x
It was another day and I was by the checkout counter waiting for my turn to pay for my shopping.
'I have to make sure the beer is in there. It is part of tonight's dinner after all.'
I pay the cashier and walk out of the store. 'Gosh, these are heavy!' I struggle to get a good grip on the bags. 'It would be nice if I had some help. I should have gone with the plastic bags but the paper ones are cheaper.'
I hear footsteps behind me and look back. It was only people walking home after work. Caution and Paranoia became my closest friends ever since my stalker sent me that message bad going to the police alone didn't help. Why? I was afraid of what they will find out about me if I did that and now I am afraid of what might happen to me or the people around me if I didn't.
'Maybe jail won't be so bad.' I quicken my pace. 'I would lose my freedom but at least...'
"Hey, you!" A voice boomed behind me. I turn around to see the baseball bat-wielding girl from school posing with her weapon under the street light. She had her hair in a ponytail and was looking meaner than usual with a smirk on her face.
"Nice outfit." She said walking towards me. "Where did you get it?"
I take a step back. "I...It is my casual outfit."
She stopped and took a good look at me. "Oh! I made a mistake. You look awful." And thumping her baseball bat to the ground, she asked, "It looks like you are in love with going out at night. Do you have any spare change?"
I take a step back because she scares me.
"Hey I am talking to you!" she shoved the bat to my face.
"S...sorry I don't have any money."
She huffed, spat on the pavement, and turned her back on me. "School starts a day after tomorrow. Don't be late."
I watched her walk down the street. 'That is odd. She looked like she was going to rob me.'
I continue my journey home and was greeted with moaning sounds from the bedroom. Disgusted, I drop the groceries in the kitchen and walk to my bedroom wondering how on earth they can do it when one has a broken leg. Well, I do not want to know. After taking the necessary precautions with the door, I take a shower and go to the kitchen to start dinner. Halfway through, I call Brianna.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Brianna. How are you?"
"I'm good and you?"
"I am fine. Say is school starting next tomorrow?"
"Yeah! They sent us students the message." There was a pause. "What you didn't get yours?"
"No, I didn't."
"They sent it via email. What is the matter, you don't have a phone?"
"No, I have an old model."
"You mean the one with buttons on it?"
"Yep."
She laughed. "Come on girl we are not in the 1960s anymore."
I laugh and hear someone coming. "Thanks for the information I will call you later."
"Okay. Goodnight."
She hung up and I look around to see who was coming but see no one and hear nothing but moaning.
'This is what I get for being paranoid.' I think while putting the ramen into the bowl. Making my decision not to call them to the table, I eat dinner alone and go to bed.
'So school starts tomorrow huh?' I think looking at the picture of a cake on my phone. "How did she know that?"
I fall asleep dreaming of cake and wake up with drool from my mouth. Splashing the cold water on my face I sigh and look at my phone.
'Gosh, it is hot.' I open it and was shocked. '360 messages? From who?'
'Hello!'
'You are sleeping huh?'
'It's okay.'
'I like it when you sleep.'
'You look so peaceful.'
'You were drooling while you slept.'
'I took the liberty of wiping it off from you but...it just kept coming.'
'It looks like you were dreaming of something.'
'Are you dreaming of me?'
'I can't wait for you to wake up to tell me!'
'Maybe you were dreaming of me.'
'Dreaming of something naughty I presume.'
'I hope I was the one you were doing naughty things to in your dream.'
'Ohh! My you are such a naughty girl Beloved.'
'I...I...I licked your drool while you were asleep.'
'You tasted good.'
'I wanted to keep licking but you moaned so I had to stop.'
'I didn't leave though.'
'It was such a pity.'
'All that lovely essence of you gone to waste.'
'I wanted to keep licking.'
'I wanted to lick you all over!'
'Oh, Beloved!'
'You tasted so good!'
My stomach churned and something flowed to my mouth. Swiping my hand over it, I rush to the toilet and throw up.
