Love letter in disguise

 



Olivia stood with her arms crossed, staring at the latest gift on her dresser—a delicate necklace shaped like a crescent moon. “This isn’t sweet anymore,” she said, voice low. “It’s starting to feel… invasive.”

Aaron looked up from his laptop, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. “Another one?”

She nodded. “That’s four this week, Aaron. Four. And they’re getting more personal. The note with this one quoted a passage from Wuthering Heights—my annotated edition. It was word for word.”

His expression remained neutral, too neutral. “Maybe someone at school noticed your taste?”

“Or maybe someone’s watching me.” She didn’t mean for her voice to tremble, but it did. “Aaron, I need to ask… is there something you’re not telling me?”

He blinked, startled. “What? You think I’m behind this?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted, taking a shaky breath. “You’ve been… distracted lately. Distant, even. And the guy from the coffee shop—Jordan?—he asked me yesterday if I liked ‘roses and riddles.’ I didn’t think much of it then, but now... it’s too much of a coincidence.”

Aaron stood slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. For a moment, the air between them was thick with unspoken doubt.

“So what are you saying?” he asked carefully.

“I don’t know who’s trying to get into my head,” she said, eyes shining, “but it’s working. I’m scared, Aaron.”

He stepped closer, his voice gentler now. “Liv… you really think I’d let someone come between us?”

“Would you tell me if they were trying?” she shot back.

Aaron reached for the box on the dresser, brushing his fingers over the ribbon. “What if the person behind all of this just wanted to make sure you never forgot how loved you are?”

She stared at him. “That… sounds familiar.”

And finally—finally—his lips curved into a guilty smile.

“Okay,” he murmured, “you got me.”

Her breath hitched. “It was you?”

“I just missed watching your eyes light up,” he said, pulling the ribbon loose. “And yeah, maybe I got carried away. But I’d do it again just to see that look on your face.”

There was silence. Then she hit him with a pillow. “You absolute maniac.”

“Romantic maniac,” he corrected, laughing as she pulled him into a hug. “The best kind.”

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