The Truth

His name appeared boldly on her screen.

Julian.

She stared at it for a while before turning to Lara and then holding out her phone to show her the screen.

"What do you want to do?" Lara asked, hoping her friend wouldn't forget everything she had been through and return to Julian all in the name of love.

Sophie looked like she was caught between her heart and mind. She dropped her head to the ground, the phone still ringing loudly.

"I should pick it up." She muttered and Lara's heart dropped instantly. She opened her mouth to argue when Sophie suddenly looked up and smiled.

A genuine smile.

"But I won't." She said, her face bright as she finally chose herself after so many years.

"He can go fuck himself now. I'm done with him." She added with a large grin.

Not caring where they were, Lara cheered loudly, hugging her friend tightly.

"Finally!" She cried. "I have waited for this moment for so long. Let's get you on that plane."

*

*

*

Julian watched the call ring but no answer came. This had never happened before.

He didn't call Sophie often, but when he did, she always picked up immediately, almost as if she were afraid he would leave her if she didn't.

She was always the one running after him.

'She must not be with her phone.' He thought, convincing himself that the Sophie he knew would never ignore her calls.

"I'll give her a serious warning once she returns. This is unacceptable behaviour." He said and dialed her number again.

This time, it didn't even ring.

His face twisted in confusion.

There's no way she would actually...

"Are you still trying to call her?" Serena spoke from behind him, sounding almost annoyed. She could not believe he was still trying to reach out to Sophie even after handing her the divorce papers.

Maybe it was because he had lived with her for so long. It was starting to seem like he was getting attached.

Julian turned, hiding his annoyance and putting on a smile. "I was just wondering why she hasn't returned. You know she has nowhere else to go."

Serena's fist clenched. "You don't have to worry about that. You aren't married to her anymore."

Julian nodded. "Of course. You're right." He said and slid his phone into his pocket.

Serena took a deep breath, calming herself before she got too angry. "I know you're worried about her because she's my sister but you don't have to worry. Sophie has nowhere to go. She will return to the house sooner or later."

"She is alone in this world. Where can she go?"

*

*

A Week Later

Julian woke up to an empty house yet again. What started as a mere joke had turned into something serious and he was now sure she had really left.

As much as he hated it, he found himself missing her presence in the house. He saw it as nothing, claiming it was because he was used to her being at his beck and call. A routine he had grown used to.

It was only after she left that he started noticing how much she contributed to the house and how disorganized he was without her.

Still, he refused to admit it. He told himself that what he needed wasn't Sophie but a wife. And, in a few months, he would be married to Serena. His one true love.

"Still sleeping?" Serena's voice came as she peeked through the door, a wide smile on her lips.

"Serena?" He shifted, sitting up. "When did you get here?" He asked.

"A while ago." She said, making her way towards him. I got breakfast ready for you. Be down in twenty minutes." She said before planting a kiss on his forehead and walking out.

"This is it. I don't need Sophie. Serena is all I need." He smiled before jumping into the shower.

Twenty minutes later, he was halfway down the stairs when he saw Serena at the dining table, plating their meal.

She had prepared eggs, waffles, bacon, and orange juice.

"My favorite." He smiled as he sat down, getting ready to eat.

"Come here." He opened his arms and planted a lingering kiss on her lips.

Giggling like a teenager, she went to her seat and began eating.

The moment the eggs touched his taste buds, he gagged.

He had never tasted anything that bad before. Hoping it was just the eggs, he tried the waffles only to see that it was even worse. The bacon wasn't any better and even the orange juice tasted off.

How do you mess up orange juice?!

He might not have loved Sophie but he had always loved her cooking and didn't eat out much because she was a phenomenal cook.

How was he going to survive on such food for the rest of his life?

"Do you like it?" Serena asked and he forced a nod.

'Fuck me'. He muttered under his breath as he forced himself to take a few bites.

Later that day, he sat in the private area of a club with a few of his friends.

"Well, you look like shit," Felix said. He was known for having a sharp mouth and never filtering his words.

"Tell me about it," Zane added. "Do you miss her that much? I thought you didn't love her?" He asked and they all laughed.

"I don't love her," Julian answered with a scowl. "And fuck no. I don't miss her either."

"I would miss her too, bro." Felix laughed. "Free pussy, a fine face, and a good cook? What's not to miss?"

"You shouldn't have divorced her because of Serena. You don't even know if Serena is still the same. It's been years, man." Zane said, shaking his head.

Unlike the rest of the world, Zane and Felix were the only ones who liked Sophie. They had visited Julian's house too many times to know how good a person she was.

It always marveled them how she was always labelled as the bad sister. But, with their friend being blindly in love with Serena, there wasn't much they could do.

"I love Serena and that is never going to change. Sophie was only a replacement. Now that Sophie is back, it's only right she leaves." Julian defended, gulping an entire glass of whiskey.

Felix and Zane shook their heads. "You don't even sound like you believe that."

"It's the truth!" He slammed his fist on the table, his eyes bloodshot red. "I love Serena! She saved my life. How could I not love her?"

The room went quiet. No one said a word. They just stared at their friend.

Then, Felix broke the silence.

"What are you talking about?" He asked, his brows furrowed.

Julian took a deep breath, calming himself. "Eight years ago. When I was pushed into the river on that field trip, it was Serena who saved my life. I would be dead if not for her."

He explained, ruffling his hair with a sad look on his face.

Felix and Zane exchanged a look. Then, Zane blinked.

"And that is why you think you should love her?" He asked and Julian shook his head.

"She loved me enough to risk her life and save me."

Felix gasped, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're saying that all these years, you have only loved her because you thought she saved your life?"

Julian raised his head, now starting to sense that something was wrong.

"You idiot!" Felix snapped. "Serena couldn't even swim eight years ago! She never took swimming lessons with Sophia because they were 'too difficult'."

Julian felt like a hand had entered his chest and squeezed his heart. He looked up in shock, his eyes widened.

"W-what do you mean?" Julian stuttered.

Zane shook his head, completely disappointed in his friend. Then, he leaned in so that he would hear him clearly.

"If that is your reason for loving Serena then you are the biggest fool I know and you have believed a lie for eight whole years..."

Julian's brows creased, his heart racing.

"...because Serena didn't save you that day. Sophie did."