A Sad Murder

Doubts

Anna stir up from her sleep and she glances around to find the morning sun greeting her through her windows. She shielded her eyes from the sunshine and sat up. "Ahhh!" She groans and held the back of her neck. She had slept the wrong way due to the reason she slept off with the headset on her ears till this morning. This was the first time she'd tried something like that and it effect was bad on her.

"I'll never try this again. I don't even know why I'd slept off with this anyways. I'll get an earpiece from the store today when coming back from work" she mumbles aloud and she gently removed the headset away from her ear and kept it on the table beside her bed and massage her neck.

She gave a tired yawn, while she was doing that, flashback of last night creep into her mind and she gave a heavy gasps and jolted on the bed. She rushed out of her bed to the bathroom and took a quick shower. The fear of her stalker began haunting her again and once again she felt being alone in her house isn't safe.

From a count of 1-30 Anna was out of the bathroom with her pink towel wrapped around her body. She rushed to her closet and picked the first cloth her eyes caught a glimpse of and she removed it from the hanger and placed it on the bed. She had picked her skinny black jeans and a black singlet that had her wine leather jacket covering it. She reached out for her undies and wore it on, and she put on her clothes in a rush.

When she was done dressing up, she brushed her hair and packed it into a ponytail. She picked up her phone and her purse and threw it into her backpack. She hastily wore her white sneakers and did the shoelace. When she finished up, she didn't care to take a second of herself in the mirror like she's fond of doing. Rather, she grabbed her backpack and rushed towards the door.

As Anna rushed towards the door, her foot kicked the dagger her stalker had left behind last night and it went under her bed. She halted and turnaround.

"What was that?" she furrowed her brows confusedly. "It should be one of those metals in the house, I'll check on it when I'm back, I'm running late for lectures already" she thought and rushed out of the room.

She glanced around her living room and everything was in place. She made her way out of the living room and she closed the door and locked it. When she turnaround, she sighted Drake's bike driving down to her frontage. She gently walked down the three steps that leads up to her house and walked up to the outside of the house.

"Drake? What are you doing here?" she asked looking somewhat surprise to see him. She thought he must have left since it was already late, not knowing it was just a sunny day on it's own.

"I'm here to make up for last night, I'm really sorry I couldn't make it up to you" he replied.

"C'mon, it's okay, I understand your work is important and need no interference at all. I thought you were gone already".

"Nope" he replied popping the 'p'. "I can't leave without you except is an urgent situation. We still have like 30minutes on our side, if you want we can stop at a coffee shop and grab a coffee before going to school" he gave her his charming smile and winks at her and a smile curved on her lips.

'This should be an opportunity to tell him all that happened last night, perhaps he'll believe me this time around. My friends should also know what is going on, I need to know what their thoughts and advice would be' Anna thought for a moment and she nods.

"Can you invite Nicole and co to join us there, please?" she charmed him with her smile even when it was on Drake's mind to say 'no' to her since he wanted some privacy for just the two of them.

"Would I have had the nerves to say no to you after charming me with those beautiful smiles and eyes of yours?" he asked and she shrugged and giggles.

Her mind deviated from the conversation for a second and she glances around searching for her stalker. When she didn't find anything, she said "Let's get out of here, Drake".

"Right away. Hop on" he replied and she climbed on to the bike and Drake drove off to the coffee shop nearest to the campus.

When they arrived, they both halted at the entrance and glanced around searching for their group. "They there are" Drake said to Anna and took her hand. Anna glance down at their entwined hands amazed at his actions and he stared at her in a raised brow. "What? Am I not free to hold my girlfriend's hand?".

"Huh? No, I didn't even say anything yet" she replied blushing.

"You lovebirds should get your ass's over here!" Nicole yells out to them and all heads in the cafe snaps up at her.

Drake groaned and shook his head while Anna chuckled.

"f*****g mind your goddamn business you all!" Nicole snapped at them and gave them a middle finger. The customers in the cafe shook their head in disgust at Nicole's use of language.

"Language, Nicole!" Drake yelled back at her and he walked over to them with Anna right beside him. "Do you ever caution your crazy girlfriend to behave herself when she's out?" Drake asks Brad while they took a sit.

