Jade twirled the straw in her iced coffee, trying not to look directly at Liam across the table. The café light caught his hair in a way that made her heartbeat trip. Christina leaned closer, smirking like she’d uncovered a secret.

“He’s so into you,” she whispered.

Jade flushed. “He literally just asked if I wanted whipped cream.”

“Yeah,” Christina said, raising a brow, “and in romance language, that’s code for I’m in love with you but too scared to say it.”

Before Jade could protest, Liam returned, setting her drink down.

“You look cute today,” he said simply, sliding into his seat.

Jade blinked, startled. “Oh. Uh, thanks,” she replied, smiling awkwardly but a little too fondly.

Christina nearly choked on her latte. “Okay, I’m leaving before this turns into a romcom scene,” she muttered, gathering her bag with a

Later that night, Jade’s phone buzzed.

Liam: “You free tomorrow?”

Jade: “Why?”

Liam: “I was thinking we could hang out… just us.”

Jade: “Like a date?”

Liam: “If you want it to be.”

Jade: “I do.”

She smiled at her screen, cheeks warm.

They met at the park the next evening. Liam was leaning against the bridge railing, holding a small bouquet of daisies.

“These are for you,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Jade laughed softly, tucking one behind her ear. “You’re ridiculous,” she teased, but her eyes shone.

He grinned. “Ridiculously charming, maybe.”

They wandered by the lake, tossing pebbles. Jade’s first few sank instantly. Liam laughed so hard he almost dropped his phone.

“You’re not even trying!” he teased.

“I am! They just hate me,” she said dramatically, hands on her hips.

He moved behind her, gently guiding her wrist. “Here, hold it like this.” His voice dropped lower. “Now flick.”

The pebble skimmed once, twice, then sank.

“Oh my god, it worked!” she gasped, spinning to face him.

He was already smiling. “Told you.”

Their laughter faded into quiet. The distance between them shrank—barely an inch now.

“You’re staring,” Jade whispered.

“Can’t help it,” Liam murmured.

She looked down, smiling to herself. “Smooth.”

“Only with you,” he replied softly.

That night, her phone buzzed again—this time with an unknown number.

Unknown: You really think Liam’s the one for you? Someone else could treat you better.

A shiver crept up her spine.

Jade: Who is this?

No reply.

She blocked the number and sat up, uneasy.

The next morning, she told Liam everything. He frowned, jaw tightening.

"What? Who would text you? Let's just assume it's nothing."

“That’s creepy, you're dangerously optimistic too. 😮‍💨" Jade said quietly.

“When I find out they're gonna pay,” Liam said, his tone protective now.

“Protective much?” she teased, trying to lighten the mood.

“Only for you,” he said, meeting her eyes.

A week later, Christina barged into Jade’s room. “SOOO? Are you official yet?”

Jade, smiling down at her phone, nodded. “Yup.”

Liam’s message read: She said yes.

Christina threw a pillow into the air. “I knew it!"

Jade laughed, hugging her. “He's my perfect match!"

That night, Jade texted Liam again.

That night, Jade texted Liam again.

“Still can’t believe you’re mine,” he wrote.

“Believe it,” she replied. “Also...I finally skipped a rock today.”

“Told ya,” he sent back, followed by a heart emoji.

And just like that, her world felt steady again, certain, and safe in his orbit.

"But," she wrote "I'm still a bit worried, I don't want that good for nothing bug to bother me, that scared me!"

Liam replied with a slight chuckle, "Trust me, it was probably some kids"

Jade easily debunked that, "but how'd they know I'm in a romantic relationship with you"

Liam also pondered on the thought, but he didn't want to worry Jade even more, "Uh, well maybe they just guessed"

Jade added, "Oh please, kids have their brains in their butts and they guessed THAT? Impossible."

Liam replied, "Jade, I'll talk to you later, love you"

Jade left him on read. "Ugh.... why does Liam have to be so optimistic, I don't even know."

Jade hadn’t been able to stop thinking about that message.

"You really think Liam’s the one for you? Someone else could treat you better."

It had only been one text; but it echoed in her mind like an aftertaste she couldn’t wash away.

