I felt a shiver run down my spine as the voice on the other end of the line spoke. "You don't recognize my voice?" it said, the tone cold and detached.
I took a deep breath and said, "Ace."
There was a pause, and then the voice said, "Yes."
I felt a surge of anger and frustration. "What do you want? Why are you calling me?" I demanded.
There was silence on the other end of the line, and for a moment, I thought the call had dropped. But then Ace spoke up, "I need you."
I was taken aback. "So you're the one who's been calling me with an unknown number, making me feel creepy?" I asked, trying to keep my tone even.
"No," Ace said. "This is the first time I'm calling with an unknown number."
I was confused. "Are you fine? What unknown number are you talking about?" Ace asked, his voice laced with concern.
I scoffed. "That's none of your business. Why are you calling me?"
Ace's tone changed, and he said, "I want you to accompany me somewhere during the weekend. Are you available?"
I didn't hesitate. "No, I'm not available."
And with that, I ended the call, I couldn't believe Ace's audacity, calling me out of the blue and expecting me to drop everything for him. I shook my head, trying to push the conversation out of my mind. But I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the last I'd heard from him.
The phone lit up again barely a minute later.
I stared at the screen, my chest tightening. Unknown number.
I tossed it onto the bed and walked away, pretending I didn't care. But my mind wouldn't let me rest. He had sounded too calm, too deliberate. That tone of his always crawled under my skin, the kind that wasn't loud but still managed to command attention.
The phone buzzed again and again until it went quiet.
I exhaled, a sign of relief, then the message came in.
Ace: "Avoiding me won't change the fact that I always find what I want."
My heart skipped. It wasn't a threat. He didn't have to threaten. It was the certainty in his words that got to me, the quiet confidence, like he knew I'd eventually pick up.
I typed a reply, deleted it, typed again, then finally gave up. I didn't owe him an explanation. I tossed my phone aside and went into the kitchen where Maxie was humming and plating food. I tried to act normal, but my hand was shaking as I reached for a glass of water.
The phone started ringing again, the same unknown number echoing from my bedroom.
Maxie looked up. "That the creep again?"
I forced a laugh. "Yeah, probably spam."
But my voice was unsteady.
It rang. Stopped. Then rang again.
I pressed my lips together, walking back to the room before I even realized it. My hand hovered over the phone. It was ridiculous how he could make me feel cornered without even being in the same space.
I answered on the third ring, snapping, "What do you want, Ace?"
There was a faint sound of him exhaling, like he'd known I'd eventually answer. "So you finally decided to pick up."
"You texted me like a stalker," I shot back. "What did you expect me to do?"
"I expected you to stop pretending you're not curious," he said calmly. "You could've just said you missed me."
I scoffed, my stomach twisting. "Don't flatter yourself."
"Then why are you trembling?" His voice dropped lower, softer, but not gentle. Just… dangerous.
I froze. "You're delusional, Ace. You don't know anything about me."
"Sharon," he said my name like it was something expensive he owned. "If you were fine, you wouldn't sound like that."
The silence stretched, heavy between us. I hated that he was right. I hated that he could still read me like a page he'd bookmarked.
I finally managed, "You have no right to call me."
He hummed lowly. "And yet, you answered."
I didn't reply. I just stayed quiet, every second of silence making my heartbeat louder.
"Weekend," he said, breaking the quiet. "Be ready by eight. I'll send a car."
"Don't bother. I'm not going anywhere with you."
"I wasn't asking," he replied, his tone composed but cold enough to chill me. "Goodnight, Sharon."
Before I could say another word, the line went dead.
I dropped my phone onto the bed, staring at it like it might explode. My body felt hot and cold all at once.
He didn't threaten. He didn't beg.
But somehow, I already knew I'd see him that weekend.
I lay back on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. The room was quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioner and my heartbeat, still annoyingly loud in my ears.
Ace's voice wouldn't stop replaying in my head, calm, deliberate, too sure of itself.
"Be ready by eight."
Who even says that?
Who calls after weeks of silence just to sound so… in control?
I rolled onto my side and grabbed my pillow, hugging it tightly. Maybe I should tell Maxie. She'd freak out, obviously. She'd probably grab my phone and text him something reckless, like "Back off, psycho."
A part of me smiled at the thought of it but another part, the quieter one didn't want to tell her at all.
Because if I told Maxie, she'd make me feel things I wasn't ready to admit. The fear. The curiosity. The stupid spark that came with his name.
I didn't want to talk about Ace. I wanted to forget him.
But lying there in the dark, it felt like he was already in the room, like his voice had seeped into the air, filling the space between the silence and my thoughts.
My phone lit up again. It was a text that read, "Sleep early. You overthink when it's quiet."
I sat up instantly, staring at the screen. My hands trembled a little.
I typed back before I could stop myself.
"Stop acting like you know me."
Three dots appeared, then disappeared and appeared again, he was texting.
"You want me to stop. But you don't."
I threw my phone onto the nightstand, pulling the blanket over my head like that could block out his words...
God, he was impossible.
And the worst part? He wasn't wrong.
The door burst open with a loud click! and I almost jumped out of my skin.
"Maxie!" I gasped, clutching my blanket like it was a shield. My heart was racing so fast it could've left my chest.
She froze in the doorway, wide-eyed, holding her pillow. Then she let out this awkward laugh that didn't quite hide her amusement. "Why are you so jumpy?"
I forced a small smile, still trying to calm my heartbeat. "You scared me, that's why."
Maxie stepped inside, hugging her pillow to her chest. "Sorry, I didn't think you'd react like that. I just..." She hesitated, scratching her head. "Can I sleep here tonight?"
Her tone softened, almost shy.
I couldn't help but smile for real this time. "Yes, yes, baby. Yes, B, come here."
She grinned, walking over like a little kid sneaking into her mom's room after a nightmare. I opened my arms, and she dropped her pillow on the bed before curling up beside me.
For a few seconds, neither of us said anything. The room settled into a warm silence, the kind that always followed our late-night talks and unexpected sleepovers.
Maxie adjusted the blanket, resting her head on the edge of my shoulder. "You sure you're okay?" she murmured, half-asleep already.
I stared at the ceiling again, trying to steady my thoughts. "Yeah," I whispered. "Just tired."
She hummed softly in reply, already drifting off.
But even as I watched her fall asleep, I couldn't close my eyes. My phone still sat on the nightstand, screen dark… and yet I could almost feel it waiting.
Ace's words echoed quietly in my mind.
I sighed, pulling Maxie a little closer, hoping her warmth could drown out the chill that voice had left behind.