Simona spotted Stephen from a distance. Yet, the moment she saw him, a familiar thought crept back into her mind.
It was an urge that had always pushed her toward Stephen. Yet recently, another voice surfaced in her mind, whispering that she shouldn't trust him. Stephen was a fraud through and through.
Images of him cozying up to several women played in her mind again. That inner voice insisted she shouldn't trust him.
In the days following their reconciliation, she had rarely second-guessed him. Yet, those doubts had crept back in over the past two days for reasons she couldn't quite articulate. Now, as she neared Stephen, she felt torn—part of her wanted to trust him, to believe in him again, but an even stronger instinct urged her to examine him more closely.
It was a stark difference from before. Back then, she had felt a desperate need to be close to him, as if delaying even for a moment would cost her something irreplaceable.
Now, it baffled her. She found herself questioning how she had forgiven him so easily. It made no sense to her.
"Stephen, we need to talk," she said with a serious tone as she reached him.
Stephen was momentarily taken aback. "Talk? Well, that's a coincidence. I've got something to say to you too. Let's walk while we talk."
"Fine," Simona replied with an impassive expression.
Stephen's instincts told him something was off as he pushed his bicycle alongside her. He considered his words carefully as they walked.
Eventually, they reached a park near the campus and sat on a bench. Stephen broke the silence first.
"I booked us flight tickets for a little gateway during the break. It's to that theme park you always talked about visiting. I've got the hotel sorted and made the itinerary. All you need to do is come along and enjoy," Stephen said.
His eyes sparkled with genuine excitement as if nothing mattered more than this trip with her.
Simona listened with a growing frown. She thought, "A trip?"
Months ago, such a gesture would have thrilled her. But now…
"Headache? Do you need to see a doctor? Have you been studying too much lately and not getting enough rest? This time, you have to listen to me as your boyfriend. Take a break with me.
"With your abilities, you don't need to push yourself this hard. Compared to your health, graduate school entrance exams are nothing!" Stephen's tone was commanding and firm.
Though he spoke with apparent confidence, his eyes scrutinized Simona closely. He couldn't shake an ominous feeling that something was off.
Despite the pain, Simona shook her head. "I really can't go. It's getting late. I should head back to campus."
She moved to pull away from Stephen's hold. Caught off guard, he stumbled back.
Without looking at him again, she turned and walked the way she had come.
"Wait! Simona, you're acting strange. Did someone talk to you about me? Is someone trying to turn you against me?" Stephen called out, catching up and stepping in her path.
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