The screen's glow felt colder than the night air.
Unknown Number:
"He's not who you think he is."
Michelle's heart skipped.
Her fingers hovered over the reply button, but her mind spun faster than her instincts. Was it spam? Was it Liam? A prank?
Steve noticed immediately. "Hey," he said, gently. "What's wrong?"
Michelle hesitated, then showed him the screen.
He took it, read the message, and narrowed his eyes. "Did it come from Liam?"
"I don't know. It's an unknown number," she replied, her voice tight.
Steve handed the phone back. "That's not funny."
Michelle didn't speak. She just stood there, processing. The warmth between them from just a moment ago had evaporated — replaced by a chill she couldn't explain.
"Do you think it's about you?" she asked finally.
Steve blinked. "What?"
"The message," she whispered. "Do you think it's… someone trying to warn me about you?"
His face changed — just slightly — a flicker of hurt behind his steady expression.
"Michelle…"
She looked down. "I didn't mean it like that. I trust you, I do. But things have been… weird lately. Ever since Liam showed up."
Steve took a breath. "Do you want to check my phone? Ask me anything? I've got nothing to hide."
Her eyes met his. "I don't want to doubt you. I hate that something this small can make me question things."
Steve stepped closer, his hand brushing her cheek. "Then don't let it. Whoever's behind that message — they want this. Distance. Fear. But I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
Michelle nodded slowly. "Okay."
But in the back of her mind, the words lingered.
"He's not who you think he is."
The Morning After
The next morning, Michelle sat with Lila in their favorite corner of the café. Steam curled from her mug, and the smell of cinnamon toast and espresso filled the air.
Michelle stared at her phone again, then finally told Lila everything.
Lila's eyes darkened. "This sounds like Liam. Petty, manipulative, and jealous. Classic ex-boyfriend move."
"But he apologized," Michelle said weakly.
Lila snorted. "So? That doesn't mean he changed. Just means he knows how to sound different."
"Steve thinks I should ignore it."
"And do you?"
Michelle hesitated.
"I don't know," she admitted. "Something just… unsettles me. Like something's not adding up."
Lila reached over, grabbing her hand. "Then we figure it out. Together. You're not doing this alone."
Searching for Truth
Later that day, Michelle visited the campus IT office. She claimed someone might be harassing her anonymously — a safety issue.
A kind student intern agreed to help.
"This is off the record," he said, "but I can try to trace the number's general location or carrier. No guarantees."
Michelle waited, her leg bouncing nervously under the desk.
Ten minutes later, he returned.
"Well, it's not from campus. But it's a local number. Registered under a prepaid card. No name, no ID."
"Could it be Liam?"
He shrugged. "Could be anyone."
Michelle bit her lip. "Thank you."
Confrontation
That evening, she met Steve in the library courtyard. The sun was just beginning to dip, painting the sky gold.
She told him about the IT check. About her suspicions.
Steve listened quietly.
Then he said, "Michelle… do you want space?"
She blinked. "What? No."
"Because if this message is starting to make you afraid of me—"
"I'm not afraid of you," she cut in. "I'm afraid of what this is doing to us."
He nodded, then took her hand. "Then don't let it win. Come with me this weekend. Let's get off campus. Just the two of us."
Michelle hesitated — then nodded.
"Okay. Let's go."
Weekend Away
Two days later, they stood in front of a lakeside cabin Steve had found online — simple, cozy, surrounded by trees and silence.
No texts. No drama. No whispers.
Just them.
They cooked pasta together that night, danced in the living room with socks on wooden floors, kissed under string lights on the porch. Laughed until their stomachs hurt.
And later, curled up in bed, Michelle whispered, "I don't care what anyone says. I know who you are."
Steve kissed the top of her head. "And I know who you are."
Outside, the world spun on — but inside the cabin, it paused.
They had chosen love.
Even if the past wasn't done with them yet.