Chapter 5 STRANGE FEELINGS

Sophia sat at her design table, surrounded by sketches and fabric swatches, but her mind felt blank. She was supposed to create something stunning for the President's Wife charity event, but inspiration seemed to elude her.

Staring at the empty page in front of her, she sighed, tapping her pencil against the table. "What am I going to do?" she muttered to herself. "I need something unique, something that will wow everyone."

She glanced at the sketches she had already made, feeling frustrated. They all seemed too ordinary, lacking the flair she wanted. "Maybe I should take a break," she thought, standing up to stretch.

As she walked around her studio, she started to think about the theme of the event. "It's about hope and unity," she reminded herself. "I need to capture that in my designs."

Suddenly, an idea sparked in her mind. She rushed back to her table, grabbing a fresh sheet of paper. "What if I incorporate elements that symbolize togetherness? Colors that represent diversity?"

With renewed energy, Sophia began to sketch, her creative flow finally returning as she envisioned a stunning gown that would embody the spirit of the charity event.

Sophia was deep in thought, a new sketch taking shape on her pad, when the door to her studio swung open. Ruth, her assistant, walked in, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"You look like you're in the zone," Ruth said, her voice a playful whisper. "What's brewing?"

Sophia smiled, gesturing towards her latest design. "I think I finally got it. Something that captures the essence of the event."

Ruth peered at the sketch, nodding approvingly. "That's beautiful, Soph. I knew you'd come up with something amazing."

But then her smile faltered, and she lowered her voice. "Speaking of amazing, you won't believe who showed up at my place earlier."

Sophia raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Who?"

"Aiden," Ruth said, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. "He came by, looking all forlorn and lost. I think he was hoping for some comfort after that... incident with you."

Sophia's jaw dropped. "He went to your place? After what happened?"

Ruth nodded, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Oh, I gave him comfort alright. But not the kind he was expecting."

She paused, relishing Sophia's bewildered expression. "I gave him a piece of my mind, let him know exactly what I thought of his behavior. Then I sent him packing, tail between his legs."

Sophia burst out laughing, shaking her head in amusement. "Ruth, you are incredible! I knew you wouldn't let him get away with that."

"Well," Ruth shrugged, her eyes sparkling, "someone had to stand up for you."

Sophia leaned back in her chair, feeling a surge of gratitude for her assistant. "Thanks, Ruth. You're the best."

"Anytime, Soph," Ruth replied, her voice filled with warmth. "Now, let's get back to work. We have a charity event to conquer!"

With a shared laugh, they both settled back into their work, the earlier tension dissipating in the face of their shared passion and friendship.

****************

Aiden stared out the window, the cityscape a blur of steel and glass. His mind was a tangled mess of emotions, a cocktail of anger, frustration, and a lingering sense of hurt. He had been rejected, dismissed, and it stung. He couldn't believe he had let himself get so entangled with Sophia, his mind on their last encounter,how her boobs and arse were protruding even in the joggers she was wearing,he felt himself getting hard and he hissed in annoyance and frustration,he has never felt regret in his life but bullying or fat shaming Sophia is now on his list of regrets

A knock on the door startled him. "Come in," he mumbled, turning back to his desk, his face a mask of stoicism.

The door opened, and José, his closest friend and confidante, walked in, his usual jovial demeanor tempered with concern.

"Hey, man," José said, his voice low and gentle. "You okay?"

Aiden shrugged, unable to meet his friend's gaze. "Just a bit... off."

"Yeah, I figured," José replied, settling into the chair across from Aiden's desk. "You've been like this all week. I know you're hurting, man. But come on, spill it. What's going on?"

Aiden sighed, the weight of his emotions pressing down on him. He recounted his encounter with Sophia, his attempt to apologize, the way she had shut him down, her cold words echoing in his ears.

José listened patiently, his expression a mixture of understanding and annoyance. "That's a real low blow, man. She's not exactly known for her patience, but she's usually more... open to dialogue."

"Yeah, well, not this time," Aiden said, his voice laced with bitterness. "I think I messed up big time."

"Look, I know it hurts," José said, placing a hand on Aiden's shoulder. "But you gotta remember, she's still hurting too. You both made mistakes. Maybe some time apart is what you both need."

