The bell above the door chimed again, a sound that seemed to punctuate the tension that had been building inside the café. Sophie's heart leaped in her chest as she saw him—Jackim.
His entrance was commanding, as always. He had that presence, the kind that made the air feel heavier, the kind that demanded attention. The usual aura of confidence that surrounded him was unmistakable. He wore a dark leather jacket, the edges frayed, hinting at its age. His black jeans fit snugly, emphasizing the strength in his frame. Every step he took seemed calculated, purposeful, even though there was something in his expression tonight that was different.
His dark, almost black eyes scanned the room, quickly settling on Sophie. There was no mistaking the intensity in his gaze, the way it seemed to pierce right through her, as if he could read every thought, every secret she'd tried to bury. His shoulder-length dark hair framed his sharp features, making him appear even more dangerous in the dim light. His jaw was clenched, a slight tension visible in the way his lips pulled back into a tight line.
Sophie froze, caught between the past and present. For a moment, she thought she could still hear his voice in her mind, the echo of their last conversation—sharp, cutting, full of things left unsaid. And yet, here he was again, standing just a few feet away, and everything inside her wanted to run.
Jackim's eyes flicked to Julian, who remained seated, watching the unfolding scene with a quiet intensity. There was something between the two men, an unspoken understanding, one that neither of them cared to acknowledge aloud.
Fred, however, didn't need any acknowledgment. He had already stood up, his posture protective, almost defensive. He knew Jackim all too well, knew the storm that followed him wherever he went, and he didn't trust it. Not when it involved Sophie.
---
Sophie couldn't tear her gaze away from Jackim. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she could feel the weight of every single moment they had shared together coming crashing down on her. She wanted to say something, anything, but her throat was tight, her mind racing in a thousand different directions.
Her fingers tightened around her mug, the porcelain cool against her heated skin. Her thoughts were swirling. Should she tell him the truth? Should she confront him now? Or was this a moment she needed to let slip away into the shadows?
"Sophie," Jackim's voice cut through the air like a blade, low and almost imperceptible, but it was enough to freeze her in place. His tone was rough, edged with an emotion that she couldn't quite place. He wasn't angry—at least, not in the way she had expected—but there was something in his voice, something raw, that made her pulse quicken.
She slowly stood, her breath caught in her throat as her legs almost betrayed her with their weakness. She had to force herself to steady her voice, to look him in the eye, despite the weight of their shared history, the distance between them, and the confusion that clouded everything.
"Why?" she asked softly, her voice trembling ever so slightly. She didn't need to say more—Jackim knew exactly what she was asking.
His jaw tightened further, his gaze unwavering. The silence between them felt oppressive, the tension so thick that it was almost suffocating. The noise of the café seemed distant now, as if the world had momentarily faded away, leaving only the two of them standing in the aftermath of their own choices.
"I didn't come here to explain myself," Jackim finally spoke, his voice laced with a quiet intensity. "I came here because there are things I need to say. Things I should have said long ago."
---
Fred's eyes narrowed as he stood beside Sophie. His protective instincts kicked in, his body language immediately signaling his disapproval of the situation. He didn't trust Jackim, not after everything that had happened. Not after Sophie had been through so much because of him.
Jackim, for his part, met Fred's gaze with a silent challenge. The air crackled with tension, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them like a fragile thread ready to snap.
Sophie, however, remained focused on Jackim. She could feel the shift in him—there was something different about him tonight. The arrogance, the confidence, the coldness that had always defined him seemed tempered. But why? What had brought him here now, after everything that had happened?
"I don't need your explanations," Sophie said, her voice steadier than she felt. "I need the truth, Jackim. All of it."
---
The words seemed to hit him harder than she anticipated. Jackim's expression faltered for just a moment, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his usually composed features. But then it was gone, replaced by something more calculated, more guarded.
"I'm not the person you think I am," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Sophie's breath hitched. That was it? That was all he had to say for everything that had transpired between them? For all the promises he had broken, for all the lies he had told?
Before she could respond, Julian stood up, his tall frame casting a shadow over the table. He had been quiet, watching the scene unfold before him, but now his presence was unmistakable.
"I think it's time to leave, Jackim," Julian said, his voice calm but firm, like a barrier between the two of them. "Sophie doesn't need this right now."
---
Sophie was silent, caught in a whirlwind of emotions. Julian's protective stance made her heart flutter, but at the same time, she felt a pang of guilt. She wasn't sure what she wanted anymore. She wasn't sure what to feel when Jackim was standing there, this man who had been such a big part of her life.
But Jackim wasn't finished. He stood taller now, his frame imposing, his gaze still locked on Sophie, though there was a sense of vulnerability in his eyes that hadn't been there before.
"I don't care what you think, Julian," Jackim replied coldly, his tone sharpening as he directed his words at Sophie. "This is between me and her. You don't have a say in this."
Fred moved closer to Sophie, his body language protective. "You've said enough, Jackim," he said firmly, his voice cutting through the tension. "It's time you left."
---
Jackim didn't flinch at Fred's words. His gaze never wavered from Sophie, though there was a flicker of something—something softer—there. But the moment passed quickly.
"I came here because I owe you answers," Jackim said, his voice quieter now. "Not for me, but for you. For everything I've done."
Sophie's heart wavered. She wanted to be angry. She wanted to scream at him for all the pain, the heartbreak, the lies. But deep down, there was something else—a longing, a part of her that still wanted to believe in the person he used to be.
"Why now?" she asked, her voice small. "Why after everything?"
Jackim hesitated, his expression conflicted. "Because you deserve better than this. You deserve the truth."
---
The silence stretched between them again, but this time, it wasn't oppressive. It was as though the air had shifted, a moment of understanding flickering between them.
But that understanding was fleeting, shattered by the door opening once more. This time, the familiar click of heels signaled a new presence, one that would bring even more complications to their already tangled web.
---