Lena's eyes lingered on the note, her mind racing with questions. Who wrote this? And what truth was she talking about? The photo album lay open on her bed, the picture of her sister and aunt staring back at her.
And when did Ava take this picture and with who and why does she look like Papa. There were too many questions without answers.
Lena spent Christmas Eve in the suburbs, surrounded by the warmth of family and tradition. The air was filled with the sweet scent of freshly baked mandazi and the sound of laughter echoing from the kitchen. Her mom's signature dish, a hearty stew, simmered on the stove, making everyone's mouth water in anticipation.
She heard her mom's gentle voice calling from downstairs, "Lena, come join us for dinner! It's Christmas Eve!"
Lena hesitated, unsure if she should share her discovery with her parents (Ava and her supposed aunt took pictures together). But the warmth and laughter from downstairs beckoned, and she decided to put it aside for now.
The evening was a blur of food, family, and festivities. Lena's heart swelled with love and gratitude as she watched her parents exchange a tender glance.
As the night drew to a close, Lena's dad handed her a small gift, "Merry Christmas, sweetie." She loves the crismas in suburbs where you could find children and even adults wearing new clothes to celebrate with songs and dance in their respective church. Different kind of aromas wafting from different home's,the aroma of chicken/jogoo meat,goat/sheep meet,chapati/mandazi and many more it's the smell of home.
Lena's eyes widened as she unwrapped the package – a beautiful silver necklace with a pendant of two intertwined hearts.
"It's a twin symbol," her mom explained, smiling. "We thought it was fitting."
Every time she receives gifts there will be one for Ava even though she is not around.
Lena's throat tightened as she put on the necklace. It felt like a connection to Ava, and a reminder of the truth she was searching for.
The next morning, Lena's family gathered around the breakfast table, surrounded by the chaos of wrapping paper and leftover treats. Lena's heart was full, but her mind was already racing ahead, back to campus and the mysteries waiting to be unraveled.
"I think it's time we headed back," her mom said, noticing Lena's restlessness.
Lena nodded, her heart skipping a beat as she glanced at her phone – a flurry of missed messages from friends, asking about her return.
As they packed up the car, Lena's dad handed her a small envelope, "A little something for your journey."
Lena opened it to find a note with a single phrase: "Trust your instincts."
She looked up at her dad, who smiled knowingly, he seems to have seen her deepest fear.
The drive back to their apartment was a blur of excitement and nerves. Lena's mind was a whirlwind of questions and possibilities.
As they pulled up to the apartment gates, Lena's friends rushed to greet her, laughing and chatting (neighboring friends, Jamaal).
Lena smiled, feeling a mix of relief and trepidation. She was back, and the game was far from over.
The next morning, Lena reluctantly returned to campus, the festive atmosphere giving way to the familiar hum of academic life.
As Lena stepped out of the car, the campus buzzed with energy. Students were unpacking, chatting, and laughing – the holiday break was over, and everyone was back in action.
Caren spotted Lena and rushed over, a huge grin on her face. "Hey, girl! How was the break?"
Lena smiled, feeling a mix of emotions. "It was good, just relaxing with family."
Caren's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "And? Did you do anything exciting?"
Lena hesitated, unsure how much to share. "Just the usual, you know. Family stuff."
Caren nodded, but Lena knew she wasn't buying it. Caren had always been perceptive, and Lena couldn't hide anything from her for long.
As they walked towards their dorm, Lena's phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number: "Welcome back, Lena. The game has just begun."
Lena's heart skipped a beat. Who was this? And what did they want?
She showed the message to Caren, who frowned. "We need to figure out who's behind this."
Lena nodded, determination rising within her. She wasn't going to let anyone push her around or play games with her life.
As they entered the dorm, Kate was waiting, a sly smile on her face. "Hey, Lena. Welcome back."
Lena's was happy to see Kate but Caren was not, and she narrowed her eyes. What was Kate up to?
