Lahat ng Kabanata ng We Were Almost : Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

Maya's pov She was at the shop again.Her mother had asked her to check the locks. Simple task. Ten minutes. But Maya stood there longer than she needed to, staring at the symbol on the wall.Still there. Still watching.She took a photo. Sent it to Ethan.Still here.He replied fast: I know. I hate it.She smiled wistfully.Then she checked the locks. Turned to leave.Her phone buzzed.She looked down.Unknown number.Stop looking. You won't like what you find.Maya's blood went cold.She stared at the words. Read them three times.The stranger. He had her number. He knew she was looking. He was watching right now.She spun around. Looked at the street. The trees. The windows.No one.But someone was there. Somewhere. Watching.She called Ethan.He picked up on the first ring. "Maya?""Someone texted me.""Who?""I don't know. Unknown number. They said…" Her voice caught. She read it out loud. "Stop looking. You won't like what you find."Ethan was quiet for a second. Then: "Send me

Chapter 14: The fight (Maya POV)The car was packed.Two bags. Her mother's tears. Her father's blessing from a hospital bed. Ethan standing by the gate waiting.Maya stood in her childhood room one last time.Same cracks in the ceiling. Same window. Same everything.Nothing was the same.Her phone buzzed.Unknown number: Tick tock. 18 hours left.She stared at the words.Then she did something different.She typed back: Who are you?Three dots appeared. Then: Someone who knows everything about you.Maya: Then you know I don't scare easily.Unknown: Everyone scares eventually.Maya: Not me.She put the phone in her pocket and walked out.The drive to the city was long, but Maya wasn't quiet this time."Pull over," she said.Ethan looked at her. "What?""Pull over. I need to make a call."He pulled to the side of the road.Maya took out her phone. Called Bisi.Bisi picked up on the first ring. "Maya? Where are you? I've been so worried...""I need you to do something.""Anything.""Go

Chapter 16: The trapMaya didn't sleep.She sat by the window watching the city lights.Thinking.Planning.Running through every word Femi said.Sixteen years of watching him fail.Her father. Her family. Her entire life was shaped by a man she barely remembered.Her phone buzzed.Unknown number: 4 hours.She stared at the words. Four hours until her scholarship died.She typed: Why are you doing this?Unknown: When you love someone the way I loved your mother, sixteen years is nothing.Maya felt sick.Unknown: I watched you grow up. Smart. Beautiful. Strong. You got all of that from her.Maya: And my father?Unknown: Your father gave you nothing but debt and failure.Maya closed her eyes.Unknown: Four hours. Say goodbye to your scholarship.She didn't reply.Instead, she called her mother."Mama. I need you to send him a message.""What kind?""The kind that makes him think you're finally ready to leave."Silence."Maya, I can't…""You don't have to mean it. Just make him believe it."

Two weeks later, Maya went back to class.Not because she was ready, but because staying away felt worse. The scholarship was safe. Her father was recovering. Her mother was finally sleeping through the night.There was no reason to hide anymore.But walking across campus felt like walking onto a stage.People looked. Whispered. Turned away when she caught them. Maya kept her head up and kept walking. She had faced worse than whispers.Bisi was waiting by the science building.She ran at Maya like a missile. Arms wide. Face wet before she even got there."Maya! Oh my god, Maya!"They crashed into each other. Hugged so tight Maya couldn't breathe."I'm okay," Maya said. "I'm okay."Bisi pulled back. Looked at her face. Wiped her own tears."You're not okay. You look like you haven't slept in weeks.""I've slept.""Liar."Maya smiled. "Okay. I've slept a little."Bisi grabbed her hand. Pulled her toward the bench. The same bench where everything had shifted between her and Ethan."Sit.

Three days.That was how long Maya's peace lasted after the text.Three days of looking over her shoulder. Three days of jumping at shadows. Three days of Ethan checking his phone every five minutes.Then nothing.No more texts. No more threats. Just silence."Maybe it was nothing," Bisi said. They were walking to class together. "Maybe someone is just messing with you.""Maybe.""You don't believe that.""No."Bisi sighed. "I didn't think so."Ethan was waiting outside her lecture hall."Anything?" Maya asked.He shook his head. "My father traced the number. Burner phone. Bought with cash. Dead end."Maya felt the familiar weight settle back on her chest."So we wait.""So we wait."He took her hand. Squeezed."But we wait together."That afternoon, Maya's mother called."Your father is doing well. The doctors are happy."Maya smiled. "That's good, Mama.""He's asking about you. When are you coming home?""Soon. Maybe this weekend.""Good. Bring Ethan. I'll cook his favorite."Maya l