When Hate Writes Back
Chapter 5 - Parallel Lines
That night, my bedroom felt smaller than ever. Boxes still stacked in corners, the hum of the new town pressing in on me like a weight.
I cracked open my laptop, fingers hovering over the keys. There was only one person I could turn to - my pen pal. The one who had seen me through years of letters and online chats, the one who had never failed to make me feel understood.
"Today was horrible. He's everywhere. I can't escape him. I feel like he's following me even when I try to disappear."
I hit send before I could second-guess myself.
Seconds later, the comforting reply appeared:
"I know him too well in your stories. But maybe it's not about escaping him - maybe it's about learning to handle what he brings into your life. You're stronger than you think, Jay."
I stared at the words, heart thumping. As usual, they were exactly what I needed to hear. But even as I read, a tiny, annoying thought nagged at me: this advice sounds suspiciously like the smug guy I sit across from every day.
I shook my head. No. Impossible.
The next morning, school was a minefield. He was there, naturally, leaning against his locker, grin already loaded. And, of course, he spotted me.
"Morning," he said casually, loud enough for half the hall to hear.
I frowned. "Morning."
He smirked. "Rough night, huh?"
I froze. How could he know?
But no - he didn't. Just coincidence. Or maybe he was that annoying.
Estelle leaned in. "See? Already observing your every move. I told you he's relentless."
I shot her a look. "This isn't funny."
Later, during lunch, I texted my pen pal again, fingers flying across the keys:
"I don't know how to deal with him. He's... everywhere. I hate him but... ugh, I don't even know. Is it normal to... like the idea of someone comforting you while also wanting to punch them in the face?"
The reply came almost instantly:
"Completely normal. Some people are paradoxes. Some people are meant to annoy us while helping us grow. You'll figure it out... eventually."
I blinked at the screen, heart beating faster than it should. Annoying... paradox... help me grow... Who was this mysterious, comforting, maddening presence?
Little did I know, the lines were closer than I thought - and the boy I hated in school was slowly becoming the same boy who had always written me back.