Goddamnit, it's totally my fault for not being more careful. If I had been, this wouldn't have happened. But whatever, I gotta deal with it now and move on. He stood fearlessly, his confident stance providing a shield for Sofia, who still cowered behind him.

As the door creaked open, a soft voice emerged, "Hi sweetie, sorry I-" The voice trailed off as the woman's eyes fell upon Alvin, her curiosity piqued. Woah who is this boy? And why is Sofia hiding behind him? Could it be her boyfriend?

The woman's gaze fixated upon Alvin, who exuded an air of mysterious allure. Clad in a sleek black hoodie that hugged his form, he exuded an effortlessly cool. The fabric draped over his broad shoulders, accentuating his lean physique. He was wearing a pair of perfectly fitted black jeans that clung to his long, slender legs, emphasizing his confident stride.

Alvin's piercing blue eyes sparkled with an enigmatic depth, captivating anyone who dared to meet his gaze. They were like crystalline pools, reflecting the world around him with a mesmerizing intensity. His eyes seemed to hold secrets, hinting at a wealth of untold stories and experiences.

His raven-black hair cascaded effortlessly, framing his chiseled features with an air of rebellion. Each strand seemed to possess a life of its own, falling into place with an effortless grace. The dark hue contrasted sharply against his fair complexion, creating a striking visual contrast that further enhanced his captivating presence.

The woman stepped into the room, her attire exuding a distinct American style. She was wearing a tailored navy blue blazer, adorned with gold buttons that gleamed under the soft lighting. The blazer was paired with a crisp white button-down shirt, neatly tucked into a high-waisted, knee-length pencil skirt in a classic shade of charcoal gray.

Her choice of accessories further enhanced her polished appearance. A delicate gold necklace adorned her slender neck, its pendant glinting subtly as it caught the light. On her wrist, she wore a sleek silver watch, its minimalist design adding a touch of sophistication to her ensemble.

Her hair, a rich shade of chestnut brown, cascaded down her shoulders in loose waves, framing her youthful face. The strands fell effortlessly, reflecting a healthy shine that hinted at meticulous care. A few strands were gently tucked behind her ear, revealing a pair of small, gold hoop earrings that added a subtle touch of glamour.

Despite the professional attire, there was an air of effortless elegance about her. The clothes hugged her figure in all the right places, accentuating her slender frame and highlighting her natural grace. The woman's youthful appearance was further emphasized by her radiant complexion.

Sofia took a peek and finally mustered the courage to step out from behind Alvin and her eyes got widened as she saw her mom, "Mom, what are you doing here?"

Alvin looked at Sofia and then at her mom and let out a sigh. Gosh, she's just her mom. I'm relieved that no skeleton popped out, but I'm afraid she might misunderstand the situation now.

Before Sofia's mom could respond, she rushed forward and enveloped her in a tight hug. The surprise on her mom's face was evident as she asked, "Hey, are you okay, sweetie?"

Sofia released the hug, "Yeah, I'm fine. But what are you doing here? You said you weren't coming today."

With a smile, her mom explained, "Well, my work got done early, so I decided to surprise you and came home."

Sofia's blush deepened as she realized the awkwardness of the situation. She glanced over at Alvin, who had been standing silently behind her, his face mirroring her embarrassment. They exchanged a sheepish smile, both feeling a sense of relief that the potential danger had turned out to be a false alarm.

In the midst of the awkwardness, Sofia's mother couldn't help but notice the blush on her daughter's face. A mischievous smile crept onto her lips as she jumped to a conclusion. "Oh, I see! Sofia, you didn't tell me you had a boyfriend over!"

Sofia's face turned a deep shade of crimson, her embarrassment evident. She stammered, trying to explain, "No, Mom, he's just a friend! We were just talking about movies and he was Uh... helping with my homework, I swear!"

Sofia's mom raised an eyebrow mischievously as she looked at her daughter. "Woah! Don't tell me that you had him over when your dad and I weren't at home? Wait don't tell me you were inviting him all this time?"

