All Chapters of My Stalker's Thermos: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

I pressed a hand to my chest and gasped for air. My lungs felt as though they were filled with icy wind, each breath burning with pain.The sensation of dying in my first two lives still clung to my bones. The moldy stench of that mud-brick house, the rusty tang of the rented room, the shrill screech of brakes in the instant before the crash. The memories churned together until my temples throbbed.I raised my eyes again and found myself staring at the familiar library study area.A warm yellow desk lamp glowed nearby beside a towering stack of grad school study materials.Then a hand with prominent knuckles gently placed a thermos printed with a little bear cub on the corner of my desk.It was Bryce Jackson. He looked the same as always, gentle and refined. His white shirt was neatly buttoned at the collar, and his eyes held the same warm, familiar smile he had worn every time he handed me water in my first two lives.My blood ran cold.No. I would not make the same mistake aga

I spun around. Two girls at the next table were talking, both dressed in matching pink hoodies.When they saw me looking, neither backed down. Instead, one of them rolled her eyes and raised her voice. "What are you looking at? Am I wrong? Some people string a guy along and then humiliate him in public. She's a snake in disguise. She takes all his kindness, then turns around and runs to another man. Unbelievable."Each word landed like a slap across my face.I gripped my pen until my knuckles turned white. I wanted to snap back, but when I opened my mouth, all I felt was exhaustion.Arguing with them would only prove that I was "lashing out in shame." That was exactly the effect Bryce wanted. He did not have to do anything. All he had to do was play the wounded, devoted victim, and everyone else would happily nail me to the cross for him.I took a deep breath, gathered my things, and moved to the farthest corner of the study room.The moment I reached my new seat, I saw it: the s

The screen displayed a still from the security camera.In high definition, Bryce stood at my desk in the study room and twisted open the lid of my thermos. He held a small packet of white powder between his fingers and poured its contents into the cup.The angle was clear. His actions were unmistakable.Everyone erupted at once."What the hell? What is that?""He spilled it? Bryce actually put something in her drink?""Oh my God, and here I thought he was devoted...""That's terrifying! He brought her water every day, and he was lacing it?"The murmurs quickly swelled into a roar.The color drained from Bryce's face.He shot to his feet and pointed at the screen, his voice cracking. "Those are vitamins! Just plain vitamin powder! I was worried all the exam prep was wearing her down, so I wanted to help her recover!""Worried?" I let out a cold laugh and stared at him. "If you're worried about someone, do you sneak something into their drink when they're not looking? Do you d

Amanda's face instantly flushed red. She opened her mouth. "How was I supposed to know the truth? Besides, he always acted so decent. Who could have guessed he was that kind of person?"She paused, then muttered, "And anyway, he didn't actually do anything to you. Going straight to the police and getting him arrested... isn't that a bit much? We're all classmates here. We're bound to run into each other...""A bit much?" I let out a cold laugh. "Wait until he drags me into the mountains and locks me up. Wait until I'm trapped on those few acres of land for the rest of my life. Then come tell me if it's too much."Amanda had nothing to say to that. Her face shifted between pale and flushed.Finally, she dropped into her chair and huffed. "Fine, you're right. You're clearly too clever for the rest of us. We ordinary people just can't understand your moves."I didn't bother responding.Different paths, no common ground. I used to think Amanda was just a little gossipy and a little t

The two of them shut their mouths at once, lowered their heads, and shrank back."You're lying!" The old woman's eyes widened, and she lunged at me again. "My son told me himself that he spent so much money buying you things! You ungrateful girl! You got my son in trouble, and now you're not getting off easy either!""Whether I'm lying or not, you know better than anyone." Walter let out a cold laugh, pulled out his phone, and opened a recording. "This is a recording of your call with Bryce. You told him to hurry up and bring her back, hold the wedding party before the end of the year, and get her ID so she couldn't run away. Want me to play it for everyone here?"The old woman's wailing stopped instantly.She sat frozen on the ground for two seconds before starting up again. "You were eavesdropping on our calls! That's illegal!"Walter's expression remained flat. "This recording was obtained by the police through legal channels. Your son wasn't just planning to abduct someone him