The Ballad of Bitter and Sweet

A Fragile Truce

As the car cruised along the empty roads, the night air was filled with laughter and music, but Olivia felt the familiar stirrings of tension creeping back in. She had been looking forward to this drive all week, hoping it would give them a chance to reconnect. However, her heart sank when she noticed the notifications lighting up Henry's phone on the dashboard.

"Another message from Penny?" she asked, unable to hide the edge in her voice.

Henry glanced at his phone and frowned. "It's probably just group chat stuff. You know how it is," he replied, dismissively.

Yet, the notifications kept coming—one after another. Each ping felt like a jab to Olivia's heart. It was 11 PM—what kind of woman sends nonstop texts to a guy who has a girlfriend late at night? The thought churned uncomfortably in her stomach.

"You don't find it weird?" Olivia asked, her tone sharp.

Henry sighed in annoyance. "Olivia, it's just probably a friendly catch up. Why are you judging her?"

She turned to him, disbelief flashing in her eyes. "I'm not judging; I'm just saying this is inappropriate! Why can't you see that?"

His frustration boiled over. "I can't believe you're being this way. If you think she's wrong, then talk to her about it!"

Each notification from Penny felt like gasoline poured onto the fire of Olivia's anger. When another three messages popped up, she had reached her breaking point.

"Open it. Now," she demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear.

Henry hesitated, glancing at her with uncertainty, but he could see the determination in her eyes. Reluctantly, he unlocked his phone and opened the chat. What he saw made his heart race with unease.

The first few texts were innocent enough—photos of Penny and their friends hanging out, drinking and laughing together. But as he scrolled down, the tone shifted dramatically. Flirty messages started to appear, including suggestive photos that made Olivia's heart drop.

"Henry," she choked out, her voice now dangerously low. "This is unacceptable. You need to block her. Right now."

"Olivia, it's just... it's not that simple. She's a classmate and a friend," Henry protested, trying to maintain his composure.

"But you're in a relationship with me!" Olivia's voice rose, filled with a mix of hurt and rage. "How can you think this is okay? She's being flirty and seductive!"

Henry opened his mouth to respond, but the fury in Olivia's eyes silenced him. Panic gripped him as he realised how serious this was. "I... I will block her," he finally said, desperation tangling with a hint of reluctance.

"Do it," Olivia shot back, her tears threatening to spill over. "I can't believe I have to ask my boyfriend to choose me over some girl who clearly wants him!"

"Okay, okay. I'll block her," he assured her, quickly navigating to the chat again. But as he was about to hit the block button, a small voice of doubt whispered in his mind.

He hesitated longer than he should have before finally tapping the button, but deep down, he wasn't entirely convinced he would actually follow through.

"I've blocked her," he said with an air of finality, trying to project confidence, but inside he felt a twist of guilt.

At first, Olivia seemed to relax slightly, some of the tension easing. "Okay," she whispered, her voice breaking as she looked at him, searching for sincerity.

But as they continued their drive, Henry couldn't shake the unease behind his own words. He hadn't blocked Penny. The panic in his chest gnawed at him as he realised the path he was taking.