The Threat

The next day, Samantha continued her day in school.

Samantha sat in silence, her heart still pounding from the mistake she had made. The realization of her carelessness weighed heavily on her. She had answered the person at their door without thinking, who happened to be their neighbor. What if he had been their landlord? What if he had been someone dangerous?

Her fingers curled into her sweater as she imagined the worst possibilities. If it had been the landlord, what could she have done? Would she have been able to turn him away, or would fear have paralyzed her?

The thought of facing her father filled her with dread. She knew he had warned her for a reason, but then she had failed to follow his instructions. Would he had been disappointed and angry with her? As she reasoned within herself, she was interrupted back to reality.

“Hey, Samantha,” the voice was warm, familiar, but unexpected. “You look a bit lost in thought today.”

Startled, Samantha blinked and turned to see a tall figure beside her. The crisp air carried a quiet energy between them, and as she looked at the face, something tugged at the edges of her memory.

“Hi,” she greeted with a small, hesitant smile. “You look familiar, I should know you.”

The guy smiled, his easy confidence making the moment feel oddly comfortable. “Yes, you should.” He paused, giving her a teasing look before adding, “Jake Dawson. We’re in the same department, though I’m in my final year.”

Samantha tilted her head slightly, recognition dawning but still accompanied by curiosity. “Oh—yes, I think I remember now.”

Jake chuckled, adjusting the strap of his backpack as they continued walking. “You’re always busy organizing things for everyone else, it’s no surprise you didn’t notice me earlier.”

“That’s not true," Samantha countered, playfully defensive. “I notice things… just not always when I should.”

Jake grinned, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. “So what had you so distracted today? You were walking like you were carrying the weight of the universe.”

Samantha exhaled, her gaze shifting to the ground for a moment. “Just life. Responsibilities. Family. All of it.”

Jake’s expression softened. “I get that. Life isn’t always kind.”

Jake smiled, his eyes filled with admiration as he spoke. "I must tell you, you look beautiful for real. I think you came straight from heaven only to bless someone this afternoon."

Samantha burst into laughter, shaking her head in amusement. "Jake, please! Don’t flatter me. It’s too early for this!"

"No, dear," Jake continued, his smile widening. "You know I’m telling the truth. Since I arrived on this campus, I thought the flowers were what made it beautiful. But now I know—it’s you. You’re the reason this place shines."

Samantha threw her hands up dramatically, pretending to faint. "Someone help me! I need water on my head because this boy is going to finish me today!" She fanned herself with both hands, turning around as if overwhelmed.

Jake burst into laughter, watching her playful reaction. "You should be used to compliments by now, Samantha!"

Samantha rolled her eyes playfully, but before she could respond, their moment was interrupted.

Suddenly, a furious student rushed into their midst, grabbed Jake by the chest, his grip tight with anger. His eyes burned with rage as he pulled Jake closer and shouted,

The laughter faded instantly as the mood shifted.

Jake stiffened, his eyes meeting the stranger’s with confusion. Samantha took a step back, her heart starting to race.

"You stabbed my brother! If anything happens to him, it will be either I kill you or you kill me!" the student shouted angrily at the top of his voice.

The force of his words sent shockwaves through the crowd. Samantha gasped, her body stiffening in shock. She turned to Jake, disbelief and confusion swirling in her mind.

"Did you do that? Why?" Samantha’s voice was barely above a whisper, her heart racing.

Jake’s face grew pale, his expression clouded with guilt. He lowered his gaze, unable to meet Samantha’s eyes. He looked trapped, embarrassed, as the weight of his actions pressed down on him.

Samantha’s thoughts raced. "Please, where is he now?" She asked desperately.

The student’s fury only grew. "Why do you want to know?" he snapped. "So you and your boyfriend can finish what you started? Both of you will pay for this! I’m reporting you two to the school authority right away!"

With that, he shoved Jake away and stormed off, his anger leaving a tense energy in the air.

Samantha, still stunned, felt frustration rise within her. "How dare you accuse me of your brother’s condition?" she shouted after him, her voice shaking.

But the student didn’t stop. But he abruptly turned back, pulled out his phone, and started recording a video. He pointed the camera directly at them, shouting, "These two stabbed my brother! They are murderers!"

Before Samantha could react, he turned and hurried off, leaving behind the weight of his words.

Samantha stood frozen, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. "What if this isn’t just an empty threat? It might cause her to be expelled from the school," she thought, panic creeping into her mind.

Her hands trembled, worry settling deep in her stomach. She watched the student leave, his movements full of purpose.

"I’m finished… What do I do now?"

Jake turned to Samantha, offering a reassuring smile, though the tension in the air was still thick. "Don't worry, I’ll fix it. See you later." His tone was steady, but Samantha could tell that even he wasn’t sure how things would play out.

She watched him as he turned to leave, her heart still racing. His words were meant to comfort her, to make her believe everything was under control—but the uneasiness gnawed at her. Could it be fixed? Could he truly undo the damage that had already been done?

As he stepped further away, a sudden thought struck her. She might need to reach him later, she might need answers, or she might want some reassurance if things got worse.

"Wait!" she called out, her voice carrying a sense of urgency.

Jake turned back, raising an eyebrow.

"Your number…" she said quickly. "I’ll call you later."

For a brief moment, he hesitated, then nodded; he needed her number for another reason; it was an opportunity. Pulling out his phone, he quickly shared his number. Samantha saved it, staring at the digits as if they held the solution to her worry.

He gave her one last look—something unreadable in his eyes—before walking away. Samantha stood frozen, watching him disappear.

She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. The weight of the situation hadn’t lifted, not even slightly. If anything, it only grew heavier. "What if things spiral out of control?" she thought, gripping her phone tightly.

There was no certainty in what would happen next. No guarantee that Jake could fix things, no guarantee that she could stay out of trouble.

All she could do now was wait—and hope.

Samantha arrived home, her mind clouded with worry., She regretted ever crossing paths with Jake in the first place. She let out a deep sigh, sinking into the old couch as thoughts swirled in her head.

An hour passed, and the room filled only with the soft ticking of the wall clock. Then, her phone buzzed.

She glanced down, confused by the sudden message. It was from Jake. Her fingers trembled slightly as she unlocked the screen. The message was about the boy Jake had stabbed earlier.

The moment her eyes skimmed the words, a sinking feeling gripped her chest. A whirlwind of emotions crashed over her. Her heart pounded, hands instinctively pressing against herself as if trying to steady the storm raging inside.

Her head bent down, her body frozen in place. She stayed like that for over a minute, unable to move, unable to breathe properly.

Slowly, she lifted her head and looked at the message again, maybe somehow, she had misread it the first time. But the words remained the same, stark and unchanging.

"What do I do?" she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible.

Her mind raced with possibilities. Should she call Jake? Should she ask for more details? Or should she block Jake's number and distance herself from him before it's too late?

Samantha was confused at that moment. Was what Samantha read a piece of bad news or good news? Had the boy already lost his life, turning this into a dead case? Or was he still alive, struggling in a critical condition?