Chapter 1

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Concealed behind my everyday facade lies an extraordinary existence, day after day, I navigate life not owing to superpowers or exceptional talents, but rather, it's the sway of a character that steers my destiny, this realization dawned upon me as my story concluded, I wonder, is there an undisclosed secret behind this game, or will my life persist shrouded in its hidden puzzles?


I'm not exceptional, I simply live the reality that befalls me, and I continue to do so, at least not with the same fear and difficulty as before.


In my home country, a significant part of my life's journey, I've stayed put without moving abroad, after finishing my studies, I found myself part of a minority choosing a distinct route, here, the trend leaned towards pursuing majors across various places, overlooking broader knowledge, but I sensed an immense, unexplored opportunity lying in wait for me elsewhere.


I decided to channel my knowledge and make it stronger and deeper, I embarked on a journey of seeking knowledge in distant and unfamiliar places where I could expand my horizons, I discovered diverse educational resources and met wonderful people from different races and cultures, I began to understand that the world is bigger and more complex than one can imagine in a typical academic life.


Despite having completed the traditional academic stage, my desire for learning and exploring new worlds not only remained but grew stronger, this journey provides me with a sense of freedom and discovery like nothing else, and I believe I'm on the verge of making my knowledge stronger and broader than ever before.


As I stood at a critical juncture, my friends shared a remarkable chance to expand my skills in areas that intrigued me, this opportunity meant relocating, potentially impacting not just my life but my family's too, despite the uncertainty, I moved to a new place and settled into my apartment, feeling a mix of thrill and challenge, days became notably different, filled with organizing and adjusting to this fresh environment, I embarked on this new life with enthusiasm, striving to find equilibrium between learning and leisure.


In the department I attended, the majority were girls whose outward demeanor was kind and respectful, but beneath that facade lay hidden and dubious intentions, on one occasion, they generously offered me a meal, yet I was met with an unwelcome surprise when I discovered something unpleasant in it just before taking a bite, this discovery left me immensely furious.


This incident breached trust and crossed a line for me, infringing upon my personal boundaries, consequently, I became exceedingly vigilant and wary whenever I was around them, ensuring heightened caution in their presence to safeguard myself from any potential harm or deceit.


I led a pretty normal life, accepting my friend's offer to work at an art exhibition upon his suggestion, his eyes shimmered with enthusiasm as he cherished art and romance, unlike my own interests, but I needed a job, any job, for money meant a more comfortable life, so I joined him, setting up paintings and guiding visitors around the exhibition.


Initially, it felt like an average job, fetching a reasonable but not remarkable monthly wage, similar to what my friend earned.


After two weeks, something inexplicable crept into my mind, thoughts too awkward to voice, an eerie solitude and melancholy seemed to cloak each painting, mirroring the disarray in my life, nights grew longer, haunted by unknown whispers in my dreams, the beauty of art lost its charm, even interacting with visitors became challenging, my appetite and sleep dwindled, and an overwhelming sense of despair took hold, dragging me into a dark whirlpool that controlled my life, this isn't an exaggeration but an explicit account of my suffering, I found myself staring at the ceiling at night, grappling with unanswerable questions about my existence and purpose, days felt repetitive – study, work at the exhibition, an unchanging cycle, I grew weary, trapped in a circle of depression and monotony, losing all zest for life.


The next day, I joined my friend at work, watching him happily interact with everyone as usual, at the end of the day, the manager called me in, his tone serious as he mentioned negative feedback about my work and let me go.


Despite being loyal and dedicated, even during tough times, I didn't argue, I left without much worry, knowing my friend had likely filled the manager's head with untrue stories to get me fired.


After that, the whispers around me grew darker, I realized this world isn't kind to the vulnerable, those spreading lies won't just bother me, there are more sinister things at play, I understood that I'm not alone in my fight against mental struggles, I haven't given up, but now I face new, tougher challenges beyond human adversaries.


"D" was my private fascination, an imaginary ally within my vibrant dreamscapes, if anyone had uncovered this secret, they might have viewed it as weird.


I admit, I've developed an infatuation with this woman in my mind, late at night, I sit alone, gazing at their pictures, but on some nights, strange and unsettling things happen, an unfamiliar voice emerges mysteriously, sometimes crying, speaking or singing, shadows flicker by like lightning, fleeting moments that come and go.


Occasionally, I'd write on a blank paper and witness the pen bleeding its ink without my touch, then, that unsettling sound would disturb me, leaving me alone in a space filled with eerie occurrences, yet when I repeated her name, it felt like a shield against these disturbances, a form of protection, before sleep, I'd repeat her name and cling to her image on my phone.


After a while, I sensed someone following me, not just a person seeking friendship in this new place, but an invisible presence hovering around me, each evening, on my way back from the department, a shadow mimicked my steps, disappearing whenever I tried to glance at it, only to silently reappear.


Things became stranger, when talking to my friends, their emotions seemed absent, conversation dominated by silence, when I approached them later, they'd express surprise, claiming not to have spoken to me, I began suspecting manipulation in my life.Yearning for home, I felt anxious about my possibly haunted apartment, my studies suffered due to exhaustion, anxiety, and an unknown voice at night, heightening tension.


I couldn't bear staying in that apartment, strange occurrences, like clothes vanishing and moving around the bathroom, felt like an invisible force aiding my bathing in eerie ways, sensations of touches during showers left me unsettled.


Despite not cooking or buying food, pre-cooked meals appeared in my kitchen, making me doubt my reality, at times, my phone reflected a pale face with red eyes, urging me to flee my room.


I sought refuge outdoors, distancing myself from the eerie events, under the night sky, I found comfort in writing and pursuing my field, hoping to grasp reality, but the person haunting me continued to appear before my eyes, signaling this was just the beginning.

Chosen Love | Daniela Dimitrescu x Male ReaderWhere stories live. Discover now