02
CHAPTER 2
DREAMS MADE REALITY.
ARI
I was never able to ignore what people said about us, but it was never something relevant in my life. Jeff knew better than anyone that I was incapable of loving someone, no matter how hard I tried.
Maybe it was because I was still clinging to a love I once felt.
Rumors had always been there, but that was all they were—rumors.
It was nothing new anymore, but this crossed the line. They posted us on social media, and although it wasn't relevant to everyone, it was to the students at our high school and also to Jeff's parents.
Jeff wasn't a public figure; only his father was. Still, family photos began circulating online, even though he always kept everything private.
"I hate when people give opinions about my life. They don't even know me."
He always says that when I ask why he doesn't accept follower requests. I understand him—dealing with his father's criticism is already hard enough.
The storm ended, and I was on my way to my locker to pick up the new math books.
Jeff was with the music teacher, and I thought about running to avoid him, because he's been insisting that Jeff sing in the auditorium for the national singing competition.
I've heard him sing during breaks. Honestly, I wish he would develop his talent—he has a beautiful voice.
But Jeff is Jeff. No one can win against him when it comes to doing the opposite of what he's told.
This time it's even more complicated because he always says his destiny is to end up working for his father.
And then become the company's president.
I opened my locker and flipped through one of the books to check the contents.
"My head is probably going to explode when I try to solve these exercises," I thought, closing it with the confidence that I'd learn it easily.
I looked down the empty hallways, which sent chills through me. I heard footsteps—probably someone coming down the stairs. I moved closer to see.
"It's probably Jeff," I thought.
The person turned to descend the last set of stairs, revealing his clothes and his face. My eyes widened in surprise when I recognized him.
"Liam," I said without thinking when I saw him. He was distracted by his phone, not paying attention ahead despite going down the stairs.
My voice made him react immediately. His eyes met mine, but then he glanced behind him and, without saying anything else, prepared to leave.
"I'm sorry," he said before turning and walking away. It seemed like I only reminded him of the bad things that happened between us.
Moments earlier, he had been smiling at his phone, but the instant he saw me, that happiness vanished.
I don't blame him.
"It's okay, you don't have to turn back. You can go," I said. He stopped, still facing away from me. "It's been a while. You've changed, and so have I."
I remembered that what we had ended two years ago. He quickly turned to look at me.
Remember.
For a moment, I went back to when I was sixteen.
"I know your birthday is still a week away," he said from a distance. I was still standing by the lockers, not taking my eyes off him. "But I hope you're happy and that you can erase that version of me."
I looked at Liam in shock. It was the first time we had spoken since our relationship ended.
"Thank you, Liam," I said with a faint smile that surprised him—but he returned it.
He continued on his way out of the school without looking back. I held onto the locker, closed my eyes, and brought a hand to my chest. My heart felt too sensitive—but what surprised me most was feeling that emotion.
As if everything came back.
I lifted my gaze and startled when I saw a silhouette beside me. I stepped away immediately when I realized Jeff was looking at me seriously.
"Damn it," I cursed from the fright his sudden presence caused. "Don't do that."
"I thought something hurt. I was waiting for you to faint," he said casually.
"It's not funny, idiot," I replied.
He ignored my comment and began telling me about the conversation he had with the teacher.
[...]
My dad let me know ahead of time that Jeff's mother would come pick us up. The rain had stopped, and as I looked out the window, I began paying attention to the conversation between Jeff and his mother.
She didn't seem to know about the rumor. Hopefully it would stay that way until Jeff talked to Ian and convinced him to delete the post.
I still don't understand his purpose.
That post isn't because I rejected him—I know that very well.
Jeff's mother, Lily Brown, is a close friend of my mom. They met in college, even though they studied different majors. My mom studied architecture, and Lily studied finance, though she never finished because she met her husband, Henry. Jeff once told me their love story.
They met before he became a public figure. Still, he came from a wealthy family, and the pressure on Lily to not make mistakes was constant. But she was so in love that she endured her family's opposition.
Eventually, their love faded—or at least that's how Jeff sees it. Now they only hold hands for photos and in public, to avoid raising suspicions.
Fame hit her hard—or rather, it hit their marriage. Over the years, he spent less time at home because of work, while she took care of the children and played the role of the "perfect wife."
Many times, her company has been my mother, Fabiola. The arguments between Mr. and Mrs. Brown can be exhausting—even for their own children.
"Will you go to the same university?" Lily asked.
It took my mind a few seconds to process the question; I was distracted.
"Of course!" Jeff answered enthusiastically, even though it was funny that he wasn't even studying for the exam.
How did he plan to apply?
"What do you plan to study, Ari?" Lily asked, keeping her eyes on the road.
"Well, I have several options, but I'd like to study fashion design," I replied.
I saw her surprised expression through the rearview mirror.
"I thought you'd choose architecture like your mother," she commented.
It didn't surprise me—everyone knows my mom in one way or another.
"It's also an option I consider," I said without much emotion, unlike my first answer.