Why would someone do this? I mean, who? Jade hasn't had a nemesis since she graduated, except Holly, of course, but she left Grave Elementary in 5th grade!

It feels as if Liam is discarding her feelings of worry and anxiety. Does he even care? Why the living freak is life so complicated! She can't stop thinking about it. It's like Liam is saying "Suck it up" in the most sweetest sugar coated way possible. She can't text Christina, she's definitely asleep, it's 12:31, then Jade's phone randomly buzzed, it's the anonymous contact,

"Wow, he just ignored your feelings like that, you deserve better, I am that better you need, Jade. The idea of him using that pathetic excuse saying that I'm just some kid, mind you, I'm not. Stay safe jade."

Jade replies, "Who the heck are you? And what do you want?"

They reply, "Let's just say someone that doesn't plan on harming you."

Jade replies, filled with worry and doubt, "What does that even mean? Listen, can you just tell me if you're on campus?!"

They answer, "That, my dear, will stay unknown for now 🙃"

Jade remembers that she blocked this number, "Wait! I blocked you last night you texted me! "

"Why, oh why? I didn't do anything but give you the advice you haven't woken up to yet? "

"What?! I don't even know you, and I'm happy with Liam!"

"You sure? Your friend must go, that friend being me, goodbye, my love"

Jade feels very uncomfortable, who is this guy and why is he targeting her? Wait is this illegal? It should be!! Jade can't bear the fact that someone dares to try breaking hers and Liam's relationship when they are clearly happy? It just isn't adding up.

Jade needed to get to the bottom of this.

"There's no way it's some kids. Liam is always trying to calm me down but looks stupid in the act! "

Now she sat on the edge of the park bench, fidgeting with her phone while Liam skipped rocks a few feet away. The lake reflected streaks of gold and violet from the sunset, the same one where they’d first realized what they meant to each other.

“Hey,” Liam called. “You’re quiet.”

Jade glanced up, forcing a smile. “Just… tired.”

He came over, crouching beside her. “No, something’s up. You don’t go quiet unless you’re thinking too much.”

She sighed, hesitating before showing him her phone. “I got another one, actually not even one, we had a whole conversation.. "

He frowned, taking it. The screen read so many texts between them.

Jade bit her lip. “That’s the second one this week.”

Liam rubbed the back of his neck. “Probably just some kid messing around. People make fake numbers all the time.”

“Liam, please stop," she said softly. “the first texts mentions our exact conversation, and you still think it is a coincidence? That's stupid."

“Maybe, it someone on campus who got a quick glimpse of your phone," he said quickly. “or Christina’s TikTok, she posted that video of us last week.”

Jade shook her head, anxiety sharpening her tone. “Liam, they’re sending things about you. Personal things.”

He sat down beside her, voice steady but gentle. “Hey. Look at me.”

She did.

“I promise, whoever it is — they’re just trying to get in your head. I’m not going anywhere.”

Her chest tightened. “What if they’re not just trying to get in my head?”

Liam hesitated, then reached for her hand. “Then we’ll deal with it together.”

The words should’ve comforted her — and part of her wanted them to — but something about the look in his eyes made her wonder if he believed it himself.

Later that night, Jade was in her dorm scrolling through her texts again. The messages were all from Unknown. No photo, no profile, no clues.

Christina texted her at the same time:

Christina: “you okay? saw you looked weird today”

Jade: “yeah. just tired.”

Christina: “girl i know your ‘just tired.’ what happened?”

Jade: “someone’s texting me again.”

Christina: “I’ll help you figure it out. don’t tell Liam yet.”

Jade stared at the last line for a moment, conflicted.

Too late, she thought.

The next day, Liam showed up early to walk her to class. He was smiling, teasing her about her sleepy expression, acting normal — maybe too normal.

But Jade couldn’t shake it. The feeling that someone else was out there, watching, waiting.

As they passed the courtyard, she caught a glimpse of someone standing by the gate — too still, too intent. Which was oddly suspicious, wouldn't they be rushing to their next class? They definitely weren't professors either, they were short-like, Jade decided to walk up to them.

When she blinked, they were gone. Weird.