There she goes now she isn't going to listen to me, Sofia rolled her eyes and shook her head. "No, Mom. Stop it. It's his first time here."

Her mom chuckled, clearly enjoying the awkwardness of the situation. "Well, well, Sofia don't be shy, I never knew you had such a handsome and cute boyfriend. You should have introduced him properly!"

Sofia's embarrassment grew, and she replied, "Mom, it's not what you think! He was just helping me with my homework."

I gotta do something real quick, but I know it ain't gonna work. Having a boy and a girl under the same roof just doesn't seem right, no matter how much I try to convince her mom it's not going to work. But I might as well give it a shot. He spoke up, a warm smile spreading across his face as he turned towards Sofia's mom. With a friendly gesture, he extended his hand and greeted her, "Hello! I am Alvin. It's a pleasure to meet you. I was just helping Sofia with her homework."

Sofia's mom, Anna, reciprocated the gesture, extending her hand to meet Alvin's. As their hands clasped, she replied, "Nice to meet you, Alvin. I'm Anna Johnson."

Her mom raised an eyebrow and continued teasing, "Oh, I see! Just homework, huh? Well, it's not every day I find a handsome young man in my daughter's room. Are you sure there's nothing more going on?"

He reassured her mom by replying calmly, "Yes. Mrs Johnson, there is nothing more going on, I was just helping her in her homework."

Finally releasing their handshake, Sofia's mom raised an eyebrow, still teasing them. "Oh, I'm sure you were just 'helping' her with her homework. Well, I won't keep you two lovebirds any longer."

Holy crap, I told her my real name instead of my fake one. She didn't catch on jt, so let's play along. Alvin spoke again, trying to reassure her mom, "Trust me, Mrs. Johnson. I'm just a friend of Sofia's, nothing more."

Mrs. Johnson raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, I see. Well, I hope you're not up to anything naughty, young man."

Sofia blushed furiously, "Mom, please! It's not like that at all!"

Her mom playfully approached Alvin, patting him on the back. "Oh, come on now. I know my girl is a bit shy, but I wasn't expecting you to be shy too, why are you having a tough time saying that you are her boyfriend, just admit it." Alvin's face turned pale, as if he was about to faint, while Sofia desperately wished for the ground to swallow her whole.

Trying to diffuse the situation, Sofia's mom decided to give them some privacy. "Alright, I'll leave you two alone then. Oh, by the way, Alvin, have you had dinner yet?"

Alvin, caught off guard, quickly fabricated a response. "Yes, I actually had dinner earlier before coming here."

Sofia's mom nodded approvingly and said, "Great! I wish I had come sooner so we could have dinner together, but I guess we can do it some other day. Well, have fun helping Sofia with her 'homework' then." She gave them one more mischievous smile.

With that, she turned and closed the door behind her. Sofia and Alvin exchanged embarrassed glances, unsure of how to proceed.

Sofia opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a word, the door creaked open once again. Her mom peered through the narrow gap, her eyes the only visible part of her face. With a stern yet slightly amused tone, she reminded them, "By the way, try not to make too much noise if you're planning to spend the night here, alright? I might just hear it. So keep it down." After saying that she closed the door and went downstairs.

Inside the room, the two of them remained frozen in her room, their eyes locked in a mix of awkwardness and embarrassment.

But then her mother slowly opened the door again, revealing only her eyes peering through the narrow gap again. Alvin and Sofia kept their eyes on her. "I realized I forgot to mention something earlier. When I referred to 'noises,' I actually meant laughter and other typical sounds you'd expect. And, well, if you two want to engage in any intimate activities, just remember to keep it quiet, alright?"

Sofia's face flushed with embarrassment as she covered it with both hands, mortified by her mother's candidness. "Mom, please stop!"

Sofia's mom gave them one more mischievous smile, "Alrighty." As she closed the door and headed downstairs.

