‎The next morning, Anthony woke up to a message from Sofia.

‎“Good morning.”

‎

‎He smiled before replying.

‎

‎“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

‎

‎She took a little longer than usual to answer.

‎

‎“Not really.”

‎

‎Anthony noticed the difference immediately.

‎

‎Something was wrong.

‎

‎They had spoken almost every day since they met, and he had already learned that Sofia was not good at hiding her emotions.

‎

‎He asked if she was okay.

‎

‎She said she was.

‎

‎Anthony didn't believe her.

‎

‎Later that afternoon, they met again.

‎

‎Sofia looked beautiful, but there was something different about her. She smiled when she saw him, yet her eyes seemed somewhere else.

‎

‎Anthony reached for her hand.

‎

‎She held it.

‎

‎For a moment, everything felt normal again.

‎

‎They walked together, laughing about the little things they usually talked about.

‎

‎But every now and then, Anthony caught Sofia staring at him.

‎

‎Not the way she normally did.

‎

‎This time, it felt like she was trying to memorize his face.

‎

‎“What?” Anthony asked with a smile.

‎

‎“Nothing.”

‎

‎She looked away.

‎

‎Anthony squeezed her hand.

‎

‎“You've been saying ‘nothing’ a lot lately.”

‎

‎Sofia smiled faintly.

‎

‎“Maybe there's just nothing to say.”

‎

‎But there was.

‎

‎She knew it.

‎

‎And Anthony could feel it.

‎

‎They eventually sat together beneath a tree as the evening breeze moved gently around them.

‎

‎Sofia rested her head on his shoulder.

‎

‎Anthony looked down at her.

‎

‎He wanted to tell her how much he had started to care about her.

‎

‎Instead, he simply held her closer.

‎

‎Sofia closed her eyes.

‎

‎For a few quiet moments, neither of them spoke.

‎

‎Then she whispered,

‎

‎“Anthony…”

‎

‎“Hmm?”

‎

‎“If you ever found out something about me that you didn't like, would you leave?”

‎

‎Anthony turned toward her.

‎

‎“Why would I?”

‎

‎She lifted her head.

‎

‎“I don't know. Just answer me.”

‎

‎Anthony looked into her eyes.

‎

‎“I'd want to hear the truth first.”

‎

‎Sofia's eyes became wet.

‎

‎She quickly looked away.

‎

‎Anthony noticed.

‎

‎“Sofia…”

‎

‎She shook her head.

‎

‎“I'm fine.”

‎

‎But she wasn't.

‎

‎There was something she wanted to tell him.

‎

‎Something she had been carrying long before the night they met in the rain.

‎

‎She opened her mouth.

‎

‎“Anthony, there's something about—”

‎

‎Her phone rang.

‎

‎Sofia froze.

‎

‎She looked at the screen.

‎

‎The same unknown number.

‎

‎Her expression changed instantly.

‎

‎Anthony noticed.

‎

‎“Who is it?”

‎

‎She rejected the call.

‎

‎“No one.”

‎

‎A second later, a message arrived.

‎

‎Sofia opened it.

‎

‎Her hands began to tremble.

‎

‎Anthony gently reached for her hand.

‎

‎“What happened?”

‎

‎She locked her phone.

‎

‎“Nothing.”

‎

‎But this time, Anthony didn't smile.

‎

‎He knew she was hiding something.

‎

‎That evening, after they said goodbye, Anthony watched Sofia walk away.

‎

‎She turned around once.

‎

‎Their eyes met.

‎

‎Then she disappeared around the corner.

‎

‎Anthony stood there for a moment before heading home.

‎

‎When he got into his car, his phone vibrated.

‎

‎Unknown Number.

‎

‎He opened the message.

‎

‎There was only one sentence.

‎

‎“You really think Sofia met you by accident?”

‎

‎Anthony stared at the screen.

‎

‎His heart began to race.

‎

‎He read the message again.

‎

‎“Ask her what happened seven years ago.”

‎

‎He didn't understand what it meant.

‎

‎But one thing was certain.

‎

‎Whoever sent that message knew something about Sofia that she wasn't ready to tell him.

‎

‎TO BE CONTINUED...

‎