"Oh my gosh!" I throw up again. "Oh my gosh!"
He was in my apartment and my room last night. That sound I heard while making dinner wasn't caused by paranoia! It was real!
I wipe my mouth and tried to gain my composure but my phone rang again.
Fear gripped me. 'Is he the one calling?' with a shaky hand, I reach out to grab it but it stopped ringing.
My chest was heaving as my hand hung in midair. 'Now what? Should I just leave it or pick it up?'
I make my decision and grab it. Looking at the screen I see the call I missed was from Brianna.
'Oh. It is just Brianna.' I heaved a sigh of relief but it rang with a message.
'I...I am sorry!'
'I didn't mean to do it!'
'I swear!'
'Please forgive me!'
'I am sorry!'
It was the last straw. Leaping to my feet, I grab my jacket and run out of the apartment slamming the door with a bang. I didn't care if it was 6 AM. I didn't care if my hair looked like a bird's nest. I didn't care if I had a nasty breath. I rushed to the nearest police station I could find.
"You are sure this person entered your room last night." the policeman asked.
"Yes sir. He said so in the text message."
He looked at my phone and scratched his head. "Well, from the way I see it, he was texting you all night."
"Yes and he entered my room."
He looked at me. "Did you see him?"
I cock an eyebrow and shake my head. "I was asleep sir."
"Do you know how he got in?"
I shake my head.
"Who was in the apartment when you got home?"
"My Aunt sir and her boyfriend sir."
I watched his eyes and see he was staring at me the whole time. Well not me but something that was part of me. This got me worried. Was he going to take my case seriously or not?
"Well ma'am, there is little we can do without evidence."
I felt like I was struck by thunder. "What?"
"I mean, he just sent text messages but there is no proof he entered your apartment. Maybe your Aunt's boyfriend did it to tease you or someone is playing a harmless prank on you."
My right eye twitched and my blood was boiling. "So what are you implying officer?"
"I am saying you have to catch the person in the act. Then we can bring charges."
Okay, now I was mad. "So you are telling me I should...sit down and take it until I catch the person in the act?"
"I am sorry ma'am." He said leaning back on his chair. "We do not want to be disgraced like last time. You have to catch him in the act and bring concrete evidence of who the person is. Flimsy text messages aren't going to help."
The urge of slapping him was there but I calm myself down, stand up, and snatch my phone off the table. Storming out of the building, I go home and search for a locksmith.
"Hey! What is going on in here?" my aunt yelled as she stormed into the living room. "Do you know what time it is?"
The locksmith who was holding a hammer in his hand stared at her while I looked at the clock.
"Yes. It is 9 AM." I reply.
It took her a while to get what was happening. "Who is going to pay for this?"
"I am."
She scoffed and stormed back to her room. "Make sure you clean up the place when you are done."
I ignore her and stared at my phone. 'I changed my phone number twice. Now I am using everything I have to change the locks.'
"I have finished changing the locks ma'am but I suggest you get a new door if you want stronger security." the locksmith said while wiping his brow.
"Thank you." I sigh. 'Looks like I have to get a new door while I am at it.'
Despite everything that was happening in my personal life, I had to go to school the next day. With my aunt sleeping on the couch, I leave the apartment and make my usual stop at the convenience store to buy a bento but on my way out, I met the baseball bat-wielding girl again.
"Looks like you are up early." She said while brandishing her bat. "Well don't just stand there, let's get a move on!"
I was shocked at first but followed her nonetheless.
"I guess Caroline told you my name huh?" she asked.
I nod. "Yeah. Your name is Alice I'm I right?"
She nods. "Good because I don't want you to forget that!"
Her tone caught me off guard.
"You are wondering why I am taking you to school." She continued. "That girl told me to do it. Said something about you having a stalker or something."
I stop in my tracks. "Stalker?"
"Yeah, don't you know girls your size are bound to have a stalker?" then she gave me a rueful look. "And all girls who have stalkers are too naïve to notice. Good thing I am not one of them."
