There were three things I knew for certain about myself.
I hated being lied to.
I hated being ignored.
And I loved Malik.
At least, that was what I believed.
Back then, I didn't know how complicated love could become.
I didn't know that a heart could hold feelings for more than one person at the same time. I didn't know that the people closest to me could become strangers overnight.
Most importantly, I didn't know that loving the wrong people could cost me my life.
But that morning, I knew none of that.
I was simply a girl in love.
And I was happy.
I stood in front of my mirror, adjusting the collar of my white blouse for the third time.
"You're going to be late," my best friend called from downstairs.
"I know!"
"You've been saying that for twenty minutes!"
I rolled my eyes.
"Give me five minutes!"
"That's what you said ten minutes ago!"
I smiled despite myself.
My best friend had a special talent for annoying me before breakfast.
I grabbed my handbag and hurried downstairs.
She was waiting near the door, arms crossed.
She looked at me from head to toe.
"You look suspicious."
I frowned. "Suspicious?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"You've dressed up."
"I always dress well."
"Not like this."
I looked down at myself.
There was nothing unusual about my outfit. White blouse, fitted black trousers, simple heels and a small handbag.
"Maybe I just wanted to look good."
She narrowed her eyes.
"For Malik?"
I immediately looked away.
She burst out laughing.
"I knew it!"
"Shut up."
"You are hopeless."
"I'm not."
"You smile differently whenever someone mentions his name."
"I do not."
"You just did."
I touched my face.
"Did not."
She laughed again as we walked outside.
I hated that she knew me so well.
Especially when it came to Malik.
Malik had entered my life quietly.
There had been no dramatic beginning.
No love-at-first-sight moment.
No grand declaration.
He had simply become part of my everyday life until I couldn't imagine my days without him.
He was charming when he wanted to be.
Stubborn when he didn't.
Protective.
Sometimes annoyingly protective.
And he had a way of looking at me that made me forget whatever argument we were having.
I checked my phone.
No message.
My smile faded slightly.
"He's not replying?" my friend asked.
I locked my phone.
"He probably hasn't seen it."
"You sent him a message last night."
"I know."
"And this morning."
"I know."
"And he hasn't replied."
"I said I know."
She sighed.
"I'm just saying, don't allow a man to become your entire world."
I looked at her.
"He's not my entire world."
"Good."
"He's only…"
I paused.
She waited.
"Important."
She smiled.
"Very important."
I rolled my eyes.
"Let's go."
By the time we reached school, the compound was already crowded.
Students moved in every direction, laughing and shouting as they rushed toward their classrooms.
I walked beside my friend, occasionally checking my phone.
Still nothing from Malik.
Something about it bothered me.
Not because he was obligated to respond immediately.
But because Malik usually did.
Even when he was busy, he would send something simple.
I'm busy. Talk later.
Today, there was nothing.
"Stop checking your phone," my friend said.
"I'm not."
"You just checked it."
"I was checking the time."
She glanced at the large clock hanging above the administration building.
"Your phone has become a clock now?"
I ignored her.
We entered our classroom.
Several students were already seated.
I took my usual seat near the window.
My friend sat beside me.
I pulled out my notebook and pretended to concentrate.
But my mind wasn't in the classroom.
It was with Malik.
Where was he?
Why wasn't he answering?
Had something happened?
Before I could worry myself into another universe, the classroom suddenly became quiet.
Our teacher walked in.
Except…
He wasn't the teacher I expected.
A tall young man entered the room carrying several books.
He looked nothing like the older teachers we were used to.
His expression was serious.
Almost intimidating.
He placed the books on the desk and looked around the classroom.
Nobody spoke.
Then his eyes landed on me.
For some reason, I felt uncomfortable.
Not frightened.
Just… noticed.
He looked away.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, sir," the class responded.
His voice was calm but firm.
"My name is Mr. Adrian."
A few students exchanged looks.
He wrote his name on the board.
MR. ADRIAN COLE.
