FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS , I've been receiving text messages from that unknown number nonstop. But now, I think I know who it is. After all, she's the only one who managed to get my number, and ever since then, these messages have never stopped.
She practically bombards me every hour, trying to convince me to attend the play. Sometimes she even tells me about random things she's doing, as if she's determined to flood my inbox.
"Aedrian, who keeps texting you? Is that a stalker or some secret admirer?"
"A scammer," I answered simply.
"Oh, a scammer? Let me see! Give me the number and I'll call them so we can find out who this scammer is!"
"No need. I know who it is."
"Oh, really? You call them a scammer, but you know them? So you personally know a scammer? Then why don't you report them? Wait a second—you've got to be messing with me!"
We were currently standing in front of the Oreta Building, waiting for my identification card to be processed.
I told her she didn't need to come with me, but she insisted. Apparently, she was worried I'd get lost.
What does she think I am, a child?
"Come on, don't ignore me! Who's been texting you?" she asked again.
I looked at my phone screen, where my conversation with Lyca from last night was displayed.
From: Lyca
9:52 PM
Someone's following me again. Help me. I think I have a stalker.
—End of message—
From: Lyca
10:01 PM
Aedrian, thank goodness I made it home safely. But I still really need your help. Please reply. I'm scared of that stalker. I swear, this time I'm telling the truth. Someone is after me, and I know you can help me solve this problem. Please, I'm begging you.
—End of message—
I finally replied.
To: Lyca
10:16 PM
How can I believe someone who pranked me?
—End of message—
From: Lyca
10:20 PM
You still haven't gotten over what happened? I'm telling the truth this time! Someone has been following me for days and nights. He's even been sending me pictures of myself, including photos taken while I was in the girls' restroom at school. He sends creepy information about me—things he shouldn't know. It's getting worse and worse. I'm really scared. I'll tell you everything the day after tomorrow, after the play. Please help me.
—End of message—
"Hey, Aedrian, you're really impossible. You didn't even notice that I've been holding your ID this whole time. Looks like whoever's texting you has completely captured your attention."
I ignored her because I was still thinking about Lyca's messages.
I didn't know whether I should believe her story about having a stalker.
Then again, it wouldn't be surprising. She was one of the most popular students in school, and her fake missing-phone incident had only made her even more famous.
But if she really did have a stalker, who could it be?
I turned toward my seatmate after hearing the sound of a camera shutter.
"Holy cheese! What are you doing?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
She laughed before tossing my ID card at me.
Then she ran away while teasing me.
"That ID picture looks great! You look handsome in it!"
I simply shook my head.
The next day, I woke up late because I had spent the entire night thinking about my famous classmate's stalker.
I quickly got ready and headed downstairs to the kitchen.
Mom and Dad were already eating breakfast together.
"Oh, son, eat quickly. You're going to be late for class."
I grabbed a piece of bread, stuffed it into my mouth, and hurried outside. After getting on my bicycle, I headed straight to school.
Luckily, Prof. Tobias hadn't arrived yet.
At least I wouldn't have to spend his entire class squatting at the back as punishment for being late.
I looked toward Lyca's seat, but she wasn't there.
"Have you seen Lyca?" I asked my seatmate.
"Probably at her club. Why?"
"Club?"
"The Theater Club. Don't you remember? I told you she's a member. She's probably getting ready for their performance later after lunch."
I simply nodded.
A few moments later, Prof. Tobias arrived.
He mentioned the play that would be held later at the Cultural Hall. Students were encouraged to attend because even the faculty members would be there to support the Theater Club's production.
"Are you going to watch it?" my seatmate asked.
"I don't know. What about you?"
"I couldn't get a ticket. They sold out. Maybe next time."
"So you actually want to watch it?"
She nodded.
I burst out laughing.
She genuinely wanted to watch that fantasy play about the seven dwarfs.
I couldn't believe she had such a childish side. I always thought mysteries were the only things that excited her, but judging from her expression, she truly wanted to see Snow White .
Maybe she really believed in stories like that.
"Here," I said, handing her the ticket.
"Really?"
She took the ticket from my fingers.
"What about you? You're not going to watch? You don't want to?"
"I'm not interested in those kinds of things. Their ideas are too far removed from reality. I don't want useless information taking up space that could be occupied by important data. Fantasy only exists inside people's heads. It doesn't exist in real life."
"So what?"
She frowned.
"You talk as if you're not even human. At least watch it before judging it. There's nothing wrong with believing that someday my Prince Charming will come and wake me from a deep sleep."
I shook my head.
This side of her was completely different from the person I thought she was.
Far different from my first impression.
Class ended, and one by one my classmates rushed out of the room.
"Dude, hurry up! The play's about to start!"
"Bro! Let's skip our afternoon class and watch it instead!"
"Forget class! Let's cut and watch the show. I bet there won't even be classes later anyway."
I glanced at my seatmate, who was waving at me while running toward the door.
"Bye! Thanks for the ticket!"
She even waved the ticket Lyca had given me—the same ticket I had simply passed on to her.
Speaking of Lyca...
If I remembered our conversation correctly, she wanted to talk after the play. That was when she planned to tell me everything about her stalker.
For now, all I could do was wait—and think of a way to catch whoever was stalking her.