Finally, Alvin broke the silence, he was still calm, but blushing furiously, "Your mom is quite something."

Sofia responded softly, her voice barely audible. "Yeah, she definitely jumps to conclusions easily. I am sorry about that she was just being playful and she likes to tease."

He said "Um...Yeah."

She said nodding in agreement, "Uh-huh."

Finally it's over, Alvin let out a heavy sigh, his face flushed with embarrassment. "So, what was the topic again? I completely forgot," he admitted sheepishly.

Sofia's cheeks mirrored his embarrassment, "I forgot too."

Despite their forgetfulness, a shared chuckle escaped their lips, breaking the tension in the room.

Their eyes met, and a warm smile spread across both of their faces. Alvin began to speak, but his train of thought was interrupted by the ringing of his phone, emanating from his pocket. "One second," he said to Sofia, reaching for his phone.

"Hello?" Alvin answered.

On the other end of the line, K's voice came through. "Hey Vinny, everything is done and also going just as you planned. Can we meet at the docks in a few days?"

Alvin said calmly "Sure, I'll meet you there. Send me the location."

K replied, "Got it, Vinny. Take care."

Alvin hung up the phone, his mind racing with a mixture of relief and apprehension. He turned to face Sofia, her innocent eyes fixed upon him, concern etched across her delicate features. "You okay? You look pale.

He took a moment to compose himself before responding, "I'm fine, just a little overwhelmed with everything going on. But don't worry, it's nothing I can't handle."

She instinctively reached out, her hands gently cupping his face, guiding his gaze to meet hers. "Alvin look at me, you're lying to me. Three years ago, you disappeared without a trace, leaving everyone in confusion and despair. And now, suddenly, you're back. What have you been doing all this time? Why did those skeleton-like creatures attacked me or I should say us? I have so many questions for you. What is it that you've been hiding from me?"

Her words hung heavy in the air, and Alvin felt a lump forming in his throat. He knew he couldn't keep the truth hidden any longer. With a deep breath, he mustered the courage to speak. "Sofia, I've been involved in some dark and dangerous stuff, I won't deny it. I've done some terrible things, and I'm not sure if you're ready to hear the details. But I don't want to lie to you."

Sofia's touch remained gentle, her fingers lightly stroking his cheek as she leaned in closer as she looked at his lips once again. A blush crept onto her cheeks, she murmured, "It's fine, Alvin. Take a deep breath and tell me everything, from the beginning."

Sofia kept stroking his cheek, her touch radiating warmth. Blushing, he noticed her eyes flicker towards his lips. Gathering his composure, he placed his hands over hers, guiding them down. "I'll start from the beginning, okay?" he said calmly.

A small smile graced Sofia's lips as she took Alvin's hand and led him to the bed, urging him to sit. Alvin complied, his nerves still evident. Sofia studied Alvin's eyes intently, realizing they were not their usual vibrant selves. They mirrored the same pain and vulnerability he had shown the day when she was leaving the orphanage.

Summoning her own courage, she scooted closer, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. She gently patted his back and whispered, "Does it make you feel better?"

Alvin didn't answer, but he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. His lips remained sealed, his embrace conveyed the depth of his emotions.
Sofia could feel his tears soaking through her shirt, but she didn't mind. She just held him tighter, hoping to offer him some comfort in his time of need.

As the moonlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow upon the room, Sofia continued to hold Alvin, providing a safe haven for him to unburden his soul. The room seemed to hold its breath, as if aware of the gravity of the moment.

Finally, they released their embrace, and Alvin looked at Sofia, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and vulnerability. He stammered, his words stumbling over each other, "Sofia, I... I... did so many terrible... things."

Sofia met his gaze, "I know you did, nut I promise you, Alvin, I won't judge you. I believe that you had your reasons, that there is more to your story. I trust you."

I can't keep lying to her, With a deep breath, he began to speak, "I will tell you everything, Sofia. It all started the day before Alice disappeared..."