The universe hated her.
There was no other explanation.
Raye clutched her iced coffee like it owed her money and stormed out of school with the rage of a girl whose entire day had just been set on fire by one dumb smile.
She wasn't dramatic.
She was realistic.
And realistically? _Seeing her long-term crush, Joshua freaking Blake, lean over someone else's locker and flash that boyish, dimple-infested grin made her want to hurl herself down the nearest staircase. Twice.
Was it the end of the world?
No.
Did it feel like it?
Absolutely.
She stomped past the bakery across from campus, muttering curses into her straw, because apparently the universe was now producing Joshua's love interest from an Instagram factory — tall, tanned, perfect teeth, and probably said "OMG" unironically.
This was going to be a long day she thought trying hard not cry while stomping dramatically out of campus .
. She was lucky she took her test before seeing the whole drama _ less she would have stab her test paper.
And maybe failed too .. she wasn't even thinking straight anymore !!!.
She kept muttering curses while people stared at her like she dropped down from the sky with two long horns .
Her phone buzzed. , sighing she decided to calm herself down ,after taking two deep breaths in she looked down at her screen .
Her best friend Jane:
What happened girl , I am sorry I didn't accompany you , I had a project to finish.
Raye stared at the message for long time , she was grateful Jane didn't follow less ....someone would be tossed to a locker with a bat .
Raye : yeah sure I couldn't though ...I saw him with someone else .
Raye typed so hard she worried her phone screen would crack because of the emotions .
She waited a while before she saw the small bubble .
Jane : you saw him with someone else , duhh ..so you didn't say anything , it might just be classmate .
Raye rolled her eyes , if they weren't standing at close proximity , Joshua looking into the girl eyes like he would drop down on his knees and say a stupid vow _ then maybe she was exaggerating .
Raye : Jane their face were so close _ ready to smooch on each other .
Jane : ugh !! not the smooching scene _ u okay or do I need to bring snacks and a baseball bat?
Raye : of course I am not fine , I was about to confess to him and then I saw him holding a girl hand .
Jane : girl , I am bringing home a big book from the library we are slamming someone head on the floor .
Raye stopped walking. She was too full of feelings. Her head was spiraling. The voice in her brain was going full Shakespeare-meets-reality-TV.
Jane : what really happened ??.
She opened her messages.
Thumbs flying.
No filter.
TEXT MESSAGE:
"I swear, if I see him smile at another girl like that again, I'm throwing my school shoe at his forehead.
He's not even that cute — okay, fine, he is — but not 'ruin-my-day-and-my-GPA' cute. Do you KNOW how many dreams I've had about this man? Literally kissed him in my sleep like a SIM character.
And for what??
So he can flirt with some budget TikTok model in front of MY locker while I stand there holding his forgotten water bottle like a rejected side character in a teen drama??
I hope they both trip. And choke. On meatballs.
Also, tell me why my dumb heart still skipped a beat when he laughed. I need therapy. I need to delete his face from my brain. I need a nap. UGH. Men are trash" .
SEND.
She sighed and kept walking, already waiting for Jane classic response:
It was the only thing that kept her from not crying right now .
She looked down at her phone and then at the aproaching taxi cab which she stopped ...
Hopping in she looked down at her phone again before checking the message .
Except...
Nothing came.
She glanced down.
And that's when she saw it.
Her stomach sank.
Contact: Unknown Number
Time Sent: 3:47 PM
"No… no no no no no," she whispered.
She. Had. Not. Sent. That. To. Jane .
Raye smacked her head on her open palm.
The number and Jane's are very similar _except one little digit in the middle which was different.
Was the universe begging her to commit sucide today !!.
How could she be so dumb !!!.
She sent it to some random number she didn't even recognize.
Some random soul now had the full download of her insane, meatball-choking, sim-kissing mental breakdown.
She deleted the message even though she was aware the person got it .
Even though she saw the two red tick meaning the person had already seen it ,she still deleted it .
Raye growled grabbing a handful of her hair before hitting her fist on the taxi chair .
Today couldn't get any less worst but it did .
She just got rejected by her crush before she even confess _ to make matters worst she sent a heart break / love confession to a total stranger .
"I'm changing my name," she muttered. "I'm changing school . I'm faking my death."
She stared down at the phone sighing tiredly since she got no message .
Maybe the person deleted it ,seeing it wasn't useful at all she thought .
Then the car stopped in front of her apartment , she got down slowly too exhausted , she paid the taxi man before walking into the house .
She looked down at the water bottle which she tossed in the trash bin sighing tiredly while massaging her forehead.
How could things go so wrong ....
She had memorised this day for a very long time _ she would meet him in the hallway close to library where he always stayed but then ...she didn't expect company.
Very close company _ she was sure if not because of dignity and maybe school , they would have probably been kissing .
Ugh !!
Raye growled walking slowly to the kitchen .
She was expecting Jane message , less she would soon cry in the next ten seconds .
It was so hard ...she wouldn't blame Jane though she had practice to finish in school .
So maybe that why she hasn't texted me yet Raye thought gulping the water slowly trying to quench her thirst .
She slammed the glass hard on the table rubbing her chest slowly as she said .
"Why does heartbreak hurt so badly ".
Too tired , Raye decided to make instant noodles.
She sat down on n the couch about to eat when she heard her phone ding.
Thinking it was Jane , she picked it up going to the message box while also holding a spoon of noodles which she stuffed in her mouth
Unknown Number:
"Damn. Remind me never to smile near your locker."
Her brain stopped_....
Her legs stopped.
Her hand gave up , noodles came crashing down on her thigh .
"Ahh" Raye yelled cleaning the noodles on her thigh which was still hot .
She looked at the message again .
And then read it again
Her entire nervous system stopped.
He. Texted. Back.
OH.
HELL.
NO.
Raye slumped back down on the couch muttering " let me get the ropes it's time to end it . And meet my heavenly father ".