College confidential

As I walked out of the restaurant with Mia, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I had just made a huge mistake by sending that text. Chris's message had made it clear that he didn't care if Sarah found out about our past involvement, and that he was willing to let her get hurt in the process. It was clear that he didn't care about Sarah's feelings, and that realization made my stomach turn.

I had tried to protect Sarah from getting hurt, but in doing so, I had put myself in a vulnerable position. I felt like I was walking on thin ice, unsure of what Chris's next move would be.

As Mia and I walked back to our dorm, there was a moment of silence between us. It was as if we were both lost in our own thoughts, trying to process everything that had just happened. Finally, Mia broke the silence.

"I might have only seen Chris from photos, but I know that definitely was him," she said, her voice low and serious.

I nodded absentmindedly, still trying to wrap my head around everything. "Yeah, it's him," I replied, my mind racing with thoughts and emotions.

Mia took a deep breath, and I could sense her concern. "Girl, this just got a lot messier," she said, her voice filled with empathy.

I didn't respond, I just kept walking, my mind replaying all that had happened today. When we got back to our dorm, I immediately went to freshen up and put on my pajamas, not planning on going out again. As I lay on my bed, my mind continued to replay the events of the day, and I couldn't help but go back to the past, to the moment when I first met Chris.

Memories of our past encounter flooded my mind, and I felt a mix of emotions: anger, sadness, and regret. I thought about how I had met him, how we had connected, and how everything had fallen apart. I thought about the pain he had caused me, and the hurt he had inflicted on my heart.

As I lay there, lost in my thoughts, I realized that I had to be careful. I had to protect myself from Chris, from his charm and his manipulation. I had to remember that he was capable of hurting me, and that I deserved so much better than someone like him. I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was in for a wild ride, and that my past was about to collide with my present in a way that would change everything.

My mind began to wander back to the past, to the moment when I first met Chris. It was a day that was etched in my memory forever, a day that had changed the course of my life in ways I never could have imagined.

FLASHBACK

About five months ago:

I had just paid for a monthly gym subscription at a hotel close to where I lived. I had written the college entrance exam and was waiting for the admission results, so I decided to keep myself busy in the meantime. I also wanted to lose some weight before the start of school.

It was a Saturday, and I arrived at the gym around 7:30 am. The gym was a bit packed with people, but I was determined to get a good workout. I had just started using the treadmill, and the gym coach was instructing me on how to use it.

As I was getting into the rhythm of my workout, I noticed a guy standing beside the treadmill. He was doing his exercises, but I could sense that he was trying to get my attention. I tried to ignore him, but I caught him staring at me a few times. I felt a bit uncomfortable, but I didn't want to make a big deal out of it.

After I finished my treadmill workout, I moved on to another machine that targeted my legs. The guy was now standing in front of me, using the machine opposite mine. I couldn't help but notice how handsome he was, with his curly hair tied back in a loose bun and his ebony skin glistening with sweat.

He asked me how many kilograms I was using on the machine, and I replied, feeling a bit confused. He suggested that I should use 70 kilograms instead of 20, and I joked that he must want to kill me. He smiled, and we had a brief, awkward conversation.

As I was leaving the gym, I caught his eye, and he waved goodbye. I waved back, feeling a bit surprised that he had even bothered to acknowledge me.

END OF FLASHBACK

As I got to know Chris better, I realized that he was not like other people. He was charming, charismatic, and confident, but he was also guarded,secretive and mysterious, with a way of making me feel like I was the only person in the world. Yet, at the same time, he kept me at arm's length, never letting me get too close. Despite the warning signs, I had fallen for him deeply. I was captivated by his charm, charisma, and good looks. I had fallen for the way he made me feel - like I was home, like I was exactly where I was meant to be.

But as time passed, I began to realize that Chris was not the person I thought he was. He was moody, unpredictable, and hot-headed, always keeping me on edge, never knowing what he would do or say next. He started to talk to me less and less, and at first, I thought it was because he was going through something he couldn't discuss with me. I encouraged him to confide in me, to share his troubles with me, but he never did.

Then, one day, he vanished. He disappeared without a word, without a warning, leaving me feeling confused, hurt, and angry. I was left wondering why he had left me like that, without any explanation.

As I lay on my bed, replaying all these memories, I couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness and loss. I thought I had moved on from Chris, that I had left him behind, but now I realized that I was still hurting, still feeling the pain of his rejection. And now, with his message, with his reappearance in my life, I was faced with the possibility of reliving all that pain, all that heartache. I was faced with the possibility of falling for him again, of getting hurt again.

As I lay there, my mind racing with thoughts and emotions, I knew I had to be strong, that I had to be careful. I had to protect myself from Chris, from his charms and manipulations. I had to remember that I was worthy of love, respect, and happiness, and that I deserved so much better than someone like Chris.