HELLO, STRANGER

CHAPTER 17

LAYLA’S POV

I'm restless because of the news I hear. Too much is happening here in our area. Since we had a week off, I thought of jogging in our subdivision. I pinned my hair in a ponytail, I also wore a headset and I did some stretching before starting jogging.

*Listening to the script-if you ever come back*

It's quiet here in our subdivision and I rarely see neighbors outside, so I didn't think of running on the side and I was jogging in the middle of the road. I could already feel the sweat coming out of my body and I felt thirsty. I rested for a while and held my breath, then I drank some water. While I was resting, I noticed something strange, as if someone was watching me. I looked around me, at the houses. I looked at their windows but they were closed and the curtain was blocking them. I looked behind me but there was no one, but why did I feel horrible?

I just laughed in my mind because of my strange thoughts, I was scaring myself too much because of the incident. I'm too scared.

*rustling*

I stopped and removed my headset from my ears because I thought I heard something strange at my side. I slowly looked and saw a big house that was normal and it had bushes on the side and it was obviously taken care of.

*rustling*

I was nervous when I saw the bushes move. I backed away, wondering what had come out of the bushes, but the sound continued.

*rustling*

"I-I'm not afraid! I'm going to call the police!" I said boldly while holding my cell phone.

I almost screamed at an old man in his 60s wearing gloves, garden scissors, an apron around his waist and a hat. He smiled at me and waved. I was relieved.

"I'm too old to go to jail haha." He jokes and cuts the bushes to their proper structure.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were gardening there. I was just scared." I said, and he laughed.

"Hey, really kids. That's good and you're still exercising to get stronger," he says.

"Are you from here too?" He asked me and I nodded.

"Because I don't know you and there are many of us who live here and I rarely see neighbors and it's good that you passed by so I can think that there are still people here hahaha." He joked again and I just went along with his joke.

"Are you alone in the house?" I asked. He shook his head.

"My wife is inside getting ready---" He stopped speaking when an old woman about his age came out wearing a kitchen apron and carrying a tray of food.

"Oh you're talking to someone. Good morning!" She greeted me sweetly and I greeted her too.

"Oh, come and eat first." The old man invited me. I wanted to refuse and go first, but his wife also called me, so I couldn't do anything and entered their garden.

"Your house is beautiful, cozy," I said, and I sat down in a nice iron chair and they poured me tea and a cookie.

"Oh thank you, you know we are old and we really only have to clean the house as a couple." The woman said and I nodded.

"Thank you for the invitation," I said, and the husband and wife smiled. The woman sat next to her husband and ate with me.

We talked for a long time. I got to know them, Mrs. and Mr. Bouvier, they have been here for a long time and their children bought this house for them. They are alone here at home because their children are already in another country, but their grandson is here. Because he is studying in college. He rarely comes home. They are in good condition and happy. They say that sometimes the children here can play, they love children. They are a kind and gentle couple.

"Ah, have you listened to what is being reported now?" I asked because I wanted them to be aware because the incidents that are happening are very close to this area.

"Yes, it's scary," said Mrs. Bouvier.

"Is that where you study? At the university where there are a lot of suicides?" Mr. asked Bouvier, and his wife elbowed him.

"Ouch. Just asking." groan of mr. Bouvier and I just laughed.

"Yes, that's where I study because of what happened again. The class was suspended for a week because, while it was being investigated, we also heard that one of the people being investigated at our school had an accident." The husband and wife were surprised.

"Haist my god." said Haiti. Bouvier.

"Well, our dean also made a mistake in what she said on the news, she made it look like it wasn't suicide." I told them and they nodded.

"She also has a point, because what is the reason why they commit suicide? Do they leave a message why they commit suicide?" Mr. bouvier asked me and that's when I suddenly thought. He's right, maybe it's not suicide because there should be a suicidal note left, but there are no suicidal notes to be seen, only threats are left.

I didn't answer and I sipped my tea. There are many things that come to my mind that maybe it really isn't suicide that is happening, maybe Dean is right, maybe there is another reason.

"I'll go ahead and continue jogging." I said goodbye and they smiled and shook hands with me.

"Come back again," said Mr. Bouvier and I said goodbye. I ran away from their house.

When I got away, I immediately called Paul.

(Hey babe.)

"Paul, listen to me, what if it's not really suicide that's happening in our school?" I would ask.

(What do you mean? You believe the dean?) He asked.

"What if yes?" I said and I bit my nail and I was stomping on the floor.

(Wait, calm down.) He said.

"Look, people who commit suicide don't leave suicide notes, that's one or the other, but if you think about it, the police, even detectives, can't find any evidence of suicide notes, they only leave threats, right? They didn't commit suicide but they were killed." I said, and I looked back because I felt horrible again.

Paul didn't answer and I just heard him breathe.

"Besides, think about the many accidents, Mr. Ollins is one of them and he doesn't say anything about whether it's suicide or murder. The detectives don't tell us anything and how is Kai involved in this?" I said.

(Are you saying that maybe one of the suspects in killing the students is Kai?) What?

"What? No, I mean what if--"

*Clanking*

(What if? Layla?)

*Clanking*

(Layla? Babe? Are you still there? What was that sound?)

My eyes widened when I saw a large man wearing a black hoodie, cap and mask. It holds a crowbar and a chain. My body almost went soft and I wanted to give in. I dropped my cellphone, my mistake.

(babe?! What's going on?) I heard Paul say. The man was just looking at me and I was shaking so much that I quickly picked up my cell phone and ran quickly.

I was running out of breath, when I looked behind me to see if he was following, but well, he wasn't. I stopped and rested because I was running so fast that I was out of breath.

(Layla?! What's going on? Hello?!) I looked at my cellphone and Paul was still on the call.

I took a deep breath and put my cell phone to my ear.

"*breathing fast* Paul." I said.

(Geez babe! What the hell?! ) he asked worriedly. I looked behind me to see if he was there but it's good he wasn't.

"There's a man in black and--" I turned around because of the sound and dropped my cellphone and..

*screeches*

*crashed*