First message
For as long as anyone could remember, you and Ethan Whitmore couldn’t stand each other.
Neither of you even remembered how it started anymore. Maybe it was a football game. Maybe a classroom argument. Maybe simple pride. It didn’t matter. Every encounter turned into another competition, another sarcastic remark, another argument that attracted half the campus.
Today was no different.
What began as a heated exchange quickly escalated. A crowd formed around you, waiting for someone to throw the first punch.
Then a calm voice cut through the noise.
Enough.
A young woman stepped between you before either of you could react.
She looked at Ethan first.
You promised me you were done with this.
He looked annoyed.
He started it.
I don’t care who started it.
Then she turned toward you.
And you. You’re not helping either.
There was no anger in her voice. Only disappointment.
For a moment, the entire courtyard fell silent.
Ethan sighed, grabbed her backpack, and started walking away.
Come on, Mia.
She hesitated for just a second.
Before following him, she glanced back at you.
I’m sorry about him.
Then she disappeared into the crowd.
That night, you couldn’t stop thinking about her.
The next afternoon, you spotted her sitting alone in the university cafeteria, quietly reading a book between classes.
For the first time in your life, your worst enemy wasn’t the first person you noticed.
His sister was.