Unknown: "Go home, Pumpkin. Do not overwork yourself. It is already late."
Melanie shifted her attention from her phone screen to the library window across from her, realizing the sky had started to get dark. She paused for a moment, not realizing she had been lost in her own world since she came here earlier in the noon to look for references for her assignments. Melanie sighed, stretched her body, then got up.
Since she was out, Melanie thought about eating at the nearest café so that when she got back to her room, she could immediately sleep. She crossed the street and entered a small café that still seemed quite busy. The waitress smiled warmly at her, taking down Melanie's order.
Unknown: "You really should set an alarm to remind you to go back on time."
"It's my ideal time. I can just go eat out. And when I arrive, I can just go to sleep. So don't teach me what I should do because it's my life you're talking about. Pissed off. I'm going to eat peacefully."
When her food arrived, Melanie pushed her phone to the side and began to enjoy her meal while gazing out at the view. She noticed the evening breeze was quite strong, but other than that, there were no signs of rain or other natural phenomena would come in the meantime.
"Hey, sorry, are you alone? Can we sit here since it's full?"
Melanie raised her gaze toward the two guys standing next to her, carrying their food and drinks. Without thinking too long, she nodded, unaware of one of the guys casting a squinting glance at her.
"Are you Melanie Thanes? VWX High School?" asked the messy brown-haired guy who took a seat directly across from her. Melanie looked back at him with questioning eyes. "I'm Iosef! I always enjoyed your nonstop bickering with Jaden."
Melanie awkwardly laughed when she finally recognized this guy. As he had just mentioned, Iosef always enjoyed her bickering with Jaden because he was always around wherever Jaden went, even though not all the time.
"Well, glad to see you again, Mel, although without Jaden anymore. I bet you're glad to know that he's going somewhere far away."
At that moment, Melanie realized that she had never been in contact with her number one enemy since graduation prom night. Realizing the expression on her face, Iosef explained, "Rumor has it he was recruited by NASA or some government institute; I don't know. He won't tell me."
Unconsciously, Melanie rolled her eyes. "At least we certainly know he already has a bright future, doesn't he? Why should we care where he is now? It's his own life."
Iosef sighed, looking at Melanie's reaction with a soft chuckle. "You really don't care, huh? Do you hate him that much? I mean, he's cocky and so full of himself, indeed. But overall, he's a good friend."
"For you, maybe. I really can't stand him for extended years, so yes, I'm glad."
After enjoying an impromptu reunion with Iosef, Melanie returned to the dorm before it got too late. After she finished cleaning herself up and was ready to curl up in the blanket, she realized that her phone had been so quiet that it seemed like the battery was dead. But it wasn't. Melanie was suspicious, staring at it while twirling the device in her hand, then muttering, "I didn't expect you could be this silent."
Not long after, even before Melanie could blink, a message came in.
Unknown: "Miss me? I am not going anywhere, do not worry."
Melanie scoffed, scrolling through one of her social media apps. Suddenly, she remembered something and muttered again, "Say, what are you doing besides stalking me, Mr. Stalker? What are you? Are you unemployed so you have a bunch of time to bug my life 24/7?"
Unknown: "Curious?"
"Can't you just answer?!" Melanie snapped.
She took a few minutes waiting for the reply to come in.
Unknown: "I signed a contract to seal my mouth and hold my typing, so I apologize I cannot tell you. It is my hobby anyway, to know what you do every day, so it would not disrupt my main job. Is this answer enough?"
"Ugh, God ...." Melanie pinched the bridge of her nose, then shifted her attention for a moment to the view from the window next to her bed.
Unknown: "What happened? Are you not satisfied with the answer?"
Melanie shot a sharp glance at her phone screen. "You .... Make a proper life! Find another common hobby, can you?"
Unknown: "Actually, I like watching movies. That is why I enjoy watching you."
Not even a minute after that message came in, another message popped up.
Unknown: "Wait, I did not say that to ask you to watch a movie together or plan a marathon movie date, okay? I meant, I do really want to ask you, but in these current circumstances, I know you will immediately reject my offer without any further thought."
"What if I say yes?"
The silence of the night made Melanie not lower her guard even for second against the screen of her phone which was nearly dim. At the fifteenth minute, the message came in again.
Unknown: "Am I hearing you wrong, Pumpkin? Could you please repeat what you just said again?"
Melanie sighed. Her eyes refocused on the screen. Her fingers ready to type and her mouth slowly uttering, "What if I say yes, agreeing your offer? Don't make me repeat it thrice!"
Unknown: "How about tomorrow then? Let's go tomorrow, shall we? I think there is a cinema near your campus. You can choose any movie you want to watch. Do you want me to pick you up? Or should we just meet there?"
"Wait, wait, wait! Are you sure about that? Meeting me? You ... outside the phone?"
Unknown: "Hundred percent sure. Why? Are you changing your mind?"
Melanie frowned in confusion while scratching her head. "I thought you wouldn't spill your cover this quickly. But now, you seem so eager to meet me outside."
Unknown: "Melanie, Pumpkin, do you think I cannot cover myself up even if I am going outside?"
After a brief pause, Melanie slapped her forehead. But suddenly she fell silent again. Her gaze focused on the ceiling of her room.
"No, wait, we can't go tomorrow. I just remembered there's a seminar at 10. Another time, maybe."
Unknown: "No need to rush. We can go at night. That is more relaxing, right? Without any agenda waiting for you anymore besides going to bed?"
For this time, Melanie felt completely out of ideas to respond to this anonymous. All this time, she had never faced a strange person, if this anonymous could indeed be categorized as a strange person, not a crazy one.
"You really wanna watch a movie with me that badly? Cinema dating?"
Unknown: "Yes, please. That is why I beg you not to change your mind."
"But you know, it's still unfair to me," Melanie said, clearly expressing her complaint. "It's you who get more benefit here. Dating me, meeting me. Meanwhile, I still can't figure out who or what this person stalking me is. His name, his appearance, his whole identity. None."
Unknown: "Do you want to make an exchange? Well, I will think about it and give it to you tomorrow."
Melanie squinted at the screen. The person communicating with her was not an ordinary person. She couldn't simply fall for his words, whatever he said. Melanie thought that if he really intended to do it, it would not be something she truly hoped for or imagined. However, no matter what, this was the only way to find out about him, even if it was very slow and not instantaneous path.