Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)



Jason furrowed his brow but went with Jewel's preference, skipping the cream puffs and only picking up a box of durian-flavored pastries. Once they were heading back, he handed the paper bag to Jewel, "It's chilly out here, better to enjoy these back inside!"

The girl with Jewel exaggerated her tone, "Wow, talk about playing favorites, huh? Got something for Jewel and left me and Sophia out in the cold!"

Hearing this, Sophia turned around, catching Jason's gaze. She quickly smiled, "I'm not hungry, actually. My mom's been on my case about gaining weight over the holidays, so I think I'll skip the snacks tonight."

Finnian chimed in, "You're not overweight at all. Your mom just means she's been cooking up a storm, and you've been enjoying home cooking more than usual."

After a bit of laughter, their ride-share pulled up.

Jewel and Jason waved goodbye, "See ya around."

Jason simply nodded.

Sophia was genuinely surprised at this point. She knew Jason well enough to know that aside from work, he hardly ever chatted with girls over the phone. Had something changed between them after tonight?

She bid farewell to the others, got into the car, and took a seat next to Jason in the back.

Jason, having had a few drinks, leaned back, feeling a bit dizzy, and pretended to rest.

Sophia suddenly wanted to break the silence, "What do you think will happen to Bradon and Miranda?"

Jason pinched the bridge of his nose, replying in a low voice, "I've made some calls. They'll be facing multiple charges and will end up spending a few years behind bars."

Sophia nodded, "Zoey told me some things today about Robin."

Jason's brow furrowed involuntarily as he turned to look at her, a hint of tension in his eyes, "What about?"

In the dim light, Sophia didn't notice Jason's unease and simply said, "Zoey brought up that charity event, the one where I met Robin. Turns out, things weren't as I saw them."

She relayed the truth Zoey had shared with her.

Sophia laughed at herself, "It's ridiculous. I fell for a complete fraud, idolized him for years."

Jason visibly relaxed, "At least you know now, better late than never."

Sophia was frustrated, "I should've known sooner!"

"How did you feel when you heard it?" Jason looked into her eyes.

Sophia was honest, "Angry, and stupid!"

"Did it hurt?" Jason pressed.

After a moment, Sophia shook her head, "Not hurt, just angry."

Jason's eyes softened, "Silly, don't be mad. Maybe this is for the best."

"What's 'the best"?" Sophia muttered, looking down, "I wasted so much emotion, so much energy."

"You went through a whole relationship cycle: from crush, to love, to break-up. Only after did you learn the truth, which helped you move on from the pain." Jason fixed his gaze on her, "That's the best outcome."

Sophia considered his words, her eyes slightly teary, "Maybe you're right."

During her time with Robin, she'd felt

something was off, like she had

fallen for an illusion she had

vel.n

conjured up herself. And now, that illusion was shattered.

Jason asked, "Ready to head back to J City now?"

Sophia exhaled, a weight lifted, "Give it a couple of days. Finny mentioned someCòntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

wanting my feedback ed

fashion designs. I'll check those out before I leave."

Finishing her thought, she teased Jason, "What about you? Stuck here a bit longer?"

Understanding her insinuation and noticing her playful expression, Jason felt a pang of something deeper. He turned to gaze out at the night, silent.