I lay down on my bed, face up, staring at the ceiling in my nightwear. The fan above spun lazily. I was bored as hell. The whole day had been the usual cycle - studying for a bit, then watching random movies I didn't even care about. Just background noise. DM was dry as usual, nothing new.
What about that girl?
Oh… right. She didn't text.
I waited the whole day. Checked my phone like a clown. Nothing. No "hi," no emoji, not even a "sup." Just silence.
So why'd she ask for my number then?
Out of pity? Was it a dare? Or maybe she forgot. Or maybe I'm just forgettable. So that's how low I've gotten...
But then something started to bother me. She asked for my number.
Then, not long after, I get that weird message. "I know what happened that night."
Nah. That can't be a coincidence.
I sat up slowly, my blanket sliding off my legs. The light from my phone screen lit up my face in the dim room.
She comes out of nowhere. Doesn't even know my name. Smiles, says hi, asks for my number like it's normal. And then... creepy message from an unknown number?
Sounds like a low-budget Kdrama no matter how I think about it... I might be up for that, it's not like I have anything better to do. Or maybe she really knows.
I stared at my phone again. Just a black screen now, reflecting my own face back at me.
There's only one question left now.
Who exactly is that girl? .... I should prolly find that out.
***
Tami looked at her phone.
Still no reply. "He didn't reply yet?" she muttered, frowning.
She leaned back on her bed, chewing her bottom lip. "Kinda sus. Or maybe he doesn't care… nahh, that's not him. He gives 'please talk to me' energy. I know the type."
She tapped her phone a few times, staring at his chat bubble. The one that hadn't moved since she sent the first message.
"Maybe… something did happen." she whispered. "Wait, but I was just joking. It was just a random prank."
She sat up straight. Then a spark of curiosity hit her. What if… he's actually hiding something?
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, then started typing.
"You're just as guilty… and you know it."
Send.
***
Thanks to the internet, and a couple of blurry profile pictures. I've managed to narrow it down. A hundred people. All with names that start with "Ta." I think I heard someone call her that.
Some of them even go to Princeton. Makes it easier.
I could start there... dig through their socials, find connections, maybe even run into a clue. Or... I dunno... I could just wait till church on Sunday and ask her for her name.
Nah. Too much work. I'll just keep digging online. That's easier. Safer. Less... human interaction.
I looked up at my phone, which had been buzzing on the pillow next to me. Screen lit. Unknown number again.
Maybe it's her this time, I thought. I picked it up, wiped my thumb across the screen.
"You're just as guilty… you know it."
I sat up straight, my back tensed against the headboard. The glow from the screen lit my face in the dark room, walls closing in just a bit more than usual.
"Motherfucker's starting to piss me off" I muttered, jaw tight. I stared at the message for a few seconds longer than I meant to.
This time, I didn't delete it. I swiped up, opened Chrome, and typed with shaky fingers: How to trace anonymous text messages.
My room was dead silent.. just the hum of my fan, and the soft tap of my fingers on the screen.
***
"Still no response, huh?"
Tami said, the blue glow of her phone screen lighting up her cheekbones. She was curled up on her beanbag, legs crossed, hoodie sleeves covering half her hands. The message sat there, unread.
She tilted her head, thinking.
"This guy is definitely hiding something."
She tossed the phone gently beside her, like it was fragile and sacred at the same time.
Then she smirked.
"This just got way more interesting. Who knew?" She sat up, brushing her braids out of her face.
"I should probably ask around… but something tells me he's not exactly popular. Even in that small church. This is gonna be tough. Hes got no noise, no trail."
She cracked her knuckles.
"But let's see what I can dig up."