Allison
“Jayden?!” I screamed.
“Don’t call my name, Allison!” he screamed back, panting heavily. This was the second time he’d used my full name, and the anger in his voice made it sound like I was the cause of his misery.
I fought back tears, taking a deep breath to calm myself. “Fine, but can you at least tell me… what did I do wrong?” My voice trembled.
Jayden hesitated before responding. “It’s not that you did anything wrong. It’s both of us. We’re wrong for each other. I think it’s best we stop this, end it once and for all. We can’t keep going on like this. Sally was right.”
I tried to interrupt, but Jayden cut me off. “You should head back home, Allison. Should I call you a taxi or-”
“Don’t worry, I’ll get home myself,” I said, my voice cold and detached. “Goodbye. When you see me again, don’t talk to me. We don’t even know each other from now on, you hear me.”
“Sure,” he nodded, his expression cold.
My anger boiled over, and I flipped him the bird. “I hate you so much.”
I walked down the road, my back to Jayden, hoping he’d call out to me, regretting his decision to send me away. But he remained silent, not even a whisper of my name on his lips.
Tears pricked the corners of my eyes as fear crept in. I stopped and turned, watching as Jayden walked away without looking back. A painful pang shot through my heart, and tears streamed down my face.
I turned back around, quickening my pace as more tears fell. How could he do this to me?
Although I knew I shouldn’t feel this way about Jayden-he was just my sex partner and nothing more-I couldn’t help it. There was something wrong with me. I must be going crazy.
Despite my heartache, my stomach growled, reminding me that I needed to eat. A small, nearly empty restaurant appeared ahead. I stepped inside and ordered food, which arrived promptly.
As I ate, tears began to fall again.
The older woman serving me approached, her voice gentle and concerned. “Hey, honey, is everything okay?”
I shook my head, sobbing.
“Oh dear, can you tell me what’s wrong?” she asked, gently patting my back.
I shook my head, unable to control my sobs. “It’s just that the food was spicy,” I lied, trying to hide my true feelings.
The older woman looked concerned. “Oh, I’m so sorry. You should have told me you don’t like spicy food.”
My heart ached, but not from the food. Jayden’s rejection still stung, and I couldn’t understand why it hurt so much. We weren’t even in a real relationship.
The woman returned with a glass of water, which I accepted gratefully. After finishing my food, I paid and left, thanking her for her kindness.
As I walked home, darkness closed in around me. I quickened my pace, eager to get home. When I reached the road, I found no taxis in sight. Deciding to head to a nearby bus stop, I spotted a bus approaching and rushed to catch it.
As I boarded the bus, I reached for my wallet to pay, only to realize I had left it at the restaurant.
I quickly jumped off the bus, apologizing to the driver, and hurried back to the restaurant. Thankfully, the older woman was still there, packing up for the night.
To make matters worse, I realized I couldn’t even navigate my way back without my phone. Both my wallet and phone were gone.
I rushed into the restaurant and explained my situation. The woman kindly offered to help me search. Together, we looked around the table and surrounding area, but there was no sign of my belongings. Fear crept in as I realized I was stranded. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes.
Seeing my distress, the old lady offered me some money. I was overwhelmed with gratitude. “Thank you so much,” I said, my voice shaky with emotion. “I’m very grateful.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, patting me on the shoulder with a warm smile.
She handed me some cash, telling me to head home as it was getting late.
I thanked her profusely and rushed out, hoping to catch another bus. Her kindness had given me hope, and I felt a little less alone in that moment.
As I made my way back to the bus stop, I hoped to find a taxi to make everything easier. But as I walked, I sensed someone following me. Fear prickled at the back of my neck, and I quickened my pace. The footsteps behind me grew louder, and panic set in.
In that moment, my anger towards Jayden reached a boiling point. I swore that if I made it through the night, I’d confront him-or worse.
Just as my fear peaked, I spotted a police station and bolted towards it. The person followed me inside, and without thinking, I rushed to the front desk, crying hysterically, pointing behind me.
“This man has been following me since the restaurant! Please help me!” I exclaimed.
As I turned to face my pursuer, I was surprised to see a handsome young man looking at me with concern. “Hey?” he called calmly.
“Hey?” I repeated, my voice shaking with fear and anger. “Who are you to say ‘hey’ like we know each other?”
Panting, I continued, “And don’t think your handsome looks and youth justify stalking me, mister.”
Two policemen approached the man, ordering him to sit down. They intended to question him about why he was following a young woman late at night.
“Please, have a seat, miss,” one of the officers said to me, gesturing towards a chair. I sat down, still trembling, as they handed me a glass of water.
“Drink this, it will help calm you down,” the officer said gently.
As I sipped the water, the officers turned their attention to the man. “Do you know her? Why were you following her?” one of them asked.
The man glanced at me, and I hesitantly met his gaze. Despite the situation, I couldn’t help but notice his strikingly beautiful eyes, which seemed out of place.
He broke our eye contact, turning to the officers. “Yes, I do know her,” he said, his voice steady.
Confusion washed over me as I frowned. I didn’t recognize this guy at all!