Ylle's phone was on the living room table, ringing and ringing for some time. She wasn't in the room at the time, but Freya was. She'd tried to ignore it, but the noise was a bother. Checking the name of the caller seemed like a nice idea at the time, and so she did. Well, the name DAD was printed on the screen.
I don't want to call it a weakness or anything, but after Freya's mom died, she became very sensitive in matters concerning parents. She viewed all parents, mothers and fathers, as second gods and whoever had both of them alive or even one was very blessed. Their calls were never to be ignored. She knew that it'd take some time for Ylle to come back from wherever she went, and so, she answered the phone on her behalf.
They were like family. Of course Mr. Sky-Blue knew who Freya was.
"Hi Mr. Sky-Blue." Freya said first, "It's Freya."
"Oh, hi dear. How're you?"
"We're all okay over here. How about you?"
"Same old."
She chuckled, "We should go to an amusement park one of these days. What do you say?"
"How about I check my schedule and get back to you?" He laughed. "Is Ylle there with you?"
"She went out a while ago. She left her phone." Freya replied.
"Okay, I see."
She detected disappointment in his tone. He was really looking forward to speaking to his daughter.
"I'll tell her you called, Mr. Sky-Blue."
"Before you hang up, I just want to say thanks to you girls for being there for Ylle. She told me about what you did." The dad said. "We live in a generation where finding true friends is as hard as finding a job."
"Oh, it's nothing, Mr. Sky-Blue."
"It's not. She told me about the little fund you raised to pay for her semester. That's not a small act, Freya."
Freya was puzzled. Raised funds? Yes, that was the plan, but the plan got canceled after Ylle told them about a supposed loan her dad took to pay for her tuition. What Mr. Sky-Blue was explaining now sounded like a very lucid joke.
"Oh, that. Yes. You're welcome." She went with it. "Anything for our Ylle."
"I know I'm not in a position to promise anything, but I'll do something good for you girls. Let me just handle what's on my plate, but what you did will never be forgotten."
He was grateful. But Freya was currently in a cloud of suspicion. Seemed she was right. Ylle was really hiding something from them, something possibly big enough to make her lie to them and her family. She was determined to find it out. She made that her purpose.
...
As soon as the class was over, Helzeny grabbed her bag and walked out. She still had a few minutes until the next class began. Usually she'd wait in the library or the cafe. While in the hallway, she spotted Jamal. But it happened that Jamal had spotted her too, and he immediately changed direction. He took a corner to another hallway, his body displaying a very weird language.
"Is he avoiding me?" Helzeny inwardly asked herself.
That was a first. She didn't want to let it go, and so she followed him. Luckily, she caught up to Jamal before he entered the men's room. She grabbed him by the shoulder and pinned him to the wall. Even with people passing them by, she never cared.
"What's wrong with you?" She questioned.
Jamal's gaze flickered like cabin lights. He was _ scared?
"Hey, Jamal."
"I'm not supposed to talk to you, not anymore." Jamal said with his stuttering voice.
"What are you talking about?"
"You have a boyfriend, Helzeny. And he's scary."
That was news to her. "What boyfriend? The last guy I dated is standing in front of me right now."
"Enough with the lies. Let this be the last time we speak to each other."
Jamal freed himself.
"Jamal, wait."
"No."
Helzeny caught his hand again. "What did he look like?"
"How can you ask me that? You don't know what your boyfriend looks like?"
"How can I know the visuals of a person I've never seen?"
Jamal paused. He didn't know whether Helzeny was telling the truth or not. But again, why would she lie about something like that? The look on her face was that of a person who was really clueless. Her eyes begged for an answer, just a description.
"You truly don't know?" He asked, also confused.
Helzeny shook her head. "What did he look like? Anything."
"He was wearing a red hoodie so I didn't see his hair. He had a stubble beard. His voice was deep. Can you think of anyone?"
She shook her head again. She looked more baffled now. "What else?"
"Oh, he had 2 dots on his right cheek. Or was it the left? I don't know." Jamal explained.
"And he said he's my boyfriend?"
"Yes. He said I shouldn't touch what I can't afford. I think he's also the one who bought the flowers you told me about. If what you're saying is true, then you have a stalker, and this one is no ordinary. He stank of danger, Helzeny."
Goosebumps appeared on her skin. She was invaded with fear once again. Who's this guy who was haunting her? She was no longer a carefree girl. It all changed within that minute.
"Maybe try to remember the faces of all the guys you've met in the past couple of months, or recently." Jamal suggested.
"The only guy I met was _ "
Lightbulb! Could it be?
Helzeny bolted like thunder, heading towards the dormitory. That riddle needed an answer, or her life could actually be in danger.
***