MORPHEUS

The Stranger

I finally made it to the point of asking him. If he doesn't intend to talk to me why would he go to such lengths?

"What's your deal?" I said anchoring my left hand on my waist while glaring at him.

He stepped away from the wall and faced me still crossing his arms. I didn't move a muscle and really waited for him to reach my post.

"Don't get involved any further. Your best friend's death is just the beginning. Whatever crazy ideas you have inside that nutshell, forget it." Then he just turned around and walk away like that. Expecting me to take it as it is.

No way in hell I'm backing down.

His strides are double than mine so I had to walk faster that eventually turned into a run. I grabbed the edge of his polo shirt, panting.

"Wasting your time over a random university to warn a nobody like me? I'm not buying it, spill the beans," I said commanding him with a straight face. Not allowing seniority to draw the line so that he wouldn't answer me.

He tsked annoyed as he shove my hand off from his right arm. "Don't read too much from what I said. It is what it is. If you won't believe me it's your call." Then he began walking away again.

He's really pissing me off!

"I'll make your life here a living hell until I get what I want!" I protested yelling at him.

Thankfully it was a lunch break so there were barely any students around. They are too busy filling their rumbling stomachs than waste time on a petty fight between a instructor and his student.

Then he walks backwards and grab me by the waist feeling his breath mingling with mine. "Make me," he whispered in my left ear and blew on it that brought shivers to my spine. Startled, I push him away only to see that triumphant smile on his smug face. "That's Mr. Wayward for you Ms. Marsh for the next four weeks that is," he stated as a-matter-of-fact.

I'm the one who walks away this time. After a few steps I saw my seat mate come out of the rest room. I shook my head, not her again? Her right brow arches coupled with a knowing look and scanning me from head to toe. When I walk pass by her she told me this, "I think Mr. Wayward's got a crush on you," she insinuated.

My ears heat up at the sound of his name, feeling the blood rushing to my head. "Excuse me?" I scoffed pointing at myself.

Before I knew it she links her arms with mine being chummy all of a sudden. My eyes widen thinking if she even dried her hands properly because I surely felt the moisture. It's rather eeky. "My name's Lindsay but you can call me Lind. I sat next to you in class."

I just awkwardly nod my head. "So how is it related to what you said about that man?" I thought she would be offended but she chuckles and slightly slap my shoulder instead. Now she's invading my personal space too much.

"Nothing, I just wanted to be your friend. You seem like the type who needed one," she smiles as if she's not talking down on me.

I removed my arm from her grasp putting a more comfortable distance between us. "Sorry but you're wrong,' I put it frankly which will be beneficial for both of us. "I'm not telling you mine."

It's even creepier when she pinches both of my cheeks and squishes it. "That won't work on me. Let's go have some lunch you're just hungry."

Is she even listening? Why does she keep putting words in my mouth?

Then she drags me around and I didn't know a person is capable of talking non-stop even if the other person is dead silent. Not even bothering to check if I am as even listening. I don't even know if she's just acting dumb or just plain stupid. Whichever she prefers it's bad news for me. I don't like being followed around.

"Are you eating that?" She probes innocently pointing at the fried chicken on my plate that I barely even touched. While still chewing on lettuce from her vegetable salad. I was about to answer when she smiles and poached it with her spoon and fork to transfer it on her own plate.

Unbelievable! she's a glutton too.

I pick the chicken back, this time I was really hungry. She eats joyfully like every bite is a taste of food made by the gods. Tempting you to take a bite too.

She grins while still chewing, "I'm kind of full now."

I didn't held back and tape off the chicken skin and munch on it too. Next, I sliced through its meat and dipped it in a savory gravy before swallowing it. For the first time in the last four months, I didn't care what I looked like. Especially when I'm eating. Before I knew it she also scooped a portion from her salad to my plate. My eyes widen in shock.

Is she trying to befriend me? Or a mother feeding her child?

"See you are just hungry that's why you're grumpy. Am I right Bee?"

I choked hearing her say that. It brought me back to the nightmare I forgot just few minutes ago. She frantically grabs a bottle of water and opens it for me. A few drops even spilled because she was shaking before handing it over to me. I almost laughed seeing that reaction from a weird stranger.

After gulping a few shots I was able to recover. "Thanks," I said still making sure no more chicken is stuck on my throat. She heave out a deep sigh of relief and finally sat back on her place. "Phew! I thought you're going to choke to death. You even turned a little blue."

"Now that's just exaggeration," we both laughed after. "By the way why did you call me that? I didn't even tell you my name aside from that man announcing my surname in class."

She puts her right palm in her cheek while intently looking at me, contemplating whether to answer me or not kind of face. "I saw it on the upper part of the book you slammed earlier."

I nod my head in agreement. Remembering you again in the slightest details of every day. "That book's not mine. My best friend used to own it but he was ahead of his time so he never really used it. He got accelerated thrice at that."

When I stared at Lind after a minute of story telling her eyes sparkled insinutating yet another intrigue she has in mind.

I rolled my eyes in defeat. "Fine! he treated me as a friend but I saw him more than that. Only found out he had weird hobbies and he died before he can even explain himself to me," I scowled bitterly. "Story time is over, spilling more might also put you in danger," I warned as his lectures swam in my head.

"That's just sad," she pouts as she stabs a carrot stick with her fork.