Chapter 5:The Second Lie
1078 Words
Chapter 5 — The Second Lie
Adrian drove without knowing where he was going.
Mira's words kept replaying in his head.
Lena was with another man.
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
He wanted to believe Lena.
He wanted to believe the girl who had once promised him that there would never be secrets between them.
But doubt had already found a place inside his heart.
And doubt was becoming louder than love.
His phone buzzed.
Mira.
Mira: Are you coming?
Adrian stared at the message for several seconds before replying.
Adrian: Where are you?
Her location appeared almost immediately.
Twenty minutes later, Adrian found her sitting alone at a quiet café.
She looked up when he walked in.
“You came.”
“I need you to tell me exactly what you saw.”
Mira's expression changed.
“Adrian, I don't want to be the person who ruins your relationship.”
“Then don't hide anything from me.”
She lowered her eyes.
“I saw Lena with him.”
“Who?”
“I don't know his name.”
“Then how do you know she was with another man?”
Mira hesitated.
“I saw them together. She looked happy.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“Where?”
“Near the old bookstore.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
Adrian stared at her.
Yesterday.
Lena had told him she was going to the bookstore.
That detail made his stomach twist.
Mira noticed.
“You see?”
Adrian didn't answer.
“She told you she was going somewhere else, didn't she?”
“She said she was going to the bookstore.”
Mira slowly shook her head.
“I didn't want to believe it either.”
“Believe what?”
“That she might be seeing someone else.”
Adrian stood abruptly.
“Why didn't you tell me yesterday?”
“Because I was scared.”
“Scared of what?”
“Of losing you as a friend.”
The words sounded sincere.
Almost too sincere.
Adrian looked away.
“I need proof.”
Mira's eyes flickered.
Then she reached into her bag.
“I didn't want to show you this.”
She placed her phone on the table.
There was a photograph.
It showed Lena standing beside a young man outside the bookstore.
Adrian stared at it.
His chest tightened.
“Who is he?”
“I don't know.”
The image was clear enough to hurt but unclear enough to leave questions.
Mira gently took the phone back.
“I told you because you deserve to know.”
Adrian's voice dropped.
“She could have told me.”
“Maybe she didn't because she knew how you'd react.”
He looked at Mira.
“What are you saying?”
Mira sighed.
“I'm saying maybe you've been trusting someone who hasn't been honest with you.”
Adrian left without saying another word.
---
Across town, Lena sat on the edge of her bed.
She stared at her phone.
Adrian had called her three times.
She had missed all three calls.
Not because she didn't want to answer.
Because she had been crying.
She didn't understand him anymore.
One moment, he was the same Adrian who brought her coffee when she had early mornings.
The next, he looked at her like she was a stranger.
Her phone rang again.
Adrian.
This time, she answered.
“Hello?”
Silence.
“Adrian?”
“Who was the man at the bookstore?”
Lena froze.
“What?”
“The man you were with.”
“I wasn't with anyone.”
“I have a picture.”
Her heart dropped.
“Adrian, listen to me—”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because there was nothing to tell you!”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes!”
Her voice broke.
“I expect you to believe me because I'm your girlfriend.”
He said nothing.
Lena swallowed.
“Who showed you that picture?”
Silence again.
Then Adrian said quietly, “It doesn't matter.”
“It matters to me.”
He ended the call.
Lena stared at the screen.
Tears filled her eyes.
Something was happening.
Something she couldn't see.
And somehow, Mira was always somewhere near the center of it.
---
The next morning, Lena went looking for her.
She found Mira outside a small café.
Mira's eyes widened when she saw her.
“Lena.”
“We need to talk.”
Mira folded her arms.
“About what?”
“The picture.”
For a moment, Mira said nothing.
Then she smiled.
“What picture?”
“The one you showed Adrian.”
Mira's smile disappeared.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“You know exactly what I'm talking about.”
Lena stepped closer.
“Who is the man in that picture?”
Mira looked away.
“I told Adrian I didn't know.”
“Then why did you show him?”
“Because I was worried about him.”
“Worried?”
“Yes.”
Mira's voice hardened.
“Someone had to tell him what was happening.”
“Nothing was happening.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it's true!”
Mira looked directly into her eyes.
“Then why does Adrian look so unhappy every time he sees you?”
Lena went silent.
Mira continued.
“Maybe you should stop blaming everyone else and ask yourself why he's changing.”
Lena's heart sank.
“Did you say something to him?”
Mira laughed softly.
“Why would I?”
“You're always around him.”
“So?”
“You're trying to turn him against me.”
Mira's expression became cold.
“You're paranoid.”
Lena stared at her.
“No.”
She took a breath.
“I'm starting to see you clearly.”
Mira's eyes narrowed.
“Be careful, Lena.”
“Is that a threat?”
“No.”
Mira smiled.
“It's advice.”
Lena walked away.
But she didn't see the smile that appeared on Mira's face after she left.
Because the second lie had worked.
And Adrian was already beginning to believe it.
What neither of them knew was that the photograph had been carefully chosen.
The man beside Lena wasn't her lover.
He was someone from her past.
Someone who had returned for a reason.
And Mira knew exactly who he was.
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