Alice was a diligent student, known for her dedication and discipline. Every morning, she would walk to her institute with a determined spirit, her mind focused solely on her studies. It was just another routine day when fate decided to intervene.
As she walked down the narrow, bustling street that led to her institute, Alice suddenly found herself face-to-face with a stranger. He was a young man, his eyes brimming with confidence and an undeniable charm. Something about him made the ordinary day feel different.
"Excuse me," he said, his voice steady but his demeanor slightly nervous. "I've been noticing you for a while now, and... I think I've fallen for you. Will you go out with me?"
Alice froze, startled by the sudden confession. She studied his face for a moment, trying to process the situation. While his words were sincere, her heart was elsewhere—focused on her dreams and ambitions.
"I'm sorry," she replied, her voice soft but firm. "I appreciate your courage, but I'm not interested."
The young man's expression faltered for a moment, but then he gave her a faint smile. "I understand," he said, stepping aside to let her pass. "I wish you all the best."
With that, Alice continued her journey, her pace steady and her resolve unshaken. Little did she know, this brief encounter was only the beginning of a story she hadn't anticipated. Sometimes, destiny has plans that unfold in ways we least expect.
That night, Alice found it impossible to sleep. The young man's sudden confession replayed in her mind like a scene from a storybook. His confident demeanor, the way he approached her without hesitation, and the honesty in his voice—it all left an impression she couldn't shake off.
Lying in bed, Alice stared at the ceiling, her thoughts a whirlwind of questions.
"Who was he?" she wondered. "What's his name? Where did he come from? How could someone so boldly walk up to me and confess like that?"
She tried to dismiss the thoughts, telling herself it didn't matter. After all, she had made her decision clear. But the more she tried to push the encounter aside, the more it lingered in her mind.
Her heart and mind were at odds. She was determined to focus on her studies, yet something about the boy's presence made her curious. It wasn't just his words—it was the way he had looked at her, as if he already knew her in ways even she didn't.
The night stretched endlessly as Alice imagination painted countless possibilities. Was he someone from her neighborhood? A stranger passing through? Or was there more to this meeting than mere coincidence?
By the time the first light of dawn broke through her window, Alice realized one thing: that moment, fleeting as it was, had left a mark on her heart. And she wasn't sure if she could completely ignore it.
Little did she know, the boy who had stolen her thoughts was just as restless, wondering if he'd ever see her again. Fate, it seemed, had already started weaving a story for the two of them.
The next morning, Alice prepared herself for another day at the institute. She tried to shake off the thoughts of the boy who had approached her the day before, but it wasn't easy. Even as she sat in class, her focus wavered. Her mind kept wandering back to him.
"Will he come back? Will I see him again today?" she wondered, stealing glances outside the window.
When the day finally ended, Alice stepped out of the institute, scanning the street as if expecting something—or someone. But there was no sign of him. With a sigh, she walked to her car, parked a little further down the road, and decided to visit the nearby shopping mall.
Inside the mall, she wandered through the shops, hoping to distract herself. But when she stepped out, the distraction came in an entirely unexpected form.
Three boys, strangers with unpleasant grins, blocked her path. Their words were laced with mockery, and their intentions were far from kind. Alice heart pounded as she tried to maintain her composure, but their persistence grew.
Just as fear began to take hold, a familiar voice cut through the tension.
"Leave her alone."
She turned to see him—the boy from yesterday—walking toward her. His calm but commanding presence sent a ripple of unease through the troublemakers. "Didn't you hear me?" he said, stepping closer. "I said, leave her alone."
The boys exchanged uneasy glances before retreating with mumbled excuses. Alice stood there, stunned. Before she could gather her thoughts, the boy turned to her, his expression softening.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
She nodded, her voice caught somewhere between gratitude and surprise. "Yes… Thank you."
"Don't mention it," he said with a small smile. "Come on, let's get out of here."
They walked together to a nearby café, where he suggested they stop for coffee. As they sipped their drinks, Alice found herself relaxing. For the first time, she looked at him closely—his confident yet gentle demeanor, the way he spoke with ease.
"What's your name?" she asked, curiosity finally overtaking her shyness.
He grinned. "james," he replied. "And yours?"
"Alice," she said, a faint smile forming on her lips.
Their conversation flowed effortlessly, as if they had known each other for years. By the time they left the café, Alice couldn't deny the growing warmth in her heart.
That day, she realized james wasn't just someone who had appeared out of nowhere—he was someone who had unknowingly started to change the course of her story.
