# 3 A GLIMPSE OF HIM
1047 Words
Friday came faster than expected, not like I was looking forward to it. Throughout the day, I had decided not to head out. I did have lectures and a course meeting, but I gently declined all of it. I wanted to enjoy the peace and slight quietness of the apartment and continue with my obsession—something I just couldn't let go of.
I was still on my laptop, searching for things only I knew the value of. Eleanor came into the bedroom wearing a skirt and a shirt I didn’t recognize—maybe they were new. She stood in the middle of the room. I did notice her, yet I pretended not to, which annoyed her, as expected.
“Nat! I know you want a special invitation! So what do you think?” she asked, spinning full circle so I could see her outfit.
I had a little smirk on my lips because she could definitely read me well.
“Not bad. In fact, you look good enough to get yourself a lifetime sugar daddy,” I said as she chuckled, covering her little mouth with her hand—something she always did. It made her look so feminine that I felt a tiny bit jealous of her charm.
“Yeah, I wish that could help. I need someone to start paying the bills for me,” she said.
“What happened to the independent lady? Where is she? Nowhere?” I joked, making her roll her eyes.
“She’s on a vacay. Anyways, you’ve been on your laptop since morning and that’s kinda freaky. Aren’t you gonna rest or something?” she asked, worry all over her face.
“I… I know. I will rest. I just got a major lead on him and it’s big. So big this time,” I said, but her expression was full of doubt.
“And the major lead is what?” she asked, looking at me like I was slowly going insane.
“Look…” I said, turning my laptop toward her. She came closer to see it. I ignored the look on her face because I knew I was onto something big—something that could finally get me closer to him if I tried harder.
She stared at the picture. It was a blurry photo of a man with a tattoo that only specific Yakuza members had. The angle wasn’t good, the lighting was poor, and the picture quality was terrible, but I didn’t care. It had just been uploaded a few hours ago, and to me, that made it important for so many reasons.
“Nat, this is not anything. It’s not even concrete proof that your imaginary mafia man is real. The picture is nothing, and you can’t even spot much on it. It’s poor, and everything seems a bit too… fantasized,” she said, but I wasn’t ready to give up.
“Firstly, it’s Yakuza boss to you. And secondly, this is all the proof I need. This picture was uploaded five hours ago, and it’s so concrete I could build a castle on it. Trust me on this one, for once, Elean,” I said, but it still didn’t convince her.
“Nat, you’ve been stalking this Yakuza boss of yours since you were like five or six, and you’ve never found any progress. So why bother yourself with silly things like this?”
“Again, I did start following him seven years ago. When I was five, that’s when I got into Yakuza bosses. And I can’t just let it go. That would be absurd if you think about it.”
Eleanor sighed and mentally facepalmed.
“Nat, I know how badly you want this, but for now just rest, please. And isn’t this illegal? You stalking him? Nat, this is dangerous. What if you get exposed?!” she said, concern and fear mixing on her face.
“Well… I wouldn’t call it stalking,” I paused, but the look she gave me made me correct myself. “Yeah, maybe it’s stalking, but it’s totally fine!” I said with a beam.
“To stalk someone?! Nat?!” she warned.
“Both. But that’s not the point. No one knows it’s me—at least not yet—so you don’t have to worry so much, Mom.”
“Just… just promise me you’ll pause it for now. Please. Could you bathe, eat, and rest at least?”
It took me a while, but I agreed to her conditions.
“Fine,” I mumbled, and she grinned almost blindingly.
“That’s better, okay? I know you’re not coming to the party. I’ll tell Denver you’ve got family issues, so don’t worry. Make sure you rest and eat. And do not go back to stalking that poor man. That could be dangerous, girl.” That was all she said before getting ready and heading out to the party.
I lay on my back on the bed, my head hanging near the edge. I had taken a shower and gotten something into my stomach. It had been a few hours since Eleanor left for the party, and I was bored to death. I had done everything she asked because I didn’t want to feel guilty about making her worry. And she was right—I really did need rest.
Deciding that a little nap wouldn’t hurt, my phone beeped. Rolling over to the drawer, I took my phone, still lying on my back, and unlocked it.
The moment I saw the notification, I sat up immediately, stunned.
What I saw on my screen wasn’t something to think twice about.
I hurriedly threw on some clothes, ran out of the house, and grabbed Eleanor’s car keys. I didn’t even bother locking the door. I sprinted to the car, unlocked it, got inside, and drove out of there with zero patience left.
- Writer
