Touch of Deception

EIGHT

It was a quarter to ten and Celeste was changing clothes in the dressing room when one of her co-workers entered the room. If she remembers correctly, she's Eli. She was changing into her uniform. It might be her shift next. Eli looks like she's older than her by a few years. She hasn't talked to her and she was too shy to initiate a conversation. And Celeste thought Eli looked...intense. Like someone who's capable of scaring someone just with her stare. 

Eli looked in her direction and gave her a small smile before she closed her locker.

"You're the new part-timer together with that glasses guy, right?"

She wasn't sure who's the glasses guy Eli was talking about but then she remembered Neil so she nodded. 

"I'm Celeste," she said. 

"I'm Eli. I also study at IIT. I'm a senior. I'm guessing you're a freshman?" Eli asked as she was putting her name tag on her uniform. 

"Yes. Yes, I am." 

Eli gave her a smile and before she knew it, Eli crossed the distance between the two of them pulled her into a hug. She felt her tapping her back. 

"I can tell you're not from this city. Homesickness will be there the first few days but over time, you'll get used to it. You'll love it here." Eli pulled away and held her shoulders. 

"You made any friends yet?" Eli asked. She blinked. She wasn't expecting Eli to be a hugger. She looked like she could flip someone up if she wishes to. Eli doesn't strike her as someone affectionate. 

"I have a roommate," Celeste answered which earned a chuckle from Eli. 

"Aside from your roommate?" 

"No one," she said, and strange enough, she thought of Matt. Is he her friend? Are they friends? Maybe not. Not yet. 

Eli gave her a tap on her shoulder before she turned her back. "You should make friends, you know. Your university life won't be complete if you don't have any." Eli looked at her over her shoulder. "You know, have drinks, travels, studying together, and many more. You'll love it!" 

And she froze on her feet. Drinking with friends.

She shook her head. It won't happen again. She won't let it happen again. 

"Anyway, my shift's about to start. I better go or Clarent will mark me absent. Damn that woman she doesn't give allowance time to those who live miles from here. See you around, Celeste!" 

She waved her hand and rested her back on her locker door. How long will she keep being like this? She should start getting used to it. Unlike home, nobody in this city knows her past. Her family was careful not to mention anything related to the incident. Before, the flashbacks were worse. But now, it's tolerable. She doesn't remember anything much about the incident and the flashbacks were mainly about the things she remembered. And with that, she decided to move on. She figured it's easier to just shove it under the rug. They were going nowhere with the investigations. It appeared like it never happened at all. They were going in circles to the point that she doubted if she was molested or was it only her imagination. Yet the clinical examination proved otherwise. And it made her devastated. 

She shook her head and heaved a sigh. Nobody will coddle her anymore. And it's good. She figured she'll be stronger that way and she realized she has to get out of her comfort zone. One doesn't need to hurry. Take it slow. One step at a time. 

She felt proud of what she achieved today. And she wants to keep doing it. She wants to feel a sense of fulfillment. It was a small change but she figured it's better than nothing at all. 

So picking up her bag, she went out of the locker and almost bumped into Neil who was walking probably to the smoking area. 

"I'm sorry," he managed to say and continued walking. She said goodbye to the others and made her way home.

She didn't go to the alleyway. She texted Gail she's on her way back before she walks straight home. She could see other students walking. Some were walking alone, just like her and some were in groups. The street was busy, particularly the computer shop near the road. She could see several students -- boys and girls-- standing outside the shop, smoking. 

The pizza shop far ahead was packed too. It was when she turned left when she realized it's another quiet part of the road. Her footsteps were light as she tried to listen to her surroundings. It was then she heard the footsteps again. She halted and turned around. There was no one. She took the pen from her bag and removed its cap. She continued walking, gripping the pen tightly. She bit her lip. 

A little bit more and she'll reach another small shop. She'd be safe there. There are lots of borders far ahead. As long as she'll reach that crowded part, she'll be fine. So she walked faster, looking back occasionally. And when she took one last look as she reached the shop, she could have sworn she saw a shadow quickly hiding behind the post. She swallowed hard. 

Somebody is indeed following her. 

* * * 

"What?"

She sat on the sofa and Gail abruptly stood up the moment she told her about somebody following her. There's still a facial mask on her face as she looked at her. 

"I'm sorry to disturb your beauty session," she mumbled and took a deep breath. 

"Who was it?" Gail asked as she sat back. 

Celeste shrugged. "I don't know." She didn't the face of whoever that was. She doesn't know what could be the reason why somebody would follow her. She has been trying her best not to get attention. 

"How many times has this happened?" 

She bit her lip before she said, "Twice. One was the other day at the alley when I was on my way home. And then tonight. I looked back and saw a shadow, Gail. It hid behind a post." 

"Did you walk to the alley tonight?" 

She shook her head. "I didn't. I was scared to go there again. So I took the long road but...whoever that was, he was still following me." 

She heard her roommate take a deep breath. "I will ask Miss Clarent to change your shift so you don't have to go home late." 

"No. I don't have any more free time aside from night time. And I don't want to lose this job, Gail." 

Gail nodded. "I understand. Then we'll have to find out who this miscreant is." 

"How?" She furrowed her brows. She can't see any way to reveal who it was but Gail looked like she had a plan in mind. 

"I will have to contact my boyfriend first." 

It added more to her confusion. "Why do we need your boyfriend?" 

"He'll be in charge of kicking this stalker's ass." 

She gave her roommate a skeptical look. "What are you planning to do?" 

Instead of answering, her friend just gave her a sly smile. "You'll know soon enough. For now, go wash and heat the dinner." 

She didn't protest as her roommate was right. She had been mopping the floors and wiping the tables. She doesn't have any friends at work. She just wished Gail has the same shift as her. Neil wasn't much of a talker either. After their shift, he would go straight to the smoking area. Celeste knows Neil is just the shy type. Pretty much like her. She could see Neil glancing at her from time to time as if he wants to say something but was too shy to do so. She didn't bother talking to him either. The only time they exchanged words was when Neil was asking for the mop just because she was the only one who could reach it at her position. After that, nothing. 

The other workers aren't too fond of conversations, either. It's not like she doesn't like it. She prefers it, actually. The less talk, the less would be known about her. But sometimes, she just wished to have someone like Gail at work. 

She sighed and dried her hair, thinking about work. She can't do anything about it. Gail only has vacant classes in the afternoon and most of her classes are early in the morning and at nine in the evening. 

When she went to the living room, she halted when she saw Gail grinning in her direction as she said, "We're going to catch that stalker tomorrow." 

* * *