She Hid Her Face, He Hid His Heart

My girlfriend, Sophie Anderson, and I are long-distance, and she keeps her mask on every time I visit. Whether we're out shopping or taking pictures together, she keeps her mask on. Even when we kiss, she never takes it off. We've been long-distance for three years and seen each other 12 times, but I've never once seen her face. The last time we see each other, we go hiking over a holiday weekend. I ask Sophie to take off her mask so we can get a picture together. Yet, she swats the camera out of my hand and says, "My job makes things complicated. I can't have people seeing my face. "Are you here to see me, or are you only interested in seeing my face? When the time is right, you'll get your chance." Sophie even stops video-calling me, hoping I'll eventually stop caring about seeing her face. Wanting to smooth things over, I drive to Marlfield over the long weekend to see her. The moment I arrive at her apartment complex, I spot her standing there with no mask on. My heart leaps. She must have decided to show me her face. I'm just about to wave when I see Edward Brown, my former best friend, holding Sophie's hand. "You know the rules. You can't let anyone outside the organization see your face," he says. Sophie beams at him. "You're different. You're not just anyone." My chest tightens with a stabbing pain. So, she can take off the mask after all. But I'm the one she considers an outsider, while Edward—who once came between us—gets to see her face. Without hesitation, I toss the bouquet I'd brought for my proposal into the trash. That night, I accept a transfer to Himara. From then on, Sophie and I go our separate ways. Chapter 1 Gabriel's POV The rain came down in a gentle patter. From across the street, I watched my girlfriend, Sophie Anderson, walk into a diner with my former best friend, Edward Brown. "The usual, please. Extra spicy, and no pickles." Edward's eyes met Sophie's, and for a moment, they stared at each other. Then, Edward said, "You still remember what I like after all this time. Gabriel probably would've forgotten by now. After all, I was the one who hurt him." Seeing his troubled expression, Sophie reassured him, "What happened back then wasn't your fault. Gabriel overreacted. He ended your friendship over what was nothing more than a misunderstanding." Without warning, a sharp pang went through me. Back then, someone had drugged Sophie. Without even talking to me, Edward had slept with her to get the drug out of her system. Worse still, my mother found out, and she was so angry that she passed out. When I confronted Sophie, she said, "I'm sorry, Gab. I was drugged. Edward was just trying to help me. Can't you see that?" My girlfriend had slept with my best friend, and my mother had fainted from the shock. And somehow, I was supposed to understand? Ultimately, I told Sophie I wanted to break up, and I cut ties with Edward. But Sophie had chosen to stand by me. I thought that meant she understood how much I'd been hurt. Now, I realized I was nothing more than someone she kept around out of guilt, a way for her to make up for what she'd done. Just then, Sophie glanced up without thinking. As soon as she spotted me, the color drained from her face. "Gab! What are you doing here?" Edward and Sophie quickly pulled apart. "What? Am I interrupting your time with another guy?" I glanced at Edward, then demanded, "Weren't you the one who said you can't let outsiders see your face?" "Hear me out, Gab. Edward is a new coworker I referred for the job. He's not an outsider," she replied as she took my hand. She referred him for the position, huh? I stared at Edward—the person I hadn't seen in years—and my throat tightened. Sophie and I had been in a long-distance relationship for three years. Her employer no longer accepted outside applicants. Instead, employees could refer family members for open positions. I had asked her to help me get in. The first year, she told me, "You need certain professional certifications to qualify. You don't have any." So, I studied hard, passed the exams, and got the certification. In the second year, Sophie said, "You also need some field experience." Without a second thought, I went to a remote town and spent a year getting the experience I needed. By the third year, Sophie told me there were no more referral openings and that I'd have to wait. But after making me wait, she handed the referral to the one person I hated most. I stared at her in disbelief. "You said I need a professional certification. So how does Edward qualify when he only has an associate degree?" At that, Edward spoke, his voice low. "Gab, I'm sorry. I know you hate me, but I