Isabella didn't sleep well that night.
The moment the hallway noise had startled her in school, something inside her felt shaken—like a door she thought was locked had suddenly cracked open again.
She turned in her bed, staring at the ceiling.
Everything was quiet, but her mind wasn't.
Why did Ethan look so worried…? And who was that person watching us?
The questions circled in her head until exhaustion finally pulled her into a light, uneasy sleep.
The Next Morning
The school hallways were buzzing with noise as usual, but today Isabella felt the weight of every step she took. She kept glancing around subconsciously, searching for the face she had seen yesterday without even realizing she was doing it.
When she entered the classroom, Ethan was already there.
He looked up the moment she walked in—almost as if he had been waiting.
"Morning," he said softly.
There was something different in his tone today…
Not worry.
Not sadness.
Something closer to determination.
She sat down, trying to act normal. But Ethan leaned toward her a bit.
"Did you… sleep okay?" he asked.
The question hit her more deeply than she expected.
Most people didn't notice when something was wrong unless she told them.
But Ethan did.
Every time.
"I'm fine," she answered, but her voice cracked just slightly.
He didn't push.
He simply gave a small nod, as if saying: I'm here whenever you want to talk.
A Strange Warning
During break time, Isabella left the classroom to get some air.
She walked through the quiet side corridor—almost empty except for a few distant students.
But halfway down the hallway, a slight echo of footsteps made her stop.
She turned.
A tall boy she didn't recognize stood at the end of the corridor.
Dark hair, sharp eyes… and a look that sent chills down her spine.
He didn't smile.
He didn't greet her.
He simply stared.
Then—slowly—he spoke:
"You should be careful who you trust."
Her heart tightened.
"W-What do you mean?" she asked.
But he didn't answer.
He took one step toward her…
Then another…
And Isabella felt the old panic rise in her chest, memories flashing behind her eyes—shadows, fear, pain.
Before he reached her, another voice cut through the hallway.
"Isabella!"
Ethan.
She turned sharply.
Ethan jogged toward her, his expression changing when he saw the boy.
His eyes hardened—not in anger, but in alertness.
The boy stepped back slightly but didn't look away.
"I didn't say anything wrong," he murmured.
"Just a warning."
And then he walked away… disappearing around the corner.
Isabella felt her hands shaking. She hadn't realized how tense she was until Ethan gently placed himself slightly in front of her, as if shielding her without making it obvious.
"Did he scare you?" Ethan asked quietly.
She swallowed.
"I… I don't know. He just said something strange."
Ethan glanced toward the corner where the boy vanished.
"That's Liam. He doesn't talk to anyone. Not unless he wants something."
"Do you… know him?"
Ethan hesitated.
For the first time since she met him, he actually looked unsure.
"Not really," he said carefully.
"But he knows things he shouldn't."
"What does that mean?"
Ethan didn't answer.
Because at that moment, a loud message notification echoed through the hallway—Isabella's phone vibrating in her pocket.
She pulled it out.
A new message from an unknown number:
> You're repeating your old mistakes, Isabella.
Be careful.
Her blood turned cold.
She had never given her number to anyone in this school.
"How…?" she whispered.
Ethan saw her expression and stepped closer.
"What happened?"
Isabella showed him the message with trembling fingers.
His face changed immediately—eyes narrowing, jaw tightening.
"This isn't a coincidence," he murmured.
"Someone knows your past."
Her heart clenched painfully.
No.
She had moved cities.
Changed schools.
Tried to rebuild her life.
How could her past follow her here?
Before she could speak, Ethan said quietly:
"Isabella… there's something I need to tell you."
Her breath caught.
There was something in his eyes—something serious, something he had been hiding.
Something she wasn't ready to hear…
And something that could change everything she thought she knew about him.
**🔻 End of Chapter Five
🔺 Chapter Six Teaser:**
Ethan finally reveals part of the truth he has been hiding…
Liam gets closer…
And Isabella discovers that the message wasn't the only thing sent to her that day.**