The night grew late, and the streets around the school began to empty. The hall, which had been filled with applause and cheers, was now silent, leaving only a few staff members tidying up the remnants of the event. One by one, the teachers, principal, senior students, and parents started to leave. Even some members of Lorna's dance team had already gone home.
However, Lorna and her three best friends—Graciel, Diana, and Karina—decided not to go home just yet. They walked leisurely toward a small café not far from the school. The café had a calm atmosphere, with dim hanging lights and soft jazz music filling the air. They chose a seat by the window, facing the increasingly quiet street.
A waiter came over with menus, and they each ordered their favorite drinks. Lorna chose hot chocolate, Graciel ordered chamomile tea, Diana went for black coffee, while Karina picked a vanilla milkshake. After the waiter left, they exchanged glances and grinned mischievously.
"Okay, let's come up with a reasonable excuse," Karina said, pulling out her phone. "What should we tell our parents?"
"The event isn't over yet?" Diana suggested jokingly.
"Oh, that's such a classic excuse. But it works, right?" Graciel chuckled, then dialed her mother's number. "Hi, Mom? I'm still at school. Yeah, there's an additional speech from the principal. It's taking forever! I'll go home with Lorna later. Okay, bye!" She hung up with a satisfied smile.
Lorna and the others did the same. With innocent voices and a bit of acting, they convinced their parents that the event was still ongoing. Once that was settled, they continued chatting casually.
Karina leaned forward excitedly and whispered, "Okay, now for a more exciting topic! Let's talk about Leon."
Lorna sighed deeply, then chuckled. "Why are we suddenly talking about Leon?"
"He's so cool!" Graciel whispered dramatically. "Did you know? When we walked down the hallway earlier, he had just stepped out of his classroom. His hair was messy but still looked amazing, and the way he walked—it was like a model!"
"Yeah, and don't forget, he always wears a leather jacket. That makes him look even cooler," Diana added.
Lorna just gave a small smile while sipping her hot chocolate. She knew Leon was popular at school. Aside from being handsome, he was also smart, and many girls liked him. But so far, no one knew if he was interested in anyone in particular.
"Be honest, Lorna," Karina eyed her suspiciously. "Do you think Leon is handsome?"
Lorna paused for a moment before shaking her head. "Hmmm... I think he's just average. I don't get why so many girls idolize him."
"But have you noticed that Leon seems to watch you a lot?" Graciel smirked.
Lorna looked at them with wide eyes. "Huh? When?"
"At the cafeteria! There was a day when we were sitting at our usual table, and I saw him looking around as if searching for someone. Then his eyes landed on you. He stared at you for a few seconds before finally talking to his friends," Diana explained.
"Hmmm... Really?" Lorna still found it hard to believe. "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely!" Karina nodded eagerly. "And not just in the cafeteria. I've also seen him watching you when we were at the sports field. I really think he's into you."
Lorna just laughed softly. "Ah, maybe you guys are exaggerating. Maybe he was just glancing around."
"Whatever you say..! You're so weird, Lorna. There's a handsome guy who might like you, but you don't even care." Diana sighed. "But if he really does like you, I'll be the first to force you to talk to him!"
Their conversation continued with laughter and teasing. They didn't realize how late it had gotten, and the café was starting to empty. However, outside the window, someone stood in the shadows. Watching them from a distance. Not moving. Not speaking. Just observing with an unreadable gaze.
The night deepened. The street in front of the café grew quieter, with only the occasional passing car speeding by. The streetlights cast a dim yellowish glow, creating long shadows on the sidewalk. One by one, the parents of Graciel, Diana, and Karina arrived to pick them up. They said their goodbyes, leaving Lorna alone in front of the café.
She pulled her jacket closer. The night air was getting colder, and the café she was waiting in front of was starting to lower its blinds, signaling its closing time. She glanced at her phone, reading a message from her mother saying that the car had a flat tire and she might be late picking her up. Lorna considered ordering an online taxi, but before she could open the app, a black car slowed down and stopped right in front of her.
The headlights shone brightly, illuminating part of Lorna's hesitant face. The sound of the window rolling down slowly reached her ears, revealing a woman in the driver's seat. The woman had dark skin, a large and tall frame, and thick curly hair that looked slightly unkempt. Her face bore a warm smile, but there was something in her eyes that was hard to read.
"Are you alone, sweetheart?" Her voice was soft, almost comforting. "It's late. Do you want me to give you a ride home?"
Lorna hesitated. She clearly remembered her mother's warning not to get into a stranger's car. She was even about to type a message to inform her mother. "Oh, no, thank you. I'm waiting for an online taxi."
But the woman's smile remained, her expression full of kindness. "Don't worry, I just want to help. Online taxis take a long time at this hour. Standing here alone at night isn't safe for a young girl like you. That's why I'm offering, you wouldn't want some bad people bothering you, would you?"
Lorna bit her lower lip. Something made her feel unsure, but at the same time, the warmth in the woman's voice was so convincing. "Come on! I just want to keep you safe from the dangers of the night."
The cold air stung her skin, making her even more hesitant. She looked left and right, the street was nearly deserted. The café behind her was about to close.
Finally, with some reluctance, she nodded slightly. "Alright... Thank you."
Lorna opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat. As the door closed, the sound of the automatic lock clicking echoed, click. Lorna's heartbeat quickened, something felt off. But before she could change her mind, the car had already started moving, leaving the now-empty café behind.
The car moved slowly through the increasingly deserted city streets. Streetlights illuminated the asphalt, which looked damp from the night's mist. Lorna sat in the passenger seat, occasionally clutching the hem of her ballet dress, which she was still wearing from the performance earlier. She glanced at the driver,a large built woman with dark skin and thick curly hair that gleamed under the car's lights.