Episode 5: The Rise and The Echo
648 Words
The overwhelming pain and betrayal Steve faced completely altered his personality. The treachery of his boss and the sudden disappearance of Sara broke something deep within him. Consumed by raw anger and resentment, he completely stopped going to the office. He put his phone on silent, ignoring countless calls and messages from his boss and colleagues. His heartbreak turned into frustration, and frustration turned into utter detachment. He locked himself away in his room, spending days in complete isolation.
After several days of living in darkness, the clock on the wall struck exactly 10:30 PM one night. Breaking the haunting silence of the room, his phone suddenly buzzed and rang. Steve glanced at the screen—it was the exact same Unknown Number.
A sudden surge of fury rushed through his veins. He answered the call, his voice dripping with venom.
Steve: "How many times? How many people are you going to play with? How many fools are you going to make?"
From the other end, Sara tried to speak, her voice trembling. "Steve... please, listen to me..."
Steve: "No! Enough! Believing a random stranger, a faceless voice, and falling for them was my biggest mistake. I don't want to hear another word from you!"
Without letting her finish, Steve brutally cut the call. In a fit of rage, he ripped the SIM card out of his phone and snapped it into pieces, tossing it into the trash.
The very next morning, Steve walked into his office. Unable to even look at his boss's face, he spoke to no one. He marched straight to the cabin, slammed his resignation letter onto the desk, and quit on the spot. He returned home immediately, cutting all ties with his past.
From that moment on, his sorrow and anger transformed into pure, unadulterated determination. He resolved to prove his worth to the world. Day after day, he visited numerous companies, dropping off his resume and attending consecutive interviews. Finally, his exceptional talent landed him an incredible job at a prestigious firm with a massive package. Right from day one, Steve channeled his aggression into his work, immensely impressing his new boss. Within a matter of months, both his salary and his position skyrocketed.
Several months flew by in this fast-paced routine. Steve was now in a commanding position at the firm.
One day, the company held interviews for fresh replacements. Out of many candidates, three were selected—two boys and one girl. The management assigned the responsibility of training the new female recruit directly to Steve.
While Steve was busy analyzing files in his cabin, the new recruit quietly walked in.
The Girl: "Hello Sir, I am Selena."
The moment those words echoed in the room, the pen slipped from Steve’s fingers. His heart skipped a beat. That voice... it was identical to Sara's voice! Dumbfounded, Steve lifted his head to look at her. Selena stood there, looking professional, poised, and remarkably beautiful.
Even as he began training her, Steve’s mind couldn't drift away from her voice. The uncanny resemblance was driving him insane. Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, he tried to strike up a casual conversation during the training session.
Steve: "Selena... Where is your house? I mean, where do you live?"
Hearing his question, the polite smile on Selena’s face instantly vanished. She looked directly into Steve’s eyes and replied with cold, firm precision.
Selena: "I am sorry, Sir... but I do not trust unknown people. And I never reveal my address to anyone."
Those sharp words hit Steve like a wave of nostalgia, instantly reminding him of how his connection with Sara had started as two unknown individuals. Was Selena actually Sara? Or was this just a cruel twist of fate? What will Steve do now?
- Writer
