After that day, I decided to do the smartest thing possible.
Ignore everything.
No replies.
No thinking.
No panic.
Easy plan.
Very bad execution.
At home, I threw my bag on the bed and opened my notebook.
Homework stared at me.
I stared back.
We both lost interest.
My phone was on the table.
Screen down.
Silent.
I kept looking at it like it might explode.
"It's nothing," I told myself.
"Just someone playing a stupid joke."
To prove I was brave,
I picked up my phone and unlocked it.
Nothing happened.
I felt relieved.
Five seconds later, it vibrated.
I dropped it.
Yes. Dropped it.
I picked it up slowly, like it was angry with me.
Unknown Number:
Good. You're home.
I froze.
"How do you know that?" I whispered.
I looked around my room.
Door closed.
Curtains normal.
No hidden camera.
Hopefully.
Another message came.
Unknown Number:
You always throw your bag on the bed first.
Your mother hates that.
I looked at my bag.
On my bed.
My mother shouted from the kitchen,
"Why is your bag on the bed again?"
I almost screamed.
"Okay," I said quietly.
"This is not funny anymore."
I typed my first reply.
Who are you?
The message showed Seen.
No reply.
I waited.
Ten seconds.
Thirty seconds.
One minute.
Nothing.
"Great," I said.
"Now they ghost me."
I put my phone down and went to wash my face.
Cold water.
Deep breath.
When I came back, there was another message.
Unknown Number:
Relax. I'm not your enemy.
"That's exactly what enemies say," I muttered.
I typed again.
Then what do you want?
This time, the reply came fast.
Unknown Number:
To see what you'll do.
I blinked.
Do about what? I typed.
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
I waited.
Unknown Number:
About the things you pretend don't matter.
My chest felt heavy for a second.
I didn't reply.
Instead, I locked my phone and put it face down again.
"I'm done," I said to no one.
"I have homework. And a life. And stress already."
The phone vibrated once more.
I didn't check it.
I really didn't.
Okay.
I checked it.
Unknown Number:
Tomorrow, don't sit in your usual seat.
I frowned.
That was it.
No explanation.
No reason.
Just a message.
I laughed.
Out loud.
"That's your big plan?" I said.
"Seat changing?"
I typed one last reply.
Or what?
The reply came after a few seconds.
Unknown Number:
Or you'll miss something important.
I stared at the screen.
Then I locked the phone.
That night, I didn't sleep properly.
Not because I was scared.
Because I was curious.