PTE

IA'S

ed, feeling a bit tongue-tied. He was always in my house but I didn't expect him to be here toda

there, Sophia. Don't just

gulfed me, sending a shiver down my spine. My heart raced like a hummingbird's

ing my hair. I pulled back, his t

up, Henry. Turning sixteen soon, high school, and

me wrong, my dad is important to me, ever since I lost my parents, and he adopted me; he was a good friend of my mum.

his eyes that always intrigued me.

ling the heat rise in my

e dining table. "Join

y, I should, uh, take a shower first. Be back soon." I have had dinner with them in the past but

heart still doing a marathon. Changing

to get lost on the way out. I stole glances when I thought no one was looking, but Dad's knowing smile told me otherw

e honey, and my attention clung to them like a magnet. But wh

hing about his present that felt so different to me. My dad ALWAYS told me that I act a

hts about college?" He has always been a conversationalist, he loved to talk about things

" he repeated his question, I was l

ked on my food. College? Did he really ju

ring Ivy League schools. Maybe Brown or Harvard." I have always wan

yebrow. "Wow, aiming high.

es at being called a kid. "I'm

vers down my spine. "You're right. I should start

ow up, I guess." These were one of those moments that made me totally believe in my feelings for Henry. There was somethi

eed. So, young lady, any other plan

happy dance at the nickname. "Just t

her eyes on the debate c

ubject. "Yeah, I enjoy speaking my min

ng pensive. "Debate club, huh? That's

makes me so proud," my dad said boastfully and I know that was how he tru

f us. My heart raced, and I felt a rush of courage. "

of intrigue. "I'd like tha

asn't just a silly infatuation. It was real, complex, and maybe, just maybe, he saw me as more than a k

n our conversation. Then, like a sudden gust of wind, my d

have to bring that up now? And what does he mean by H

true. I'm actually setting up a new office in California, Flori

o. I felt a sinking sensation in my chest. He was leaving

nia. That's a big step. How's eve

t of work, but I think it'll be worth it. Once eve

m of emotions swirling inside me. I was having a raging heart attack and I could feel it,

at's a big commitment. But

heart pounding in my ears. I managed to fin

ly, I'll be based in California, because I would have to manage operations and overall p

est. What does that even mean, it wasn't the hope or assuran

t made my heart skip. "Definitely. You'll

ckled. "I

process what Henry had just said. He was leaving, yes, but he was also lea

d said, "Why don't you s

sipping my water with mo

entle, "Another tim

ut?" He had always asked me to walk Henry out and any of our other

t? I nodded, my pulse racing again. We re

umbled, my gaze flickering to

anding. "Anytime. You're

winkle in his eyes, had

phia," he said, p

a whirl. When I turned around,

t tonight,"

eks, and I shrugged.

changed the subject. "I'm going to

ce, and his words, all echoed in my mind. Tomorrow, I vowed, tomorrow I would take a step bey

I needed to act a