After their unexpected encounter, James and Alice found themselves growing closer with every passing day. That first evening, as they exchanged numbers and parted ways, both felt a strange pull toward one another, though neither voiced it aloud.
Later that night, James couldn't resist dialing Alice's number.
"Hey," he began, his voice a mix of hesitation and eagerness.
Alice smiled on the other end. "Hey yourself. Couldn't wait till tomorrow, huh?"
"Not really," James admitted, chuckling. "Just thought we could talk a bit more."
What began as a simple phone call stretched into hours of conversation. They talked about their lives, their dreams, and even their quirks. James shared stories of his childhood, his ambitions, and his love for painting, while Alice revealed her passion for literature, her close-knit bond with her mother, and her knack for gardening.
As days turned into weeks, their connection deepened. They started meeting regularly, often going for long walks, grabbing coffee, or just sitting by the park, enjoying each other's company. Slowly but surely, Alice realized her feelings for James were no longer just friendly. She was falling for him.
One evening, as they walked hand in hand, James stopped abruptly. "Alice," he said, looking at her with a rare seriousness. "I think I'm in love with you."
Alice's heart skipped a beat. She had known this moment would come, but hearing it still felt surreal. Smiling softly, she replied, "I think I've been in love with you for a while now."
Their relationship blossomed, but it wasn't without its challenges. Alice's mother, a protective and observant woman, noticed her daughter's growing attachment to James. One evening, she overheard Alice talking to him on the phone, her voice filled with a warmth she hadn't heard before.
"Who's this James?" her mother asked casually the next morning.
"Oh, he's just a friend," Alice replied quickly, avoiding her mother's probing gaze.
But over time, as James visited more frequently, his charm and sincerity won her mother over. They started bonding over conversations about life and family, and soon enough, her mother began treating him like family.
However, not everything was smooth sailing. Alice had a group of male friends who often hung out with her. While James trusted her, he couldn't help feeling uneasy about their closeness.
"Do you really need to spend so much time with them?" he asked one day, his tone tinged with frustration.
"They're my friends, James," Alice replied, her voice calm but firm. "They've been with me through a lot."
"I get that," James said, sighing. "But it's hard for me. I don't like sharing you with them."
Alice understood his feelings, but she also valued her friendships. It took patience and honest communication to find a balance, but she made it clear that James was the one who held her heart.
Through it all, their love grew stronger, weathering every challenge that came their way. Alice couldn't help but feel that meeting James was the twist of fate her life had been waiting for.
Alice had always seen James as someone trustworthy and dependable. To her, he was the perfect partner—kind, attentive, and loving. She cherished every moment they spent together, believing their bond was unbreakable. But there was a side of James she didn't know, one he had carefully hidden from her.
James's world was far from perfect. He struggled with his own demons—addictions to drinking and occasional substance use. His relationship with his parents was strained, and he avoided talking about his family altogether. For him, Alice was a bright spot in an otherwise turbulent life, and he feared losing her if she ever found out about his darker side.
One afternoon, while Alice was walking past a café, she overheard James's friends chatting animatedly. They didn't notice her standing just outside, their voices carrying clearly to where she stood.
"Man, James was wild last night," one of them said, laughing. "The way he downed those drinks… I don't know how he managed to get home."
"Yeah, and did you see him light up after that? Alice would lose her mind if she knew he's still into that stuff," another chimed in.
Alice froze, her heart sinking. Her mind raced with questions and disbelief. James drinks? And what else are they talking about? Why didn't he tell me?
That evening, she confronted James. Her voice trembled with both anger and hurt. "Is it true? Do you drink? Do you do drugs?"
James looked stunned, caught off guard by her sudden accusation. "Alice, I—"
"Don't lie to me, James!" she snapped, tears welling up in her eyes. "I heard your friends. You've been hiding this from me all along."
James sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't want you to know," he admitted quietly. "I thought I could stop. I didn't want you to see that side of me."
Alice stared at him, her voice breaking. "Do you have any idea how betrayed I feel? You could've told me, James. I would've helped you. But instead, you lied."
"I didn't want to lose you," he said, his own voice thick with emotion.
"You didn't lose me because of your flaws, James," Alice replied, shaking her head. "You lost me because you hid them."
That night, Alice left James's apartment, her heart heavy with disappointment. She couldn't reconcile the man she thought she knew with the truth she had just discovered. James, on the other hand, sat alone in silence, realizing the consequences of his choices.
For Alice, the road ahead was uncertain. She still loved James, but trust, once broken, isn't easily mended. For James, it was a wake-up call—a chance to confront his past, fix his mistakes, and decide whether he was willing to fight for the one person who had ever truly believed in him.