Never Alone

Sofia may hate me, or she may not. There was only one way to find out. Hopefully, she doesn't and would be willing to help.

"Alright, I'll go speak to her about it." I resigned myself to face whatever consequences would befall me. "Aina, can I ask you to do something for me?"

"Sure! What is it?"

"Can you let Marco know that we will have to keep our relationship secret because of the eyes on us at the moment, but that we will work something out?"

She saluted before replying. "Can do."

I turned to leave, but Aina grabbed my hand. "Before ya go, let me add ya to a group chat so we can talk easier."

She added me, the rest of the band, and her brother to a group chat.

"Why am I in a group chat? Aina, are you getting up to mischief again?" Her brother quickly shot in the group chat.

I totally forgot he would be completely out of the loop. Darcy began typing back. I suppose I would leave it to her to sort out.

"I'll speak to Marco and Josh. Ya can speak to Sofia, Kay?"

"Alright, keep me in the loop with what they say."

Aina gave me a thumbs-up.

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I managed to find Sofia's room number. Thank God Aina added me to the group chat; otherwise, I would've walked off, noticed I had no idea how to find her room, and then found an excuse not to ask Aina in person. Online messaging is a tool for introverts.

I knocked on the door.

A few moments later, a woman wearing dog ears opened the door. She had dark black hair and, together with her dog ears, looked a little like a wolf in human form.

"Can I help you?" She asked, giving me a dubious look.

"Um, I was told this was Sofia's room." I couldn't make eye contact, not least because I still had somewhat red eyes from all my crying.

"Who are you?"

"Um... well..." I considered leaving, but I honestly needed as much help as I could get to see Marco. I had very few other people I could rely on, so I had to push through my discomfort.

"I was hoping to speak with Sofia. I was told by Aina that this was her room."

"Oh, you know Aina, so you're related to Solstice?"

I nodded. "I'm one of the contestants."

"Huh? I thought I knew everyone at first glance."

She looked me over before tapping her hand in her palm as if realising something.

"So you are actually a guy. I'm sorry, I didn't recognise you since you weren't wearing a dress, wig, and makeup."

Her comment hurt me on a spiritual level.

"So, is this Sofia's room?"

"Yes, she's inside. Come in." She stepped aside and ushered me in.

"Ruby, who was it? Some crazy fan?" Sofia's voice echoed.

So the dog-eared girl was called Ruby. Sofia was wearing her iconic cat ears and sitting cross-legged on the floor, playing a portable video game.

"No, you have a visitor," Ruby replied.

"Huh?" she replied, looking up and making eye contact with me. "Do I know you?"

By now, I was beginning to notice a pattern in people's perception of me. Goodbye, my manly side.

"It's Blake," Ruby laughed.

Sofia squinted at me before her eyes widened.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't recognise you."

Even though I knew she wasn't trying to be mean, it didn't sting any less painfully to my masculine pride.

"So what's up?" She asked.

I told her everything that had happened, beginning with Marco and my relationship, then the call with the premier and the federal government and the delegation's response.

Once I was done, I felt exhausted. Sofia and Ruby looked at each other with a somewhat distressed expression.

"Well, it sucks what your delegation is doing," Sofia continued. "You mentioned that... was it Stephanie?"

"Yeah."

"Stephanie was against your relationship; what did Valentina say?"

"Valentina?" I asked. I had never heard that name before.

"Um... how to explain it?" Sofia paused to think, which allowed an opportunity for Ruby to prompt.

"She's the Stephanie of Marco's team."

There was a Stephanie on Marco's team as well? I shuddered.

"I don't even know who she is, so I have no idea what she thinks," I replied honestly.

"Well, you should ask Marco; I can't imagine she would be too thrilled either," Sofia noted.

"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind. So, would you be willing to lend a hand?"

"Of course, we will help you out. You seem cool."

"Thank you."

I can't believe they were willing to help us. I barely knew them. Yet, the fact that they were offering to help made them wonderful people.

In this moment of closeness, I decided it was the best time to be open and share my initial beliefs about Sofia.

"I'll be honest, I thought you hated me."

"What?! No! I don't hate you. Why would you think that?" She seemed surprised.

"Like, you sort of just walked off at the gala after I made that awkward joke." I shuffled slightly.

"Oh, I did that as a joke," she laughed. "Sorry, I thought you knew."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Guess I misunderstood."

"It's ok."

There was a sudden silence, which only further revealed that both of us were really awkward but genuinely wanted to get along with each other.

"Well, we would be more than happy to help you out," Ruby commented, breaking the silence.

"Thank you both so much."

"That's alright. Is there anything else I can help you with?" She asked.

"Um... not at the moment. Oh! Actually, let me add you to the group chat."

I quickly added Sofia and Ruby to the group chat. While doing so, Aina updated that Marco knew and Josh wanted to help.

Although the Gala was where we were supposed to make friends and build connections, this was the true start of my Solstice family—friendships that would last far beyond the contest.

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End of Chapter 26