Under the Moonlight

Sofia was scared. Her fingers trembled as she checked her phone every minute, eyes darting to the screen with anticipation and dread.

Every time a message came, her heart pounded violently.

She saw Darwin walking ahead of her. On any other day, she would have teased him, maybe called out to him playfully. But today, she just couldn't. Her mind was elsewhere.

Darwin stopped and glanced at her. Their eyes met for a brief second before Sofia quickly looked away, blinking back tears. Without a word, she changed her route.

"What's up with her? She's acting so different today." Darwin thought, frowning, before continuing on his way.

Evening came, and Sofia was still glued to her phone.

A new message popped up:

"Wear your bodycon mini dress with a structured blazer and high heels. Then come to this location."

Again, the account disappeared.

She had no choice.

With hesitant hands, she got dressed exactly as instructed and followed the coordinates. But as she walked, three men suddenly surrounded her.

"Oh my, what a fine woman we have here." The first man stepped closer, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Are we going on a date?" The second man reached out to touch her hair but abruptly stopped when someone pushed him back.

"Hey, back off." The third man stood between them, eyes unreadable.

Sofia's breath hitched. She was scared but also…..... confused.

"Let me go, you freaks!" she snapped, trying to push past them.

"Oh, come on, don't be like that." The first man blocked her path again, tilting his head.

"She looks even better up close," the second man mused, now standing right behind her.

Her heart pounded.

"What do you want?!" she struggled, desperation creeping into her voice.

"Relax, no need to be shy. Honestly, I'm jealous of your boyfriend." The three of them closed in on her.

Then.....

"Snap!"

A loud footstep echoed behind them.

"Let her go, you idiots."

Darwin stood tall, his phone in hand, voice firm.

The men turned, snickering.

"Oh? And who the hell are you?" the first man sneered.

Sofia's breath caught in her throat. Darwin?! Why is he here?

"Don't play hero, nerd," the second man laughed. "Go back home and hide under your mom's skirt."

"Look at him, acting all tough," the third one scoffed.

Darwin didn't flinch.

"Let her go and apologize. Do that, and I'll let you walk away. Otherwise, I'll send this picture to the cops. There's a police station nearby, so I'm sure you can guess what happens next." He turned his phone screen toward them, revealing a clear picture of their faces.

The first man's smirk faltered, but then...

"This nerd..." he hissed, pulling out a knife.

The streetlight reflected off the blade, and for a second, Sofia could see the glint of metal before she instinctively squeezed her eyes shut.

"We're gonna skin you, boy," the first man took a step forward.

"Wait, please!" Sofia grabbed his arm in panic.

The second man raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Is he your boyfriend?"

Sofia hesitated. "No, he's just….... Just let him go. Your business was with me, right?"

She turned to look at Darwin. Her voice wavered as she whispered, "What does it matter? I'm going to be tainted anyway...."

Darwin's eyes darkened.

The third man chuckled. "Aren't you brave?" He moved toward her again.

"I warned you," Darwin's voice rang sharp, and suddenly.....

Siren wails cut through the night air.

The men stiffened.

"Hell no! We'll remember you, nerd. Next time, you're dead!"

They ran off at full speed, disappearing into the shadows.

Sofia stood frozen. Her heart was heavy with emotions she couldn't voice. Her lips parted, but the words wouldn't come. More than anything, she wanted to rest her head on someone's shoulder and just breathe.

She looked at Darwin, who was holding a bouquet of roses and a small gift box.

"What's that?" she took a shaky step forward but stopped.

Darwin set the flowers down and rushed to her. "Are you okay?"

She opened her mouth, but then—

A memory flashed. A message.

Her hands trembled, and she turned away.

"I...."

She bolted, tears trailing behind her.

"Wait, Sofia! Sofia!" Darwin called out.

His voice....soft yet desperate, laced with something unfamiliar. It was the first time she had heard him call her name like that.

But she couldn't stop.

She reached the location. An empty field stretched before her, bathed in silence.

Her knees buckled.

"Why? Why me? What did I do to deserve this?" she sobbed, slamming her fists against the cold ground.

"I lost my parents… I already lost so much. And now....." her voice broke.

"Darwin....." she whispered, her tears falling onto the dirt.

A sound.

Footsteps.

Her body stiffened.

She stood up, trembling, her high heels making it even harder to balance. The coat wrapped around her provided some warmth, but inside, she felt unbearably cold.

"Who's there?" she whispered.

A shadow moved. The figure stepped forward, something in their hands.

Her breath hitched.

The clouds shifted, and the moonlight illuminated the figure...

Darwin.

He knelt down, holding the bouquet of red roses.

Sofia gasped, staggering back.

"Wait… all of that happened. But they didn't touch me. Was it—?" Her lips trembled as a faint laugh escaped her, though her eyes were still teary.

Darwin took a deep breath. "Sorry… But I love you."

Sofia's heart stopped.

"I didn't have the courage to say it in front of others, but… I really love you." His gaze was steady.

Tears welled up again.

"You idiot..." she wiped her face, her voice shaking.

"You absolute idiot!"

Without thinking, she leapt onto him, pinning him down.

"Do you think a simple 'sorry' makes up for everything I went through?!" she grabbed his collar, shaking him.

Darwin chuckled. "Wait, here."

He played a video on his phone. It was her—crying, admitting her struggles, her feelings…

Her face burned. "You recorded that?! YOU IDIOT! Give me your phone!"

The moonlight caught her features, her flustered expression making her look breathtaking.

Darwin smirked. "You're a silent killer, you know that?"

He exhaled. "But….... I liked you from the beginning. When I helped you for the first time, I had this idea that maybe.....… just maybe, you liked me too. You teased me a lot, but deep down, I thought it meant something. So I planned this. Everything."

Sofia's eyes widened. "You mean—?"

He gently pushed her down onto the soft grass. His face hovered inches from hers, his breath warm against her lips.

Sofia's heart raced.

"Is he....…? No, he wouldn't. But...…"

She loosened her grip, closing her eyes.

Then—

"Ahhh! Sorry, please forgive me!"

Darwin scrambled back, panicking.

Sofia blinked. Then she burst into laughter.

He cleared his throat. "I'll wait for your reply. Take your time. I won't force you."

He stood up, turning away.

The clouds moved again, and the moonlight dimmed, casting long shadows.

Then—

"Wait."

Sofia's voice.

He stopped.

She ran toward him.

The light illuminated her as she jumped, knocking him onto the grass.

Above him, she smiled.

"I love you. I only love you. I want to be with you."

As the moonlight slowly faded, the world around them disappeared, leaving only the warmth between them.

The end...