"Thanks," Lena said coolly in a cheerful voice, dropping her bags.
Kate's smile faltered for a moment, but she recovered quickly. "So, what's on your agenda for the new semester?"
Lena shrugged, playing it casual. "Just focusing on studies and stuff."
Caren jumped in, her tone light but with an undercurrent of tension. "Yeah, and figuring out when you will stop playing this stupid game of yours."
Kate's eyes flickered, but she maintained her composure. "Stupid game? What are you talking about?"
Caren raised an eyebrow. "Don't play dumb, Kate. You know exactly what I'm talking about."
The air was thick with tension as the two girls faced off. Who would make the first move?
"Okay girls stop it it's new year and you guys need to grow up" Lena mediated as usual.
Days turned into weeks, and Lena's life settled into a familiar routine. She focused on her studies, hung out with Caren, and played handball with the team. The mysterious messages faded into the background, and she almost forgot about them.
One afternoon Lena was walking across campus, lost in thought, when she suddenly collided with someone. Hard.
A pair of piercing blue eyes looked down at her, expression cold and detached. "Watch where you're going."
Lena's apology died on her lips as she met the man's cold gaze, for a moment she felt like he saw right through her secret before she spoke. He was tall, with sharp features that seemed chiseled from stone. For a moment, she thought she saw something flicker in his eyes – a spark of recognition, maybe, or a flash of curiosity. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, leaving her wondering if she'd imagined it.
As he turned to leave, Lena blurted out, "I'm Lena."
He paused, his eyes flashing with... something. Hatred? Anger? Resentment? Lena couldn't quite place it, but it was there for a split second before he masked it.
"Alex," he replied, his tone flat, his voice smooth.
Lena smiled awkwardly. "Nice to meet you, Alex."
Alex nodded and walked off, leaving Lena feeling a bit perplexed. What was his problem?
Lena shrugged it off – maybe he was having a bad day. She didn't think much of it, figuring she'd probably never see him again.
But as she continued on her way, she couldn't shake off the feeling that Alex's reaction to her name was more than just annoyance. There was something deeper there..
"Wait that's Alex " Lena stood there a bit dumb.The name sent a jolt through her – wasn't Alex the guy Kate was talking about,the heart throb of many girls? And her reply : rolling her eyes, grinning. "Hot?" She teased Kate laughing " you Know you are too extra!" But curiosity got better of her. This was him? He looked nothing like the warm, smiling guy she'd expected.
As she watched him walk away, Lena felt a shiver run down her spine. There was something about him that didn't add up. She shook her head, chiding herself for being paranoid. Maybe he was just having a bad day.
Kate appeared at her side, a curious look on her face. "Hey, what happened? You look like you saw a ghost."
Lena turned to her, still processing the encounter. "That was Alex?"
Kate's expression turned puzzling. "Yeah, that's him. Why?"
Lena hesitated, unsure how to put her finger on it. "He just seemed... different, I guess."
Kate laughed. "Maybe he was just having a rough morning? Come on, let's grab a coffee and catch up."
As Lena tried to push Alex out of her mind, a mysterious voice whispered in the shadows, "The second piece is set."
Lena didn't hear it, but the voice echoed in the mind of the person watching her.
Days turned into weeks, and Lena couldn't shake off the memory of Alex's intense gaze. She found herself wondering about him, curious about the guy who seemed so cold and detached.
One afternoon, while grabbing coffee at the campus café, Lena spotted Alex sitting alone, staring out the window. She hesitated for a moment, then decided to take a chance.
"Mind if I join you?" Lena asked, trying to sound casual.
Alex looked up, his expression unreadable. "I do mind"
Lena left dejected feeling so lost. She decided to sit at the far end and observe Alex. There was something that is drawing her to him like a moth to a flame. Was it love or was it something darker that will consume her whole, she does not know what it is but she came to find out.
As she looked at him she discoveres that it is LOVE. Because she felt it.