Then he turned around.
"I don't tolerate noise."
Someone at the back laughed.
He looked toward the sound.
The laughter stopped immediately.
"I also don't tolerate disrespect."
The classroom became even quieter.
My friend leaned toward me.
"I already don't like him."
I nearly laughed.
"He's been here for thirty seconds."
"Exactly."
I covered my mouth.
Mr. Adrian's eyes suddenly moved toward us.
"Something funny?"
My friend straightened.
"No, sir."
His gaze shifted to me.
I shook my head.
"No, sir."
He stared for another second.
Then returned to the board.
I exhaled.
My friend whispered, "See?"
I smiled.
"You're dramatic."
"That man is dangerous."
"He is a teacher."
"Same thing."
I laughed quietly.
For the next hour, Mr. Adrian taught.
He was strict.
Very strict.
But he was also surprisingly intelligent.
He explained everything clearly and expected everyone to understand.
When the bell finally rang, the classroom erupted into noise.
Mr. Adrian gathered his books.
"Your assignment is due tomorrow."
A collective groan followed.
He ignored it.
Then he looked directly at me.
"Miss…"
He paused.
"What is your name?"
I blinked.
"You don't know my name?"
A few students laughed.
His eyebrow lifted.
"Should I?"
I immediately regretted my words.
"No, sir."
"Then introduce yourself."
I swallowed.
"My name is…"
Before I could finish, my friend whispered my name loudly.
He looked at her.
"Thank you."
Then he looked back at me.
"Remember, Miss Lina, the assignment is due tomorrow."
I nodded.
"Yes, sir."
He walked out.
My friend turned toward me.
"He likes annoying you."
"He's just doing his job."
"Maybe."
I packed my books.
Then my phone vibrated.
My heart jumped.
Malik.
I quickly opened the message.
Can we talk after school?
My smile disappeared.
That wasn't what I expected.
I typed:
Is everything okay?
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Nothing else came.
I stared at the screen.
"What's wrong?" my friend asked.
"Malik wants to talk."
She frowned.
"About?"
"I don't know."
"Maybe he's planning something romantic."
I forced a smile.
"Maybe."
But something inside me whispered that it wasn't romantic.
After school, I found Malik waiting near the old football field.
The moment I saw him, my heart felt lighter.
He was leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets.
He looked tired.
"Malik."
He lifted his head.
For a moment, he simply stared at me.
Then he smiled.
"Hey."
I walked toward him.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Don't say nothing. You asked me to meet you."
He looked away.
I stepped closer.
"Malik?"
He sighed.
"I've been thinking."
"About what?"
"Us."
My heart skipped.
"Us?"
He nodded.
I suddenly became nervous.
"Is that bad?"
"No."
"Then why do you look like you're about to tell me someone died?"
He laughed softly.
"I'm sorry."
He reached for my hand.
I let him take it.
His fingers tightened around mine.
"I love you."
My chest warmed.
"I love you too."
"I mean it."
"So do I."
He looked into my eyes.
"I don't want anything to come between us."
I smiled.
"Nothing will."
He didn't answer.
Instead, he pulled me into a hug.
I closed my eyes.
For that moment, everything felt perfect.
His heartbeat.
His warmth.
The familiar scent of his shirt.
I held him tighter.
I didn't know that one day I would remember this exact moment and wonder whether it had been the last peaceful moment of my old life.
I didn't know that the same love I trusted so completely would eventually become tangled with betrayal, secrets and death.
And I certainly didn't know that two other men were about to walk into my life.
Two men who would make me question everything I thought I knew about love.
For now, though, there was only Malik.
My first love.
My favorite person.
My safe place.
Or at least…
I thought he was.
Because as we stood together beneath the fading afternoon sun, someone was watching us from across the school compound.
A tall figure stood near the administration building.
Mr. Adrian Cole.
He looked at us for a long moment.
Then he turned and walked away.
And neither Malik nor I noticed him.
Not yet