"She wouldn't listen" Jay answered for Brad and Anna snickered.

"I'm thinking of ending the relationship next month after I get her pregnant" Brad said in humour sending the girls to gasps in disbelief while the guys laughed it off.

"I hate you all. I feel like murdering three of you and throwing your corps somewhere the vultures will be able to feed on it" she spat in disgust and scowls at them while they chuckled at her meaningless threat.

"C'mon babe, you know I'll never do that to you no matter what they say about you. You're my heartbeat, my love, my sweetheart, my chocolate, I can never hurt you" Brad cooed and pecked her cheek.

"Don't try to bribe me now with your sweet talks" she pouted. "Anna is the only person I love now. I'm sorry to say this Anna, but I so much hate your boyfriend, Drake".

"It's okay, is allowed" Anna laughed.

"Babe! You shouldn't be supporting something that is bad" Drake whines.

"You won't be the one to decide for her" Nicole scrunches up her nose and shot him a playful glare.

The barista served Anna and Drake a cup of coffee and left afterwards. "So, Anna, has Drake officially made you his girlfriend? Because if not, I'll cut his balls right away" Nicole threatens and they laughed.

"What's with you and my balls anyways?" Drake drawls.

"She wishes to see it but unfortunately it's not meant for her, rather is for sweet angel, Anna" Jay teased chuckling while Anna's face blushes.

"You two are just so crazy, I don't even know how I met you guys" Nicole groans with an eye roll and took a sip of her coffee. They all smiled and joined her in taking a sip of their coffee.

Anna stared up at all of them thinking of how to bring up all she has encountered this past one week.

"I have something to tell you guys" she announced and all heads snaps up at her.

"Don't tell me Drake did it with you without protection?" Nicole whisper-yelled and Anna's eyes widens.

"Nicole don't be so silly!" Drake growled.

"Babe, I'm not sure that's what Anna wants to say, she looks serious" Brad whispered beside her.

"Oh, sorry. Shoot then" she replied and took a sip of her coffee.

Anna heave a sigh and licked her lips. "Guys, I think someone is stalking me".

Her revelation threw them off guard for a moment and the three of them snickered while Drake squint at his girlfriend stunned.

"Babe, what are you saying?" he whispered and she glance up at him.

"I'm serious guys, this is no joke, someone has been stalking me for a week now. At first I thought it was an illusion not until yesterday when he came face-to-face with me" she continued.

They all stared at her like she just grew five heads.

"How is that even possible?" Jay asked chuckling.

"I don't know how but it is possible. It all started one evening when I was coming back from a park close to my house then I heard a rushing sound in the bush along the road path I was walking and when I turnaround I saw no one and...."

"Of course you'll see no one because there's no one out there that would want to stalk you" Nicole cuts in.

"Exactly what I told her when..."

"She told you?" The three friends asked in unison interrupting Drake.

"Yeah...I mean, just the other day that we all visited her. After you guys left, she was alone in the kitchen doing dishes when I heard her scream, and when I ran up to her she was looking like she saw a ghost. When I asked what happened, she said she saw someone standing outside her kitchen window. I didn't get to see anyone when I looked out, I went further to check around her house but didn't find anyone who wanted to hurt her. I told her to forget about it, but I didn't know she's still brooding over it since that day" Drake explained.

"How can I not brood over it Drake when I'm the one seeing him?!" she half-yelled.

"You're seeing no one. Maybe you're just hallucinating" Nicole said.

"I guess so too, or perhaps you're seeing lots of scary movies and you're imagining it to be real" Jay offered his opinion.

"Exactly what I told her last time!" Drake exclaimed exasperatingly.

"I think you should visit a therapist, perhaps it'll be of more help to you" Brad suggested.

"Brilliant suggestion!" Jay and Nicole agreed.

"You guys think that would work?" Drake asked not feeling convinced.

"Of course!" Jay exclaims.

Anna stared in disbelief as she watched and listen to her friends doubting her ordeals and even suggesting for her to visit a therapist. She was almost at the brim of tears. She grabbed her backpack from her laps and storms out of the cafe angrily without saying a word to her friends neither to her boyfriend.

"What's up with her? Why is she feeling upset?" Brad asked.

"Did we hurt her feelings?" Nicole asked feeling bad.