She ended her statement with a scoff which annoyed me. "How did you know I have a stalker? I never told anyone."
"That is for her to know and for you to find out but," she stopped and swung the bat to my face. "I don't take orders from anyone. Rather, I give the orders. So, I won't be listening to that manipulative witch anytime soon." Then she continued to walk. "The sooner you learn how to defend yourself the better. I hope you have more brains than boobs."
Okay, now I was pissed. "I know you do not like what you are doing."
She stopped in her tracks.
"You do not have to do this for me." I continue. "I can take care of myself."
She glanced at me and smiled. "You just made my job easier."
We walk in silence until we get to school and parted ways once we were through the gates.
The first place I go to is the room where the Cooking Club was. There was police tape at the entrance indicating it was out of bounds and walking into my homeroom, I see many empty seats indicating the number of students who have left the school after the incident. The rest who decided to stay were walking on eggshells.
I sighed and took my seat. 'At least Alex decided to stay. Too bad I won't be seeing him anytime soon.'
"Mrs. Cross-wood," a sharp voice said interrupting my train of thoughts. "Do you mind telling us what you were thinking about? It would surely be helpful."
A Valerie giggled and that made me blush. She expected someone to join her but no one made a sound. Instead, they watched what was going to happen next.
I bow my head in shame. "I am sorry sir. I did not hear you walk in."
He looked in the eyes and sighed. "I know you are still trying to get over the traumatic events but please for the sake of the class and all the students, pull yourself together and concentrate."
'Wait that's it?' but I give my response which was, "Yes sir."
"Good. Now on with the lesson..."
The lesson went on for one grueling hour then Math Class came which was thankfully thirty minutes. When it was time for lunch, I was on my way to meet my friends on the roof but someone grabbed my arm.
"Hey," It was the upperclassman. "How are you?"
"I...I am fine?" I reply.
"You seem lost. Is everything alright?"
"Umm," I tried to avoid his gaze because the way he was staring at me was creepy. "No. I was just going to the roof to meet with my friends."
"Oh. So you are going to be with your friends?"
I nod wishing he could get out of the way because he was making me uncomfortable.
"Then where is your lunch box?"
'Okay...what is with the uncomfortable questions?' I thought still avoiding his gaze. "I do not have one."
"Yeah. I seem to notice the store-bought bento in your hands." He frowned. "You shouldn't be eating that. It tastes bland."
I shrug.
"Never mind. I made an extra bento before I came here." He dug into his bag and brought out a pink lunch box. "It was meant to be for a friend but he didn't come so you can have it."
I look at the pink lunch box and then stared at him. 'He's blushing like crazy and the pink lunch box. Maybe his friend is a girl?'
With that in mind, I shake my head earning a frown from him.
"Why?"
Now I had to voice out the reason. "Thank you for the offer but you said it's for a friend so I don't think it's a good idea to accept..."
"I insist!" he yelled so loud, that everyone in the hallway stared at us. "I went through a lot to make this for you please take it! Goodbye!"
He thrust the box into my arms and walked away so fast I thought he was running. Standing in the hallway with the box in my arms people around me started to whisper.
"He gave her lunch? Unbelievable!"
"He has never done that before."
"He is normally a zombie in the class."
"Why did he do that?"
"Does he like her?"
Face red, I go to the roof where my friends were waiting for me.
"Wow Emma, who gave you that lunch box?" Brianna asked drooling.
I shrugged. "The upperclassman?"
She sniffed. "Smells good! What is it?"
Ralph stopped her from trying to snatch the box from my arms. "Control yourself you greedy dog!"
"I can't!" she panted. "I smell meat! Give me some meat!"
"You normally buy store-bought bento." Brutes said taking a good look at me. "This is new."
Ralph finally calmed her down and a few minutes later, we were eating our lunch. Still unsure about the contents of the box, I eat my store-bought bento and open it when I was done. Inside was rice, vegetables, and a lot of meat.
