Episode 4
862 Words
The OB-GYN lecture hall was unusually quiet as Karla entered. She took her usual seat near the side wall—close enough to see Christopher clearly , but far enough not to draw attention. Or so she thought .
From the back row , two classmates were whispering behind raised hands . Karla caught fragments.
“ … she’s always talking to him after class … ”
“ … and did you see that comment he left on her reel ? ”
Karla kept her eyes on her notes , pretending not to hear . But her skin prickled . The kind of attention she had dreamed of when she first developed a crush on Christopher now felt suffocating .
She couldn’t deny their connection anymore — at least not to herself . They texted daily. He liked nearly every post she made . Their banter had shifted into something more flirtatious . And when they were alone, there was a warmth in his voice reserved just for her .
But she wasn’t the only one noticing .
That afternoon , while scrolling through t****k during a study break , her heart dropped .
A short video showed Christopher laughing during a past clinical rotation , walking beside a student . Karla vaguely remembered — a recent graduate named Alina . The video was old , but the comments were recent .
“ Back when Dr. Hale and Alina were a thing . ”
“ She swore they were close. I believe it . ”
“ Med school gossip always has some truth . ”
Karla sat frozen , her chest tightening .
It wasn’t just her . There had been someone else . Maybe more than one .
She debated saying nothing . But it ate at her .
That night , while reviewing case studies in the quiet upper level of the library , she saw Christopher walk in . He spotted her instantly and smiled .
“ Didn’t expect to find you hiding here , ” he said , sitting across from her . “ You’re unusually quiet today . ”
She looked up , hesitating .
“ I saw a video , ” she said softly .
He paused . “ Okay . ”
“ With you and another student . Alina . People are talking . ”
He leaned back in the chair , jaw tightening . “ People always talk . ”
“ So it’s true ? ”
There was a long silence . He looked down at the table .
“ I won’t lie to you , ” he said . “ Alina and I … we were close . It didn’t cross any lines while she was still a student . Not technically . But it was complicated . And messy . And yeah—people talk . ”
Karla swallowed hard. “ So what is this with me , then ? Is it just another … pattern ? ”
Christopher leaned forward , his voice suddenly more serious .
“ No . This with you — this started differently . You’re not a mistake I almost made . You’re someone I actually care about . ”
“ But we haven’t even talked about what this is , ” she whispered . “ I don’t even know if I’m just another blurry photo on your feed . ”
He closed his eyes for a second . “ You’re not . ”
“ Then why haven’t you said anything ? Why do I find out through rumors and t****k videos instead of from you ? ”
“ I didn’t want to scare you off , ” he said . “ I didn’t want to ruin something before it began . ”
Karla let out a breath , torn between wanting to believe him and the sharp sting of doubt .
“ I’m not asking for a relationship , ” she said . “ But I need honesty . I need to know that I’m not walking into something that’s going to blow up in my face . ”
He reached across the table , fingers brushing hers . “ I’ll be honest with you . From now on . About everything .”
She didn’t move her hand . Not yet . Not fully .
“ Then start here , ” she said . “ What do you want from me ? ”
His eyes met hers , softer now .
“ I want to get to know you beyond the messages, the glances . I want to see where this goes — without lies , without hiding . But only if you want that too . ”
Karla stayed quiet , weighing the sincerity in his voice against the weight of the rumors still ringing in her ears .
She finally nodded . “ Okay . But if I find out you’re playing me — ”
“ You won’t , ” he said , gently .
But trust , she realized , wasn’t built in one night .
It would take more than words .
It would take time .
.
.
.
.
.
- Writer