"Hey, Mom! Why don't you ask me what I want to study?" Jeff interrupted.
"Do you seriously plan on studying?" his mother asked without hesitation.
I burst out laughing.
"Mom! How can you say that? Especially when Ari's here," Jeff protested, looking at me.
"Stop laughing! Mom!"
The minutes passed quickly, and before I realized it, we were already in the parking lot of the building where my parents lived.
The conversation made time fly. I was glad to see Jeff and Lily getting along, because although they suffered in different ways, both dealt with their own struggles.
I've even thought they're alike—not just physically, but in the way they express themselves and act. Both try to endure an overwhelming life out of love for someone else.
When we finally arrived, they dropped me off in the parking lot. I would go up to the apartment where I lived with my parents. We had left the house I inherited from my grandmother after what happened to me.
"Thank you so much for bringing me, Lily," I said.
She waved it off.
"You don't have to thank me, but you could stop calling me 'ma'am.' You make me feel old, sweetheart," she said with a light laugh and a warm smile.
"'Thank you so much for bringing me,'" Jeff mimicked in a high-pitched voice.
His jealous-son complex will never go away.
"Aren't you a little old to keep imitating me?" I asked. He rolled his eyes and gestured for me to get out of the car.
Lily's laughter rang out despite her trying to hide it.
"Do you love her more than me or what?" Jeff asked his mother, making her laugh even harder.
I sighed and gave Lily one last look in farewell. She caught my gesture at the last second.
"Bye, Jeff," I said, not waiting for a response as I opened the car door.
I watched him say goodbye through the window before turning and walking between the rows of cars in the parking lot.
I took out my phone without much concern. I always took the same route.
I noticed my Instagram followers had suddenly increased. I didn't recognize any of them.
I chose not to check the message requests. I already knew what to expect, and it was better to ignore them. I still don't understand why Jeff has girls obsessively in love with him.
My footsteps echoed as I walked. I glanced around and saw a car leaving the parking lot.
That's when I noticed a shadow behind me, which startled me—I hadn't heard any footsteps.
I turned immediately, thinking it was Jeff trying to scare me.
"Jeff?" I asked with a small smile. "You know it's not funny, right? You won't scare me."
I waited for a response, but no one answered.
I moved closer to a row of cars to see if someone was hiding, but there was no one there.
I shook my head and sighed.
"I must be tired."
I turned to keep walking. There weren't many rows left before reaching the elevator—I could already see it.
I put my phone away and took a few more steps, but froze when I heard footsteps behind me again.
I turned immediately, but there was no one there.
"Jeff, if this is a joke, you'd better come out, or I'll hit you," I said, clinging to the idea that it was my best friend. But who else could it be?
I saw a shoe hide behind one of the parked cars. I approached slowly, but the person suddenly ran. They were completely covered, and by their silhouette, it looked like a boy.
I was about to chase him when, at that exact moment, I heard someone shout my name.
"Ari!" Jeff's voice made me turn. He looked like he had run from where we parked; he was breathing heavily, trying to catch his breath. "Who was that? Why was he running?"
I froze. Was someone following me?
"Ari, do you know him?"
I shook my head. The man from my dreams came to mind.
Maybe he confused me with someone else… or maybe he wanted to talk to me.
Damn it, what am I thinking? Either way, it was suspicious that he was so covered, like he didn't want to be recognized.
"I don't know," I replied. It was the same answer I gave every time they asked me about him.
"Guess what you forgot," Jeff said, raising his arm to show my makeup bag.
"I didn't realize I left it."
"Good thing I noticed in time. We were about to leave," he said, stepping closer, taking my hand and placing the bag in it. "You'd die if you lost this."
"Yeah, sorry."
I looked again in the direction where the boy had run. Something didn't add up.
"What's wrong?" Jeff asked, noticing my behavior.
"Did you see his face?"
"No. Did you see why he was running? It looked like someone was chasing him."
I shook my head. Deep down, I was scared. Was someone trying to mess with me because of the rumor?
"Hey… are you okay?"
"I'm not sure… but I felt like he was following me."
Jeff froze. He turned to look where I was staring, but there was no one there.
"Why do you say that so lightly? I hope it's not one of the reporters who won't leave my family alone," he said, running a hand through his hair. "Sometimes they follow us to interview us, but it's strange they'd bother you."
"I prefer to think it's that. I enjoy my quiet life," I replied, trying to downplay it. "Although… why would he cover his face?"
"I should talk to my father. I've complained to several TV networks, and they almost never change their staff. I guess he didn't want to be recognized. But if you don't feel safe, I can walk you to your apartment."
"No, don't make your mom wait longer. I guess you're right," I said.
Jeff took my arm and started walking toward the elevator.
"Jeff, I'll be fine. Your mom will get upset if you keep her waiting."
I slipped out of his grip and smiled to reassure him. He smiled back and let out a soft laugh.
"My mother said that if I wanted to, I could walk you up. Besides, we haven't spent much time together. We barely saw each other during vacation."
