Episode 4: Things i don't say

Chapter Four– “Things I Don’t Say”

Sandra’s POV

 The sun had begun its lazy descent over the school field, casting long shadows over the bleachers where I sat with Adel. Her voice carried on about the Chemistry quiz she nearly flunked, complete with dramatic hand gestures and muttered curses at her periodic table. I nodded along, smiled when appropriate, even managed a short laugh—but all of it was mechanical.

Because my mind was somewhere else.

On someone else.

Alex.

Something dangerous.

Because he wasn’t mine.

He was Joan’s.

*My cousin.*

And no matter how I twisted it in my head, there was no justifying the way I had let my heart skip in his presence since then. Or how my stomach flipped when I saw his name light up my screen.

I was playing with fire. I *knew* that. But the worst part?

Some sick part of me wanted to keep playing.“I swear,” Adel said, tugging me back to the present, “Mr. Greene writes his quizzes in a language only alien lifeforms can read. Like what the hell is benzene resonance?”

“Delocalized electrons,” I said automatically.

She narrowed her eyes. “You weren’t even listening.”

I sighed. “Sorry. I just… had a lot on my mind.”

She tilted her head. “Let me guess. Brown eyes. Ridiculous smile. Tall. Answers to ‘Alex’?”

I flinched. “Adel…”

“I knew it.” She raised a brow. “Sandra, I’m your friend. You think I haven’t noticed the glances? The tension?”

“It’s not like that,” I said, lying. “He’s with Joan.”

“Exactly.” Her voice softened. “Which is why I’m asking—are you okay?”

No.

Not even close.

But I nodded anyway.

Before she could press more, my phone buzzed on my lap. I glanced down.

No name. No contact. Just another anonymous message.

*“You think no one sees what you’re doing? Just wait.”*

My breath caught in my throat. My fingers went cold.

*Not again.*

“Sandra?” Adel leaned closer. “What’s wrong?”

I shook my head. “It’s nothing.”

“It doesn’t look like nothing.”

But I was already standing. “I have to go. I’ll text you later.”

---I walked home quickly, heart pounding with every step. That message—it wasn’t the first. Someone had been texting me all week, always from a hidden number, always cryptic… threatening.

At first, I thought it was just a prank. Maybe a jealous classmate. Maybe even Joan—though I hated myself for thinking it. But now?

Now it felt real. Personal.

And terrifying.

Inside my room, I locked the door, drew the blinds, and curled on my bed. I stared at my phone like it was an unexploded bomb.

Another message popped up.

*“Hope he’s worth it.”*

My stomach dropped.

Someone *knew.*

Knew about Alex. About me. About the things I hadn’t even admitted to myself.

I tried to tell myself it didn’t mean anything. That nothing happened. But it *had*. It happened the moment I stopped pushing him away. The moment I let my thoughts drift in his direction, over and over again.

I pressed the delete button. Then locked the phone. But the anxiety didn’t vanish.

It never did.

Later that night, my screen lit up again. But this time, it was his name.

*Alex*

*“Can we talk tomorrow? Just us?”*

I stared at the message for a long time.

Then slowly, I typed:

*“Yeah. Sure.”*

And stared at it again.

What were we even going to say?Would he bring it up—the tension, the almost-something we kept skirting around?

Would I?

Because the truth sat on my chest like a weight: I didn’t know how to feel anymore. I didn’t want to hurt Joan. But I also didn’t want to lie to myself.

And I didn’t know which was worse.

In the quiet of my room, I stared at the ceiling fan spinning above me. The night hummed with questions I had no answers to. Guilt curled up in my chest like a restless animal, clawing at every excuse I tried to make.

Was it already too late?

Had I crossed a line I couldn’t uncross?

When I finally fell asleep, it was with my phone in my hand and a strange ache in my heart.

Because someone was watching.

And soon… everything was going to unravel.

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