly.
"…Just answer it." For once. Sofia didn't respond immediately. She looked down for a second.
Then back at him. "…I stayed," she said simply. Liam frowned. "…What does that mean?"
"…It means I didn't leave." "…That's not an answer." Sofia smiled faintly. "…It is."
She stepped a little closer. "…I was there before things got complicated." "…I'm here now that they are."
"…And I'll still be here after." Her voice was calm. But there was something deeper beneath it.
Something Liam wasn't used to hearing from her. "…Why?" he asked quietly. Sofia held his gaze.
"…Do you really need me to say it?" The question lingered. Liam didn't respond.
Because part of him. Already knew. Sofia let out a small breath. "…I like being with you."
Her answer was simple. Not dramatic. Not forced.
Just… real. "…That's all." Liam blinked slightly. "…That's not all." Sofia laughed softly.
"…You're right." She looked away briefly. Then back at him. "…But it's enough for now."
This time. It felt different. Because now. There was something unspoken between them. Something that hadn't been there before.
"…You're not going to ask for anything?" Liam said. "…Like what?" "…A chance." Sofia shook her head slightly.
"…No." "…Why not?" She smiled. "…Because I don't need to." Liam frowned.
"…That doesn't make sense." "…It does." She stepped past him slightly. "…I'm not here to compete."
"…Then what are you doing?" Sofia paused. Then answered quietly. "…I'm just staying." The words were simple.
But they carried a quiet confidence. Different from Mandy's urgency. Different from Mark's certainty.
Sofia wasn't chasing. She wasn't forcing anything. She was just… there. Liam watched her for a moment.
Then let out a small breath. "…You're really hard to read." Sofia smiled. "I know."
They continued walking again. Side by side. Same pace. Same quiet rhythm.
But now. Liam couldn't ignore it anymore. The feeling that. Things were changing. Not just around him. But with him too.