The sudden disclosure of Alex's identity left Sophia in an awkward situation. Her mind went blank, unable to process the unexpected revelation. For a moment, she stood frozen, trying to absorb the shock. Alex, noticing her discomfort, smiled gently and said, "Let's go; we need to meet the principal."
Sophia nodded blankly and followed him, her thoughts a whirlwind. As they walked, her mind gradually pieced together the morning's events, replaying the Board of Directors meeting in her head. She remembered one of the members questioning the credentials of Daniel—her childhood friend, Daniel. The realization hit her like a wave. "So, they were talking about my childhood friend, Daniel... And Alex Blackwood... He was Daniel's elder brother in school!"
She glanced at Alex, now seeing him in a new light. The memories of the thin, quiet boy from her childhood contrasted sharply with the mature, confident man walking beside her. He had been right in front of her all this time, yet she hadn't recognized him. A flush of embarrassment crept up her cheeks. But then again, how could she have? The boy she once knew had transformed into a man—no longer the skinny, quiet student, but a handsome, powerful figure in the business world.
Sophia silently scolded herself for not seeing it sooner, feeling a mix of embarrassment and surprise. As they continued toward the principal's office, Alex suddenly interrupted her thoughts, teasing, "Are you going to look at my face forever? Am I that handsome?" His unexpected comment made Sophia even more embarrassed. She quickly turned her head, mentally scolding herself for staring. Her thoughts raced—she needed some time to relax and process everything that had just happened.
After a moment, she mustered the courage to speak. "Mr. Blackwood, if you don't mind, may I leave for a bit? I wanted to visit the school, to immerse myself in those old memories."
Alex leaned in closer, making Sophia blush even more as she instinctively lowered her gaze to the floor. Noticing her reaction, Alex smiled, clearly enjoying her flustered state. "I will definitely mind it, Sophia," he said softly.
Hearing him call her by name, Sophia's head snapped up. She looked into his eyes, where she saw a depth of affection and tenderness that caught her off guard. In that moment, the confident man before her seemed to merge with the memory of the boy from school, the one every girl had secretly admired.
With a gentle but firm tone, Alex continued, "I will mind it, Sophia, if you visit the school by yourself. So, we're both going to see the principal, and after that, we'll explore the campus together and relive our memories here."
He paused briefly before adding, "And one more thing—from now on, I don't want to hear 'Mr. Blackwood' from you. Just call me Alex, like you used to."
Without waiting for her response, Alex took her hand in his, his touch both reassuring and possessive, and guided her toward the principal's office. Sophia's heart raced, a mix of emotions swirling within her—embarrassment, nostalgia, and a growing realization of the depth of Alex's feelings for her.
Alex and Sophia finally arrived at the principal's office. The principal, an elderly gentleman with kind eyes, greeted them warmly as they took their seats. Alex began discussing some school-related matters, maintaining his usual calm and composed demeanor.
After a brief conversation, Alex handed over a cheque, saying, "Sir, here is a contribution to the school from our side." He glanced at Sophia, who was sitting silently next to him, her mind still processing everything that had happened. Alex then turned back to the principal and continued, "In the future, if you ever need any kind of help, please don't hesitate to ask. I'll always be here to support the school."
The principal nodded appreciatively, clearly touched by Alex's generosity. "Thank you, Mr. Blackwood. Your support means a great deal to us."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Alex stood up and bid farewell to the principal. "Thank you for your time, sir. We'll take our leave now," he said, offering a firm handshake.
As they turned to leave, Alex added, "If it's alright with you, sir, we'd like to explore the school compound for a bit. It's been a long time since we were last here."
The principal smiled, nodding in approval. "Of course, Mr. Blackwood. Please, take your time. It's always a pleasure to see former students return and reminisce about their school days."
With the principal's permission, Alex and Sophia exited the office, ready to walk down memory lane together. As they stepped out of the principal's office, the school compound seemed to pull them into a time warp. Every corner, every turn held echoes of their childhood. The old oak tree by the entrance, the faded murals on the walls, even the distant sound of a bell ringing brought back memories long tucked away.
They walked slowly, side by side, taking in the sights that had once been their everyday world. As they passed by the gymnasium, Sophia couldn't help but smile. "This is where Daniel would always challenge everyone to basketball," she said softly, her eyes distant as she recalled the scenes. "He was so competitive, but he'd always let me win if I started to lose."
Alex chuckled, nodding. "Yeah, and then he'd come to me complaining about how he 'had to go easy' on you."
Sophia's smile widened, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "He was always such a show-off, but in the sweetest way."
They continued walking, the path leading them to the science building. Alex paused, looking at one of the classrooms through the window. "Remember this?" he asked. "This is where I tried to impress you both with that volcano experiment."
Sophia turned to him, a sparkle in her eyes. "Oh, I remember! It exploded and made such a mess. Daniel and I couldn't stop laughing, but you were so embarrassed."
"I was trying to be the cool older brother," Alex admitted, shaking his head at the memory. "But you two never let me live that one down."
Sophia's laughter filled the air, a light, joyful sound that seemed to blend with the warm sunlight filtering through the trees. "You were always cool to us, Alex. Daniel looked up to you so much. He never said it, but I could tell."
They moved on, finding themselves at the edge of the playground. The swings were still there, slightly rusted but standing strong. Sophia walked over, gently touching one of the swing chains. "We spent so much time here," she murmured. "Daniel would always try to swing higher than me, and you'd be there, making sure we didn't go too high."
Alex leaned against the swing set, watching her. "You two were inseparable. Even when Daniel was being a little brat," he said with a fond smile.
Sophia's expression softened as she sat on one of the swings. "He was my best friend," she whispered. "I used to think that nothing would ever change. That we'd always be here, just like this."
Alex didn't say anything for a moment, letting the silence stretch between them, filled with the weight of old memories. Finally, he spoke, his voice gentle. "I'm glad we're here now, reliving this. It feels like we've come full circle."
Sophia looked up at him, her eyes filled with emotion. "Thank you, Alex. For bringing me here, for everything. I didn't realize how much I needed this."
Alex stepped closer, resting a hand on the swing's chain, just above hers. "You're welcome, Sophia. And Daniel… he'd be happy to see you like this. To know that you remember him so fondly."
Sophia nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "He'll always be a part of me. Of us."
As they sat there in the quiet playground, the memories of Daniel seemed to wrap around them, binding them together in a way that only shared history could. Though Daniel wasn't physically there, his presence lingered in every laugh, every shared glance, and every whispered memory between Alex and Sophia.
As Sophia sat on the swing, her fingers still lightly gripping the chain, a sudden thought crossed her mind. She looked up at Alex, her expression earnest. "Alex, I want to talk to Daniel. Is it possible to talk to him right now?"
Alex paused, considering her request. The warmth of their shared memories hung in the air, and he could see how much reconnecting with Daniel meant to her. After a brief silence, he gently replied, "I'm sorry, Sophia, but it's late night in America right now. He's probably asleep."
Sophia's shoulders slumped slightly with disappointment, but she nodded in understanding.
"We'll call him tomorrow morning," Alex continued, his voice reassuring. "At that time, he'll be finishing up his day, having dinner. It'll be a good time to catch up."
Sophia smiled softly, feeling a mix of anticipation and contentment. "I'd really like that, Alex. It's been so long."
Alex returned her smile, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. "He'll be happy to hear from you, Sophia. Just like old times."