"So how long are you just going to sit there?"
A feminine voice snapped him out of his daze as he tilted his head slightly to the side to get a proper view of the lady sitting beside him.
She looked totally unbothered. Her eyes were still glued to her phone.
Maybe I'm finally going crazy and starting to hear things.
He thought reclaiming his former position staring at the vast blue space before him.
Suddenly, he noticed a quick, bright flash from the corner of his eye coming from a distance but could not pinpoint the exact location.
It seems she also noticed it.
He heard her curse bitterly underneath her breath before quickly pulling the hoodie over her head as a shield.
But from what exactly?
He wasn't given enough time to think.
There it was, a second flash.
Wait. Isn't that from a camera?
He peered into the distance but was met with another flash.
He was definite. That was a camera, but why? Why would somebody, anybody want a photo of him.
At least not without his consent and not today.
Luckily, he had his hoodie on from the start, so it should be hard to get a clear picture of him from that angle.
Turning to her, he wondered.
Maybe she was the one being photographed for whatever reason he didn't really care about but was certain he did not want to get involved in it.
Standing up to go, he heard her voice once more.
"What magazine do you work for?"
"What?" He sounded and looked a little confused but very annoyed. However, she couldn't see it as his face was shielded by the hoodie.
"Don't act so confused. I'm sure this isn't your first job. So what's the plan this time? Who are you supposed to be?"
"What are you talking about?"
He turned to her direction so he could get a good look at her face before speaking.
"I don't even know you."
The moment she looked at him, there was another flash, and this one, she was so sure, got a good shot of her face.
She forgot to put up her mask. The person with the camera must have changed locations, and from that angle, there was no way her face wasn't gotten.
Of all the days for this to happen. Why today?
They both thought, almost glaring at each other.
Matthew, on the other hand, wasn't clear on what was going on. From the looks of it, she had a better understanding of the situation.
Who was this woman, and what has he gotten roped into?
Whatever it was, he was not in the mood for any of it. Anyday.
Stuffing his hands into his pants pockets, he was about to leave when she spoke again, causing him to halt in his tracks.
"Leaving already? Are they enough or don't you want some more."
Heaving a heavy sigh, he turned slightly to get a good last look at her face before he walked away without saying a single word.
***
Moments after he arrived home, he met his mum and dad sitting on the couch and watching a movie.
It got all of their attention lately because they did not hear him come in.
Immediately, he headed straight for his room, trying his best to be very quiet, climbing the stairs.
The last thing he would want will be to attract the attention of the lovey dovey couple downstairs or else they would stop with all the smiles and joy and happiness and cuddling. So quickly, like it was some kind of weird reflex.
They don't need to feel down the whole day or whenever he walked in just to make him feel better.
It actually made him feel a whole lot worse.
They tried to be smart and secretive going about it, but he had been aware of it a long time ago.
His mother thought all the coupling and happiness and joy and giggling around the house might remind him of what he's lost.
Who he's lost.
And especially not today.
Matthew was sure his mother would quickly stop smiling so brightly with her man if they noticed him, he was already wallowing in his sorrows, he shouldn't be the cause of theirs too, so he had to be as quiet as he could be.
They don't have to be miserable or press pause on their marriage just because of him.
Finally getting to his room, he flopped on the bed, obviously tired. All that walking didn't do him as much good as he thought, and he did not want to get started on all the drama with the pictures.
Who was that woman, and why was there someone hiding in a bush at the park and taking secret photos of her.
He sat up, worried.
She may be dealing with a stalker and may not be safe-
An alarm went off. He picked up his phone and switched off the annoying sound, and let it drop to the bed alongside all his worries.
"Whatever." He laid down gently and turned on his side, allowing sleep to take him away.
YOU ARE READING
To Be Me
Romansa"A high school to adulthood love series like none you've ever experienced. Vicariously live in her world just like I did-" Summerr 😴 You Ready For This? Then- The email arrived.