didn't know you were trying to get this spot." "You could've asked, couldn't you? You always take what's mine, and only then do you apologize," I growled. Edward froze. At the same moment, Sophie's expression hardened, and her grip on my hand tightened. "That's enough!" she snapped. "Edward had to quit his job and leave because of you. Now, he needs a decent job to rebuild his reputation." Her tone softened. "Besides, this job isn't a good fit for your background. I'll fight to get it for you next time." Sophie always put me last. Even before things fell apart between Edward and me, she always went along with whatever Edward wanted whenever we went out to eat. Whenever I got upset, she'd say, "Your friend is so picky. If I don't keep him happy, he'll badmouth me and convince you to dump me." I thought she was afraid of losing me, so she went out of her way to please my best friend. It was only now that I realized what a fool I'd been. Love wasn't about what someone said. It was about what they actually did. I pulled my hand free, limp. "Let's break up." Sophie froze. Edward, on the other hand, caught on and grabbed my arm. "Sophie, don't blame Gabriel for this. If he wants the position, I can give it to him." It was supposed to be mine, yet he talked as though he were doing me a favor by giving it to me. "Fine. Then give me the offer letter," I said, a bitter smile tugging at my lips. As I spoke, I reached for the document in Edward's bag. But before I could touch it, someone caught my hand and shoved it aside. My arm struck the edge of the table, and pain shot through it. "Gabriel Sullivan! Stop it! What are you doing? Trying to steal it?" Sophie's voice was laced with impatience as she went on, "I already told you I'd help you get a position next time. Why do you have to keep pushing?" Chapter 2 Gabriel's POV Behind Sophie, Edward went pale. A second later, he clutched his chest and collapsed. Sophie quickly helped him to his feet and led him outside. She didn't even notice I was hurt. I stepped forward and grabbed the hem of her shirt. "Sophie, I spent 23 hours traveling just to see you. Do you know today—" "Did I ask you to come?" she cut me off coldly. "Didn't I tell you I wouldn't have time to celebrate Thanksgiving? I said we could do it another time. "Edward's having an episode of respiratory alkalosis. If something happens to him, it'll come back on you. How am I supposed to protect you then?" Having said that, Sophie shook me off and hurried away. My hand dropped to my side, and the ring slipped from my fingers, hitting the floor with a clatter. I stared at the ring. Suddenly, I remembered what I'd asked Sophie back when we first went long-distance. I'd asked her if she'd be upset if I showed up without warning. She'd thrown her arms around me and kissed me over and over. "Gab, if you ever showed up without warning, I'd feel awful that you'd gone through all that trouble. So, I'd have to punish you with a whole lot of kisses, just like this." It was unsurprising that Sophie hadn't wanted me to come. After all, she'd already planned to spend the holiday with someone else. And I'd already become an outsider. … As I was leaving the diner, Sophie texted me. "I'm sorry, Gab. I was too harsh. Let me explain when I get back, okay?" My eyes stung. I rubbed them, then threw the ring into the trash. I was done waiting for her. Later, I booked a ticket home. On the way to the airport, I called my boss back and said, "I've made up my mind about the transfer to Himara." After I hung up, a video popped up in my feed. I tapped it, and Edward's face appeared on the screen. "The sweetest person in the world made these just for me," he said. I stared at the box of pastries, and suddenly, I was back three years ago. Sophie had made pastries for me before we started our long-distance relationship. I'd hugged her and told her I wouldn't get to eat them once we were apart. She'd smiled and ruffled my hair. "I'll ship them to you. Besides, I only make these for you. Don't worry." But once we were living apart, I never received a single one. Every time I asked, Sophie said she'd been too busy and had forgotten, promising she'd make them next time. I kept making excuses for her. But the truth was, she'd been spending her time on Edward and keeping her promises to him. I opened my bag, took out a jam-filled pastry, and bit into it. It tasted a little bitter. Mom had made it especially for Sophie before I left, but there was no point giving it to her now. Just then, an announcement came over the speakers. "Attention, passengers. Due to severe weather, this flight has been delayed." The waiting area quickly descended into chaos. Suddenly, someone