Do you really hate me !

A Fragile Beginning

As the days passed, Emily couldn't stop thinking about the encounter at the coffee shop. Ryan was kind, charming, and everything she thought she needed to distract her from the emotional storm swirling inside her. Yet, despite his easy smile and witty conversation, a part of her couldn't shake the image of Liam walking out, the jealousy and hurt evident in his eyes.

She told herself it didn't matter. She had made it clear to Liam how she felt—how much he'd hurt her—and now, it was time to move on. But every time she saw Ryan's face, she felt a dull ache in her chest. She had never expected her feelings for Liam to linger like this, especially after everything that had happened between them.

One evening, after a long day of classes, Emily found herself back in the same coffee shop. She had planned to meet a friend, but when she walked in, she saw Ryan sitting at the same spot by the window, his laptop open in front of him. As if it were fate, he looked up and saw her immediately.

"Hey, Emily!" he called out, a bright smile spreading across his face. Emily couldn't help but smile back, but she felt a strange, almost guilty flutter in her stomach. She waved and walked over to his table, trying to push the thoughts of Liam away for the moment.

"How's it going?" she asked, sliding into the seat across from him.

Ryan shrugged casually. "Just working on a project for class. How about you? Your day go well?"

Emily nodded, but she couldn't focus entirely on the conversation. Her eyes kept drifting to the door, expecting to see Liam walk in any moment, despite knowing he probably wouldn't. After their last confrontation, she doubted he would show up uninvited again.

Ryan noticed the distraction. "Hey, everything okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Emily paused, biting her lip. "Yeah, just... it's nothing. I guess I'm just tired."

Ryan didn't seem convinced, but he didn't push. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, giving her some space. The conversation flowed again, and Emily did her best to keep up, but her thoughts were somewhere else.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her pocket, breaking the rhythm of the moment. She pulled it out, expecting it to be a message from one of her friends, but instead, her heart stopped when she saw the name on the screen.

Liam.

Emily stared at it for a long moment, her thumb hovering over the screen. She had no idea why he was texting her now. After everything, she hadn't expected him to reach out. She could feel Ryan's gaze on her, but she couldn't bring herself to look at him. Her fingers hovered over the phone, torn between replying and ignoring it completely.

Ryan, sensing her hesitation, leaned forward. "Everything okay, Emily?" he asked gently.

Emily sighed, glancing at Ryan before looking back down at the phone. "It's... Liam," she said, the name slipping from her lips without thinking.

Ryan raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. He gave her the space to decide what to do. Emily stared at the text for a few more seconds before tapping the screen to open it.

Liam: "Can we talk? Please. I know I messed up, but I need to say something. Meet me at the park?"

Emily stared at the words. A mixture of emotions swirled inside her—confusion, frustration, hope, and fear. She had never expected Liam to reach out like this, especially after their last conversation. Was he truly sorry, or was this just another attempt at manipulation?

Without thinking, she typed a response. "Why now? After everything?" She hit send, then put the phone down, her heart pounding in her chest.

Ryan was quiet for a long moment before he spoke softly. "You don't have to talk to him, you know. You don't owe him anything."