#167 “And You’re Still A Thorn in My Ass.”
Alexander took a few steps towards Sophia and shook his head in denial.
“I’m not leaving until we get this straight,” he stated. “I love you, Sophia, and I do not budge at the first difficulty.”
Sophia’s jaw tightened as she met his gaze, her resolve unyielding. “You may not leave, but I refused to talk to you. I needed peace right then,” she declared, her voice laced with frustration.
With a heavy sigh, Sophia headed for the kitchen, putting some distance between them. She could feel Alexander’s eyes on her, but she refused to look back. Pouring herself a glass of wine, she tried to calm her nerves, the bitterness of the situation lingering in the air.
Sophia looked over her shoulder and was glad Alexander wasn’t following her. He was sitting on her couch, angrily digging through his phone. Sophia retreated to her office, the familiar surroundings offering a temporary refuge from the turmoil of her emotions.
As she delved into her work, hours passed by unnoticed, the only indication of time’s passage being the soft glow of her laptop screen.
Eventually, exhaustion caught up to her, and Sophia realized it was already three in the morning. With a weary sigh, she decided to call it a night, but as she made her way to the bedroom, she noticed Alexander still asleep on the couch.
Despite her anger, Sophia couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt seeing him there. She grabbed a blanket and pillow, gently covering him before retreating to her bedroom. Before she could fully shut the door, she heard Alexander’s sleepy voice.
“No matter how much you say otherwise, you care about me, Sophia,” he murmured.
“I didn’t say that I didn’t care, but that I was terribly angry with you,” she replied softly. “Sleep, Alex.”
In the quiet of her room, Sophia tossed and turned, the events of the day weighing heavily on her mind. She contemplated inviting Alexander to join her, to seek comfort in his arms, but her pride kept her rooted in place.
The next morning, Sophia awakened to find Alexander in the kitchen, preparing breakfast for them both. The tension from the previous day lingered in the air, the unresolved conflict simmering beneath the surface.
“You’re still here,” Sophia remarked, her tone guarded.
“And you’re still a thorn in my ass. Now eat, love,” Alexander retorted, his voice laced with frustration as he took a seat at the table.
Sophia managed a small chuckle at his reply, a flicker of amusement breaking through the tension. “Should I be worried that you’ve poisoned my food? ” she joked, attempting to lighten the mood.
Alexander’s response was a mischievous grin, the hint of a playful spark in his eyes.
Their breakfast proceeded in silence, each bite punctuated by the weight of unresolved tension hanging in the air. Despite their attempts at levity, the underlying issues between them remained unaddressed, casting a shadow over their morning meal.
As Sophia sipped her coffee, she stole glances at Alexander, observing the way his brow furrowed with concentration as he ate. Despite her anger, she couldn’t deny the familiar warmth that his presence brought, a reminder of the bond they shared.
“Are you planning on staring at me all day, or are you going to eat?” Alexander’s voice cut through the silence, breaking Sophia out of her reverie.
Sophia offered him a wry smile, a mixture of irritation and amusement dancing in her eyes. “Sorry, didn’t mean to ruin your appetite,” she quipped, though the tension in her voice was palpable.
Alexander’s response was a soft chuckle. “Trust me, you couldn’t ruin my appetite if you tried,” he retorted, his tone teasing.
Despite the lingering unease between them, Sophia found herself relaxing slightly in Alexander’s presence. There was a comfort in their familiarity, a sense of belonging that transcended their current conflict.
After breakfast, Sophia and Alexander retreated to the living room, the weight of their conversation hanging heavily in the air. They both knew that they needed to address the issues between them, but neither was quite ready to broach the subject.
As they settled into the couch, Sophia could feel Alexander’s gaze on her, a silent question lingering between them. She met his eyes, her expression softening with unspoken understanding. For all their disagreements, there was a bond between them that couldn’t be easily broken.
“Look, Sophia, I know things got heated yesterday,” Alexander began, his voice tentative. “But I want you to know that I was here for you, no matter what.”
Sophia’s heart softened at his words, a wave of emotion washing over her. Despite their differences, she knew that Alexander meant well and that his intentions were rooted in love and concern.
“I know, Alex,” Sophia replied.” However, I was still angry.”
“Me too, I guess,” Alexander replied with a sigh. “I had to go to work, but we had to talk it out that night.”
“Okay,” Sophia agreed.