grabbed me and pulled me out of the crowd. I stared at Sophie, stunned. She was breathing hard. A moment later, she said, "Gab, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. Will you come home with me?" She took my suitcase, but I yanked it back. "No. I'm fine. I don't want to bother you." Sophie let out a sigh and ruffled my hair. "You're my boyfriend. How could you ever be a bother?" She said it like it was nothing, yet she'd come to pick me up wearing a mask. I reached for her mask, but she caught my hand. "Cut it out. Just wait until we get home." … Sophie insisted on taking me back to her apartment. When the door opened, Edward was standing in the living room. I glanced around and saw Edward's slippers and clothes. Even the picture of me that used to sit on the mantel had been replaced by a photo of him. I stared at the pastries on the table, wondering if he'd held her hand as they ate them together. Before I could say anything, Sophie explained, "Edward just moved here, and he doesn't have a place to stay. Don't overthink it. Once the company puts him in staff housing, he'll move out." At that moment, Edward handed me a pastry. "Gab, you like the ones Sophie makes, right? Try one." "I can't eat anything with walnuts." Edward paused. Yet Sophie said, "Gab, I made all of these. They're all the same." A heaviness settled in my chest. She'd forgotten that I'd throw up if I ate walnuts. These pastries weren't made for me. She'd forgotten to make me any, too. I didn't take the pastry, and Edward's expression immediately fell. "Gab, you think I'm disgusting, don't you?" Sophie's expression darkened as well. "Gabriel Sullivan! Edward has already done everything he can to keep the peace. Nobody's perfect. Do you really have to push him this hard?" In the next instant, Edward got to his feet and headed for the bedroom. "Sophie, don't be so hard on Gabriel. I'm the outsider here. I'll just get a hotel." Hearing that, Sophie tried to talk him out of it. "You're not used to being on your own. How are you supposed to stay at a hotel alone?" They looked like a real couple. "Forget it, Sophie." I got up, grabbed my suitcase, and walked out. Chapter 3 Gabriel's POV Sophie followed me out. "Gab, I never said I wanted you to leave." "I know." Just then, the elevator doors opened. A man stepped out and spoke in a language I didn't understand. "Sophie, who's this guy?" "A relative," Sophie replied in the same language. Once he was gone, I asked her what he'd said. Something flickered in Sophie's eyes as she answered. "Oh, it's nothing. He was just saying hi." I looked down at the translation on my phone and smiled. Then, I pushed her hand away. "Go check on Edward. Wouldn't want him having another bout of respiratory alkalosis." Sophie didn't seem to notice anything amiss. "Thanks for understanding, Gab. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning." Having said that, she turned and went back inside. Before long, I could hear Sophie comforting Edward. Her voice was low, and it grated on my ears. Whatever last bit of attachment I'd been holding onto finally faded. … I found a hotel and checked in. Moments later, a coworker sent me a message. It read, "Gab, I got the results of your transfer request. Didn't you want to transfer to Marlfield?" I'd only wanted to transfer to Marlfield because of Sophie. I'd have taken the pay cut just to be near her. But now, I had no reason to go through with it. I texted back, "Not anymore. I'll report for duty in Himara the day after tomorrow." … Maybe it was because I'd been caught in the rain earlier. By midnight, I'd come down with a high fever. When I woke up, Sophie was sitting beside my bed, looking after me. "Gab, you're finally awake." I stared at her in surprise. I hadn't expected to find her here. "You were staying at a hotel by yourself. I was worried about you, so I came over." As she spoke, she handed me a glass of water. I looked at Sophie's tender expression, and something churned inside me. I was about to say something when she spoke. "Good thing your fever broke. Edward would've been disappointed otherwise." So, she'd only come because of Edward. "What?" Before I could process what Sophie meant, Edward walked in and asked, "Gab, do you remember it's our tenth anniversary? We promised we'd go camping at a national park and watch the sunrise together." We'd made that promise when we were 18. We'd agreed that ten years later, we'd go camping and watch the sunrise together. After all, that was where it had all begun for us—a camping trip. Since I was leaving anyway, I decided this trip would be the end of us. Not long after, we got into the car. Then, an