Page 19 of Echoes of Eternity

“Great,” I muttered under my breath, my shoulders slumping with resignation. This was the last thing I needed right now, in a grocery store parking lot of all places. Kaito was an ex for a reason.

He stepped out of the car, his confident stride betraying an air of entitlement that always grated on me. “Mae,” he said, his tone a mix of faux warmth and condescension. “Fancy seeing you here.”

I forced a tight smile, my irritation barely concealed. “Kaito. What are you doing here?”

“I was just in the area,” he said, his eyes drifting overmy tattoos with that familiar, unsettling gaze that spoke of hunger for something he wasn’t allowed to touch anymore. “I didn’t expect to run into you, but it’s a nice surprise, as always.”

I tightened my grip on my car keys, feeling a surge of defensive energy. “I’m busy. If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to finish up and go home.”

Kaito’s smile widened, and he took a step closer, his gaze lingering with a possessive intensity. “Come on, Mae. It’s been a while. Let’s catch up. I’m sure you’ve missed me. I’ve surely missed you.” His eyes traveled along my arms and landed on my chest.

I took a step back, fighting the urge to jab my keys into his eyes. How had I ever found him and his behavior attractive? Had I really lost my sanity that much? “No, Kaito. I haven’t missed you. Just let me be.”

I could feel my heart racing, the frustration bubbling up inside me. What was I thinking back then? Had I been so desperate for affection that I overlooked all the red flags? It was infuriating. Why was he even here?

His expression shifted to one of frustration. “You always were so stubborn. It’s like you can’t let go of the past.”

I concealed my disdain, a familiar hunger for confrontation simmering beneath the surface. How dare he twist the narrative? “Let go of the past?” I shot back, my voice steady despite the tempest inside me. “You’re the one who can’t seem to understand that some things should stay buried.”

Kaito was used to getting what he wanted, a lesson Ilearned too late in our relationship when I finally began to stand up to him. By then, I had already endured enough of his manipulations and charm, only to realize it was all a facade.

Now, facing him, I could see the remnants of that arrogance in his eyes, the expectation that I would simply fall back into line. But I wasn’t that person anymore.

“Why are you here, Kaito?” I demanded, my tone sharper than I intended. “I’ve moved on.”

He leaned back slightly, a condescending smile creeping onto his lips. “You say that, but I can see it in your eyes. You still care, even if you won’t admit it.”

I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to react. How could he still manipulate me with words? A fire surged within me at his cocky audacity. “You’re wrong. I’m done with you.”

I glanced toward my car, calculating my next move. I was trapped between dealing with Kaito and the unsettling encounter with Jason who was probably still hanging around watching this entire scene unfold, hoping to find an advantage. I needed to get away from both of them.

“Look,” I said firmly with a curl of my lip, “I really don’t have time for this. I’m leaving.”

Kaito leaned in slightly, a predatory glint in his eyes. “You’ll crawl back to me eventually,” he said, his tone dripping with smug certainty. “And when you do, I’ll be waiting, happily ready to say, ‘I told you so.’”

The words hung in the air, heavy with implication. I could feel a wave of anger mixed with something darker.

“I won’t,” I shot back, my voice steady but laced with tension. “I don’t belong to you, Kaito. I’ve moved on.”

He chuckled softly, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. “We’ll see about that,” he replied, leaning back with an air of smugness. The way he watched me felt almost possessive, like he believed he still had some claim over my choices.

I took another step back, steeling myself against the unease creeping in. “Just stay away from me,” I warned, my heart pounding.

I unlocked my car door with a swift motion and climbed inside, my hands shaking slightly while I started the engine. I glanced at Kaito through the window, pulling away. His expression was a mix of irritation and arrogance.

As I drove home, my mind was still reeling from the events of the day. The unwanted attention from Jason grocery-creep, the unwelcome encounter with Kaito boomerang-ex—it had all been overwhelming. I focused on the road ahead, determined to put the day’s challenges behind me.

Arriving home, I took a deep breath and locked the door behind me. The house was quiet, a stark contrast to the trouble of the parking lot. I needed to regroup, to find some semblance of calm in the midst of the turmoil.

I leaned against the door for a moment, allowing the silence to wash over me. The familiar scent of home, a blend of incense and clean linen, wrapped around melike a comforting embrace. But the peace felt fragile, like a thin layer of ice that could crack at any moment.

I moved through the dimly lit living room, the soft glow of the lamp illuminating the edges of my thoughts. My mind raced back to Kaito’s smirk and his chilling words.You’ll crawl back to me eventually.I shivered, pushing those thoughts aside while I made my way to the kitchen.

As I poured myself a glass of water, the mundane action felt almost surreal. How could I go from confronting my past to this ordinary moment so quickly? I leaned against the counter, letting the coolness of the glass ground me.

But just when I took a sip, my phone buzzed on the table, jolting me from my reverie. I glanced at the screen, my heart skipping a beat. It was a message from an unknown number. “You’ll be riding my cock and screaming my name again soon enough.”

My breath caught in my throat, and a chill crept down my spine. I set the glass down slowly, the weight of the message settling heavily in the air. I could feel the walls closing in around me, the quiet of my home suddenly feeling much less safe.