At first, everything felt normal.
Leo still came around. He still smiled at Samantha the same way he always did. His voice was calm, gentle… the kind that made her feel safe.
And that was why she didn't notice it immediately.
The small changes.
Sometimes, he would look at his phone and his expression would change for a second—just for a second—before he smiled again like nothing happened.
Sometimes, he would go quiet in the middle of their conversations.
And sometimes… he would just disappear.
At first, Samantha told herself it was nothing.
He's just busy, she thought.
I'm overthinking.
But deep down, something didn't feel right.
One evening, Leo told her he had somewhere important to be.
"I'll come back later," he said.
Samantha nodded, smiling. "Okay, be safe."
But that night…
He didn't come back.
At first, she wasn't worried.
Maybe he was just delayed.
But as the hours passed, her chest started to feel tight.
She picked up her phone and called him.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
No answer.
"Why isn't he picking?" she whispered to herself, staring at her phone.
She called again.
Still nothing.
A strange feeling settled in her heart.
Fear.
The next day, he still didn't come.
No message.
No call.
Nothing.
Samantha tried to act normal, but she couldn't focus on anything.
She kept checking her phone every minute.
Waiting.
Hoping.
Her mother noticed.
"You've been restless since yesterday," she said, watching her closely.
"What's wrong?"
Samantha hesitated before answering.
"It's Leo… he hasn't called me back."
Her mother's expression changed immediately.
"I told you," she said slowly. "That boy is not who you think he is."
Samantha frowned.
"Mom, please… not this again."
"I'm serious," her mother continued. "A man who cares about you will not disappear like this."
"He's probably just busy!" Samantha replied quickly, her voice rising.
"You don't even know him."
Her mother looked at her, calm but firm.
"I don't need to know him," she said.
"I can see what he's doing to you."
"That's not true!" Samantha snapped.
She felt angry… but also scared.
"Leo would never hurt me."
Her mother shook her head slowly.
"One day," she said quietly,
"you will understand everything I'm saying."
Samantha looked away.
She didn't want to hear it.
She didn't want to believe it.
Later that day, her phone suddenly rang.
Her heart jumped.
Leo.
She picked up immediately.
"Leo! Where have you been? I've been calling you—"
"Calm down," he interrupted.
His voice was cold.
Different.
Samantha froze.
"I… I was just worried…"
"I told you I was busy," he said.
"Don't start acting like this."
Her grip on the phone tightened.
"I'm sorry," she said softly.
There was a short silence.
"Call me later," he said.
And then—
The call ended.
Samantha slowly lowered the phone.
Her heart felt heavy.
That wasn't the Leo she knew.
She sat quietly, staring into space.
Her mother's words echoed in her mind.
That boy is not who you think he is.
For the first time…
Samantha didn't know what to believe.
Something wasn't right.
And deep down…
She was starting to feel afraid.Samantha stared at her phone for a long time.
He had told her to call him later…
But something didn't feel right.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she dialed his number again.
This time, he picked up.
"What is it?" his voice came, low and impatient.
Samantha froze for a second.
That tone…
It wasn't the same.
"I… I just wanted to talk to you," she said softly.
"You told me to call you…"
"I'm busy, Samantha," he replied quickly.
"Say what you want."
Her chest tightened.
"Why are you treating me like this?" she asked, her voice shaking.
There was silence on the other end.
"This isn't how you used to talk to me," she continued, her eyes filling with tears.
"This isn't what you promised me…"
"Do you even love me anymore?"
A soft scoff came from his side.
"You're overthinking things," he said.
"I already told you I'm busy."
"But you said you would take care of me…" she whispered.
"You said I mattered…"
"I still do," he replied, his tone flat.
"But I have other things to handle too."
Those words hit her hard.
It didn't sound like love.
It sounded like an excuse.
Behind her, her mother stood quietly, listening to everything.
Her expression darkened.
"Leo…" Samantha called again, her voice almost breaking.
But before she could say anything else—
The call ended.
Samantha slowly lowered her phone.
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
"You see?" her mother said from behind her.
"I told you something was wrong."
Samantha quickly wiped her tears.
"He didn't mean it," she said, even though her voice wasn't convincing.
"He's just busy…"
Her mother sighed.
"One day," she said softly,
"you will understand."
Samantha said nothing.
But deep inside…
Something was already breaking.