Overthinking

Music filled the room as Anna lay flat on her bed. 

She was still in the same outfit she had worn earlier. Ever since she came home from Brett Prestman's party, she had thrown herself on her bed and had yet to move.

"I like you. I like you, Anna," Kristofer Almodiel's voice echoed through her head. 

Grabbing the nearest pillow beside her, Anna placed it over her head, concealing her face and muffling her voice as she screamed.

Fuming, she got up from the bed. She started pacing inside her room.

"How dare he!" she bellowed. "How dare he!" she repeated as a realization hit her. It appeared that Kristofer Almodiel had intended to get her fazed, and he must be laughing at her now, knowing his plan had succeeded.

"How dare you!" Anna screamed yet again as she threw herself back on the bed. Her white ceiling seemed to be teasing her vision. 

She shut her eyes, trying to calm her nerves. She hated Kristofer Almodiel. She hated him for ruining her plans for the evening. She hated him for saying such things, and Anna also had to hate herself for being affected by it.

Moving her right hand, Anna curled it into a fist as she punched her chest with it. The thudding sounds she heard made her think of how she deserved some beating at that moment.

"Think of happy thoughts," Anna murmured.

A voice in her head reminded her that she needed to calm down. She can't be like this. She can't be mean to herself.

Unfortunately, her effort became futile, and Anna couldn't help but scrunch her face into a grimace. She got herself in a sitting position, her right forefinger and thumb pinching the spot right above the bridge of her nose.

"Why was I so unlucky?" Anna sighed in frustration. She dropped her hand to her side and opened her eyes.

The music she had played was not soothing her at all. It had never soothed her in the beginning. She scoffed, getting up to turn off the music, and finally headed inside her bathroom. 

She got herself ready to head to bed absent-mindedly

Anna was unable to draw a conclusion regarding Brett Prestman. She had no clear evidence that he was the guy her client had painted him to be. 

But Anna did not want to rule it out yet. She could not draw anything because Kristofer Almodiel entered the scene and ruined her chance.

Anna's frustration was evident on her face, and her reflection showed it while brushing her teeth.

Instead of dwelling on what had happened, Anna tried to think of ways to investigate Brett Prestman further without being disrupted by anyone else. 

After a few minutes of contemplation, Anna spat on the sink and rinsed her mouth. She then let out another frustrated scream. 

There was nothing that came to her mind.

She was still reeling from having nothing in mind when the doorbell ringing echoed through her condo.

Briefly glancing at the wristwatch in her hands, Anna was confused. She had no idea who would visit her at that hour. 

Nikki would call if she were to drop by, and Anna did not remember hearing anything from her best friend.

Aside from Nikki, Anna did not have anyone else visiting her.

Securing the bathrobe that was the only piece of clothing covering her body, Anna went her way to check who rang her doorbell. 

Upon seeing the person's identity on the screen beside her door, Anna instantly got fired up. Her screams of frustration earlier were nothing compared to how she badly wanted to scream right now.

Standing outside the door was no other than Ryan, the last person Anna had wanted to see.

—

Kristofer stared at the building, which was her place of residence. He smirked as he realized he was getting close to knowing who she was.

He debated it earlier but was glad he had decided to follow her home. She seemed bothered by what he said, which made him regret it.

But did he really? Kristofer contemplated and realized he had no regrets at all. If anything, he merely confessed. However, Kristofer was not entirely sure it was right. 

He was attracted to her, which made him conclude that he might like her.

Was it wrong to tell her that he did like her? It was yet to be bordering on a romantic level. Kristofer liked her. Period. 

The mystery that surrounded her had probably triggered his attraction toward her. It was the reason why he was trying to uncover her identity. Maybe, just maybe, if he finally figured out who she was, the attraction would stop.

Kristofer took note of coming by her place at an earlier time. Revving his car to life, Kristofer was about to pull out and be on his way when he noticed someone coming inside the building. 

Killing the engine, Kristofer squinted. From where he was, he somehow familiarized himself with the man's hair and confident gait.

Not wanting his curiosity to get the better of him, Kristofer exited his car and decided to follow the man.

The building had an automated door, and the fragrant smell of citrus instantly wafted through Kristofer's nose. He slowed his pace and waited for the person he was pursuing to ride the elevator. 

When the doors on the moving machine had closed, Kristofer ran towards the emergency exit door in the far left corner and began to climb the steps on the stairs speedily. 

His goal was to find which floor the man had intended to go. He had no idea why, but Kristofer was sure he did not live there. 

It was impossible, and even if that had been the case, surely, Anna would have taken notice and moved to a different place to reside.

However, seeing that she was still there, Kristofer knew that the man he was pursuing had come to see her, and somehow, Kristofer wanted to ensure that Anna was not in any danger.