I sighed. If Lily agreed, I couldn't refuse.
"Then let's not take any longer. I don't want to take advantage of her kindness," I said, offering him my arm.
He smiled and linked it with mine.
"I feel like when we're old, we'll do the same—but to keep each other from falling," he joked.
I laughed, trying to imagine him as an old man. I couldn't even picture myself clearly in the future.
When we reached the elevator, I pressed the button and waited a few seconds. When the doors opened, we stepped inside. I pressed the button for the seventh floor, and just as the doors were closing, a hand stopped them.
The doors opened again, revealing the boy who had been running.
The only visible part of his face were his striking blue eyes.
I looked at Jeff, who was already scanning him from head to toe, trying to intimidate him.
Something didn't feel right. If he was a reporter, why wasn't he asking questions? We were completely alone.
Jeff grabbed my arm and pulled me behind him, protecting me.
"Hey!" Jeff said, making the boy look at him… but he ignored him completely.
"Do you live in this building?" Jeff asked with apparent politeness, though it was clear he didn't trust him.
The boy didn't respond. Jeff looked at me as if to say, This is too strange.
"Don't bother him. Maybe he just doesn't like socializing," I whispered, unsure if the boy could hear me.
Only three floors were left before reaching my apartment. I saw the boy lean against the wall, standing beside me.
Jeff tightened his grip on me, but I quickly stepped away. Our eyes met for a brief moment.
The elevator chimed, announcing our arrival. We stepped out immediately.
I turned to see if the boy was still there. He was standing still, staring at us. A chill ran through my body.
"That was really weird," Jeff murmured, frowning.
We were about to turn right when we heard footsteps.
We turned at the same time… and what I saw left me frozen.
The boy was running toward us. In his hand, he held a knife.
What the hell?
The only reason we were lucky was because Jeff pulled me, and we started running.
We turned down the hallway and went right. I could hear the footsteps getting closer and closer.
"Leave us alone!" Jeff shouted. "We'll call the police!" He pulled out his phone and tapped the screen several times to dial.
But that didn't stop the boy. He didn't react. As if he didn't understand… or as if he didn't care.
I tried to keep up with Jeff, but I knew I was slowing him down.
Then I heard it.
"Ari, don't forget about me."
His voice… his voice wasn't normal. It sounded distorted.
And the most terrifying part… it was the same voice from the boy in my dreams.
My body trembled.
"Don't listen to him, Ari! Don't be scared! Just look at me," Jeff said firmly.
I nodded, still shaken. We slowed when we realized we were almost at the apartment.
"Open the door quickly, or I'll have to fight him," Jeff said, bracing himself.
My hands trembled as I searched for the keys.
3475. I repeated it in my mind as I entered the code. Instantly, the indicator lit up green, letting us in. The boy was so close that when we crossed the threshold, he almost reached us. Jeff reacted quickly and slammed the door shut, preventing him from entering.
We heard him try the code several times, but the red light flashed each time. Then the pounding on the door began, making me step back in fear. I felt Jeff's arm around my shoulders, pulling me close in an attempt to calm me.
"We're okay. You're okay. Don't worry," Jeff whispered.
Seconds later, the noises stopped. I let out a sigh of relief. What we had just experienced felt like something out of a horror movie.
Suddenly, something on the floor caught our attention. A photo slid under the door. Jeff stepped forward and picked it up. I watched his expression change drastically—from confusion to concern.
"Why are you making that face?" I asked, my heart racing.
He tried to hide it, but I insisted.
"Don't panic… It's a photo of you," he replied carefully.
I froze.
"Of me?"
"Yes… You and your parents at a restaurant."
He showed it to me, and I brought my hands to my mouth in horror. I looked closer and noticed dark stains on it. A metallic, unpleasant smell reached me.
"Is that blood?" I whispered.
Without thinking, I tore the photo into pieces and threw it into the trash.
"Ari, what's going on?" Jeff asked seriously.
I brought a hand to my head, trying to process everything. Even though I'd had disagreements with people before, I never imagined someone would go this far.
"I don't know… Maybe it has something to do with the rumor. I have no idea how he knew me or why he wanted to hurt us," I murmured, overwhelmed.
Jeff frowned.
"I didn't think the rumor would reach this level. As soon as the police and your parents arrive, I'll talk to my father."
I didn't respond. My eyes stayed fixed on the trash can where I had thrown the photo.
"Nothing will happen," he added firmly. "I'm with you."
I looked up and saw his reassuring smile. But I was still terrified. I felt like the police wouldn't be enough.
I'm scared… my dreams.
Jeff stepped closer and gently stroked my hair before holding my face between his hands, forcing me to look straight into his eyes.
"Did you hear me?" he asked softly.
I nodded, trying to control my emotions.
"I'm scared…" I murmured.
He rested his forehead against mine, offering silent support.
"I promised you, remember? I won't let anything bad ever happen to you."
Yes… I had already lived through something similar before.
An event that marked me for life.
It left me with a void so deep that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't move forward.