Chapter 2
996 Words
Titus' Point of View:
“Hi, Titus!”
“Good morning, Titus!”
The greetings come in a chorus of high-pitched squeals as I make my way through the crowded hallway. I offer a casual smile and a slight nod, just enough to acknowledge the admirers but not enough to break my stride.
I suppress a grin, amused by the attention but determined not to let it show. My walk to the cafeteria is routine—steps confident, measured, calculated.
Being rich and handsome... Well, it really does have its perks.
I’m Titus Harrison Albern, sixteen years old, and the sole heir of Governor Bobby Albern. I was once just “Albern’s son,” but not anymore.
Thanks to my achievements on the football field, I’m simply Titus Albern now.
Life seems perfect. I have fame, money, and more girls interested in me than I can keep track of.
Or so I thought.
Until one fateful night...
That night was supposed to be a celebration. I had just been named MVP of the city, the pinnacle of my high school football career.
The whole town buzzed with excitement, congratulating the team on the big win. The Burger Café, our usual post-game hangout, was packed.
“Hey, Titus!!”
As I pushed open the café door, I saw my friends waving enthusiastically. I acknowledged them with a nod, my confidence unshaken, and made my way to our usual table in the center of the café.
“Yo, Titus!!”
Paul, my best friend, slid a Coke across the table. “Did you hear?” he asked, his tone laced with mischief.
“What’s got you so excited?” I asked, taking a sip of the Coke.
“Here,” Paul said, handing me my iPhone, which he’d been holding onto for me. “You’ve got a message from someone interesting. I replied for you. Congrats, you’ve got a date tomorrow.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
Paul gestured to the message on my phone:
Hi Titus, I’m Rachel from our math class. I mustered the courage to ask you out. Would you like to go out with me tomorrow at 8?
Rachel? I vaguely remembered her—the shy girl who always sat at the front of the class. We’d exchanged a few words, but nothing significant.
I scrolled down to see Paul’s reply:
Hi Rach, I remember you. Sure, tomorrow at 8 works. How about the Burger Café where I usually hang out with my friends?
“Seriously?” I groaned, lightly punching Paul’s shoulder. “What did you do, you i***t?”
Paul laughed, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “You hate labels. I thought it’d be funny.”
“Oh, come on!” I groaned again, shaking my head in disbelief. “I’ll just explain to her tomorrow that it was a misunderstanding.”
My friends teased me relentlessly about the “date,” and I rolled my eyes, pretending to be annoyed. Truthfully, I wasn’t interested in relationships. I valued my freedom too much.
The next day, I completely forgot about the date. I didn’t show up and didn’t give it a second thought. Little did I know, missing that date would lead to something horrific.
The following week, the school’s atmosphere felt off. Whispers filled the hallways, and the glances people shot at me were more intense than usual.
“Yo,” I greeted my friends, who looked visibly unsettled. “What’s going on?”
Darren’s expression was grim. “How can you be so calm?”
I shrugged, genuinely clueless.
Paul sat down beside me, his face unusually serious.
“Titus,” Paul started, his voice low. “Remember that math girl?”
I took a bite of my apple and shook my head. “What math girl?”
Paul and Darren exchanged worried glances. Darren sighed deeply. “Rachel. The one who was supposed to go out with you.”
I stopped chewing, confused. “What about her?”
Paul’s voice dropped further. “She’s dead, Titus. She hung herself in her attic.”
The words hit me like a truck. I nearly choked on my apple.
“What?!”
Darren hesitated. “And she left a note,” he said, barely above a whisper. “It said, ‘I’m sorry, Titus, and I’ve always loved you.’”
My stomach dropped. “What the hell?” I blurted, my mind spinning.
Before I could process the news, the cafeteria doors swung open. The headmaster walked in, flanked by two police officers. Their arrival silenced the entire room, and all eyes turned toward me.
“s**t,” I muttered under my breath.
“Titus Albern?” the headmaster called. I nodded, my heart racing, and followed them to his office.
Inside, I sat beside the headmaster while the two officers took seats across from me. The air was thick with tension.
“Are you Titus Albern?” one officer asked, his tone formal.
“Yes, that’s me. What’s this about?” I replied, trying to sound composed.
“I’m Officer Ed, and this is Officer Peter,” he said. Peter handed me a photo. “Do you recognize this girl?”
I glanced at the photo.
Shit, It was Rachel.
“Yes,” I said slowly. “She’s in my math class.”
Officer Ed nodded. “You’re aware of what happened to her?”
I swallowed hard. “My friends told me. Is this about the note she left?”
Peter slid another photo across the table. It was an image of Rachel’s note:
I’m sorry, Titus, and I’ve always loved you.
“There’s only one Titus,” Ed said, his tone heavy. “That’s why we’re here.”
My head was spinning.
Why me?
Why did she write that note?
What did she mean by “sorry”? And “I’ve always loved you”?
Damn it.
Life wasn’t so perfect anymore.
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- Writer
