Stalker X Stalker // Jhocey

Chapter 1

It was a crisp morning when Stacey decided to go for a jog. She had always loved the serenity of early morning runs, the way the world seemed to hold its breath just for a moment. The night before, she had texted her friends, Maloi, Sheena, and Aiah, inviting them to join her.

"Jog tayo tomorrow morning? 6 AM sa park," Stacey's message read. Her friends eagerly agreed, excited for the chance to catch up and get some exercise.

The following morning, they met at their usual spot in the park. The air was fresh, and the sun had just begun to rise, casting a golden hue over everything. They started their jog, chatting and laughing as they went.

Meanwhile, Jhoanna, who had been secretly stalking Stacey for weeks, received an unexpected message from her friend Mikha. Mikha knew Stacey's plans from Aiah and quickly informed Jhoanna.

"Stacey and her friends are going for a jog tomorrow morning. Tara, punta tayo?" Mikha's message read.

Jhoanna's heart raced. This was the perfect opportunity to see Stacey again. Without hesitation, she rallied her own group, consisting of Colet, Gwen, and Mikha. Colet was surprised by Jhoanna's sudden interest in jogging, especially so early in the morning.

"Bakit bigla kang mag j-jogging?" Colet asked, curious about Jhoanna's newfound enthusiasm.

"Jho knows Staku will be there, so she wants to go too," Mikha explained, trying to keep things casual.

The next morning, Jho and her friends arrived at the park around the same time as Stacey and her group. As they started jogging, Maloi noticed Jho and her friends. Nudging Aiah, she pointed out, "Uy, isn't that Jhoanna and her friends over there?"

Aiah squinted, recognizing the familiar faces. "Yeah, it is. What are they doing here?"

Curious and slightly suspicious, Aiah jogged over to Mikha, who seemed nervous as she approached. "Hey, Miks. Anong ginagawa niyo dito?" Aiah asked, her tone friendly but with an edge of concern.

Mikha forced a smile, replying, "Oh, we just wanted to join you guys for a jog. I thought it would be nice to meet up and maybe grab breakfast after." Her eyes flickered towards Jho for a split second, and Aiah noticed the slight frown that followed.

Aiah, not entirely convinced, nodded slowly. "Sige, sounds good. Let's finish this jog first, though."

As they continued jogging, Stacey remained blissfully unaware of Jhoanna's true intentions. She was too engrossed in her run and the company of her friends to notice anything amiss. But Maloi, Sheena, and Aiah couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

"Mukhang may kakaiba kay Jhoanna," Maloi whispered to Sheena as they jogged.

"Oo nga," Sheena replied. "Parang may something fishy."

The morning jog, which was supposed to be a simple, enjoyable activity, had taken an unexpected turn. Stacey's friends decided to keep a closer eye on Jhoanna and her group, just in case.

As they finished their run, the two groups found themselves at the same café. They ordered breakfast, trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy. But the underlying tension was palpable.

While eating, Stacey's friends kept glancing over at Jhoanna's table. Jhoanna, on the other hand, kept her eyes on Stacey, her expression unreadable. Mikha, noticing the growing unease, tried to lighten the mood.

"So, how's everyone doing? Long time no see!" she said with forced cheerfulness.

The conversation was stilted, and it was clear that everyone felt the awkwardness. Stacey, still oblivious to the true reason behind the encounter, simply enjoyed her meal, happy to be surrounded by friends.

As they finished their breakfast and prepared to leave, Aiah pulled Mikha aside. "You know Miks, kung may problema si Jho kay Staku, sabihin mo na lang. We're here to help."

Mikha looked torn, her eyes darting to Jhoanna. "There isnt a problem Aiah. We just wanted to have breakfast with you."

Aiah sighed, not entirely convinced but deciding to let it go for now. "Okay, Miks. Basta, if there's anything, just let us know."

As they parted ways, the unease lingered. Stacey remained blissfully unaware, but her friends were on high alert. The day had started with a simple jog, but it was clear that this was only the beginning of something much more complicated.