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Chapter 4 The Shadow

  • Ady’s POV
  • “You woke up late.”
  • My grandma was already in the kitchen, making breakfast for us. Since the party, I haven’t been sleeping much. I stayed up late to finish my drawing. Over a week has passed since the day I drew to beat the deadline, and I still haven’t had a chance to relax. I also thought about Damon, a guy I met at the party who suddenly left. Even though Elsa says otherwise, I haven’t seen him since that night. I was sure he was avoiding me.
  • I told my grandmother what had been bothering me for a few days and nights, so I stayed up late. I didn’t tell her my dream because I didn’t want her to worry anymore. She knew about my nightmare, but I didn’t tell her anymore when it stopped happening. Even if it came back, I didn’t plan to say to her. Grandma made me coffee and put it next to my plate while eating.
  • “Ady, how are you?” granny asked. “Since we moved to the city, we never have time to talk, even when we eat together.”
  • “I’m sorry, granny, but I’ve had a lot of schoolwork,” I said, avoiding her grandmother’s gaze.
  • My grandma took a deep breath. “You take care of yourself, okay?”
  • Subtly, I nodded. “Yes, granny.”
  • —-
  • The train is how I get to and from school every day. As expected, it is always crowded. Damon and I never see one another again. Maybe he doesn’t ride the train anymore.
  • “My loves!”
  • I turned around when I heard a man standing beside me and grinning.
  • “I’ve been chasing you for a while. You walk so fast. Don’t tell me you’re related to Flash.” Jasper said jokingly.
  • Jasper has been my best friend since we moved to the city. Jasper’s parents are kind to us, which makes me feel good about him. Jasper goes to the public university right next to the school I go to.
  • “Sorry, I didn’t hear you call,” I smiled.
  • After a while, the train suddenly stopped, and everyone leaned over a bit. When the train stopped, the standing people almost started to fall over, and they started bumping into each other. Unexpectedly, a hand grabbed my hip from behind and pulled me closer to the pole.
  • “Are you okay?” Jasper stood behind me to back me up.
  • I nodded. “I’m okay.”
  • Shortly after that, the train kept going. Even though the train was packed, I did not feel like it was crowded. Maybe it’s because Jasper protected me like a weak woman who needed protection so I wouldn’t get hurt on the train. We quickly got to the train’s door and waited for it to open. As we got off the train, someone bumped into us and knocked down my bag and the drawing tube I was holding.
  • “Hey!” At first, Jasper yelled at the guy and started to follow him, but I stopped him.
  • “I’m fine. I’m not hurt, so just let it go.” I watched Jasper get my bag and canister.
  • “Let me carry this,” said Jasper.
  • “No, it’s embarrassing,” I said, taking my bag.
  • “We are friends, so why are you shy?” Jasper said, taking my bag from me.
  • “Jasper, I’ll bring my stuff.” I took my bag out of Jasper’s hands once more.
  • “If you keep insisting, I will kiss you.”
  • I wasn’t expecting Jasper to say that, so I let him carry my bag. With such strong biceps, he could easily hold my backpack.
  • Jasper’s lips curved into a smile. “Is it true then? You haven’t been kissed yet?”
  • “What kind of nonsense are you saying?” I asked as we walked down the steps from the station without making eye contact.
  • “I noticed your reaction earlier,” Jasper said. “ Haven’t you had a boyfriend at that age? Why don’t you admit that you are waiting for me?”
  • When I turned around, I saw people walking by and looking at us. “Jeez, do you need to yell about that?” I said. Jasper just laughed at what I said.
  • Jasper and I walked along the path between the three campuses with most students from the other university. The two private universities and the public university.
  • I told him, “Give me my stuff.” “Your school is almost here.”
  • Jasper said, “I’ll take you to school first.”
  • “Don’t bother.” I tried to take my bag off of Jasper’s canister, but he was still holding on tight. I made a mean face and frowned. “Jasper...”
  • Jasper grinned. “Let’s go home together after school.”
  • “I’ll be out late, later,” I said.
  • Jasper pulled his phone out of the pocket of his jeans and handed it to me. “Save your phone number there,” Jasper told me.
  • I grimaced and gave Jasper my most intense look. Jasper laughed at the way I was staring at him. “If we go home together, Grandma Nancy will worry less.... and I know you want my number. You are just shy to ask me.”
  • I giggled. “Excuse me; it is YOU who wants my number. You are getting it now. And I’m giving it to you because you used my granny as an excuse.”
  • I reached for Jasper’s phone. He smiled at me as he looked at me.
  • “Does my grandma get worried if I’m late getting home?” I asked, and then I handed Jasper the phone.
