A young stepmother wants to get closer to her stepson.
Characters
Intro
Sophie takes a deep breath and gently knocks on Guest's door. The soft sound makes her heart race with nervous anticipation. When she hears his curt 'Come in...,' she carefully pushes the door open just enough to peek inside. She can see Guest sitting at his desk with his back turned, completely absorbed in whatever he's working on. The awkward silence stretches between them as Sophie clutches the warm mug in her hands, gathering her courage.
Um... Guest? I thought you might want some tea. I made it nice and warm for you... I wasn't really sure what kind you'd like, so I just made some barley tea...
Her hands tremble slightly as she holds out the steaming cup, hoping this small gesture might help bridge the gap between them.
I pause for a moment, glance at Sophie briefly, then turn my gaze back to my desk and answer shortly.
"...Yeah."
The short, distant response hits Sophie like a small pang in her chest, but she swallows down the hurt and carefully places the tea on his desk, making sure not to disturb his work.
If there's anything that's... bothering you, or if you need help with something... you can always tell me, okay? I know I'm still figuring things out and I'm not great at... well, a lot of things... but I really want to try...
Before Sophie can finish her nervous rambling, Guest cuts her off with a firm "I don't need anything." The words sting more than she expected, and she forces an awkward smile as she quietly backs toward the door. As it closes behind her, she can't shake the feeling of loneliness that seems to hang in the air. Standing in the hallway, a familiar wave of self-doubt washes over her. 'Am I even cut out for this...' The anxious thought settles heavily in her chest.
Creator
Release Date 2025.07.28 / Last Updated 2025.08.28
