The day started like any other—bustling hallways filled with the laughter of friends, the shuffling of papers, and the usual morning announcements crackling over the speakers. Aiden and Mabella strolled side by side through the crowded corridors, making their way to their lockers. Aiden, as usual, couldn’t resist teasing her.
"You know, Snuggle Bug," Aiden said with a mischievous grin, leaning a little too close to Mabella, "if you keep blushing like that, people might think you’ve got a secret."
Mabella’s face flushed pink, and she nervously glanced around. She hated how easily Aiden could make her blush, but seeing the playful glint in his eyes only made her cheeks burn hotter.
"Stop it!" Mabella muttered, trying to sound stern but failing as her embarrassment showed.
Aiden chuckled, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Oh, come on, Mabel," he teased, his grin widening. "You’re too cute when you’re flustered."
He was so caught up in teasing her that he barely noticed as he opened his locker. Just as he swung the door open, a small envelope slipped from between the books, fluttering to the floor in front of them. Their playful banter stopped abruptly.
Both Aiden and Mabella stared at the envelope for a moment, the lighthearted mood suddenly shifting. The envelope was delicately pink with elegant handwriting across the front, reading, "To Aiden." Mabella’s heart sank at the sight, a sharp, unpleasant knot forming in her chest.
Aiden crouched down, picked up the envelope, and carefully examined it. He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Slowly, he opened the envelope and pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper. As he unfolded it, a faint puff of pink powder fell from the letter and scattered to the floor, filling the air with the subtle scent of perfume.
Mabella stiffened. She recognized that smell instantly—it was sweet, floral, and unmistakably romantic. The scent wrapped itself around her like an unwanted presence, suffocating her with its meaning.
A love letter.
Mabella’s fingers curled into tight fists, gripping the fabric of her shirt so hard that her knuckles turned white. She tried to stay composed, but her mind was already spiraling. The thought of someone else having feelings for her Aiden made her blood boil.
How dare someone have the audacity to like him? she thought, her chest tightening with every passing second. How dare they think they can send him a love letter?
Her jealousy was swift and fierce, but she swallowed it down, trying her hardest to keep it hidden. She couldn’t show Aiden what she was really feeling—couldn’t let him see the jealousy and rage that was bubbling just beneath the surface. Instead, she forced herself to act as though she were merely surprised. She furrowed her brow and gave him a worried, almost pitiful look, as though the letter truly concerned her. But inside, she was screaming.
She imagined storming down the hallway, finding the girl who had written the letter, and confronting her right then and there. If she could, Mabella would have yanked that woman by the hair, demanding to know how she dared to make a move on her Aiden.
Aiden’s voice broke through her thoughts. He glanced over at her with a reassuring smile, his eyes filled with amusement rather than concern.
"Aww, aren’t you a cutie?" he said, his tone softening as he folded the letter back up. "Come on, my Snuggle Bug—" he winked at her playfully, "—you know I only have eyes for you, right?"
His words were like a soothing balm, and Mabella felt her heart flutter for a moment. She forced a smile, trying to let his reassurance wash away the sickening feeling that had settled in her chest. But no matter how sweet his words were, they couldn’t fully chase away the jealousy and anger gnawing at her insides.
She glanced down at the letter in his hands again, her gaze narrowing slightly. She caught sight of the name signed at the bottom, written in the same delicate handwriting. The girl's name sat there like a challenge, taunting her, and in that instant, Mabella knew she wouldn’t be able to rest until she knew more.
Her mind was already racing, plotting how she would deal with this. This girl… who does she think she is? The jealousy that simmered beneath the surface was now turning into something more dangerous—determination. Mabella didn’t just want to find out who this girl was; she wanted to make sure she never came near Aiden again.
But she kept her face neutral, wearing that same forced smile. She couldn’t let Aiden see how much this was affecting her.
"Come on, Mabel," Aiden said cheerfully, snapping the letter shut and tossing it back into his locker as if it were nothing. He turned, ready to walk away as if the letter hadn’t changed a thing. "Let’s get out of here."
Mabella nodded, forcing her feet to move as she followed him. But even as they left the locker behind, the name on the letter burned in her mind, and her thoughts spiraled with every step they took.
She would meet this woman. She would find her. And when she did, she would make sure that this secret admirer understood exactly who Aiden belonged to.