Chapter 17 Stalker

[A man comes and knocks on the door.

"Ms Rosalyn? Are you in there?"

He stops knocking and presses his ear against the door. Hearing no response he looks left and right and knocks louder.

"Ms Rosalyn. Can you hear me? Are you inside?" He stops again. This time he hears stomping noises. He looks at the knob and notices it being twisted from inside.

"Ms Rosalyn. Is it locked with keys? Can it be opened from inside?"

"Ngh!"

I see. She's incapable of talking. "Ms Rosalyn. Can you write on a paper and slide it down the door space?"

She dashes inside and hastily writes something. As said she slides it down the door.

She wrote so anxiously that its unintelligible. "Ms Rosalyn. Calm down. You wrote once before too, right. You can write again. Please calm down."

I've observed their movements for some days now. The boy, her son leaves at around 7:30 in the morning and returns at 8 at night. These days he had been coming back earlier at 4 or 5.

He looks down on his watch. It is 3:39. My break will end in a few. He might also return any moment now. I have to hurry.

Rosalyn slides another paper.

As soon as he crouches to pick it up, Mr Mins from next door asks him.

"Who are you?"

"Uhhh. I'm Ms Rosalyn's friend."

"Hmmm. Do you know her son's name?"

"Eehh." He turns around. "Of.. of course. Why'd you need to know his name?"

"If you know then hurry up and tell me."

"Uh. My break ends. I need to leave!" He rushes off.

Mins shakes his head sideways.

Now it makes sense why Sain told me to ask them his name. He recalls Sain telling him.

"Uncle Mins, can I ask you a favour?"

"Sure. Go ahead."

"Can you please keep an eye on mom? I think I've seen some suspicious figures around our apartment. I'm afraid they'll take her away or cause her harm. If you ever saw anyone outside our home, can you please ask them to tell my name?"

"Why your name?"

"Because mom doesn't have any acquaintances who don't know my name. And of course my friends would know me."

"I understand."

Mins turn back into his home. "Hmph. Stalkers."]

I came to school early this morning to ask a few questions from our maths teacher but I find Ms Yana in the counselling room with that officer Xeno again.

I peek inside and try to hear them.

"Yes. I've been monitoring him as you said."

Who are they talking about? Me? They still haven't left my tail? How annoying could they get!

"Sain." It startles me when someone suddenly mentions my name.

"Uh. Eclise."

"What are you doing here?"

"I saw Ms Yana inside and it made me curious."

"Why bother? How's your prep today?"

I walk alongside him. "Its better than most subjects I guess."

"Yeah. You're good at numbers."

Dew pokes me from behind. "Do respond when I ask you in the middle of the exam. Got it?"

I smile. "Sure." The smile wears off my face and I tell them. "You guys proceed. I need to go to the bathroom."

"Alright. Don't be too late. Our exams will start."

"Yes. I'll keep it in mind."

Guess what.. I end up being late. Our invigilator has already passed out our answer script.

"I'm so sorry!" I glance at our invigilator and it is our maths teacher.

"Where have you been?! You came to school early today, didn't you! Come on! Get in. Hurry."

"Yes." Fortunately she knew I came early so she let me inside.

If it was someone else I would've asked Eclise to cover for me.

After the exam, I ask them again to teach me. For being my friends, Eclise and Dew agree at once to help me. We all head to the library together.

"Tomorrow is chemistry, correct."

"Why are you asking now, Dew?!"

I softly glance at my textbook. "Please teach me the basics. I have work today."

"You don't have to work today."

I look over my shoulder. "Reverie!"

Reverie introduces herself to my friends.

"I'm Reverie, two years senior to you and Sain's co worker."

"But.. I can't skip today. Chaste is also not working."

"Oh Chaste. He was released last night. They had no concrete evidence against him so they let him leave."

I heave out a breath. "I'm glad."

"Release? Evidence?" Eclise looks perplexed. "What are you two talking about?"

"Its a big story. You shouldn't waste your time on it." Saying those she leaves.

I shift my glances at Eclise and politely grin. "shall we study?"