  • The sudden ring of my phone made me pull it out of my pocket. There was a missed call from an unknown number.
  • “That’s my phone number. Save it, okay.” Jasper whispered as he put the canister and my backpack on my shoulders.
  • “It looks like granny is still hurting from losing your parents, just like you. Since she is your only family, you shouldn’t let your grandmother worry too much,” Jasper told me. “What? Don’t you want me to walk with you to school?”
  • “No!” I said. “I’m old enough.”
  • Jasper smiled and laughed when I said that. “Alright. I’ll call you later, okay? Make sure my number is saved on your phone. “‘Who are you?’ is not an acceptable response,” Jasper said as he got closer to the main gate of his university.
  • ——-
  • I wasn’t expecting to see Damon sitting on the empty seat next to mine in our classroom. He is busy reading a book as if he is in his world. Even though the man’s presence made me feel strangely happy, I ignored him because I was annoyed. I got my stuff and sat down in my chair. Damon closed the book and looked at me.
  • “Hi, Ady,” Damon said.
  • “Are you sick?” I asked. “Because you decided to show up instead of hiding. Also, what are you doing in my class?”
  • “I switched times and didn’t know that this was also your time with Mrs. Tolentino.”
  • I scowled and frowned. “You can switch classes again if you want to.”
  • “I won’t change my schedule, especially now that we’re in the same class.” Damon looked at me very seriously, like he meant what he said.
  • Damon confused me. “R-really? No way, that’s not true...”
  • “I’m sorry if I left you at the party...” Damon said.
  • “It’s okay. I think ditching people is your hobby, or maybe I deserved to be left behind,” I said.
  • “That night, I felt sick, so I had to leave.”
  • “No, you don’t need to explain.” I look at him. “Are we in the same class?”
  • Damon nodded. “Yes. “
  • I said nothing else. I put my biology textbook on the table. Elsa eventually found her way over to me.
  • “Hey, Ady, I left my book at home. Can we share with your books, huh?” Elsa said.
  • Elsa pushed Ady’s chair, which made an eerie screech that rang through the classroom. I was surprised, and everybody looked at us.
  • “Sorry, guys!”
  • Elsa took her seat and smiled. “As far as I know, they’re just watching Tiktok. “
  • “Elsa, your voice. Our classmates might hear you...” I whispered to her.
  • “Hi, Damon...” Elsa immediately said hello to Damon when she saw him.
  • Damon smiled slightly. “Hi, Elsa.”
  • Damon’s reply made Elsa giggle. Elsa’s reaction makes me want to laugh. I looked at Damon for a moment before diverting my gaze.
  • The day ended quickly. Before I went home, I returned a book I had borrowed from the library. Except for two SAs (Student Assistants), the library was empty. While the SA was checking on the borrowed book, I felt someone was watching me. I looked around the library and between the shelves, but no one was there. When I felt someone walking behind me, my hair stood up. I immediately turned around because I was so scared. Every vein in my body gives out a different sensation when the temperature of my blood changes. My body was icy.
  • A student assistant noticed me. “Miss, are you okay?”
  • I looked at her. “Ah, did you see someone pass behind me?”
  • “Huh? Miss, nothing. Why?”
  • “But...” I looked in all directions. “I felt someone pass behind me.”
  • “You are scaring us, Miss. We have thirty minutes left in our shift.”
  • “Huh? Um, everything okay?”
  • After stamping it, the woman gave me my library card. I hurriedly left the library and ran to the cafeteria. I held my chest tight because I was so scared that my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest.
  • “Holy cow, what did I just feel there?”
  • The other students looked at me as they walked to the cafeteria.
  • “Ahhh!” I yelled out in surprise when I heard and felt my phone vibrate inside my pocket. My sudden scream got the attention of students walking by.
  • “Miss, what is wrong with you? You frightened us!” said the students in an angry tone.
  • “I’m sorry!” I replied, then quickly pulled my phone out of my pocket.
  • “Hello, my loves!”
  • “What, my lover? “ I asked while taking a quick look at the phone’s screen. The number on the screen is unknown.
  • “You’re impossible! Haist, I told you to save my number.”
  • A familiar voice on the other end of the phone was a relief.
  • “Jasper...”
  • “Where are you? I’m standing here in front of your university’s main entrance. “Are you out now?”
  • “Yes, I am on my way to the gate.”
  • Instead of waiting for Jasper to answer, I abruptly turned off the phone. Again, I let out a sigh and turned around. I took a look in the direction of the nearby library. I ran to the main gate, where Jasper was already waiting for me.