Chapter 9

It was 2:00PM when Ersel and Van decided to go to the library to do some homework before their next class would start at 4:00PM.

“Let’s do our homework at the library, Ersel,” Van suggested while grinning in a friendly way.

Ersel nodded and smiled innocently and replied, “Okay!"

Despite the large number of students in the library, both Ersel and Van were luckily able to find available seats for themselves before they took their books and notebooks from their respective bags and began doing their mathematics homework.

A while later, they were solving algebra and trigonometry problems when Ersel thought of looking for other books for additional problem exercises for the purpose of trying out possibly more difficult ones.

“Van, I’ll go look for other books,” Ersel said before standing up.

“Okay,” Van replied while grinning at Ersel. “Go on.”

Ersel nodded and smiled back at Van before proceeding to look for the mathematics books among the shelves of the library. He eventually found the section that has the mathematics books, and, to his shock, he saw Lino holding and reading a book in that same section.

[It’s Lino!] Ersel thought in astonishment after hiding behind some shelves to avoid being seen by Lino. [Why does he have to be here right now? Damn it...]

At that moment, Ersel felt his heart beat faster than normal due to nervousness. He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly to try to make himself calmer. Then he peeped and watched Lino closing and taking a mathematics book before the latter went on to go away, possibly to either go back to his own seat in the library or to borrow the book from the library.

At that instant, Ersel remembered what he and Van had called the ‘Operation ULI’. Ersel had also remembered what he and Van had agreed upon.

[That’s right. I should follow him around without letting him notice me.] Ersel thought while following Lino with the former’s own gaze. [But first, I should look for algebra and trigonometry books.]

Ersel then checked the book titles on the shelves. He would scan each book quickly before finally deciding to pick two books which he thought were the best. He picked one algebra book and one trigonometry book before proceeding to get back to his seat in the library.

While going back to his seat in the library, Ersel saw from a distance of several feet that Lino was seated just right behind the former’s seat, making the former feel nervous. Lino had three other male students seated with him at the other table, and Ersel presumed that they were probably Lino’s classmates. Lino was facing the opposite side since he was using another table though, so he would not see Ersel sitting down if the latter was careful enough to not be noticed by the former.

[What the…? He’s seated right behind me?] Ersel thought nervously. [What should I do?]

After a few moments of thinking, Ersel had thought that it would be for the best since he might be able to get some clues regarding Lino, although the former also knew that he had to be very careful to not be noticed by the latter.

[That’s right!] Ersel thought determinedly. [If Lino’s right behind me, I’d be able to overhear their conversation! But it would be best if he won’t notice me at all, so I have to go back to my seat without catching his attention!]

Ersel then sent this message to Van via Messenger: [Van, please don’t call my name when you see me. Lino is right behind my seat. We can’t let him know that I’m nearby.]

Van saw Ersel’s message and replied: [Okay. Don’t let him notice you. Cover your face with the books.]

[Got it. Thanks, Van.] Ersel replied with a smiling emoji.

Just as Van had instructed him, Ersel covered his own face with the books opposite to the direction that Lino was in before the former reached his own seat, with Van watching the former closely. Van opened his own mouth to say something, but before he could, Ersel put his index finger on his own lips, signaling the former to just stay quiet. Luckily, Van was able to hold his tongue just in time before his words came out of his mouth.

Ersel sent a message to Van via Messenger: [We can’t let him hear my voice. So, please stay quiet.]

[It will be fine. He’s so focused on his homework that he won’t notice us.] Van replied with a winking emoji.

[Okay then. Let’s just stay quiet enough for him to not notice us.] Ersel replied.

Van sent a Like sticker after reading Ersel’s message.

[I’ll try to listen to their conversation for now.] Ersel sent to Van via Messenger.

Okay. Good luck, man! Van replied with a smiling emoji.

“Okay, let’s start,” Ersel whispered so as to not let Lino recognize the former’s voice. “Which book do you want first?”

Van thought for a moment while staring at the books that Ersel took, and the former said, “The trigonometry book, please.”

Ersel gave the trigonometry book to Van and both of them began solving practice exercises from the borrowed books.

While he was solving algebra problems, Ersel tried to hear whether Lino and his classmates would talk about anything important, especially about Lino’s true identity, but there was none for the period of about one hour except for the occasional asking and teaching with one another about some mathematical problems.

Finally, one of Lino’s male classmates asked Lino, “So, Lino, you’ve got a girlfriend?”

“Yes,” Lino answered proudly.

“Wow! You’re lucky, man!” the same guy commented. “How long have you been together?”

“One year,” Lino answered.

“How did you meet her?” another guy asked.

“I first met her via Tinder,” Lino replied while smiling.

“Woah! That’s...amazing!” the second guy said while smiling.

“So, how did you court her?” the third guy asked curiously.

“Hmmm...I dated her about three times to get to know her first before courting her formally,” Lino answered with his arms crossed while smirking. “After that, I would chat with her many times, telling her that I love her. We kept on dating until one day, when I asked her to be my girlfriend, she finally said ‘Yes’.”

“How long did it take for you to court her before you became her boyfriend?” the first guy asked.

“About six months,” Lino replied with a smirk.

“Wow, that’s so long!” the first guy commented cheerfully. “You were that serious about her, huh?”

“Yes,” Lino answered with his eyes dilating and his mouth showing a gentle smile. “And that’s why I didn’t give up on her no matter how long it took.”

“That’s...wonderful!” the second guy commented cheerfully. “That was also how long I courted my girlfriend too.”

“So, what’s she like?” the third guy asked. “Is she the pretty type? Or the cute type?”

Lino chuckled and said, “The pretty type.”

Ersel, who was listening to their conversation, remembered that his childhood friend Lino would also chuckle before describing something that the latter likes. That was the same thing that the Lino behind him did just now.

That’s exactly the same thing that my friend Lino would do before describing anything that he likes! Ersel thought after remembering one of the things that his childhood friend would do. And you did it yourself too, Lino! Now I’m about 99% sure that it’s you!

However, at that moment, Ersel thought that the evidence might not be enough and that Lino would still deny his own identity to the former.

[Yeah...that evidence isn’t enough. I still need more concrete evidence.] Ersel thought decidedly and determinedly. [Van and I need to think of another plan to get one.]

“Van,” Ersel whispered, calling Van’s attention. Van looked at him with questioning eyes, and Ersel said softly, “Let’s get out of here for now. Let’s talk about our plan.”

Van, who understood what Ersel was trying to say, nodded and did as Ersel had instructed him to do.

After putting the books back on the shelves, both Ersel and Van did their best to avoid being seen or noticed by Lino while they made their way out of the library.

[Good. I don’t think that he noticed me.] Ersel thought in relief while looking at Lino from a distance of several feet.

“Ersel, let’s go,” Van said softly with a friendly grin.

“Yeah,” Ersel replied softly with an innocent smile before both he and Van went out of the library.