Chapter Four: Collision

The lake shimmered under the morning sun, its waters calm—serene, like a promise of peace. Jessie walked along the edge slowly, dragging her fingers along the tall grass. It was the only place she felt like she could breathe. Nature never yelled. Trees never slapped. Water didn’t judge.

She closed her eyes, feeling the breeze on her face. For a brief moment, she was just a girl in a city, trying to find herself.

But then came the voice that shattered her stillness.

"Jessie?"

Her breath caught.

That voice. That laugh.

She turned her head slowly—and froze.

Her ex.

Hand-in-hand with her best friend.

They were laughing, cozy, like they belonged together.

Jessie’s stomach twisted. Her chest tightened. She backed away instinctively, not wanting them to see her, not ready to feel that kind of pain again.

She turned to walk the other way, praying they hadn’t noticed her.

But fate wasn’t done playing games.

"Jessie!" another voice called.

Familiar.

Too familiar.

She turned again.

It was her best friend. The same one who had kissed her cheek, promised to always have her back, and now stood beside the man who once whispered promises to Jessie in the dark.

The man with whom she had shared her secret dreams and secret love.

Now he belonged to someone else.

To her.

The girl beamed with joy, as if she hadn't betrayed Jessie at all. Her arms opened wide as she walked closer. "Oh my god! Jessie! It’s been so long—"

The man beside her frowned. "Who?"

Jessie blinked.

Her chest cracked.

He looked straight at her and said again, coldly:

"I don’t know her."

As if she didn’t exist.

As if their months of secret messages, late-night calls, stolen kisses—meant nothing.

Jessie’s lips trembled. Her heart caved in.

Without another word, she turned and ran.

Tears blurred her vision. The world spun as the weight of humiliation and heartbreak crushed her chest. How could they? How could he?

She didn't see the man coming around the corner.

Didn’t see the collision until she crashed into him full force.

She lost her balance and stumbled—only to fall into strong arms that caught her like she weighed nothing.

Her breath hitched.

She was in someone’s embrace.

He didn’t let her go.

“Careful,” a calm, deep voice said near her ear. “Are you okay?”

Jessie struggled to pull away. “Let me go—please—”

But he didn’t. One arm stayed firm around her waist.

He looked down, and their eyes met.

His were warm. Dark. Focused entirely on her.

And then he saw her tears.

His expression shifted instantly. "Hey… I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?"

Jessie turned her face away, trying to hide the crying, the shaking. “No. Just let me go…”

He didn’t.

Instead, his voice dropped lower—soft but laced with something she couldn't name.

“Why are you crying,” he whispered, “when I could make you scream?”

Jessie froze.

Her breath caught in her throat.

The words should have offended her. Should have made her push him, scream, run.

But his grip wasn’t harsh. It was grounding.

And his voice—unlike the cruel laughter behind her—felt real.

She looked up at him, startled.

His gaze didn’t waver. He wasn’t smiling. He wasn’t mocking.

He looked angry. But not at her.

At whoever had made her cry.

Jessie’s breath was shaky, but she finally managed to step back.

His hand slid off her waist slowly, like he was making sure she didn’t fall again.

"I’m sorry," he said again, more gently. “I shouldn’t have said that. I just… saw you crying, and I couldn’t stand it.”

Jessie blinked at him. The tears came again. She wiped them away with her sleeve.

“I didn’t mean to bump into you,” she mumbled.

“It’s alright,” he said. “You can fall into me whenever you want.”

She stared.

This man—stranger—was completely unlike anyone she’d met. He was bold. But not cruel. There was something else under the teasing tone. A calmness. Strength.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Jessie.”

“I’m Arjun,” he said, offering a hand. “And if you ever need someone to scream at or scream with… I’m around.”

She didn’t take his hand.

But for the first time that day… she smiled.

Just a little.

And that was enough.

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