Chapter 3- UNINVITED PATTERNS
1173 Words
Theresa did not go looking for him.
That was the first rule she made for herself after the second encounter.
If she ignored it hard enough, it would stop existing.
At least that was what she told herself.
But it was harder to ignore something that didn’t behave like a normal memory.
Because Adrian Vale didn’t feel like a memory.
He felt like a presence that had learned how to repeat itself.
“Theresa, you’re spacing out again,” Tessa said, snapping her fingers in front of her face.
Theresa blinked. “I’m fine.”
Tessa narrowed her eyes. “You said that in the same tone last time you were not fine.”
“I’m actually fine.”
Tessa leaned back in her chair. “So why do you look like you’re waiting for something?”
Theresa paused. “I’m not.”
Tessa didn’t believe her. “You are. Since yesterday.”
Theresa looked down at her notebook. “It’s nothing.”
Tessa sighed. “You met that guy again, didn’t you?”
Theresa’s hand stopped moving.
That was enough answer.
Tessa sat up slowly. “Theresa.”
“It wasn’t like that,” Theresa said quickly.
“Then what was it like?”
Theresa hesitated.
That was the problem.
She couldn’t describe it in a way that made sense.
Because nothing about him made sense.
“He just… appeared again,” she said finally.
Tessa stared at her. “Appeared.”
“Yes.”
Tessa blinked. “Like a magician?”
Theresa gave her a look. “No.”
“Then like what?”
Theresa exhaled. “Like he already knew I’d be there.”
Tessa went quiet for a moment.
“That’s creepy,” she said finally.
Theresa nodded slightly. “Yeah.”
Tessa studied her. “And you’re not running?”
Theresa frowned. “Running from what?”
Tessa gestured vaguely. “From him. From whatever this is.”
Theresa looked down again. “I don’t even know what it is.”
Tessa leaned forward. “Then stay away.”
Theresa didn’t answer.
Because part of her already knew that wasn’t the issue.
⸻
Later that day, Theresa convinced herself she was being paranoid.
People didn’t just appear in your life twice like that.
Especially not people like him.
Especially not people who looked like they didn’t belong in the same reality as her.
So she went about her day normally.
Classes. Notes. Noise. Movement.
Normal life.
Until normal stopped feeling stable.
It happened outside the lecture hall.
Theresa stepped out with her bag over her shoulder, scrolling through her phone, half-listening to students passing by.
Then she stopped.
Not because she wanted to.
Because the air felt different again.
Her head lifted slowly.
“No,” she whispered immediately.
He was there.
Again.
Standing under a shaded walkway like he had always known the exact place she would exit from.
Adrian Vale.
This time, he wasn’t moving toward her.
He was just waiting.
Like her arrival was the final piece of something already arranged.
Theresa froze.
Tessa bumped into her from behind. “Hey, why did you stop—”
Tessa followed her gaze.
Then went quiet.
“…Oh,” Tessa said.
Theresa didn’t move. “Don’t say it.”
Tessa lowered her voice. “That’s him again.”
“Yes.”
Tessa frowned. “Theresa, why is he always where you are?”
“I don’t know.”
But even as she said it, she felt something uncomfortable settle in her stomach.
Because it was no longer just coincidence.
Adrian lifted his eyes.
Found her immediately.
Theresa’s breath tightened.
Tessa noticed. “Why is he looking at you like that?”
Theresa whispered, “Like I’m expected.”
Tessa turned fully now. “That is not normal.”
“I know.”
Adrian started walking.
Not fast.
Not slow.
Just certain.
Students shifted without realizing it, subtly making space for him as he passed.
Tessa instinctively stepped closer to Theresa. “I don’t like this.”
Theresa didn’t respond.
Because he was closer now.
Too close for something she could still pretend was random.
He stopped in front of her.
Again.
Like before.
Like nothing had changed except time.
“You’re still here,” he said.
Theresa exhaled sharply. “Yes. I already told you that.”
His gaze stayed steady. “You didn’t leave.”
Tessa cut in immediately. “Okay, seriously, what is wrong with you? Why are you tracking where she is?”
Adrian looked at Tessa briefly.
Not annoyed.
Not dismissive.
Just brief acknowledgment.
Then back to Theresa.
“You didn’t tell her everything,” he said.
Theresa frowned. “Tell her what exactly?”
A pause.
Then Adrian said,
“That I noticed you.”
Tessa blinked. “That’s it?”
Theresa turned slightly. “Tessa—”
But Tessa was already looking between them. “That’s not a crime.”
Adrian’s eyes didn’t move.
“It is not,” he agreed.
Tessa relaxed slightly. “Okay, so then why are you acting like—”
“But it changes behavior,” he finished.
Tessa paused.
Theresa’s stomach tightened.
“What behavior?” Tessa asked carefully.
Adrian answered without hesitation.
“Yours.”
Theresa’s voice came out sharper than intended. “I didn’t change anything.”
Adrian looked at her.
A long pause.
Then quietly,
“You will.”
Theresa felt something cold move through her chest.
“That is not how people work,” she said.
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
“It is how patterns work.”
Tessa stepped forward. “Okay, I don’t know what kind of game you think this is—”
“It is not a game,” Adrian said calmly.
Theresa interrupted him now. “Then stop talking like I’m part of some experiment.”
A pause.
Then Adrian said,
“You are not an experiment.”
That made her hesitate slightly.
Then he added,
“You are an interruption.”
Silence hit instantly.
Tessa frowned. “What does that even mean?”
Theresa didn’t speak.
Because something about that word didn’t feel insulting.
It felt… accurate in a way she didn’t want to understand.
Adrian stepped back slightly.
Like he always did.
Like distance was his control mechanism.
“You will leave again,” he said.
Theresa snapped, “Stop saying that.”
He didn’t respond to the frustration.
Only to the certainty behind his own words.
“You keep proving it,” he said.
Then he turned.
And left.
No urgency.
No hesitation.
Just departure.
Tessa immediately grabbed Theresa’s arm. “Okay. We are talking. Now.”
Theresa stared at his back disappearing into the crowd.
Her voice came out quietly.
“He doesn’t feel like he’s guessing.”
Tessa frowned. “Then what does he feel like?”
Theresa swallowed.
“Like he’s waiting for me to confirm something he already believes.”
And for the first time…
she didn’t know if she wanted to prove him wrong.
Or prove him right.
- Writer
