It started with a message.
Riyana stared at her phone, her heartbeat suddenly uneven.
Unknown Number.
She almost ignored it.
Almost.
But something inside her… something buried deep in memory… made her open it.
Alex:Hey… it's me.
Her breath caught.
Her fingers froze.
No.
It couldn't be.
Slowly, she typed.
Riyana:Who?
The reply came instantly.
Alex:You really forgot me that easily?
Her chest tightened.
She hadn't.
Not really.
Riyana:Alex…?
Alex:Yeah.
Silence filled the room.
Years of pain.
Of healing.
Of trying to forget.
And yet—
One message from him…
And everything came rushing back.
Across the city—
Marco's phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen.
A message.
From a saved contact.
"Elena."
Riyana's best friend.
Scene — The Hidden Ally
Elena:He texted her.
Marco's eyes sharpened.
He typed back immediately.
Marco:Who?
A pause.
Then—
Elena:Alex.
Marco leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly.
"So it begins…"
He muttered under his breath.
Elena stared at her own phone, guilt flickering briefly across her face.
But it didn't last.
Because she had seen Riyana break once.
Completely.
And she wasn't going to let that happen again.
Even if it meant…
Interfering.
Elena:She replied.
Marco's expression darkened slightly.
Marco:Keep me updated.
Elena hesitated.
Then typed—
Elena:I'm only doing this because I trust Bosco.
Marco smirked faintly.
Marco:Good. You should.
Scene — Bosco Finds Out
Marco entered Bosco Moretti's office without knocking.
Bosco didn't look up.
"What is it?"
Marco placed his phone on the desk.
"He's back."
Bosco's fingers stilled.
"Alex?"
"Yes."
A pause.
"And?"
Marco's voice lowered.
"He texted her."
Silence.
"And she replied."
That was enough.
Bosco slowly lifted his gaze.
Cold.
Focused.
"Keep watching."
Marco nodded.
Already knowing—
This wasn't just observation anymore.
This was personal.
Riyana's Side
Days passed.
The messages didn't stop.
At first, they were simple.
Safe.
Almost… normal.
"Hi."
"What are you doing?"
"Did you miss me?"
And slowly—
Riyana found herself replying more.
Smiling a little.
Laughing, even.
Elena watched her carefully from across the room one evening.
"You're smiling again," she said casually.
Riyana looked up, slightly startled.
"It's nothing."
Elena raised an eyebrow.
"Doesn't look like nothing."
Riyana hesitated.
Then quietly—
"It's… Alex."
Elena's expression didn't change.
But inside—
Her instincts screamed.
Danger.
Still, she played along.
"Oh," she said lightly. "And?"
Riyana looked down at her phone, a soft smile forming.
"He said he made a mistake."
Elena forced a small nod.
"Did he?"
Riyana didn't answer.
Because she wanted to believe it.
Back to Marco & Elena
Elena:She's happy.
Marco read the message, jaw tightening slightly.
He walked straight into Bosco's office.
"She's responding more," he said.
Bosco's expression darkened.
"And?"
Marco held his phone up.
"She thinks he changed."
A pause.
Bosco looked away.
Toward the window.
"He hasn't."
Marco didn't disagree.
Shift Begins
At night—
Riyana lay on her bed, staring at her phone.
Another message.
Alex:I miss talking to you.
Her heart skipped.
That familiar feeling.
The one she hated.
The one she had buried.
Riyana:Why now?
A pause.
Then—
Alex:I made mistakes.
Her chest tightened.
Alex:I shouldn't have left like that.
She closed her eyes briefly.
Was this… real?
Or just another illusion?
Marco Gets More Updates
Elena:He's apologizing.
Marco scoffed under his breath.
"Of course he is."
He typed quickly.
Marco:Watch carefully. He won't stay consistent.
Elena frowned at the message.
Elena:You sound very sure.
Marco's reply came instantly.
Marco:Men like him always follow patterns.
The Change
And just like that—
The pattern shifted.
Alex:Send me a picture.
Riyana paused.
Something felt off.
Still—
She sent one.
A simple photo.
His reply came fast.
Alex:Damn… you look even better now.
Riyana stared at the message.
It didn't feel like before.
It didn't feel… sincere.
Elena:Something feels wrong.
Marco read the message and stood up immediately.
He walked into Bosco's office.
"He's changing his tone."
Bosco's eyes narrowed.
"How?"
Marco's voice hardened.
"It's not emotional anymore."
A pause.
"It's physical."
The air in the room shifted instantly.
The Truth Reveals Itself
That night—
Everything became clear.
Alex:We should meet.
Riyana sat up.
Her heart raced.
Riyana:Why?
A pause.
Then—
Alex:I miss you… physically.
Silence.
Heavy.
Deafening.
Something inside her…
Broke.
Or maybe—
Finally healed.
Flashbacks hit her.
"It was just attraction."
"And now that attraction is gone."
The same words.
The same man.
Nothing had changed.
Except her.
Final Update
Elena:She stopped smiling.
Marco read it.
Then another message came—
Elena:I think she understands now.
Marco didn't reply.
He didn't need to.
He already knew.
Riyana's Awakening
Riyana stared at the screen.
No tears.
No shaking hands.
Just clarity.
Pure.
Sharp.
Painful clarity.
Her fingers moved slowly.
Riyana:So that's why you came back?
No reply.
She smiled faintly.
Not with sadness.
But with realization.
Riyana:You ran out of options, didn't you?
Silence.
And that silence—
Said everything.
She exhaled.
Long.
Steady.
Free.
Riyana:I'm not that girl anymore, Alex.
Her heartbeat didn't race this time.
It stayed calm.
Controlled.
Strong.
Riyana:You didn't come back because you care.
Riyana:You came back because your ego needed someone.
A pause.
Then the final message—
Riyana:And I'm not available for that anymore.
She didn't wait.
She didn't hesitate.
She blocked him.
Immediately.
Final Scene
Marco's phone buzzed.
He read the message.
Elena:She blocked him.
Marco smiled slightly.
Then walked into Bosco's office.
"She's done with him."
Bosco looked up.
Silent.
"What happened?"
Marco's voice was calm.
"She figured it out."
A pause.
Bosco leaned back slowly.
A faint, dangerous calm settling over him.
"Good."
But his eyes—
They didn't look satisfied.
Not yet.
Because somewhere in his mind—
One thought remained.
Alex had returned once.
And men like him…
Always tried again.