The real reason
1289 Words
I couldn’t hear anything Michael was saying anymore.
My eyes stayed fixed on the screen.
You really should ask Michael why he left his last relationship.
Then another message.
Because he didn’t tell you the real reason.
I locked my phone.
“Everything okay?” Michael asked.
“Yeah.”
The lie came out automatically.
He studied me for a second.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
He nodded, but I could tell he didn’t believe me.
I hated that.
Not because he’d caught me lying.
Because he noticed.
Again.
“You can tell me if something’s wrong,” he said.
I smiled.
“I know.”
But I didn’t tell him.
Not yet.
Because I was tired.
Tired of letting another person’s words determine how I saw someone.
David had taught me to doubt.
Daniel had taught me that apologies didn’t erase betrayal.
And the anonymous person was trying to teach me that everyone had something to hide.
I wasn’t going to let that happen.
Not today.
“So,” I said, forcing a smile. “Tell me about your ex.”
Michael blinked.
“My ex?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“I’m curious.”
He laughed softly.
“That’s a dangerous question.”
“Why?”
“Because you might actually get an honest answer.”
I leaned back.
“Try me.”
He was quiet for a moment.
Then he nodded.
“Her name was Tessa.”
“Tessa?”
“Yes.”
“How long were you together?”
“Almost two years.”
“And you loved her?”
“Yes.”
There was no hesitation.
Something about that surprised me.
“You still love her?”
“No.”
Again, immediate.
I nodded.
“What happened?”
Michael looked at his coffee.
“She wanted us to move in together.”
“And you didn’t?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew I wasn’t ready.”
I frowned.
“You said earlier you realized you didn’t love her the way she loved you.”
“I did.”
“So that’s why you broke up?”
“Yes.”
I stared at him.
It sounded almost too simple.
“That’s it?”
He smiled faintly.
“You expected something worse?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’ve been around complicated people.”
I laughed.
“That obvious?”
“A little.”
I looked down.
“Did you cheat on her?”
“No.”
“Did she cheat on you?”
“No.”
“Then why does the breakup sound so…”
“Boring?”
I smiled.
“Yeah.”
“Sometimes boring is good.”
I nodded.
Maybe it was.
Then he looked at me.
“Why are you asking?”
I hesitated.
“I got a message.”
His expression changed.
“What kind of message?”
I pulled out my phone and showed him.
His eyes moved across the screen.
He didn’t laugh.
He didn’t get defensive.
He simply stared.
“Who keeps texting you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Have you reported it?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because they haven’t threatened me.”
Michael looked at me.
“Someone doesn’t have to threaten you before you take them seriously.”
I swallowed.
He was right.
“I’ll block them.”
“You already did.”
I blinked.
“How do you know?”
“You told me yesterday.”
Right.
I had.
“And they’re still finding ways to contact you.”
“Yeah.”
Michael handed my phone back.
“That’s not normal.”
“I know.”
He was quiet.
Then he asked,
“Do you think I have something to do with this?”
I looked at him.
“No.”
“You hesitated.”
“I don’t know what to think anymore.”
He nodded.
“That’s fair.”
I expected him to get offended.
He didn’t.
Instead, he said,
“If you ever have a question about me, ask me.”
I looked at him.
“Even if it’s uncomfortable?”
“Especially then.”
That sentence settled somewhere deep inside me.
Because I’d spent years with people who made questions feel like accusations.
Michael was telling me questions were allowed.
Maybe that was what healthy felt like.
I wasn’t sure yet.
⸻
After the café, Michael walked me back toward the hostel.
We talked about random things.
My favorite movies.
His terrible cooking.
The fact that I couldn’t swim.
He laughed when I told him.
“You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
“Not even a little?”
“No.”
“So if someone pushed you into a pool?”
“I’d sue them.”
He laughed.
“You’d sue someone for drowning you?”
“I’d survive out of spite.”
He looked at me.
“I believe you.”
We reached the hostel entrance.
He stopped.
“I had a good time.”
“So did I.”
He smiled.
“Can I see you again?”
I looked at him.
“Yes.”
His smile grew.
“Good.”
He took a step back.
“Goodnight, Amara.”
“Goodnight.”
I watched him walk away.
And for once, I wasn’t wondering what his intentions were.
I knew.
He wanted to see me again.
Simple.
Clear.
No guessing.
I smiled to myself.
Then I heard someone behind me.
“Enjoying yourself?”
I turned.
Daniel.
My smile disappeared.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you.”
“Why?”
“I wanted to talk.”
“About?”
He looked toward the direction Michael had gone.
“About him.”
I sighed.
“Daniel, please.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
He stepped closer.
“There’s something you don’t know about Michael.”
I froze.
My stomach tightened.
“What?”
Daniel hesitated.
“I don’t know the details.”
“Then why are you talking?”
“Because I know Tessa.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“I’ve met her.”
“When?”
“After you and I broke up.”
I shook my head.
“And?”
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“She told me something about Michael.”
My heart started beating faster.
“What did she say?”
Before he could answer, my phone buzzed.
I pulled it out.
Unknown number.
He didn’t tell you the truth.
I stared at the screen.
Another message appeared.
Ask him why Tessa left.
I slowly looked up at Daniel.
“What did Tessa tell you?”
Daniel’s expression was unreadable.
“She said Michael wasn’t the reason she left.”
I frowned.
“Then what was?”
Daniel looked directly at me.
“She said she left because she was afraid of what would happen if she stayed.”
My stomach dropped.
“Afraid?”
He nodded.
“That’s all I know.”
I stared at him.
“That makes no sense.”
“I know.”
“Then why tell me?”
“Because you deserve to know what you’re getting into.”
I looked toward the road.
Michael was already gone.
For the first time since meeting him, the easy feeling disappeared.
And a horrible thought entered my mind.
Maybe the anonymous person wasn’t trying to make me leave Michael.
Maybe they were trying to make sure I never got close enough to discover the truth myself.
I looked down at my phone again.
One final message appeared.
Ask Michael about the night Tessa disappeared.
My heart stopped.
Disappeared?
What the hell did that mean?
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD