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1055 Words
I was so deep in thought that I didn't know when I bumped into a figure, and my bag spilled all over the ground.
"I'm sorry please," were the words that escaped my mouth as the guy bent down to pack my bag for me.
"Be careful next time," he said as he stood up, handling me the bag, and I muttered a "thank you".
Theodore and I parted ways not quite long ago, and I'm heading to my dorm now. His words kept ringing in my head — "Neither do I,"
So he also suspects that Noah's death may be a murder.
Before I realized it, I was already standing in front of my dorm room. I shoved my hand into my bag to fetch the keys. Immediately I got in, I threw my bag on the bed, then I walked to where my reading table is.
I pulled the chair to sit, and there I noticed that I didn't shut down my laptop. My gaze landed on the messages, and I clicked to open it.
My hand trembled the moment I saw Noah's messages. My eyes closed on their own as memories of my happy moments with him began to flow in.
I could recall our late night talks.
The pictures we shared.
Gosh! Everything happened so fast.
I wiped off the small drop of tears that fell, and concentrated on the messages. I started going through the messages until the last one — 'I wish you were here with me. I'm not comfortable being alone here.'
That caught my attention immediately.
Why was he not comfortable?
What exactly happened here?
I opened the browser, and started typing on the search bar. Maybe I could get a clue here.
After minutes of searching, I was still so confused. I didn't get the direct answers I needed.
Something doesn't add up.
Something seems off, and I must get to the root of that.
I closed my laptop, grabbed my bag and rushed out. I really need to do this if I want to get the truth.
At the campus security office, I met two security men, one by the door, and one inside.
"Hello sirs, please can I make a request?" I asked, searching their eyes for a positive response.
"What do you want?" The man by the door said in his husky voice.
"Please could you tell me anything you know about this man?" I showed them Noah's picture. They both shared an unknown look.
"It's prohibited to share students information to anyone," one of them said.
I understood at that moment.
They've been asked not to reveal anything about Noah, and to close the case like he never existed.
There's no point in pleading with them, they still won't say anything. Without a second thought, I walked out of the building.
I think I need to resolve to the second plan—to ask a student.
Few miles away from where I was, a girl was sitting quietly and alone, "She seems calm," I muttered to myself and started walking towards her.
"Hi," I extended a hand for a shake. She glanced at me with a strange look which I understood immediately.
"I'm new here," I added. That seemed to have worked because she lowered her gaze and then took my hand for the handshake.
"Sorry if I'm intruding your privacy,"
"No it's fine. What do you want?"
"Do you know any student who goes by the name Noah Rodriguez?" I asked.
She seemed a bit shaken and scared, and I noticed that.
"I don't know him. Is there any student by that name?" she returned the question, trying to avoid my eyes.
She's refusing to talk.
But why?
She suddenly stood up, "I need to go," and with that, she scurried away.
Now I'm more confused
First, it was the security officers, and now her?
What exactly is happening?
Why are they all refusing to talk?
Gosh! This is so so confusing.
I turned to go but then, I noticed a figure watching me. When I turned back, the person wasn't there anymore.
Was that a hallucination? Maybe.
I need to cool off my head somewhere, the library should do.
****
When I checked the time, it was already few minutes past six in the evening. I've read a lot of books, but the confusion and unanswered queries still lingers in my mind. I should go back to my dorm.
Ever since I felt I was being watched, I've been feeling uneasy.
I don't usually feel like this, and anytime I do, it's always real.
I left the library and headed back to my dorm. I was on my phone all through while walking, but I felt a presence behind me.
I slowed down, and turned swiftly but it's the same as the first time. I didn't find anyone.
I'm definitely sure someone was following me.
I tightened the grip on my phone, and resumed walking. I hadn't taken five steps when I sighted Theodore standing few steps away from me.
"I have something to show you," he said, his look undefined.
"I also have something to tell you," I said back, while walking closer to him.
He brought out his phone and raised it to my face. It's a message sent by an anonymous. I glanced at him after reading the message.
"This was sent to me the day Noah died."
"Do you know anyone who could have sent it?" I found myself asking, and he shook his head.
Silence followed as we both pondered on who could have sent that message.
"You wanted to tell me something," Theodore's voice broke the silence.
"Yes… I went to the security office to find anything that could lead us to Noah's death but the officers seemed like they were ordered not to say anything. Same with a random girl, I asked if she knew Noah, but she rushed off."
"Looks like someone had ordered everyone not to talk," Theodore pointed out, and I nodded in agreement.
"You know what, let's meet tomorrow." Says Theodore.
"Alright, bye," "See you tomorrow."
And with that, we parted ways.
I continued my walk to the dorm. The moment I stepped into the building, I was shocked by what I saw.
My dorm door was standing ajar!
- Writer
