Chapter 4
Strangers in Daylight, Something Else at Night
I don't know when it started.
Or how.
One random evening…
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
I frowned.
"Who is this?"
I typed.
A reply came instantly.
"Someone you called an idiot."
I froze.
My heart skipped.
No way.
I typed slowly…
"…Keifer?"
"Finally. Took you long enough."
I stared at the screen.
A small smile…
appeared on my lips without permission.
"What do you want?"
"Nothing."
Pause.
Then—
"Just bored."
I rolled my eyes.
"Then go annoy someone else."
"I am."
I bit my lip.
Trying not to smile.
And that's how it started.
Simple texts.
Random talks.
No meaning.
No intention.
At least…
that's what I told myself.
Days passed.
And something strange happened.
In college…
we were strangers.
Complete strangers.
He would walk past me…
like he didn't know me.
I would sit with my friends…
and pretend he didn't exist.
No eye contact.
No smiles.
No signs.
Nothing.
But at night?
"Did you eat?"
"Yes. You?"
"Hmm."
"What does 'hmm' mean?"
"It means yes."
"Then just say yes??"
"Too much effort."
"Idiot."
"Careful. You started this."
I would smile at my phone like an idiot.
And the next day…
I would ignore him like a stranger.
It was confusing.
Weird.
But also…
exciting.
Like we had a secret.
One day…
Ella noticed.
Of course she did.
"Why do you keep smiling at your phone?"
"I don't."
"You do."
"I'm just chatting."
"With who?"
"No one."
She narrowed her eyes.
Suspicious.
"Jay…"
"What?"
"If it's that guy—"
"It's NOT."
She gasped.
"YOU DIDN'T EVEN LET ME FINISH."
I froze.
Oh no.
Ella leaned closer.
Smirking.
"It is him."
I covered my face.
"Shut up."
She squealed.
"I KNEW IT!"
"Keep your voice down!"
She whispered loudly…
"Are you guys dating?"
"NO!"
"Talking?"
"…maybe."
Her grin widened.
Meanwhile…
across the corridor…
He was there.
Leaning against the wall.
Talking to someone.
Like always…
calm.
Unbothered.
And for a second…
his eyes lifted.
Met mine.
Just for a second.
Then he looked away.
Like I didn't matter.
And I did the same.
Like he was nothing.
But my phone buzzed.
"Stop staring."
My eyes widened.
I typed quickly…
"I wasn't."
"Liar."
"You're the liar."
"Then prove it."
"How?"
"Look at me."
My heart started racing.
Slowly…
very slowly…
I lifted my eyes again.
And this time…
he was already looking.
No expression.
Just watching.
I looked away instantly.
My phone buzzed again.
"Caught you."
I bit my lip.
Smiling.
"Shut up."
"Make me."
I felt my cheeks heat up.
This…
whatever this was…
It wasn't just texting anymore.
It was something else.
Something quiet.
Hidden.
Dangerous in a soft way.
We were strangers in front of everyone.
But behind screens…
behind silence…
We were becoming something more.
And neither of us stopped it.
Because it felt right.
Too right.
And maybe…
that's why it would hurt so much later.
To be continued…