The afternoon passed slowly.
Lena tried to focus on arranging books on the shelves, but her mind kept returning to the messages. Every word felt like a shadow following her.
You just made the same mistake again.
What mistake?
And why did it feel like someone already knew her future?
She glanced at Ryan from across the bookstore.
He was standing near the fiction section, flipping through a novel. Sunlight from the large window fell softly on his face.
He looked completely normal.
Too normal.
Lena shook her head.
Maybe I'm just overthinking everything.
Ryan noticed her looking and smiled.
"Any recommendations?"
Lena walked over.
"Well… if you like emotional stories, you could try this one."
She handed him a book.
Ryan read the cover and laughed quietly.
"A tragic love story?"
"Sometimes the sad stories are the best ones," Lena said.
Ryan looked at her for a moment.
"You like sad endings?"
"I think… they feel more real."
For a brief second, Ryan's expression changed.
Almost like he understood something deeper.
But then he smiled again.
"Then maybe I should read it."
Lena felt a strange sense of comfort talking to him. The fear from the messages slowly faded.
Until—
Her phone vibrated again.
DING.
Her heart skipped.
She quickly pulled it out.
Another message.
You are trusting him again.
Lena's hands started to shake.
Ryan noticed.
"Another message?"
She forced a smile.
"Just… a friend."
But before she could lock the screen, Ryan accidentally caught a glimpse of the message.
His smile disappeared instantly.
"Who sent that?"
Lena froze.
"What?"
"That message."
For the first time, Ryan looked serious.
Almost worried.
"Is someone bothering you?"
Lena hesitated.
She didn't know why… but something told her to be careful.
"No. It's nothing."
Ryan studied her face for a few seconds.
Then he sighed softly.
"If someone is threatening you, you should tell the police."
Lena laughed nervously.
"It's not that serious."
Ryan nodded slowly, but his eyes still looked troubled.
A moment of silence passed between them.
Then Lena asked quietly,
"Ryan… can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Have we ever met before?"
Ryan looked surprised.
"No… why?"
"I don't know," Lena said. "You just feel… familiar."
Ryan stared at her for a long moment.
Then he gave a small smile.
"Maybe we met in another life."
Lena laughed.
"That's impossible."
Ryan shrugged.
"Who knows?"
At that exact moment—
Her phone vibrated again.
But this time, the message was different.
Lena opened it slowly.
Her heart nearly stopped when she read it.
You still don't remember what he did.
The room suddenly felt cold.
Another message appeared immediately after.
But you will soon.
Lena's breathing became uneven.
She slowly looked up at Ryan.
He was watching her quietly.
Smiling.
But for the first time…
That smile felt slightly different.
Almost like he was hiding something.
And deep inside her mind—
A terrifying thought began to form.
What if the messages weren't trying to stop her from loving Ryan…
What if they were trying to protect her from him?