‎At exactly 4 p.m., Anthony was already waiting.

‎He had arrived early, though he would never admit it.

‎

‎He checked his phone again.

‎

‎Then the door opened.

‎

‎Sofia walked in.

‎

‎For a moment, Anthony forgot what he was about to say.

‎

‎She wasn't dressed to impress anyone. She simply looked beautiful.

‎

‎Sofia noticed him staring and smiled.

‎

‎“Why are you looking at me like that?”

‎

‎Anthony smiled back.

‎

‎“I was just wondering how I'm supposed to concentrate on coffee now.”

‎

‎She laughed and took the seat opposite him.

‎

‎The afternoon passed more quickly than either expected.

‎

‎They talked, laughed, teased each other, and discovered little things they hadn't learned from their late-night conversations.

‎

‎Anthony found himself watching her whenever she wasn't looking.

‎

‎Sofia noticed.

‎

‎She pretended not to.

‎

‎When they finally left the café, neither wanted the evening to end.

‎

‎So they walked.

‎

‎No particular destination.

‎

‎Just the two of them, talking beneath the evening sky.

‎

‎At one point, Sofia stopped.

‎

‎“Anthony?”

‎

‎“Hmm?”

‎

‎She looked at him for a moment.

‎

‎“Do you ever feel like you've known someone longer than you actually have?”

‎

‎Anthony smiled.

‎

‎“I'm starting to.”

‎

‎She looked away, hiding a smile of her own.

‎

‎They continued walking.

‎

‎When they reached her street, Sofia stopped again.

‎

‎“This is me.”

‎

‎Anthony nodded.

‎

‎For a few seconds, neither of them moved.

‎

‎There was something different in the silence.

‎

‎Something neither of them wanted to name yet.

‎

‎Anthony stepped a little closer.

‎

‎Sofia didn't move away.

‎

‎Their eyes met.

‎

‎Then Sofia smiled softly.

‎

‎“Goodnight, Anthony.”

‎

‎“Goodnight.”

‎

‎She turned and walked toward her house.

‎

‎After a few steps, she turned around.

‎

‎Anthony was still standing there.

‎

‎She smiled.

‎

‎He smiled back.

‎

‎Then she disappeared through the gate.

‎

‎Anthony walked away with a strange feeling in his chest.

‎

‎He knew he was beginning to fall for her.

‎

‎What he didn't know was that Sofia had stopped at the other side of the gate, leaning against it with her hand over her heart.

‎

‎She was smiling too.

‎

‎But the smile didn't last.

‎

‎Her phone rang.

‎

‎She looked at the screen.

‎

‎The number was unknown.

‎

‎She answered.

‎

‎She didn't say a word.

‎

‎Neither did the person on the other end.

‎

‎After a few seconds, the caller finally spoke.

‎

‎“You need to end this before Anthony finds out.”

‎

‎Sofia's smile disappeared.

‎

‎She looked back toward the road.

‎

‎Anthony was already gone.

‎

‎Her voice dropped to a whisper.

‎

‎“He can't find out.”

‎

‎The call ended.

‎

‎Sofia stood there in silence.

‎

‎Because whatever she was hiding from Anthony...

‎

‎was the one thing that could destroy everything between them.

‎

‎TO BE CONTINUED...