By midweek…
Esther was everywhere.
At first, it felt like coincidence.
Then it became a pattern.
And now
It was obvious.
Nathan stepped out of class with Alex, already knowing what he was going to see.
And sure enough
There she was.
Leaning casually against the wall like she had always belonged there.
Waiting.
"…You've got to be kidding me," Alex muttered under his breath.
Nathan didn't respond.
He just sighed.
Esther smiled the moment she saw him.
"Hey."
Nathan stopped a few steps away.
"Do you have classes?" he asked flatly.
Esther shrugged.
"Not right now."
"You've had a lot of 'not right now' lately."
She smiled slightly.
"I like spending time with you."
Alex let out a quiet laugh.
"Yeah… I'm gonna go meet the others."
Nathan didn't stop him.
Traitor.
By the time Nathan reached the usual spot…
The girls were already there.
And they noticed immediately.
Chloe folded her arms.
"Oh no."
Ariel's shoulders dropped slightly.
"…She came again?"
Samantha didn't say anything—
But her eyes were already on Esther.
Watching.
Measuring.
Esther walked up like it was normal.
Like she had always been part of them.
"Hi," she said.
Chloe didn't respond.
Not even a little.
Ariel gave a small, polite nod.
"…Hi."
Samantha remained calm.
"Esther."
Simple.
Neutral.
But not welcoming.
Nathan stepped forward slightly.
"You don't have to keep doing this."
Esther looked at him.
"I told you—I want to be around you."
Chloe let out a short laugh.
"Yeah, we heard you the first ten times."
Esther ignored her.
Her focus stayed on Nathan.
"I mean it."
Nathan's expression hardened slightly.
"So do I."
Silence fell.
Because his tone had changed.
This wasn't avoidance anymore.
This was clear.
Firm.
"I'm not interested," he said.
Ariel looked at him.
Surprised by how direct he was.
Chloe smirked slightly.
"Good."
But Esther didn't react the way they expected.
She didn't get angry.
She didn't leave.
She just… smiled.
Softly.
"I know."
That caught them off guard.
Nathan frowned.
"Then why are you here?"
Esther stepped a little closer.
"Because feelings don't just disappear, Nathan."
Her voice was calm.
Gentle.
But persistent.
"You don't have to accept me right now."
Chloe stepped in immediately.
"He's not going to accept you at all."
Esther glanced at her briefly.
Then back to Nathan.
"I'm not giving up."
That line hung in the air.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
The group dynamic shifted instantly.
This wasn't just an ex anymore.
This was someone inserting herself into their space.
On purpose.
Later that day…
They were at the cafeteria.
And Esther was there too.
Sitting with them.
Like it was normal.
Chloe dropped her tray on the table harder than necessary.
"I can't believe this."
Ariel sat quietly, avoiding eye contact.
Samantha watched everything.
Every glance.
Every reaction.
Every silence.
Nathan leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Esther…"
But she cut him off gently.
"Relax."
She smiled.
"I'm just sitting."
Chloe leaned forward.
"No, you're not 'just sitting.' You're forcing yourself into the group."
Esther tilted her head slightly.
"And?"
Chloe blinked.
Clearly not expecting that answer.
"And it's weird."
Esther shrugged.
"You'll get used to me."
Chloe almost laughed.
"Oh, I definitely won't."
Ariel spoke softly this time.
"Chloe…"
Chloe looked at her.
"What?"
Ariel hesitated.
"…Let's not make a scene."
Chloe leaned back, exhaling sharply.
"Fine."
But her eyes stayed on Esther.
Watching.
Not trusting.
Nathan stayed quiet through most of it.
And that silence said a lot.
Because he wasn't stopping Esther.
But he wasn't welcoming her either.
He was… stuck.
Samantha finally spoke.
Her voice calm.
Measured.
"Why now?"
Everyone looked at her.
Esther blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"You had all this time," Samantha continued.
"But you chose now to come back into his life."
Her eyes locked onto Esther.
Sharp.
Intentional.
"Why?"
The question lingered.
For a moment—
Esther didn't answer.
Then she smiled softly.
"Because I realized what I lost."
Samantha held her gaze.
Longer than necessary.
Like she was trying to see past the answer.
But eventually, she nodded once.
"…I see."
But the look in her eyes said something else entirely.
I don't believe you.
Days passed.
And Esther didn't leave.
She showed up to lectures.
Walked with them.
Sat with them.
Laughed when they laughed.
Spoke when they spoke.
Slowly…
Gradually…
She started blending in.
Like she had always been there.
A natural part of the group.
And that was the most unsettling part of all.
---
Chloe still didn't trust her.
Not even a little.
Ariel tried to stay neutral
But her feelings were getting harder to ignore.
Especially whenever Esther stood a little too close to Nathan.
Talked to him a little too softly.
Looked at him a little too long.
And Samantha…
Samantha watched.
Quietly.
Carefully.
Because something about Esther didn't add up.
And she wasn't the type to ignore that feeling.
As for Nathan…
He told himself it didn't matter.
That Esther's presence meant nothing.
That the past was the past.
But sometimes—
When she smiled a certain way…
Or said his name like she used to…
His guard slipped.
Just for a second.
And every time it did
It made things more complicated.
Because Esther wasn't leaving.
Not this time.
And whether they liked it or not…
She was already inside their world.