"Mmm!" Brianna drooled. "This looks nice!"
"This is stir fry vegetables." Aubrey chimed in. "And it is cooked to perfection. The colors are still there and this means it still has its nutrients in it."
"Who gave you the bag?" Andrew asked.
I blushed. "It was an upperclassman."
Brutes thought for a moment. "The one who saved Andrew the other day?"
I nod.
"Oh, his name is Jake Othello Brandon." Brutes said. "He is an upperclassman, eighteen years old of age."
"Oh," was the only thing I could say.
"I heard he loves literature," Andrew said. "He was in the Photography Club before it was shut down because of lack of club members." then he face-palmed. "Shoot, I forgot to thank him!"
"You don't have to do that!" Caroline yelled but seeing we were all staring at her she looked away. "I...I mean it is not necessary."
"Yeah, he saved Emma's life, not yours," Aubrey added using baby wipes to dust her uniform.
I blush. "Looks like I will have to thank him. He did walk me home the other day."
"He...he did that?" Caroline asked.
I looked sideways for a while because she sounded worried. "Umm, yeah. He said the streets weren't safe at night."
"Yeah, it isn't," Aubrey said with a huff. "Let's go. Class is starting in the next five minutes."
We were walking down the stairs when the bell rang. I had Biology class while they had other classes. 'Those two were acting very weird.' I think while taking notes. 'And Caroline sounded like she was worried. Why?'
Luckily, we were going to meet up in Gym class but while changing my clothes in the changing room, I hear some girls talking about the upperclassman.
"Did you see the look on his face when he gave that girl the lunch box? He was smiling!"
"Yeah. This is the first time I have seen him smile."
"Really? I heard he acts like a zombie or something."
"He does."
"But how does he get high scores in class?"
I hear a chuckle. "Beats me. You know zombies don't have brains!"
"Is it true Valarie is crushing on him?"
"Maybe." there was a pause. "I remember once, Valarie was talking to him but he completely ignored her. She got angry and started yelling at him but he continued to walk. He acted like he was deaf or something."
"Yeah, I heard that too!"
"So he is a zombie!"
"But what does he see in that girl?"
I shake my head at them and leave the changing room but I couldn't stop thinking about him as we walked to the hall which served as a place for Gym class.
'It is clear from the gossip and his behavior back there, that he lacks social skills.' I enter the hall and look for my friends. 'Most people who lack social skills are normally loners. Is he one of them?'
Finally spotting them by the corner of the hall, I go over to them to wait for the coach to arrive and when he did, our class was paired into two pairs to warm up for the basketball lesson. Brianna was paired with Brutes, Andrew was paired with Ralph and Aubrey was paired with Caroline and I was paired with a blond-haired boy. He introduced himself as Bert and we got along pretty well.
"So your name is Emma Cross-wood and you are sixteen right?" he asked passing the ball to me.
"Yep." I pass it back to him.
"I have to admit I have never seen a girl like you before."
I blush slightly when he said that. The coach blew the whistle and everyone watched as the upperclassmen filled the other side of the court. It did not take long for me to notice the upperclassman among the crowd. I had to admit he was physically built with chiseled-like features of an athlete making it clear he worked out from time to time but what drew my attention was his hair.
'The last time we met his hair was...awful.' I smile. 'Now it is styled to look like the samurais in the fantasy dramas that air on Sunday night and it fits him perfectly.'
"Emma," Brianna sang into my ears. "I think he is looking at you!"
I snap out of my daze and sure enough, he was looking at me. He smiled and waved and I was about to raise my hand to wave back but Caroline stopped me.
"I think you have given him enough attention." She firmly said as girls gathered around him.
"All ready popular with the ladies I see," Brutes remarked.
"I'll say," Andrew said. "Girls are always swooning over him."
"I think it is because he is mysterious," Aubrey said folding her arms. "Almost every girl in school is trying to figure him out."
