Was someone stalking me? That's creepy, knowing the man seemed like my uncle in his late 50s. The man was wearing a baseball cap and a black jacket. I hardly saw his face, but another shadow of a person on the back side of the house showed a small part of his back and arm as he ran away first. What should I do in this situation? I was also uncertain if those men were targeting me.
Hence, I ignored them. Looking at the materials in relation to Persia's issue, Heidi crossed my mind again. Her mother refused to talk with my mom. Like mother like daughter since Heidi was not answering my messages and calls. If it was her mom's doing, whether she was banned from contacting her substandard high school friend or it was her decision, I was scared to know the truth.
The night passed by, staring idly at the ceiling. I shuffled my position from side to side, finding the moment I could fall asleep. Screw it, softly groaned. I kicked the blanket off of me and dashed out of the room. Frei's room was in front of mine.
Tiptoed, I leaned my ear closer through the door and heard noises of people conversing, and a car squeaked its wheel. A loud bomb crashed in the background, slamming the door as I barged inside. Frei, surprised, screamed as I jumped on top of her back on the bed.
"You're gonna break my spine!!" I laughed aloud, and my elbows crawled sideways next to her, watching the movie on the play.
"You're binge-watching, huh."
"Yeah, the internet at school is costly. Why are you here? You didn't even bring chips with you."
"Can't sleep," I answered while checking the time on the lower right side of the screen. It's 01:21 A.M. Frei tapped the touchpad, and the program paused. She slightly closed the laptop.
"Well, since you're here, I was thinking, what are your plans after you graduate?"
It's vague, to be honest. No idea which field piqued my interest. All these years of studying, running into various areas of knowledge, sloppily solving problems through written or verbal tests simply to get a hold of how the world and society functioned.
It was confusing why I had to undergo another four years of schooling to start getting a job and earn money.
"Is that how students gonna end up? Strive to fill their pockets with money," I calmly stated. My older sister put off a reassuring smile. It's strange in a way that I inaudibly exhaled and sat up in an Indian seat, facing her with my back. I remember she mentioned the same concern when she was still in middle school. Her fingers gently caressed my hair.
"Attending college is everybody's option. Not all are fortunate to get in due to some circumstances. You have the privilege."
"Privilege, huh." Frei yawned and lifted her arms on the bed's headboard, stretching out her body.
"Anyway, it's up to you what you wanna do after your last year as a high schooler. The career opportunities are vast if you hold a degree, FYI."
I returned to my room and saw my phone lit up on the bed. Jumping onto the mattress, making a little wave and soft creaks, I frowned at the message.
It's from an unknown number, asking if they could get an interview with me. They did not add any identity about who they were. Yet, their intention was clear. They wanted to acquire conspicuous information regarding Persia's sudden disappearance.
My phone vibrated, then played an upbeat ringtone. The caller was Mr. Yosef.
"Mister?" I answered.
"Uh, Lou, I'm sorry if I called you so late."
"It's fine, mister. What's up?"
"You see, I received an anonymous text. The person begged me not to find them." My heart pounded. We had similar thoughts about who it was.
Mr. Yosef tried dialing the sender's contact several times but to no avail. He said there was a ringback tone, but the person was not accepting it. I called it, either, and we couldn't report it to the police because of the disturbing request. Perceiving it's Persia, and she may suffer more if we get on her way, even if this was a substantial lead.
A couple of days passed without getting a hold of the anonymous person. I decided to go to school and help with Mira's activities. She was aware of why I obediently behaved while she ordered me around. She had a lot of stuff to do even though it was summer break.
The Student Council was still needed at school from time to time. Their upcoming responsibilities never rest. She needed a hand with all these documents piling up on the table.
"Why does the school spare old manuals and soiled records? I could barely read the content!" I exclaimed, checking at them one by one.
Mira dabbed the butt of her pen on her cheek as she looked over a poster on the office desk.
"Ask the President. I badly wanna know, too. Who's the one bearing it?" she calmly whined. She's concentrated on the poster. I stood up and took a look at it. The school event last three years ago.
The academy adopted the international school's culture wherein there's a public event in which every class could participate. The Arts Club created the poster design. Doodled famous cartoons framed all sides, and a 2D picture of the school building was in the center.
"Is there something wrong?" She hummed, wondering.
"It's weird. I don't remember they used this."
Mira's name is outstanding. The majority of students voted for her isn't a fluke. Yes, we merely know each other because of the not-so-good reports of other students I had done wrong.
If a personal possession was borrowed at the moment, it needs to be used, such as a P. E uniform. Would it consider a crime? What about snatching someone's food? My chopsticks could not control themselves when it came to tasty snacks.
Off-topic, so going back, I met Mira because of Persia. We're acquaintances, apparently, and we did not mind it. If she recognized me besides my mischievous background, on the other hand, I had known her for having a wonderful high memory, which was why she was suited to be a Historian.
"Was I already studying here at that time?" She grunted and rolled the poster. I picked up a rubber band, stretched it, and secured the paper.
"Ask your past self. Either the teachers did not approve the design, or it goes against the rules."
"Rules, what?" She tilted her head to the other side, taking her time whether she'd tell me or not.
"There may be symbols added intentionally. They can trigger a secret message specific people are looking for. Who knows?" Mira left the room. An excuse for going to Mrs. Shelly since the poster was stored there. I was eager to sneak on her but afraid of the consequences. I made a promise to her.
If the teachers found out I was loitering on school premises, Mira may have had to do her tasks somewhere else which was a burden.
Knocks on the door made me stand up and answer the person behind it.
"Mira? Aren't you coming to the meeting?" I halted. The voice sounded like it came from Mrs. Shelly! I looked around, searching for a place to hide. She may have a key in the room. The knob rattled. Wary, I dashed towards the thick curtain of the cabinet and hid. "Hm? Where's that girl?"
"Ma'am, what is it?" It's Mira's voice!
"Oh, the Chairman asked for a meeting with Student Council Members, didn't you know?"
"I haven't checked my phone because of doing errands."
"It's urgent, and it'll be 7 P.M. tonight."
"What?"
"It's in a restaurant nearby, so you can reach it in no time. If you hurry right now, though," Mrs. Shelly simpered, teasing Mira. Slowly, I peeked at them, and Mira saw me as she closed the door. I glanced at the cabinet with tinted glass covering the inside.
"What's in this?" I asked, watching her organize her stuff in her backpack. The cabinet has stood there since the Student Council was erected. Hence, it's over a decade.
The teachers told them not to touch it as the Chairman owned it. Knowing Mira's nosy personality when it came to gossip, she tried to lay her hands on the shelf, but locks were all over it. Dang, I wanted to break it down.
"I'll come with you," I uttered, boring my eyes on the cabinet.
"You're not planning to make a scandal, are you?"