The rooftop was empty. Quiet. Only the sound of the wind filled the air. Mandy stood near the railing, staring out at the fading sky.
The sun was slowly setting again. Painting everything in soft orange and gold. …Why does it hurt this much?"
Her voice was barely a whisper. She pressed her hand against her chest. That same feeling.
But stronger now. Clearer. And impossible to ignore. "…I didn't even understand it before…"
Her fingers tightened slightly. "…So why does it feel like I lost something important?" The question echoed in her mind.
Over and over again. She closed her eyes. And once again. Memories surfaced.
Liam standing quietly beside her. Liam helping without being asked. Liam looking at her like she mattered.
Always there. Always close. "…And I didn't notice…" Her voice cracked slightly. "…Not until he was gone."
A tear slipped down her cheek. Then another. She didn't try to stop them. Because now. She understood.
At least… part of it. "…I liked that version of you…" Her words trembled. "…The one who stayed."
But that version. Didn't exist anymore. Not for her. "…And I'm the reason, aren't I…?" The realization hurt the most.
Because it wasn't sudden. It wasn't random. It was something she had ignored. Something she didn't respond to.
Something she didn't understand. Until it was too late. Mandy slowly sank down to the ground, hugging her knees. "…This is my fault…"
Her voice was soft. Broken. Because now. She wasn't confused anymore. She just… didn't know what to do with the truth.
Meanwhile. Back in the classroom. Sofia returned quietly. Liam sat in his seat, staring out the window again.
But this time. His expression wasn't calm. "…You didn't have to leave," he said without looking at her.
Sofia smiled slightly. "I wanted to." She walked back to her seat and sat down beside him. "…So?" she asked. "…So what?" "…Do you feel better now?" Liam paused.
"…I don't know." That answer was honest. Too honest. Sofia leaned back slightly in her chair.
"…You're lying to yourself again." Liam frowned. "…I'm not." "You are." Her voice was calm.
But certain. "…You said what you needed to say."."…Yeah."
"…But that doesn't mean you're okay."
Silence. Because again. She was right. Liam let out a small breath. "…I just didn't want things to go back to how they were."
"…Why?" "…Because it wasn't real." Sofia looked at him. "…What do you mean?" Liam's gaze lowered slightly.
"…She didn't understand anything." "…And that bothered you?" "…Of course it did." His voice tightened just a little.
"…I was there for her all the time…" "…And she never saw it." The words came out before he could stop them.
Honest. Frustrated. Real. Sofia didn't interrupt. She just listened. "…So I stopped," Liam continued quietly.
"…Because staying like that…" He paused. "…hurt more." Silence filled the space between them.
Then. "…That makes sense," Sofia said softly. Liam glanced at her. "…It does?"
She nodded. "…But you're still affected." "…Obviously." "…Then don't pretend you're not."
Liam didn't respond. Because there was nothing to argue with. "…You don't have to go back," Sofia added.
"…But you also don't have to run away completely." Liam leaned back slightly in his chair.
"…You make it sound simple." "It's not." She smiled faintly. "…But it's honest." Liam looked at her for a moment.
Then. "…You've changed too," he said quietly. Sofia blinked. "…Oh?"
"…You understand things better now." She laughed softly. "I had to."
"…Why?" She looked at him for a second. Then looked away. "…Because I didn't want to miss things again."
Liam didn't ask what she meant. But somehow. He felt like he understood. At least a little.
Back on the rooftop.
Mandy wiped her tears slowly. The sky had darkened now. The sun was gone. "…I can't stay like this," she whispered.
Her voice was shaky.
But determined. "…I have to understand this." Not for anyone else. But for herself.
Because now. Running away from her feelings. Was no longer an option.