Aiden nodded slowly, the weight of his friend's words sinking in. "You're right," he said, his voice weary. "Maybe I just need to give her some space."

José smiled, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "That's the spirit, man. You'll be okay. And you know what? You're not the only one who's been hurt in all this. Don't forget that."

Aiden looked at his friend, a silent gratitude filling his heart. He knew José was right. He needed to focus on himself, to heal, to learn from his mistakes. But he also knew, deep down, that his feelings for Sophia were far from extinguished.

"Thanks, José," he said, a faint smile gracing his lips. "You're a good friend."

José grinned, giving Aiden a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Always got your back, man. Now, how about we grab some coffee and forget about this mess for a while?"

Aiden nodded, a sense of relief washing over him. He was still hurting, but with José by his side, he knew he could weather this storm.

**********

They walked out of the office building, the crisp autumn air invigorating after the stuffy confines of Aiden's workspace. José, ever the optimist, was already planning their coffee order, rattling off his usual latte request.

Aiden, however, was still lost in thought, replaying Sophia's words in his mind. He was trying to push the hurt aside, to focus on José's words about healing and moving on.

Suddenly, a voice, high-pitched and overly enthusiastic, cut through his thoughts. "Aiden! Is that you?"

Aiden turned, his brow furrowing in confusion. He scanned the faces around them, trying to place the voice. His gaze landed on a woman, standing a few feet away, her hand outstretched in greeting. Her face was round, her features obscured by layers of makeup, and her once-slim figure now encased in a shapeless, brightly colored dress.

He stared at her, his mind struggling to make the connection. He had never been good with faces, and this woman looked nothing like the girl he had dated in high school.

"Uh... hi," he stammered, his voice hesitant. "I'm sorry, but I don't..."

"It's me, Melissa!" the woman exclaimed, her smile widening, revealing a set of uneven teeth. "From high school? We dated for a while, remember?"

Aiden's mind raced, trying to pull up a memory, any memory, of this woman. He had dated Melissa in high school, but this... this was not the girl he remembered. The girl he remembered had been petite, with long, dark hair and a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Oh, right," he said, forcing a smile. "Of course, Melissa. It's just... you've changed a lot."

"Yeah, I know," Melissa said, her voice tinged with a hint of self-consciousness. "I've gained some weight. But I'm happy, you know? I'm finally comfortable in my own skin."

Aiden nodded, feeling a pang of awkwardness. He didn't know what to say. He had always been polite, but he wasn't sure how to handle this encounter. He glanced at José, hoping for some help, but José was already walking away, shaking his head and muttering something about "needing coffee."

"So," Melissa continued, her voice now a bit quieter. "What are you up to these days?"

Aiden felt a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach. He wanted to escape, to disappear, but he couldn't just walk away. He was stuck, trapped in this awkward conversation with a woman he barely recognized.

"I'm... I'm doing okay," he said, his voice flat. "Working, you know, trying to figure things out."

"That's great," Melissa said, her voice laced with a hint of forced cheerfulness. "I'm working at a bakery now. It's fun, really."

Aiden nodded, feeling a wave of pity wash over him. He wanted to be kind, to offer words of encouragement, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter was more about her than him. He felt a sense of relief when she finally excused herself, saying she had to get back to work.

He watched her walk away, her figure disappearing into the crowd. He sighed, feeling a strange mixture of sadness and relief. He had a strange sense of guilt, a feeling that he should have been more supportive, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this was a moment he wanted to forget.

"Man, that was rough," José said, his voice laced with amusement. "I thought you were going to faint."

Aiden laughed, a forced, nervous laugh. "I don't know what happened to her," he said, shaking his head. "It was like seeing a ghost."

"Well, at least you got your coffee," José said, holding up his latte. "Now, let's forget about that whole mess and enjoy our day."

Aiden nodded, taking a sip of his coffee, the bitterness a welcome distraction from the strange encounter. He knew that he needed to focus on himself, to move forward, to find his own path. But the memory of Melissa's face, a warped reflection of the girl he once knew, lingered in his mind, a reminder of the strange, unexpected twists and turns life could take.