I woke up to my alarm. Starting this week, I have to act normal and not attract attention.
I made my way to my class, but I was always feeling like somebody was behind me or was just watching. I mean, who knows what students are in contact with that investigator woman?
I sat in my seat. I was feeling everyone's eyes on me even though they weren't looking.
I had to act like a different person with everyone I talked to.
After the class started, me and the group went up, did the most shit presentation ever, and went back to our seats. But hey, at least the stress is gone.
The class was going normally until 2 people from the school administration barged into the class. Maybe they were other teachers, I don't really know. I didn't see them that much.
"Sorry for barging in, sir, but we got orders to conduct a search in the school today."
Yeah, wow. I wonder where this came from. Shit, they are trying to find the phone.
I couldn't leave it in my dorm in case someone would find it, but I should have guessed there would be trouble coming to me today at school.
Fuck, I have the phone in my pocket. When it's my turn to get searched, they will definitely know I'm the guy they're looking for.
I need to find a hiding place quick.
I can't hide it in my bag, and I can't give it to someone else. They would know it's me sooner or later.
I'm just gonna take a gamble and almost hide it in plain sight. I saw some coats behind me on a rack, so I put the phone in one of their pockets.
When one of the administrators came to my seat, it looked like they were ransacking my seat and my bag. Did the investigator talk with them too? This was definitely her idea.
When he didn't find anything, he turned to me and said,
"Show me your pockets."
Um, what? Why didn't you ask this to any other student? Wait, am I getting special treatment? Oh, stop it, administrator. You are making me blush.
I showed him both of my pockets, and he kinda looked disappointed, like he expected something else. Then suddenly, it's like an idea flashed in his mind.
"Take off your shoes."
Oh cmon, we didn't even go on a first date yet and you already wanna see my feet. Take a hint, dude. I don't swing that way.
I took off my shoes. He looked at them for a while and said, "Alright, you can put them back on."
After all the searching was over, they said their goodbyes to the teacher and left.
Damn, if only they had searched the coats.
Lunch and the lessons later on were just uneventful, which is kinda what I want anyway.
I just need that woman to get off my trail.
I went back to my dorm to lay down and sleep, but something was weird. Like, some things were in different places than where they used to be.
Maybe it was just my roommate. I'm gonna check tomorrow again just to be sure.
-
I woke up to my alarm again.
My morning routine is kinda the same as any other day.
But I do have a theory of what's going on, so I'm just gonna do certain things.
I put some books in my bookcase in a certain order, put my coats in an order, and put the textbook on my table to a certain page.
After this, I just went to my class.
It was just a mundane and uneventful day. One thing I did notice was that I was feeling someone's gaze on me, but I didn't know who. Maybe I was just imagining it.
I went back to my dorm room. Everything looked normal. The coats and the books looked the same, but would you look at that? The textbook is closed. Wow, they didn't even try to get it on the same page.
So it's either some people from the administration or the police themselves looking in my room. I hope it's the administration. That would mean the police aren't really sure if I'm the guy.
You know what? Let me lay a trap for them.
I'm gonna write a fake diary. A little bit, enough to fool the administration. You know, stuff like, "Oh, I'm so sad about Sofia going missing," or "What does the administration have against me?" Just enough for them to think the police are full of shit.
But if the police were the ones searching my room, they would know it's just full of shit. But if they are the ones searching my room, they already think I'm the suspect right now anyway, so it doesn't matter.
-
Before I made my way to school, I put my fake diary somewhere a little hidden in my room. It's not really hidden to the point where no one can find it. I just put it into a place where someone would find it if they were actually searching my room.
While I was walking, I could feel their hateful gaze towards me. I just wanna scream, "Alright, I can't focus! Alright, dude, you win! Funny joke, just come out already."
Anyways, I went to my class, and I could still feel it, so it's either my mind playing a trick on me or it's a person in my class.
Nothing important to me happened in class today. Just a day of average lessons.
When the last bell rang, I got ready to go to my dorm. Then someone stopped me. It was Elena.
"Hey, Daniel. I think the last time we met up didn't really go too good. Anyways, I'm having a get-together with some friends. Do you wanna come?"
Yeah, this is a trap if I ever saw one. I need to find a reason to refuse this invitation.
