growth

chapter 4: Red flags

Chapter 4: Red Flags

I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off about my ex's relationship with Kyle. They were too close, too comfortable. Jeje and Luna noticed it too.

"That's not normal," Jeje said, raising an eyebrow. "They're always whispering and laughing together. It's like they're sharing a secret joke that no one else is privy to."

"I know, right?" Luna added. "It's like they have their own secret language. And have you seen the way they look at each other? It's like they're trying to communicate telepathically or something."

I tried to brush it off, but the feeling only intensified. My ex seemed too relaxed around Kyle, too familiar. They would often disappear together, leaving me feeling left out and confused.

One day, I saw them huddled together in the corner of the room, laughing and joking. My ex caught my eye and smiled, but I just felt uneasy.

"Hey, what's going on?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

"Just hanging out," my ex replied, waving me off. "We were just discussing our favorite TV shows."

But I knew something was off. My instincts were screaming at me to pay attention.

"Okay, but why are you guys always so secretive?" I pressed.

My ex shrugged. "We're just private people, that's all."

But I knew that wasn't true. My ex was never private about anything. They were always open and forthcoming, except when it came to Kyle.

"Look, I don't like it," I said, trying to assert myself. "You guys are being really weird and it's making me uncomfortable."

My ex rolled their eyes. "You're being paranoid, that's all. Don't worry about it."

But I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. And Jeje and Luna's concerns only reinforced my own.

"Something's not right about that relationship," Jeje said, as we walked home from school.

"I know, right?" Luna agreed. "It's like they're hiding something from us."
#toxic