Unexpected Love

Escalation

Over the next few days, the tension between Jennie and Lisa eased slightly. After filing the police report and requesting the restraining order, Jennie felt some measure of relief. Knowing they had taken action made her feel a little more in control, but the uncertainty of what Kai might do next still hung in the air.

Lisa, on the other hand, remained on high alert. She was determined to protect Jennie no matter what, but her anger at Kai's relentless pursuit continued to simmer beneath the surface. She had to be strong for Jennie, but inside, she was scared too. The possibility of Kai's next move gnawed at her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that he wouldn't back down easily.

One evening, about a week after they had gone to the police, Lisa and Jennie were at Jennie's apartment, finally feeling like they could breathe a little. Jennie had cooked dinner, and they were sitting on the couch, laughing over an old movie. For the first time in what felt like weeks, things felt normal again.

But then, Jennie's phone buzzed.

Lisa's heart immediately dropped. Jennie glanced at her phone, her expression tightening with frustration. "It's him again," she muttered, showing Lisa the message.

It read: *"You think you can just go to the police? That's not going to stop me, Jennie. We need to talk-properly this time."*

Lisa's blood boiled. "He's threatening you now. This is enough. You need to block him."

Jennie's hand trembled as she stared at the screen. "I should've done that a long time ago. I can't believe he's still doing this."

"Block him, Jennie," Lisa said, her voice firm but gentle. "He's never going to stop if you keep giving him access."

Jennie nodded, her face pale as she blocked Kai's number. "I'm sorry, Lisa. I know this is taking a toll on you too."

"Don't apologize," Lisa said, wrapping her arms around Jennie. "This isn't your fault. I just hate that he's making you go through this."

Jennie leaned into her, sighing deeply. "I just hope this is the end of it."

---

The next day, things escalated further.

Lisa was at the university, finishing up a project, when she got a frantic call from Jennie. The moment she answered, she could hear the panic in Jennie's voice.

"Lisa, I'm at work," Jennie said, her words rushed. "Kai just showed up. He's outside the clinic, waiting for me. I'm scared."

Lisa's heart raced. "What? Jennie, are you okay? Did he say anything?"

"No, he's just standing outside," Jennie replied, her voice trembling. "But he's watching me, Lisa. I don't know what to do."

"Stay where you are," Lisa said, already grabbing her things. "I'm coming to get you. Don't leave the clinic until I'm there."

Jennie agreed, and Lisa rushed out of the university, her mind racing. This was the final straw. Kai wasn't just texting or harassing Jennie online anymore-he was physically showing up to her workplace, making her feel unsafe. Lisa's protective instincts flared, and all she could think about was getting to Jennie as quickly as possible.

When Lisa arrived at the clinic, her heart pounded in her chest as she scanned the area for Kai. Sure enough, he was there, leaning against a nearby building, his eyes fixed on the entrance. He looked calm, almost nonchalant, as if he had every right to be there.

Anger surged through Lisa, but she knew she needed to stay calm. She parked her car and hurried inside the clinic, where she found Jennie in the break room, visibly shaken. Jennie looked up at her with wide eyes, relief flooding her expression.

"Lisa," she whispered, standing up and rushing into her arms. "He's still out there."

Lisa held her tightly, trying to stay composed. "We're going to deal with this, Jennie. We're not going to let him scare you anymore."

"I don't know what to do," Jennie said, her voice breaking. "I told the clinic manager, but I don't think they'll do anything. And he's just... there. Watching."

Lisa took a deep breath, trying to think clearly. "We need to call the police again. He's violating the boundaries you've set, and you've already filed a report. This has to stop."

Jennie nodded, her hands trembling as she reached for her phone. "Okay. Let's call them."

They made the call together, explaining the situation to the police. Given the restraining order and the previous report, the officers took the matter seriously this time. They said they would send someone over to remove Kai from the premises.

While they waited for the police to arrive, Jennie stayed close to Lisa, her anxiety palpable. Lisa wanted to comfort her, but she was filled with anger at Kai for pushing Jennie to this point. Jennie was one of the strongest people Lisa knew, but even she had her limits. And Kai was exploiting them.

When the police finally arrived, they approached Kai, who seemed unfazed by their presence. Lisa and Jennie watched from inside the clinic as the officers spoke to him, but Kai's calm expression never wavered. After a few minutes, the police escorted him away, though Lisa couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the end.

---

Later that evening, back at Jennie's apartment, the tension between them hadn't fully dissipated. Jennie was quiet, her mind clearly preoccupied with the events of the day. Lisa had done her best to reassure her that things were going to be okay, but Jennie's silence was weighing heavily on her.

As they sat together on the couch, Jennie finally spoke up, her voice soft and hesitant. "Do you think he's going to stop?"

Lisa frowned, her heart heavy. "I don't know. I hope so. But we did the right thing by calling the police. They won't let him keep doing this."

Jennie nodded, but she still seemed distant. "I just... I can't believe this is happening. I never thought Kai would go this far."

Lisa reached for Jennie's hand, squeezing it gently. "He's not going to hurt you, Jennie. We won't let him."

Jennie gave her a small smile, but Lisa could see the exhaustion in her eyes. This whole situation had taken so much out of her, and Lisa hated that there wasn't more she could do to protect her. She wanted to take Jennie's pain away, to make her feel safe again, but there was only so much she could do while Kai was still lurking on the edges of their lives.

"Do you think it's my fault?" Jennie asked suddenly, her voice trembling. "That I didn't handle this the right way? Maybe if I had been firmer with him from the start, this wouldn't be happening."

Lisa's heart ached at Jennie's words. She hated that Jennie was blaming herself for something that wasn't her fault at all. "No, Jennie," Lisa said firmly. "This is not your fault. You did everything you could. Kai is the one who's refusing to listen, and that's on him-not you."

Jennie nodded, but Lisa could see the doubt lingering in her eyes. "I just want it to be over," Jennie whispered. "I want to feel safe again."

Lisa wrapped her arms around Jennie, holding her close. "We'll get through this," she whispered, her voice filled with determination. "I'm here, Jennie. I'm not going anywhere."

As Jennie leaned into her embrace, Lisa felt the weight of the situation settle over them both. Kai had already done enough damage, but they weren't going to let him win. They would fight this together, no matter what.

---

Continue....