**The Amateur of Love**

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#1

- Please send me your sketches to the office, I'll look at them first.
- Okay, Leya, you can go now.
- Yes, dear, have a good weekend.
...
Finally, I closed the last file and got ready to leave. It had been a long and extremely tiring week, and this weekend I planned to rest inside my small apartment instead of going out with the girls as I usually do. I had refused a trip to Italy, I was that exhausted. I walked out of the company and accidentally bumped into an elderly woman.
- Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am, my mistake.
- Careless, you hurt me.
- I apologized.
- Go away.

Damn it, I thought to myself and got into the car. I've been thinking abnormal things for a week now, and it feels like I'm being watched every moment.

....
I entered the house tired; it was 5 PM and I had to go back to the market for some weekend shopping. As I was coming down, a tall guy was staring at me from afar. It scared me. I went to the market quickly, and when I came out, I felt the same thing. Now my fear had escalated significantly. I walked with large strides towards the building, feeling stressed. I took the elevator and quickly went up, locked all the doors, and stayed completely alone and frightened inside.
Damn, I should have gone with the girls.

.......tomorrow........

It was 9 AM and I was going out to have morning coffee with my best friend, Eljo. I went downstairs, and we sat at the nearby café. After almost an hour of pleasant conversation about work, Eljo asked to join my company's staff. It was wonderful.

- Of course, Eljo, I would be honored.
- Really, you mean it?
- Yes, I said, and my eyes caught someone. It was him again, staring at me.
- Eljo, how about you stay at my place tonight, please?
- But...
- Come on, I need to explain the new job to you.
- Alright, alright, let's do it, but first, let's go somewhere for lunch.
- Okay, I said, and we got up. The creepy guy got up after us.

We got into the car, and I told Eljo everything.
- If he shows up at the restaurant we're going to, it won't be a big coincidence.
- Eljo, you're scaring me.
- Calm down, we're together.
- Oh, there he is.
- Don't draw attention, let's sit down.

After lunch, that crazy guy was everywhere we went. I just realized someone was following me.

- Eljo, what should I do? I said, sitting on the couch.
- Calm down, try to remember if you've seen him before.
- Yes, I saw him yesterday, I told you.
- Any other day, Leya?
- I'm not sure, maybe at the company, outside of it, but I don't know if it's him.
- Look, we'll check the cameras tomorrow and then act, what do you say?
- Okay.
- Lie down to sleep now, don't be afraid, I'll always be here with you.
- Alright, I said and lay down feeling secure.

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