"I am surprised the Queen Bee herself is stooping low to get his attention." Brutes said pushing up his glasses.
Ralph huffed. "Get lost Brutes. I can bet you 20 yen that someone as high and mighty as Valarie would do a thing like that."
"Then it is best you give him the money now because she is already trying to get his attention." I point at Valarie who was trying to push her way through the crowd to get closer to him.
"I hope he considers joining the Drama Club," Bert said with a smile. "He'd make a perfect heartthrob character."
"If you are trying to get us to join the Drama Club forget it, Bert," Brianna said sharply. "The last thing I want is for Mr. Snake to chew me out like last time."
Ralph laughed. "Been in his bad books lately?"
"Shut up!" she replied punching him on the arm.
I giggle. "I am not surprised. He has it out for you."
Brianna grumbled as we all laughed because it was true. Since the day she asked that dumb question in class, he has been making her go to the board to solve calculation questions in Physics and Chemistry. She hated getting that kind of attention and it was embarrassing to fail in front of the whole class. Luckily Brutes was been helping by tutoring her after school and I taught her a few tricks on how to answer questions in class without embarrassing herself.
'I hope it pays off.' I said to myself. 'He is really giving her a hard time.'
"Did I forget to mention that he gave us a lot of assignments to do?" Bert asked. "How about we do a group study?"
"That sounds like a good idea," I respond quickly. "How about we do it at your house, Bert?"
"No thanks," Bert replied. "My house is already full with my sisters and they go crazy when I bring a girl over."
"What about the School Library?" Brutes asked.
"Nope, Martial Arts Club." Andrew chipped in. "How about at my place after school? My house is big enough for us to have a sleepover."
"I have to agree with Andrew," I respond smiling.
"Same here," Brianna said. "But why don't we do it at your place?"
That shocked me. "M...my place?"
"Uh, yeah?" Aubrey said. "You never invited us to your house before."
The rest agreed and I saw myself shut in a tight corner. How can I invite them to a place I hardly call home?
'This is bad!' I scramble for an excuse. "Uh, maybe next time okay?"
They stared at me but slowly agreed. After Gym class, we went to the locker room to change for club activities.
'That was a close.' I say slipping and buttoning up my shirt. 'But I can't hold them off for long. They will eventually find out and I will have no choice but to tell them the truth.'
I step out of the room and spot Jake holding something in his hand. 'Wait a minute, is that a shovel?'
I call out to him. "Jake? What do you have there?"
His face fell the minute he saw me. "Emma?"
"Why are you carrying a shovel around the school?"
"I saw this lying around. So I am returning it to the rightful place." He replied quickly.
"Oh, do you need help?"
"No!" he yelled making me jump. "No. I am fine. Thank you."
I watched him walk away and go to the Club Room. Our instructor taught us some new skills and then let us practice on our own. Andrew came over and challenged me to a duel which I lost.
"Take it easy on me next time," I said as we were walking out of the school gates.
He laughed. "It is not my fault that you were distracted."
I nudged him. "Cut me some slack. I am still a white belt while you are a red belt."
"Yet I am the leader," he said proudly.
"Don't toot your horn too much or someone will burst your bubble."
"That will be the day," he replied.
We see our friends at a distance and Brianna had a sneaky smile on her face.
"I am so shipping you guys." She said.
I take a quick look at Andrew and then back at her. "What?"
"What she meant to say is, you guys look like a couple," Ralph explained.
Andrew panicked. "No! It's not what you think!"
"Oh yeah? Tell us what we are supposed to think." Brutes coldly asked looking at us.
"We..." Andrew said looking down. "She is not my type."
Aubrey scoffed. "Yeah right. Come on we are going to be late!"
I do not bother to call my Aunt because she would not care if I didn't come home at all. As we walked, I hear footsteps and look behind me.
"Did you see something?" Caroline asked.
"No, but I heard something," I reply.
"Good." she continued to walk. "You have three stars today so your fate is uncertain."
ns 15.158.61.55da2
