Embracing my stalker - Chapter 0- She is gone

“Do you want a refill, sir?” The waiter asked to which I shook my head.

I couldn’t drink anymore or Mom would again get worried.

Today was my birthday, so I had to return home early.

Although I have told my parents to no longer celebrate it, more so when I have turned twenty-six this year, they still hold a small celebration.

They don’t invite anyone, just the three of us.

Heaving a sigh, I took out my phone and went to the chatting app I had kept on this phone.

This phone is with me just because of this chatting app…or more like, since I didn’t want to lose my chats with a certain person, I never risked losing the phone.

Blaze. What a cliche name.

It once was my gaming name, but then I met a random person with the same name and a random number after the name, which I used in games.

When I first talked to her, I could have never believed that she would become such an important part of my life.

She was that anonymous partner to whom I shared things, which even my other real life friends didn’t know.

Blaze was like that person whom I never thought I needed but when she appeared, I couldn’t stop myself from leaning on her.

She was my emotional support. Someone who has heard me crying. Someone who knows my deepest secret, something that even my parents don’t know.

I have never met her, but every time I feel sad or happy I go through our chats again and again.

By now, I have started to memorize which message comes next.

It was weird but fulfilling.

However, a few months ago, Blaze suddenly disappeared. It was as if, she lost her phone. I tried my best to reach out to her but to no avail.

‘Haah ..I wonder where you are now…’

Just then, my eyes landed on the notification from my Instagram. Someone sent me a post.

I checked it. It was from a group and the tagged image was of a familiar woman.

Yumeko.

My ex-wife and someone I used to love dearly.

She was currently in Australia, sunbathing. She posted the image a few hours ago and there are thousands of likes.

Well, not only because of her charms but also because of the guy on whom she was leaning against when she took the picture.

I don’t watch TV much, but I think I have seen his face in a magazine or something. An idol perhaps.

This was the seventh person she had been with after our divorce last year. And every time I see her with someone else, more than pain, I feel relieved.

I was able to get away from her thanks to the incident a year and a half ago when I caught her red-handed.

I had all the proof to show her guilt; that’s why her parents never bothered convincing me or my family about it.

My parents didn’t say anything but I knew they were also relieved I left her.

‘Why am I reminiscing about the shitty past on my birthday?’ Chuckling to myself, I got up and approached the counter.

I paid for the drinks and food and dropped a few bills in the jar before making my way out.

The autumn breeze brushed past my face, tempting me to take a few seconds to enjoy the silence.

I looked at the sky and mumbled to myself, ‘I hope you are doing great…my friend.’

Stepping down the stairs, I was about to move towards the car, when suddenly, someone stood up from behind the bush near the stairs.

I was startled and stepped away.

“What the fuck are you?” I was ready to throw hands or escape, based on the weapon she pulled out.

The girl was short and young, probably in college.

Dark hair and a pair of green eyes.

She looked at me, dead in the eye before asking.

“Kurosawa Haruto, right?”

“Y-Yeah? But who are you?”

She stepped out of the small lawn and told me, “Nakamura Shiori…Amaye’s little sister.”

My brows frowned…Amaye…Amaye…Amaye..ah!

“That gloomy girl in the uni…I remember her. How is she?”

Her expression shifted. Ah, she was mad. But what can I say, Amaye always remained gloomy and to herself.

Come to think about it, I owe her an apology.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

I looked at my watch…my parents must be waiting.

What should I do?

“Just a few minutes and I promise I won’t appear in your life again.” She desperately pleaded, though her expression remained unchanged.

With a soft nod, I accepted, “Okay. Let’s go inside?”

I offered her since the breeze was harsh here.

She nodded and we returned to the cafe.

I texted my mother, ‘Will be late. Met a university friend.’ Well, not a complete lie.

[Come soon!! My cake is going to melt.]

I chuckled inwardly and sent an ‘Okay’ sticker with a saluting penguin.

We took the same seat where I was previously sitting. This was my favorite spot.

“Do you want to eat something?” I offered, and her response was, ‘Something to drink’.

I nodded before ordering a cold coffee for her.

“So…how is Amaye? I never got her contact number and she like disappeared one day.”

Amaye was the kind of girl whom people barely noticed since she always remained hiding in a corner. I had done a few group assignments with her, but during that, too, I mostly spoke, and she just nodded or hummed.

Well, that’s not the only reason why I remember her, though.

I have made her cry once. Made fun of her feelings. Hurt her for someone I used to care about at that time.

Amaye used to like me. But after ‘that day’ she never looked at me.

“My sister dropped out so she could work.” Shiori-san broke my train of thought, “I was diagnosed with cancer, so to pay the bills she had to take multiple jobs.”

“Oh…I am sorry to hear that.” I knew Amaye came from a middle-class family and can only imagine how burdensome it must have been for her at that time.

“Oh, don’t be,” Shiori-san shook her head, “…my sister took good care of me and thanks to her before my operation, all the hospital bills were paid. It was a kind of parting gift from her.”

I paused.

Then looked at her, “Parting…gift?” I didn’t want to think about it. Not at all. But the way she said it…

“Ah, yes. My sister died six months ago due to overwork.”

“…!!” I was stunned, staring at her in disbelief.

A-Amaye…died?

My heart turned heavy. While we parted on a bitter note, Amaye was a friend of mine so it pains me to hear the news.

“Don’t be shocked just yet,” Shiori said, as she took out something from her pocket.

She showed me a phone, saying, “This belonged to my sister. The only phone she had.”

I blinked in surprise…why was she changing the topic so fluently, as if she was joking about her sister’s death?

My gaze didn’t make any difference as she continued, “And you want to know with whom she always chatted?”

She tapped on her screen a few times before my phone buzzed.

Hmm? I never had Amaye’s number then why—

“Ah.” My lips parted. Eyes widened. I forgot to breathe when…I saw the person from whom I received the text.

The sender’s name…wasn’t Amaye…it was the same friend…I was thinking about it.

The same friend who helped me from falling into depression.

And the same person I wished to dearly meet even once.

Blaze.

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.