Chapter 19: The Storm Within

Shobie and Aya stood in the quiet embrace of each other, the world outside fading away as they shared a moment of peace. The warmth between them, the soft touch of their hands, and the comfort of their closeness felt like a refuge from everything else. But that moment was abruptly broken by the sharp ring of Shobie's phone.

Shobie pulled away slightly, reaching into her pocket. As soon as she saw the name on the screen, her face paled.

"Why is he calling?" she muttered under her breath, a sense of dread creeping up her spine. But before she could even press decline, her phone vibrated with an alert. A notification popped up.

Aya glanced over, her eyes narrowing. "What's going on?"

Shobie's fingers froze, her face hardening as she scrolled through the social media post that had just gone viral. It was Theo, sharing private details of their relationship, mocking their bond, and attacking the connection between Shobie and Aya. He ridiculed their gender, calling it unnatural, trying to make a spectacle of them both.

Tears welled up in Shobie's eyes, her breath quickening as the post spread like wildfire, with countless comments either defending them or viciously criticizing their love. She felt her chest tighten, the sting of humiliation hitting her heart.

"No, no," Shobie whispered, her voice trembling. "Why would he do this to us?"

Aya stepped forward, her hand gently brushing Shobie's cheek, wiping away the tear that had escaped. "Hey, don't let him get to you. You know this doesn't define you. It doesn't define us."

Shobie shook her head, her tears falling freely now. "I can't believe this. How can he be so cruel? I didn't deserve this. We didn't deserve this."

Aya wrapped her arms around her, pulling her in for a tight embrace. "Shobie, look at me," she whispered softly. "You are not alone in this. I'm here. We're stronger than this. He's just trying to tear us apart, but we're not letting him."

Shobie leaned into the warmth of Aya's embrace, her tears softening, her anger still boiling beneath the surface. "I hate feeling like this. I'm so angry… and embarrassed. I don't know how to handle it."

Aya stroked her hair, her voice calm and steady. "I know. It hurts. But we won't let his hate win. You're beautiful, Shobie. What we have is beautiful. No matter what anyone says, no one can take that from us."

Shobie lifted her head slightly, her eyes meeting Aya's with a mixture of pain and gratitude. "I don't know what I'd do without you. You're the only one who makes me feel like I'm worth something."

Aya smiled gently, her fingers brushing against Shobie's face. "And you are worth everything to me. I'm not going anywhere. No matter how loud the world gets, I'll always be here, holding you up."

Shobie let out a shaky breath, a small smile pulling at the corners of her lips. "Thank you, Aya. I don't think I could face this without you by my side."

Aya pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "We're in this together. Always."

They stood there in silence for a moment, the weight of the world outside pressing on them, but in this moment, with Aya's warmth surrounding her, Shobie felt a little less alone.

And that was enough for now.