"I guess we did" Jay shrugs.

"I'll go after her, you guys can join us in school" Drake said standing up. His friends nods and he exited the cafe.

***

Anna got to school without her boyfriend nor his friends. She ignored the four of them throughout school hours when she crossed paths with them. And even after school, she left for work before Drake could offer her a ride like he always did other days.

Anna couldn't still believe her friends didn't even hear all she had to say before coming up with a sick therapy session.

"Young lady, please I'm waiting. I just wonder what you girls of nowadays think so hard about when you're not even married with kids" an elderly woman who was standing in front of the counter that bought an ice cream for herself and her child scoff causing Anna to jar out of her deep thoughts.

"I'm sorry" Anna replied weakly and picked up the two mini bowls of ice cream and scan the prices. The woman paid with cash and Anna packed her ice creams and handed it to her. "Thank you, please do come again" she said and forced out a brief smile.

"I hope you don't drown yourself to thinking, you're still very young. When next I'm here I want to see you alive" came the woman's reply and she took her daughter's hand and exited the store.

Anna sighs tiredly and held her forehead. She checked the time and it was 6pm. She thought of leaving early to avoid being followed again by her stalker. She went over to her boss who was helping her to arrange some ice cream in the freezer to take an excuse.

"Mr Jacob, I'm sorry to bother you. I really don't feel so well, please can I go home on time so I can get some drugs for myself?" she lied with a sickness excuse.

"Of course, my dear! I guess you've been really stressed out that's why you're feeling ill" he said and dig his hand in his pocket and brought out his wallet. He took out some money from his wallet and handed it to her. "Take this money and buy some drugs for yourself, it's the least I could do for you".

"No, don't do that Mr Jacob, I can buy drugs for myself. Thanks for your generosity" she said rejecting his offer.

"If you don't take it from me I'll really feel upset. I don't give you money every day, so just take it from me" he insisted still stretching out his hand for her to accept the money.

Anna had no choice but to accept the money from her boss to avoid allowing him feel upset. "Thank you so much, I'm really grateful" she said smiling.

"I should be thanking you for accepting my little help. Go on now, get yourself some drugs and make sure you rest up so well. If you're not feeling good enough by tomorrow, don't resume work until you're in a very stable condition, understood?".

"Yes sir" she chuckled and he joined her. "You're so kind" she added and walked up back to the counter and grabbed her backpack and hung it on her back. "Enjoy the rest of your evening" she called out to him and he waved at her.

Anna heave a sigh she's been holding when she got out of the store. A cab dropped off someone in front of her and she immediately asked the cab driver if he was going her way, his answer was positive. She hopped in and he drove off to Anna's apartment.

When Anna got home, she brought out her iPhone and placed a call to her mom. "Hey Mom, are you okay?" she greeted and took a sit on the couch.

"I'm fine my baby, how are you? Are you okay? Your voice sounds tired, are you still at work?".

"No, I'm back home. Just got back home so I thought of to call you and know how you're doing".

"You're the sweetest daughter I know. I miss you. Tell me all that has been going on lately with you, we haven't really had time to talk due to your busy schedules".

Anna contemplated for awhile of revealing her ordeals to her mom, she didn't want her mom to start worrying about her. Despite having her mom's interest at heart, she has always been open to her mom so this wasn't going to be different.

"Mom, I have something to confess to you" she said biting her lips.

"I'm all ears my darling".

"I now have a boyfriend" Anna said smiling.

"Really?!" Her mom exclaimed excitedly.

"Yes, mom. He's so cute, kind-hearted, loving, caring, understanding. He's been there for me all along like an angel sent at the right time".

"Aww, that's so sweet to hear" her mom cooed giggling.

"Thanks Mom" she giggles blushing.

"I can't wait to meet him" her mom said excitedly.

"You will" Anna's smile faded when she remembered what had happened earlier today at the cafe. "But today we had a fight".

"What happened my dear?" her mom asked beginning to feel sad for her daughter.

"I'll tell you how it all started" Anna heaves a long sigh and started narrating all that has been happening and the reason behind her fight with Drake to her mom.

Her mom lost her voice for awhile and when she found her voice, she said, "You have to come back home, Anna".