Alice had been doing her best to move on. She buried herself in her studies, determined to rebuild her life and make her parents proud. Seeing William in class every day was like salt in a wound, but she endured it with a quiet strength. She reminded herself that the past was behind her, and her focus had to remain on her future.
But just as she began to feel a sense of normalcy creeping back into her life, her phone buzzed with an unknown number one evening. Curious yet cautious, she hesitated before answering.
"Hello?" she said softly.
There was a brief pause on the other end, then a voice she hadn't heard in what felt like an eternity spoke.
"Alice... it's me, James."
Her heart skipped a beat. The voice she once knew so well flooded her with memories—some sweet, some painful. She gripped her phone tightly, her mind racing. Why was he calling her now? What did he want after all this time?
"James?" she whispered, barely able to get the word out.
"Yes... I know I have no right to call, but I couldn't stop myself. I needed to hear your voice."
Alice felt a storm brewing inside her. She thought she'd moved past James, but hearing his voice brought everything rushing back. The pain, the love, the betrayal—it was all there, fresh as ever.
"What do you want, James?" she asked, trying to steady her voice.
There was a long pause before he spoke again. "I just... I want to explain everything. Can we meet? Please?"
Alice don't answer and take a long pause..
James.. again said
Alice! Alice!... are you listening my voice?
Then alice said.. hmmm.... with a nervousness...
But she refused to meet james. Because she will never ever forget about the past what james did with her. "Cheated her,".
Alice froze as James's tone shifted sharply. The warmth and hesitation in his voice were gone, replaced by something cold and threatening.
"If you don't meet me, Alice," he said, his words slow and deliberate, "I'll make sure your parents find out everything about us. Every secret. Every picture. Imagine how they'll feel when they see their perfect daughter isn't so perfect after all."
Her heart dropped, and a chill ran down her spine. The James she once knew—the boy she had loved—was gone. This was someone different, someone cruel.
"James... why are you doing this?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
"Because you owe me, Alice," he snapped. "You think you can just erase me from your life like I never existed? No. If you want to protect your precious image, you'll come. Meet me tomorrow at the park near the old library. Five o'clock. Don't make me wait."
The call ended abruptly, leaving Alice gripping her phone in shock. Her mind swirled with fear and confusion. What had happened to him? Why was he doing this?
Alice's first instinct was to call someone, anyone, but who could she trust with this? Her parents would be devastated, and she couldn't bear the thought of their disappointment. Yet the idea of meeting James, with his newfound cruelty, terrified her.
Her thoughts raced as she tried to find a way out of the mess. She didn't want to lose her parents' trust, but she also couldn't give in to James's threats. For the first time in a long while, Alice felt truly trapped, unsure of where to turn.
Alice wasted no time. As soon as the idea came to her, she grabbed her phone and dialed Mary's number. Mary had always been her closest confidante in school, someone she could trust no matter what. If anyone could help her, it was Mary.
After a few rings, Mary answered, her voice calm and familiar. "Hello?"
"Mary, Mary, are you there?" Alice's voice was shaky, panic seeping through every word. "I need to talk to you. It's... it's serious."
"Whoa, slow down!" Mary replied, concern immediately taking over. "Take a breath. What's going on? Is everything okay?"
"No, it's not," Alice said, trying to steady her breathing. "Something terrible has happened, and I don't know what to do. I really need your help."
"Okay, okay," Mary said reassuringly. "Just calm down and tell me everything. Start from the beginning."
Alice hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to explain the tangled mess she was in. Then, slowly and carefully, she recounted everything—her past with James, the unexpected call, and the threats he had made. As she spoke, her voice cracked, and tears welled up in her eyes.
By the time she finished, Mary was silent for a moment, processing everything. Then she said firmly, "Alice, first of all, you're not alone in this. We'll figure it out together. But one thing is clear—you can't meet him. He's trying to manipulate you, and that's not okay."
"But what do I do?" Alice asked, her voice trembling. "He said he'd show my parents everything if I don't go."
Mary's voice turned firm, her protective instincts kicking in.
"Alice, listen to me," she said. "The first thing you need to do is block James's number. If he can't contact you, he can't manipulate you or threaten you further. And don't pick up any calls from unknown numbers. If it's important, they'll leave a message. Right now, you need to cut off his access to you completely."
Alice hesitated. "But what if he actually tells my parents? What if he sends them the pictures?"
"Alice," Mary said gently but firmly, "he's trying to scare you into doing what he wants. If you give in now, he'll keep controlling you. Blocking him is the first step to taking back your power. And if he does try to contact your parents, we'll deal with it together. But right now, you need to protect yourself from him."
Alice took a deep breath. Mary's words made sense, but the fear of what James might do lingered. Still, she knew she couldn't let him continue to have this hold over her.
"Okay," Alice said finally. "I'll block him."
"Good," Mary replied. "And remember, you're not alone. If he tries anything else, you tell me immediately, and we'll figure it out. You don't need to face this by yourself."
Alice nodded, even though Mary couldn't see her. "Thank you, Mary. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Alice spent the entire night tossing and turning, unable to eat or find peace. Her mind was a storm of fear, confusion, and self-doubt. The weight of James's threats and the chaos in her life felt unbearable. She longed for normalcy, but every time she tried to move on, something strange or painful seemed to pull her back.
By the time morning came, Alice was drained. Dark circles shadowed her eyes as she forced herself to get ready for class. Her steps were heavy, and her heart raced as she approached the classroom door. Fear gripped her—fear of judgment, fear of facing William, and fear of what else might go wrong.
But as she stepped into the classroom, something unexpected happened.
Alice stood frozen, her breath catching in her throat as she saw who was standing before her. It was William. The very person she had been trying to forget, the one who made her heart ache every time she saw him in class. But this moment was different.
He stood there, looking calm and confident, his hand extended toward her for a handshake. His eyes held a warmth she hadn't seen in a long time.
"Hello, Alice," he said politely, his voice steady but gentle.
Alice couldn't believe what she was seeing. Was she dreaming? Was this some trick her exhausted mind was playing on her? She blinked a few times, trying to ground herself, but the scene didn't change. William was still there, waiting for her response.
Her heart raced as excitement bubbled up inside her. She felt a mix of emotions—happiness, nervousness, and disbelief—all at once. She hesitated, staring at his outstretched hand, wondering if she should take it.
"Am I dreaming, or is this real?" she thought to herself, her mind spinning.
Finally, she managed to move. She extended her trembling hand and placed it in his. His grip was firm yet kind, and the touch sent a jolt of energy through her.
"Hi, William," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
He smiled—a genuine, friendly smile that made her heart flutter. "I know we haven't really talked in a while, but I just wanted to say... it's good to see you.
Alice stood there, her mind swirling with questions as she stared at William. How had this happened? How had he gone from being a distant memory, wrapped in awkward silences and unresolved tension, to standing in front of her with a warm smile and an extended hand?
Her confusion was overwhelming. Did William really forget all the fights, the misunderstandings, and the pain that had pulled them apart? Or was this some kind of dream she had conjured up in her exhausted mind?
She found herself unable to speak for a moment, her thoughts racing.
"Is this real?" she thought to herself. "Has he truly moved on from everything? Or is this just a polite gesture with no deeper meaning?"