email notification popped up. Apparently, I had declined the transfer. I froze. Sophie, however, smiled as she explained, "Fortunately, Edward noticed the email while he was helping me look after you. So, I turned it down for you." In an instant, anger surged through me. "Sophie Anderson! This is my future. Who gave you two the right to reject it for me?" Edward jumped in, sounding innocent. "Gab, I didn't mean to look through your phone. I thought you'd always wanted to work with Sophie." I turned to open the car door, but Sophie grabbed my arm. "Gab, don't make a big deal out of this," she said. "Edward and I were only doing it for you. Next year, I can put in a referral for you. Then the three of us can work together and look out for one another. Wouldn't that be better?" Chapter 4 Gabriel's POV "Edward's been beating himself up about it this whole time, and it's been three years! He was the one who suggested this trip because he wanted to make it up to you. Is your work really more important than us?" Sophie asked, her voice thick with accusation. My hand went slack, and suddenly, I felt utterly drained. For three years, I'd wanted this, and Sophie had done everything she could to stop me. Now that I no longer wanted it, she was using our relationship to pressure me into it, all so Edward wouldn't feel guilty. She had always put me last. She'd forgotten that she once promised to support me and to always have my back. I sighed and stopped arguing. Then, I looked down and submitted the transfer request again. Sophie was too busy soothing Edward to notice what I was doing. Thinking I'd finally come around, she smiled and squeezed my hand. "Gab, Edward has gone to all this trouble for you. Can you stop giving him a hard time? What if the company finds out you two are having problems and holds it against you when they review you next year?" She thought I cared about the referral, but I didn't need it anymore. I nodded, then booked a ticket to Himara for the next day. … As we drove, the rain grew heavier. I frowned and said, "The rain doesn't look like it's letting up. Maybe we should call it off." In an instant, Edward's expression tightened. "Gab, do you really hate me that much? You can't even spend our tenth anniversary with me, huh? Fine. I'll go alone." Having said that, he opened the door, grabbed his gear, and got out. Sophie snatched the keys from me and motioned for me to get out. "It's our tenth anniversary, Gabriel. Do you really have to make a scene?" I'd only said the weather was bad, yet she accused me of making a scene. Just then, a rumble echoed through the mountains. A moment later, part of the mountainside gave way in the distance. As rocks came tumbling down, Sophie rushed toward Edward first, pulling him out of the way. A falling rock slammed into my arm. Pain shot through my arm, but I gritted my teeth and kept running. "Gab! Are you okay?" Sophie caught my arm, and we scrambled clear of the landslide. However, our car was swept down the cliff. Fortunately, a few locals happened to be out gathering firewood. Sophie paid one of them for a horse to get us down the mountain. Edward slumped against her shoulder, struggling to catch his breath. "Sophie… my chest hurts." At that, Sophie quickly helped him onto the horse. I cradled my arm, shaking from the pain. "Sophie, a rock hit my arm." But she only looked at me coldly. "Gabriel, how long are you going to keep this up? Nothing Edward does is ever good enough for you. "He's had heart problems since he was a kid. That scare must have triggered something. And you're still pretending to be hurt just to get my attention?" The rock had hit bone, which was why there was no blood. I tried to explain, but no words came out. Before I could say anything, Sophie mounted the horse and said, "The horse can't carry all of us. You go on ahead. I'll get Edward to the hospital and find someone to come back for you." Just like that, they disappeared into the downpour. Tears welled up in my eyes. It wasn't because of Sophie, but because I felt sorry for my old self, who had spent all those years giving everything to someone who never gave back. I kept walking through the rain. Suddenly, another section of the mountainside gave way. Within seconds, the landslide swallowed the road. Meanwhile, Sophie had just made it down the mountain with Edward when they ran into a search-and-rescue team. "Captain, the drone footage shows another landslide farther ahead. We also found a man's bag at the site." Sophie instinctively turned back. The instant she saw the bag in the rescuer's hand, the color drained from her face. "Gab!" Panicked, she called me. "Come on, pick up, Gab. Pick up…"