The streets were quiet as Sophia and Wale walked back to the dorms. The festive chatter and laughter of their friends still echoed faintly in the distance, but here, under the streetlights, there was only the soft shuffle of their footsteps.
Sophia kept her gaze forward, her hands buried deep in her jacket pockets. The evening had been fun—more fun than she'd had in a long time—but now a familiar weight pressed down on her chest. Wale walked beside her, his easy presence a comfort.
"You've been quiet," he said after a while, his voice gentle.
Sophia glanced at him, hesitating. She debated brushing it off, but something in Wale's tone made her pause. He wasn't just asking out of politeness—he genuinely cared.
"It's nothing," she started, then sighed. "Actually, that's a lie. It's something."
Wale slowed his steps, giving her the space to continue. "What's on your mind?"
Sophia stopped walking altogether, leaning against a lamppost. The soft glow of the light illuminated her face, casting shadows under her tired eyes. She took a deep breath.
"I got a text earlier," she said, her voice low. "From a friend back in the UK. My ex has been trying to get in touch with me."
Wale frowned, his brow furrowing. "Your ex?"
"Yeah." Sophia wrapped her arms around herself, as if shielding herself from the memory. "We broke up over a year ago. He cheated on me. It was messy, and I thought I was done with it. But seeing his name pop up, even indirectly… it just brought everything back."
Wale's expression softened. "That's rough. I'm sorry you're dealing with that."
Sophia gave a small, humorless laugh. "It's not like I want him back or anything. It's just… frustrating. He thinks he can just waltz back into my life like nothing happened. And the worst part? A tiny part of me feels… I don't know, unsettled. Like I'll never really escape what he did to me."
She looked up at Wale then, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It messed with my head, you know? I used to trust people so easily. Now, it's like there's always this voice in the back of my mind telling me to be careful, to keep my guard up. It's exhausting."
Wale leaned against the lamppost beside her, his shoulder almost brushing hers. "I get it," he said softly. "I've been let down before too. It's not the same thing, but I know how hard it is to trust again. It's like you're always waiting for the other shoe to drop."
Sophia nodded, grateful for his understanding. "Exactly. And I hate that I let him have that power over me."
"You're stronger than you think, Sophia," Wale said, his voice steady. "It's okay to feel hurt—it means you cared. But don't let what he did define you. You're not the same person you were back then, and you don't owe him anything. Not your time, not your thoughts, not your trust."
Sophia looked at him, the sincerity in his words striking a chord deep within her. "You make it sound so easy," she said with a faint smile.
"It's not," Wale admitted. "But you don't have to go through it alone. You've got people who care about you—like me."
His words hung in the air, heavier than either of them had anticipated. Sophia's breath caught, her gaze lingering on his face. Under the streetlight, Wale's features were softened, his expression open and unguarded.
"Wale…" she began, but her voice trailed off.
He stepped closer, his hand brushing against hers. "Sophia, I'm not saying I have all the answers. But I'm here, okay? Whenever you need someone to talk to, or just… someone to be there."
Sophia felt her heart race, her defenses crumbling under his warmth. She hesitated for a fraction of a second before leaning in, her lips meeting his in a kiss that was both tentative and electric.
Wale froze for the briefest moment, startled, but then he responded, his hand moving to cup her cheek. The kiss deepened, slow and searching, as if they were both trying to convey what words couldn't.
When they finally pulled apart, their breaths mingled in the cool night air. Sophia's cheeks were flushed, her eyes wide with a mix of surprise and vulnerability.
"Sorry," she whispered. "I don't know what came over me."
Wale shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "Don't apologize. I'm not complaining."
Sophia laughed softly, the sound breaking the tension. "This wasn't how I expected tonight to go."
"Me neither," Wale admitted, his hand still lingering near hers. "But I'm not mad about it."
They stood there for a moment, the world around them fading away. For the first time in a long while, Sophia felt a flicker of hope—hope that maybe, just maybe, she could trust again.