Chapter Nine:The Creeper

Sundays on campus were mostly quiet for the most part of the morning with a lot of us sleeping off our hangovers from the excitements of the night just ended.

The dorms would lay dead for most of the morning and came alive sometime after lunch. I especially liked the weekends because I did not have to study or do anything that would end up giving me a migraine. It was just me and my quite meditations contemplating about my teenage drama.

I got up a few minutes before midday with intense glares from the sun piercing through the curtains. I slowly pushed my eye rids apart and I just motionless laid there staring at the ceiling thinking of everything but at the same time nothing at all. Several motionless minutes later I made my way to the bathroom and got a washdown.

Time flew by after I got back in bed to binge watch my favourite anime Bleach, i got so caught up in that reality that i did not even notice the light giving way to darkness and dusk falling on us outside.

My regiment for most nights when i felt like cooling off was simple, I would put my music on and take a little straw around campus. The atmosphere at night was utterly different from the polluted one during the day. The roof of our hostel block was my special spot i would go to cool off or whenever I didn't want to disturbed Whenever i had a hectic day or was generally just feeling down and lonely. I would always climb there and watch as the sun set gracefully toward the town houses at the far east.

The view on the roof was breath taking, what i loved the most about the spot was its priceless access to the surrounding, from there i was able to be part of conversations, arguments or awkward moments with the unsuspecting victims. I was more visible than ever on top of the world yet at the same time I remained out of reach, that's where my fascination for the spot dwelled.

The highlight of my sessions on the rooftop arrived whenever Anna would pass by my view. I would watch her as she gracefully strolled down the corridor to class or the library.

She always looked breath-taking no matter what she was wearing be it sweatpants, a dress, lipped jeans you name it. I would always have to fight off the urge to call out to her but that would defeat the whole purpose of being invisible, this was my private show.

The sight of her would always catch me by surprise, I would find my heart skipping not just one but several beats.

In my eyes Anna was the perfect specimen she was all that i needed in a girl and on countless occasions had i made her aware of this fact and still got turned down. To that extent, i had made peace with my status quo in her life.

This hard truth would manifest itself time after time on my not so lucky days. She would pass by with Mac her boyfriend. I could swear it felt like getting run over by a train on such unfortunate encounter, my body always froze up with my eyes glued to their progress. Walking hand in hand smiling, giggling and playfully teasing it served as a testament to my shortcoming as a man. All I could do was watch on as life administered a double dose of heartbreak wrapped up in chilling embrace a red velveted reality.

Each time this happened rage and envy would flow through me camouflaging my sadness and defeat but the damage on my soul was eternally scarred on the walls of my fragile heart. The following day i would meet Anna in class with the memory of the day before still fresh in my head, the rage and hurting not visible on my face but still strong inside of me. She would make it all go away in just a moment, as soon as she called out to me, gave me her heart-warming smile and passionate hug all the hurt would instantly evaporate from my aching heart.

How did she do that; it was as if she knew exactly which of my buttons to push. This remains the mystery to the vulnerability of the human heart.

I was nothing but an average teenager seeking blind romance from a girl who never seemed to notice my efforts. She was my kryptonite, the one deadly weapon to destroy a seemingly indestructible hero in the warfare of the heart. I had gotten myself in this trap by falling for something I could never have, dug my own grave by letting her into my heart and now i just had to own up to my actions and lay in my grave quietly.

I remember that particular Sunday everything felt different, the breeze swept differently on the rooftop compelling my gaze into the distance.

In that moment my gaze fell on 'her' and it was not my dear Anna, this time it was "mystery girl" out of hiding. Something about seeing her just felt right to me even at that marathon distance.

At the time she was with two of her friends heading to class or maybe the library evident by the books in their hands. Before i could even process what was happening a wave of adrenaline rushed all over me, i found myself making my way down from the roof, taking two steps at a time down the steel ladders on the side of the building.

It was getting dark and cold so i instinctively pulled my hoodie over my head, my headsets pushed deep in my ears with the music getting louder in my head as i caught up with the girls. I paced down as I approached maintaining a safe distance between us but at the same time making sure i got a better view of the culprit who had been tormenting my dreams.

Anyone looking at me at the time would tell i was giving out a very strong stalker vibe but I did not mind. The sight of her was too mesmerizing for me to even think of what I looked like, that work of art looked absolutely mouth-watering even from behind.

It all finally came to that moment, all my searching, all patience and day dreams for when I finally met her.

"what do i do now?" "Should i call out to her? and then say what?" All the ideas in my head seemed silly so I ignored everything and kept on with my pursuit.

I was so close, close enough to read her smile, to hear her piercing laugh as one of her friends told a story. On account of the music I could not hear what they were talking about but it seemed funny enough as to make break down. Then I noticed her smile, she had one of the most beautiful smiles I have ever seen.

How can a creature born of man be this perfect? i wondered to myself.

Tap tap! the tap on my tense shoulder jolted me back to my senses, i nearly jumped out of my skin.

I looked behind me only to find Anna staring back at me.

Where did she come from?