The strangest thing is that love comes in different forms. The waiting love, the hurting love, the pure love, the unrequited one and the fake love. But as time went by, you are the one to answer which love were you dealing with.
Waiting love is where it gives you hope of the future but slowly it breaks you living you alone, crying deep in to the nights, even fearing your own shadows.
When you have waited for nothing it turns into hurt. The heart becomes the biggest victim before the brain could.
But when you have waited for long and got hopes it becomes pure and strong to fight all demons in life.
The worst love is the unrequited love and a fake love. Loving someone who in turn love the other is a puzzle or loving someone who lies to love you is pain.
But love...love is complex there is no guaranteed recipe.
Lena tried every trick in the book to get Alex's attention. She would walk past his favorite spot on campus, hoping to run into him. She joined the soccer team's fan club, just to be closer to him. She even started listening to his favorite music, trying to find common ground.
Lena's eyes locked onto Alex as he walked away, a determined glare in her eyes. She wasn't about to let him slip away that easily.
She quickened her pace, her heart racing with anticipation. She had to catch up to him, had to make him hers 💁♀️.
As she turned a corner, she spotted him heading towards the library. She picked up her pace, her feet pounding the pavement.
"Alex!" she called out, her voice firm and commanding.
Alex turned, a mix of surprise and annoyance on his face. "What do you want now, Lena?"
Lena stopped in front of him, her chest heaving with exertion. "I want to know why you're running away from me," she said, her eyes flashing with determination.
Alex's expression turned cold, his eyes narrowing. "Running? You seem to be delusioned Lena, I'm not running away from you, Lena. I just don't think we have anything to talk about."
Lena's smile was sly . "Oh, I think we have plenty to talk about, Alex. Like I am so interested you, for starters."
Alex's eyes flickered, a hint of surprise crossing his face. But he quickly recovered, his expression turning neutral again.
"We've met, Lena. That's all," he said, turning to walk away.
Lena's hand shot out, grabbing his arm. "Not so fast, Alex," she said, her voice low and husky.
Alex's eyes snapped to hers, a spark of anger igniting in their depths. But Lena didn't back down, her gaze holding his, challenging him.
The air was thick with tension as they stood there, locked in a silent battle of wills. Lena's heart was pounding, her body thriving on the rush of adrenaline.
Finally, Alex spoke, his voice low and rough "What do you want from me, Lena?"
Lena's smile was triumphant. "I want you, Alex. And I'm not going to stop until I get you."
Alex's expression turned icy. "You're wasting your time, Lena. I'm not interested."
Lena's smile didn't falter. "That is fo me to figure out Alex."
Alex's eyes narrowed, his voice low and warning . "You're playing with fire, Lena. Back off."
Lena laughed, a husky, confident sound . "Im I? But I'm just getting started, Alex. You can't resist me forever."
Alex turned to walk away, his shoulders tense but his eyes flashed for a moment the predatory glint. Lena followed, her eyes fixed on him like a predator stalking prey. But who will lose in this game which was on, and Lena was already playing, whether she knew it or not. The rules were set, the stakes were high, and she had unknowingly made her first move.
"Alex, wait!" she called out, her voice firm.
He didn't turn, but she saw his shoulders stiffen. Lena's grin was predatory. She knew she was getting under his skin.
As they walked, the tension between them was palpable. Students gave them a wide berth, sensing the charged air around them.
Lena's phone buzzed. A text from Caren: "Lena, what's going on with you and Alex?"
Lena typed back: "He's playing hard to get"
Caren's reply: "Be careful, Lena. He's not like other guys"
Lena smiled to herself. That's what made him so intriguing.
Alex stopped suddenly, turning to face her. "Lena, stop. This is pointless."
Lena's eyes sparkled with determination . "I'm not stopping, Alex. I'm just getting started."
Alex's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with frustration. "Fine. Have it your way. But don't say I didn't warn you."
Lena's smile was her only response. She knew she had him on the ropes.