I asked her who would be there, and I learned it would be 6 people including her. There were going to be 2 people I knew, my roommate Adam and also Lukas. It would kinda look weird if I didn't go, and I'm thinking like, even though Elena kinda has suspicions about me, I don't think she sees me as the person who did it.
"Yeah, alright. When will it happen?"
"At Friday after school. I hope I can see you there."
Yeah, I don't believe any word that comes out of your mouth. I bet you are wearing a wire right now.
I went back into my dorm. Everything kinda looked normal. I saw the diary I planted had moved a little bit. I wouldn't even notice if I wasn't paying attention.
-
The day started okay. If it was the administration that was searching my room, I don't think they would kinda mess with me anymore.
I went to school relaxed today. I don't think there was anything to worry about, but I did have a question to ask someone.
When lunchtime came, I went to Lukas's table.
"Hey, did Elena invite you to a meetup?"
"Yeah, she did. I heard she invited you too. You going?"
I just nodded my head and went back to eating. I knew Lukas was going, but I just needed to learn if another person invited him or Elena herself. This might be bad.
When the school day was over, before I went to my dorm, I had a conversation with Lukas.
I asked him,
"Hey, did Elena know you before this? Like, were you guys friends?"
"Eh, not really. We talked before, but she was like a friend of a friend. But don't worry, her inviting me is probably just a coincidence."
He paused for a bit, then continued with,
"Or maybe she invited me as bait to lure you in."
Ouu shi. Maybe it really was. Now that I think about it, Elena and Adam aren't really that close either. Damn, did she actually plan this?
-
Friday has finally arrived.
My plan for the meetup is just acting like a clueless and oblivious friend for every question that comes my way.
They can't make a direct move on me if I don't give the answer they expect from me.
I made my way to my class, and the teacher was already there. I checked my watch to see if I was late, but no, I wasn't. I guess the teacher was just early.
I sat in my seat, and I heard a noise calling out. I looked over to Elena, and she was showing me a note that said, "Don't Forget."
Damn girl, I didn't know you were this hungry for me. You don't have to try that hard. I'm ready for you in a second.
The time passed by. It felt like it was moving slower the closer it got to the final bell, but finally, the time came. I swiftly made my way to my dorm, put my bag and other stuff away, and made my way to the cafe where we would meet up.
I saw Elena with 3 people. One of them was Lukas, at least it wouldn't be awkward for me until the others showed up.
We chatted for a while until Adam and one other girl showed up.
We ordered something to eat and drink. I just ordered coffee and a small bagel. I didn't really have an appetite right now.
Everyone was chatting until somehow the conversation came to Sofia, and it kind of got awkward. But Elena started saying,
"I heard from someone in the police that someone in the school was the suspect for the case."
Then they started talking again about, "Oh my god, that's spooky."
Someone asked,
"Is it a faculty member or a student?"
She answered back with,
"I don't know, but the way I heard it made it sound more like a student."
And they started murmuring again. Then she went on with,
"Hey, what if Daniel was a kidnapper and he is the reason she went missing?"
Yeah, okay, that took a turn. Just pulled out a gun on me. Are y'all not gonna cut her off?
"I mean, he was kinda close with her and als-"
Yeah, okay. I'm guessing nobody is gonna protect me here.
I cut her off.
"Elena, that's not a funny subject to joke about. You are speaking her name in vain right now. Never joke about that ever again."
Well, I mean, something had to be said.
After my words, she kinda looked like she regretted some of her decisions and a little bit sad.
"I'm sorry, Daniel. I think I went a little bit too far."
After a little talk with the group again, I just said that's okay, and everybody kinda got far too carried away with the conversation.
The meetup was a little fine after that, maybe sometimes a little bit awkward, and people started leaving after some time. I paid my tab and took my leave, but then...
"Daniel, wait."
Then someone, uh, hugged me from behind?
Elena started talking.
"Look, I'm sorry. It was a little bit too sensitive of a subject to talk about. I made a mistake. I hope this doesn't affect our relationship."
Oh my god, just say the word and I'd be with you in a heartbeat.
Maybe I was stalking the wrong person.
I turned around and said,
"It's alright, Elena. I think the conversation got carried away. I know you didn't mean it."
"Hey, Elena, maybe we can meet up later. Maybe get something to drink?"
She kinda looked a little flustered and said,
"That would be great."
Man, maybe looking for gold, I missed the diamond.