@rubymae3223: 👫❤️

@username1: the cutest couple ever 😍

@username2: you guys look so happy together!!🥰

@dele: ❤️

@username3: wish he was with me instead

—

sofia's heart sunk at the picture of dele smiling next to a model looking woman. she hadn't know him long but they'd become close, how could he not have told her that he had a girlfriend? who's the liar now, she thought.

"s, i'm sorry. i couldn't not show you though,"

"no i know. i'm glad you did. i just can't believe he got mad at me for not telling him who my brother was, when he was hiding the fact he was in a relationship. i thought i knew him better than that."

"so, what are you gonna do about it?"

"well right now i want to get extremely drunk and forget about him. so how about we go out tonight?"

"well.. i won't argue against that!"

sofia and bella spent the next hour getting ready and took themselves over to the flats next to theirs where their friend, alexa was throwing a house party. they spent the rest of the night drinking away their sorrows and for the night, sofia completely forgot who dele was.

—

@sofiadybala: nobody better to party with than you 💝

@username1: hope you were safe! you look so pretty here!

@bellasmith: always here for you. i love you girlie <3

@username2: she looks so happy!! england looks good on her

@paulodybala: hope you're enjoying yourself. i miss you so much. stay safe sis <3

—

from:

😭😭

sofia stared at her phone. shocked, upset and confused. did he really only want to be friends this whole time? how could she have been so stupid. sofia trusted dele, she didn't know why she trusted him so much after such little time, clearly her instincts weren't as good as she once believed. she picked up her phone and rang her brother.

"hey little sis, what's up?"

"hey paulo, i just wanted to hear your voice. i miss you," tears started to form in sofia's eyes as she heard her brothers soft, calm voice flow from her phone to her ears. she missed him so much it was almost unbearable.

"i miss you too. are you ok? it sounds like there's something wrong..."

"yes... well no. like, i don't know. i met this guy, on my first day. i thought he was super cute and nice and i thought our conversations were quite flirty, i truly believed it would go somewhere but i just found out he has a girlfriend."

"oh god sofia... how did you react?"

"obviously i was upset, i texted him and it was quite sarcastic and rude which i know wish i never did because it makes me seem pathetic. but he basically told me he never thought it was going anywhere and he never flirted with me, he only spoke to me to be my friend because he felt bad that i had none here. like how was i that dumb to think a boy like that would like me you know? i do it all the time, no matter where i go i always like the same guys. what's wrong with me p?"

"sof..." paulo sighed sadly down the phone, "you're amazing ok, you know this. you see the good in people, you always have and you're so trusting but that's not a bad thing. i know you've been hurt, and you're hurting and maybe you'll be hurt a bit more along the way, but don't change yourself. when you find the right person, they'll realise how amazing you are- and you'll be so glad you have that kind of trust in people. i wish i could just get on a plane and come and see you. i miss you badly"

"i love you so much paulo, i miss you like mad. only a few more weeks until my break and then i can come and see you! maybe i'll bring bella with me, she's always wanted to go to italy and i'd love for you to meet her"

"i love you too sof. and that sounds great, i can't wait. i'll let you sleep but just remember who you are because you're incredible!"

sofia smiled and hung up the phone. the homesickness was getting to her now. it was 11.30pm so sofia put an episode of buffy the vampire slayer on in the background and fell asleep.