Chapter 9: The One She Overheard
410 Words
“Love doesn’t always end with silence. Sometimes, it ends with a single word you never hear.”
– Katienne
SCENE 1: Rooftop Shadows
Liora hadn’t meant to go to the rooftop.
She had forgotten her umbrella in the dance studio and decided to cut through the stairs for a shortcut. The door was slightly ajar. She didn’t mean to listen.
But then she saw them.
Cherry.
Katienne.
And a kiss.
Cherry’s arms wrapped around his neck like she belonged there.
Katienne didn’t move.
Liora froze. Her hands turned cold. Her feet wouldn’t move.
She didn’t hear the part that came next:
Katienne (pulling away): “That’s the last time. I’m sorry, Cherry. I can’t fake this. Not with her on my mind."
Cherry (teary-eyed): “I know… I just had to try.”
Katienne:"Goodbye.”
But the door had already closed softly behind Liora.
She was gone.
SCENE 2: Vanishing Act
That night, Katienne waited in the dorm.
Liora never came back.
No texts. No calls.
Dax [9:22 PM]: Dude. You okay? Rumor is Liora saw you kissing Cherry. It’s spreading.
Katienne: She didn’t hear what happened after.
He threw his phone down.
“I’m losing all of them…”
SCENE 3: Yuna’s Arrival
The knock came around 10 PM.
Yuna.
She stood in the doorway holding two cups of hot chocolate.
“I heard,” she said softly.
“Of course you did.”
“She’ll come around.”
“You’re not mad?”
“I’ve been the girl watching from behind glass for too long to judge the people inside.”
She placed one cup on his desk and looked at him, not smiling.
“But if you really want her to believe you…”
“What?”
“You’re going to have to bleed.”
“Figuratively?”
“Hopefully.”
SCENE 4: Liora’s Inner Storm
Across campus, Liora sat alone in the laundry room, next to a humming dryer. The low light cast shadows across her clenched fists.
She stared at her phone.
No missed calls.
No texts.
“I shouldn’t care.”
“I told myself not to fall.”
“Why does it feel like drowning?”
A memory echoed:
“If you kiss me, I might not stop you.”
Her chest tightened.
And he kissed someone else.
She typed a message.
To: Katienne
Forget what almost happened. It was a mistake.
She hovered over Send.
Then deleted it.
- Writer
