💔 I HATE YOU BUT I LOVE YOU

CHAPTER 3: THE MESSAGE (EXTENDED)

‎I seriously just bolted. I didn't even care how weird I looked, I just had to get out of that library. Now I’m just walking, God knows where, and I can’t get Derek’s voice out of my head.

‎"This project isn’t the only reason we met."

‎Like, what does that even mean? My brain is a complete mess. I’m trying to focus on where I’m going, but I just keep hearing him say it, over and over, and I can’t make it stop. I tried telling myself he was just being a freak and trying to scare me. Honestly, that had to be it. But deep down? I knew better.

‎The campus was getting dark, and seeing everyone else just hanging out, laughing and being normal... it sucked. They were just living their lives while I felt like everything was turning upside down. I would’ve given anything to be one of them right then.

‎When I finally got back to my dorm, I just shoved the door open. The room was so quiet it was actually creepy. I thrashed my bag onto the bed and just sat there, staring at the wall like a total zombie.

‎My phone buzzed. I figured it was just one of my friends, but it wasn't. It was an unknown number. My heart started thumping fast when I opened the text.

‎It said: "You should have said no to the group project."

‎I rubbed my eyes and read it again. I thought I was seeing things. My hands were shaking so much I could barely even type, but I sent back: "Who is this?"

‎No answer. I just sat there staring at the screen, waiting and waiting. Nothing happened.

‎I got up and started walking back and forth. I tried to tell myself it was just a mean joke. Like, maybe some course mate from class was just trying to be a bully? But I had a terrible feeling in my stomach that this was serious.

‎Bzzz. Another message.

‎“You’re already involved.”

‎I swear, I just froze. I couldn't even move my legs. I actually said, “What does that even mean?” out loud, which felt totally stupid because I was the only one in the room. But it was just so creepy.

‎I kept looking around at the window and the door, and even the dark corners behind my desk. I knew I was alone, but I had that gross feeling that someone was staring at the back of my head or something. My hands were shaking so bad I could barely hold my phone.

‎I texted back, “Stop it. This isn't funny,” but they just left me on read. They didn't even type anything. It was just dead silent. I sat there trying to calm down and told myself I’d just block the number and be done with it. But then, my phone buzzed again.

‎It wasn’t even a text this time. It was a photo.

‎I honestly didn't even want to look at it. My heart was going crazy. But I finally tapped the screen to open it, and I’m not even kidding, I felt like I was going to throw up.

‎It was a picture of me. Taken today. I was standing right outside the library, exactly where I had been after I left Derek.

‎I zoomed in, my hands shaking so hard I almost dropped the phone. In the corner of the photo, tucked into the shadows, was a figure. Someone was standing far behind me.

‎Watching me.

‎I jumped up and bolted to the door, locking it with a loud click. My heart was thumping so loud I could hear it in my ears.

‎Knock.

‎I froze.

‎Knock. Knock.

‎It was slow. Calm. Like the person on the other side knew I was trapped there.

‎I didn't move. I didn't even breathe. My phone lit up again. This time, the name on the screen made my blood run cold.

‎DEREK

‎I stared at it. I never saved his number. I didn't even have his number. My hand shook as I opened it.

‎“Open the door.”

‎I swear, I just froze. I couldn’t even move. Then there was another knock, way louder this time. I backed away, and my head was just spinning. Like, how did he even get my number? And why was he at my dorm?

‎Then the knocking just... stopped.

‎The silence was actually worse. It was so quiet it felt like it was crushing me or something. Then my phone buzzed one more time. It was another text from Derek.

‎He said: “Amara… I’m not the one outside.”

‎I totally went numb. I slowly looked over at the door, and my heart was going crazy. There wasn't any more knocking, but then I heard something else.

‎The door handle. It was slowly, quietly starting to turn.