Author's Preface
HUXLEE
After the basketball game ends, we keep our eyes on the man Jacob points out as the person who asked him for a copy of Ciela’s video recording. We stay in our seats for a while, pretending that we are still watching the players even though the game is already over. The players gather together near the court, talking among themselves while some of them laugh and slap each other on the back after their game.
“Are we really just going to follow him?” Signy asks, glancing toward the players.
Ciela nods without hesitation. “That’s the plan. We need to know where he’s going and what he’s up to.”
“But what if he catches us?” I ask, lowering my voice as I look between them.
“He won’t,” Ciela assures me, although her eyes remain fixed on the court. “Just don’t act suspicious and keep your distance.”
I take a slow breath and nod. It sounds simple enough, but following someone without getting noticed is much harder when every little movement feels suspicious.
“Can I go home now?” Jacob suddenly asks, breaking the tension..
“No,” we answer in unison.
Jacob lets out a long, heavy sigh and rolls his eyes. “Fine. But once this is finished, you’re all treating me to some really good food. I’m not doing all of this for nothing.”
No one answers him.
Jacob looks at us one by one, clearly waiting for someone to agree. When he realizes that none of us is going to say anything, he sighs again and mutters something under his breath. “Seriously?” he grumbles. “Not even a promise?”
Still, no one responds. Our attention is already back on the person we are going to follow, and whatever Jacob is complaining about becomes the least of our concerns.
A few minutes later, they finally begin leaving the court. We exchange quick looks with one another before standing up and following them out of the gymnasium.
We make sure to leave enough distance between us and the players so none of them will notice that we are following them. The last thing we need is for them to look behind them and realize that six students are suspiciously trailing them.
When the players disappear into the locker room, we stop in the nearby corridor and spread ourselves out instead of standing together. We have to look as casual as possible, even though every single one of us is clearly pretending.
I look down at the piece of paper in my hand and pretend to read it. The problem is, the paper is completely blank. There isn't even a single word written on it. I keep my eyes fixed on it anyway, occasionally moving my finger across the empty page as if I'm actually studying something important.
A few feet away from me, Ciela holds her phone against her ear and pretends to be talking to someone. She nods every now and then, adding an occasional, "Yeah," or "Really?" to make her act more convincing.
Signy and Cleovon take things a little too far. They stand close together, acting all sweet and lovey-dovey as if they're having some private couple moment in the middle of the hallway. Anyone who looks at them would probably assume they're flirting.
Meanwhile, Jacob and Cyprus pretend to be having a serious conversation. I glance in their direction and almost laugh when I realize what they're actually talking about. I can hear them clearly from where I am standing, and honestly, their conversation is ridiculous. They're talking about girls' underwear! I immediately look away and pretend to focus on my completely blank paper.
Seriously? Of all the things they could talk about to make themselves look natural, they choose that?
I shake my head slightly, trying not to laugh.
By this time, some of the players are starting to emerge from the locker room, one after another, carrying their gym bags and talking among themselves. We stay where we are and wait patiently, keeping our eyes fixed on the entrance until we finally spot our guy. I still don't know his name, so for now, I'll just call him Number 6—the number printed clearly on the back of his jersey. There is a name written above it, too, but I can't remember what it says.
I clear my throat when I notice Number 6 stepping out of the locker room with his gym bag slung over one shoulder. The moment he walks past us, we exchange a quick glance, silently agreeing to follow him. We wait a few seconds before moving, making sure there is enough distance between us so he will not notice that we are keeping an eye on him. We stay several steps behind, pretending to be busy with our own conversation whenever he looks around.
We have no idea where he is going or who he is supposed to meet, but that is exactly what we are trying to find out. We want to know where he goes next, who he talks to, and, most importantly, whether someone else is waiting for him. Maybe Number 6 is meeting another member of the group. Maybe he is heading somewhere completely ordinary. But there is also a chance that he is leading us straight to the person we have been trying to find—the mysterious admin.
After a few more moments of following him, Number 6 suddenly stops walking. We immediately stop as well, pretending that we are busy with our own things again, so we do not look suspicious. My heart starts beating faster as I watch him carefully from behind. He stands there for a few seconds, and then I notice his head slowly turning, as if he is about to look back at us.
I quickly turn around before he can see my face, pretending to be distracted by something in the opposite direction. The others do the same thing. Ciela starts fiddling with her phone, while the others act as though they are having a casual conversation. We have to make it look as natural as possible.
“I told you! I’m not going home tonight!” Ciela suddenly exclaims into her phone, raising her voice as though she is arguing with someone on the other end. Except she is not actually talking to anyone. She is only pretending.
“Psst!”
I hear the quiet sound behind me and immediately turn around. Cyprus is standing a few steps away, subtly gesturing for me to follow them. I glance toward Number 6, only to realize that he has already started walking again.
I quickly catch up with the others, trying not to make too much noise as we continue following him. My eyes remain fixed on his back while we keep a safe distance between us.
A few more minutes pass before Number 6 suddenly stops again. This time, however, he does not turn around. For a moment, none of us move. We simply watch him from a distance, waiting to see what he will do next. Then, without any warning, Number 6 suddenly takes off running.