Touch of Deception

FIFTEEN

The city was busy. It was all he could think of. He doesn't hate it. He's gotten used to it in fact. He took a sip on his glass as he overlooked the whole city. It doesn't look bad. He felt the phone ring in his pocket. He fished it out and a smirk formed on his lips as he stared at the screen. There are quite a several of it. Pictures from that night. And now that he's found her,  he plans to make her remember about it all over again. 

He clicked one particular picture and grinned. 

"Let's start with something light," he said. It was a picture of Celeste, taken from outside. He scoffed as he sent it before he tossed the phone into the floor and stepped on it. 

"That will do for now," he whispered as he finished his glass. 

* * *

It's rare for her and Gail to go to school together but today, her first class was at 10 in the morning and Gail has something to do in her laboratory class. Gail is a biology student like her boyfriend, Benedict. The only time she met Benedict was that time at the rooftop when they were trying to catch the stalker. 

Gail mentioned her fight with her boyfriend and she doesn't know if they've already made up. Gail takes care of her and she figured she should at least ask how her roommate is doing. She glanced at Gail as they were walking the long hallway of the Computer Studies building. 

"So...how are things between you and Ben?" she started. Gail looked at her before she sighed. 

"He's not talking to me and I figured why should I?" 

"Oh. So...you're not going to talk to him?" 

Gail scoffed. "Never." 

She never realized Gail to be that stubborn but she could relate somehow. She had a boyfriend before. And of course, they'd fight over silly things and they would let days pass before they solve the problem. And now that she thinks about it, it was unfair of her to break up with him without telling him the reason. She's sure he knows it by now. He must have been devastated. She didn't see him since then. They said he moved to live in another city but she doesn't know where. 

They reached the Science and Math building and Gail waved goodbye as she goes to the third floor. Her Math class was supposed to be at nine in the morning but their professor moved it to ten just for today. She was on her way to her classroom when she felt someone walking beside her. And when she turned to see who it was, Matt's bright smile was what greeted her. 

She only gave him a questioning look but his grin just got wider. "What? I'm happy because for the first time we can enter the classroom together." 

"You're happy about that?" 

"Absolutely. You go to class either at the last minute or too early. I couldn't catch you." 

"And now you did," I said and continued walking, hiding the small smile tugging on my lips. 

"Exactly why I'm delighted," he whispered just before he opened the door to their classroom. 

Most of the chairs were occupied and the only vacant seats were the ones at the back. "Looks like you don't have much choice now than to sit with me," he whispered and walked to the seats first. She shook her head and sat too. 

"This brings back memories." She heard Matt chuckled and she realized it was the same seat they were sitting back then the second time she met Matt. She looked at him. 

"You're enjoying this far too much." 

The latter just shrugged. "What can I say? It's downright delightful." 

She rolled her eyes and didn't bother to hide the smile tugging on her lips. 

"Thrice," she heard him say. She looked at him questioningly. 

"What?" 

"Thrice. You smiled. The first time I saw you smile was when you were serving me food and you didn't realize it was me. The second time was when we were having dinner with your family. And earlier was the third one." 

She blinked at him. Confused at how observant the man is. "Who counts how often people smile?" 

"Me. And I am glad I was the one who made you smile the third time." 

She cleared her throat. "And who told you it was because of you?" 

"Whatever you say. But I'm glad you look less sad compare to the first time I saw you." 

She raised her brows at him. "Are you saying that I've been happy since I met you?" 

"I didn't say that but that's a pretty nice conclusion." 

"You're insufferable." She could only manage a groan to which Matt just laughed. 

It was when she looked in front that she noticed some students secretly looking in her direction. She didn't realize how quiet the classroom was. And it seems like Matt noticed it too. 

"They might have found out you were Neil's victim," he whispered in her ear. It was sooner than she expected. But she has prepared herself for it. She's used to getting stares from people. What makes these people different? She thought. What makes them different from the people back home? Nothing. And she has learned not to give a damn about it. She should not give a damn about it. So she looked straight ahead and didn't mind the whispers and the cautious glances from the people inside the room. 

Their professor entered the classroom and was considerate enough to brief them about the topic before the quiz. Because usually, it's the other way around. Her classmates stopped whispering and were more focused on the lesson. She doesn't know if the professors know about what happened but her professor was treating her like usual. Which she was thankful for. Back home, it's ironic how people would consider you as someone so fragile, and yet they wouldn't even bother pretending as if they weren't whispering about her. Her professor called her to answer some activities on the board and she did. 

And when the class was done, her professor called for her in his office. Some of the teachers were already having their lunch and some were just talking. The moment she entered, they stopped what they're doing for a moment and looked at her. And just as she thought they would give the stares, they went back to their business. 

"How are you doing?" her math professor asked. 

"Fine, sir. I've already recovered from the trauma--" 

"I meant the class. How are you doing with the class?" 

"Sir?" 

She looked at her professor questioningly. She heard him sigh before he said, "I know you're the one Neil Clark was stalking but I figured you'll feel uncomfortable to talk about it." He tapped his pen on the table. "Take a seat, Ms. Morgan." 

Her professor was probably a fresh post-doctoral graduate. He looked young. 

"So I just found out you've been homeschooled for the rest of your senior year in high school. That's why I'm asking how are you doing with the class? Is it hard to catch up?" 

She couldn't believe what was happening but she answered anyway. "It's...it's fine, sir. I mean, the class was surely hard but I can manage." 

Her professor just nodded. "That's good. Because I don't plan on adjusting my teaching style for you. Good luck, Ms. Morgan." 

She smiled at her professor before she said, "Yes, sir." And they both knew it as a challenge to her professor and for herself as well. She couldn't help but smile widely as she stood up and bowed slightly to her professor. 

"Thank you, Sir!" 

When she thought her professor was someone cold-hearted and distant, she never realized he could be someone so considerate. Someone who could understand people's feelings. 

"And Ms. Morgan?" She was about to turn the knob when her professor called her. He then pointed his pen in her direction. "You are stronger than you think." He smiled at her. It was a warm smile and she couldn't help but smile back before she nodded slightly in his direction and went out. 

Her professor knew about the stalking incident and she liked it that he isn't coddling her. She already had enough coddling from her family and her roommate. She doesn't want other people's pity.

And so she walked the hallway, not minding the stares. So what if they do? She thought. They'll stop soon enough just like how her neighbors stopped gossiping about her being pregnant. 

She doesn't have any other class so she decided to walk home. She admits she's still scared. It doesn't disappear overnight. But she kept reminding herself that she's fine and that it's all done. No one will be stalking her now.

And then she thought of Matt. She already said thank you to him and yet she doesn't feel like it's adequate. He has done several things—big and small—to help her. To save her.

She took her phone out and typed a message. After typing, she reread it and realized it's not right so she deleted it right away. She sat on the sofa when her phone beeped that she almost jumped on her seat. When she looked at it, it was from Matt.

What were you typing?

She furrowed her brows as she typed,

What?

I saw you were typing something and I was waiting for it.

She swore under her breath. She didn't respond and she could see him typing something. She doesn't have any idea how he knew she was typing something.

I was looking at this chatbox and was about to send you a message when I saw you type something.

She rolled her eyes. Of course.

I just want to say thank you.

She waited for his reply but didn't get anything. It was only moments after that she heard her phone beeped.

You're always welcome :)

So what we're you going to say? She typed.

Nothing. I have a class. See ya.

She furrowed her brows and then muttered a sweat as she realized she just got duped. 

* * *