Familiar

Several days later, Farah, Anne and Raja go to a cinema at High Mountain, 30 kilometres from their houses at 9 o'clock in the morning. Farah suggested watching a movie at 10 or 11 o'clock as the early, the better. Raja's plan three days ago to watch a movie was successful as they are now discussing what movie to watch on a wooden seat upfront. Anne chooses to watch a horror movie but conversely, Raja chooses other genres but horror.

They quarrel with one another as the emotional Raja is into cartoons. As a result, she chose puppies instead. Albeit she wants cartoons so much, the observer Anne beat her to it as she says that she will watch it with her together with the overthinker Farah soon, after they get back from Japan or perhaps not as they could watch it at home next month anyhow. The observer unconsciously smiles and begins to tease the emo while internally smirking inside. The overthinker just watches them as dull as dishwater expression as they are such a pain in the neck. Such an embarrassing moment for her. "They are literally 23??? Hello there??? Why are they acting like they are 12???" She whispers while lowering.

"Are you kidding me??! Did you just choose puppies over ghosts?" The observer says then playfully gasping with a pretend-to-be-shocked-face with one hand covering her lips.

"They are cute what?!! And besides, nothing caught my attention until I saw the puppies poster" She retorts with an expressionless countenance.

"But... you are... cuter than those puppies," The observer tells out of the blue.

"What is the bloody h*ll is wrong with you??! You're hellish cranky, d*mn! " She disgusts.

"I-well... not lying. So, nothing is wrong with me. I'm strong and healthy. Plus, I'm really fine. Thank you for asking" The observer solemnly says then makes a shy gesture. She's out of her mind for sure.

"You are unquestionably mad as a hatter, Anne. Ya Allah, you're sick!" She boldly replies while shaking her head countless times.

"I will not be going anywhere if I'm sick right now. I only... stated the fact, bruh" The observer replies. She grimaces while widening her eyes as she could not believe what the latter had said to her.

Not even once in her lifetime that her best friends, especially the observer said that to her face. Like that. But frankly speaking, the observer never said anything greasy smoothly without her saying that she was out of her mind and could care less with whatever her response was. The observer just wants to cheer her up and appreciate her for who she is but that is not the case. She did not know the observer is this cheesy(upgraded) and cringe-worthy. W to the o to the w.

On the other hand, the overthinker remains watching the two of them while shaking her head and rolls her eyes at them for bickering like there is no one around. Therefore, she murmurs in an inaudible sound while silently walking to the counter ticket as her time is precious and ashamed with her best friends fighting over trivial matters as well as pretending not to know them. Facepalm. Those two humans made her internally execrated. Not wanting to but they made her blood boils a little.

"How come you guys are my friends? Ugh!"

"You know what?!! Let's just leave them and buy the tickets right now"

"Sorry... I don't know them haha"

"Ha ha ha. Yeah... they're insane"

"Ya Allah! It's better if I watch the movie alone without those two!"

Finally, they stop bickering after about 10 minutes. They then realize the overthinker is gone. Both of them start searching for her in instant worrying if she got lost. Meanwhile, she just bought the Horror Ghosts tickets. And mhm still waiting. While eyeballs wandering around, one of them found her not long after. She stands a bit far from the counter ticket while crossing both hands and shooting daggers straightly at her unashamed best friends. The emotional and observer look at each other and apologetically smile at her as they forget about her for a moment. She is still staying put for the two of them to move their butt there and subsequently tells them to treat her as punishment after they reach before her. They apologize and agree to treat her with whatever she wants before getting into the cinema. At last.

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"Weh, I just discern that you look like one of the ghosts" Anne initiates a conversation to tease Farah while slightly looking at her after the movie ends. Anne also could not understand herself at times as she talked nonsense and such so abrupt. They leisurely walk to the exit door with their usual position, Anne on the left, Farah in the middle and Raja on the right.

"It's more like you honestly. Your personality is exactly just like one of them... or might be you are their long-lost friend" Farah replies. She knows Anne is teasing her though she did not mention any and decides to play along.

"Yeah... I miss them... Eh??! I don't even know why they are fighting though they are both ghosts anyhow. Didn't they usually scare the h*ll out of people?" Anne rolls her eyes and shakes her head as it does not make any sense as to why they are fighting like they are humans. They don't have brains, right?

'Shouldn't they work together? Hm...' Anne thought.

"Well, I don't know. It's just fiction, maybe? You should search on Google or somewhere" Farah answers.

"They also have feelings, IMBECILE!" Raja interjects and emphasizes the last word as she thinks Anne is asking stupid questions then snickering as it is her turn to tease her. Anne slowly nods and thinks that it is somewhat possible ghosts have feelings. Raja let out a light sigh and realises her tease became a statement. "Ya Allah... were you sleeping when a scene of the truth unfold?" She asks and wonders why she got this kind of friend who easily trusts her as she obviously was just trying to fool her. Surely so done with Anne's antics. "I'm lying, Anne. Enough with your twit remarks, silly!" She adds yet Anne carries on being lost in her thoughts. "Argh! I should jus- you know what... never mind" She put a mental note not to answer Anne's stupid questions again. She then looks above the ceiling while desperately closing her eyes. Anne is zoning out with only her lower body is moving. She habitually did that whenever she is talking poppycock.

As they walk to the parking lot, Anne senses someone peeks at them all at once. She begins to feel anxious but in some way disregards it off as it may be just her eccentric guts which sometimes has been mistaken and perturbation as usual. But she usually does not even care about her surroundings unless there is a suspicious human or creature that behave weirdly and keeps looking at her which patently will make her petrified. Who knows, right? But there is no exception for today natheless she cannot apprehend it.

She pretends to dust her blouse and stop walking to keep her peepers on them and things around her thereupon continue treading rear them with wariness. She slowly and playfully cranes to her back to make sure nothing unpleasant get near them and at the same time, sham like she is not aware of her surrounding. Besides, there is nothing to worry about... yes? She is very much query at the moment and almost gets a panic attack as she cannot pacify her panic state. It is uncontrollable. 'Aargh, please... I need certainty right now not b*llsh-' But in a matter of seconds, a small dark shadow speedily moves on her right shoulder thus she jolts and flinches numerous times while clasping tightly on the hem of her blouse. It is already gone when she promptly turns her head and loosen her clasps afterwards. She touches her right shoulder and caresses it gently and later, lost in her train of thoughts. Again.

'Oh, thank Allah. It's maybe just my imagination...'

'But why my heart is thumping so fast?'

'Oh, ya... I forgot I tend to overthink'

They decided to go to Baik La Vast after paying for the car parking ticket and gain the cafe not long after. Admiringly they look at the beautiful painting on the walls around with quotes and a designed cake clock on the right side. It is almost packed when they set their foot in the cafe but gladly they hit there early before it is crowded. There is also nice 3D cakes wallpapers where people could snap tons of photos at the rear. They all set their eyes to the 3D wallpapers and a table close by as well as get to sit there. Apart from that, there are glass mirrors on the left side which is where the doors are located and a few tables and chairs in front and next to them.

"Yes! After so long... I miss my chocolate indulgence cake" Anne says while gazing at the chocolate indulgence cake in the chiller.

"You gonna eat cake only for lunch? No rice?" Raja asks with a frown on her countenance.

"She might be on diet today" Farah answers although today is actually a cheat day for her.

"Woo, relax guys. I was just saying. I will order a set of meals too and I'm not on a diet since today is Saturday" She replies with a smile on her face as she finally gets to eat her favourite cake after so long.

"Too bad. I wanna show off my food" Raja says nonchalantly.

"Right? Eat it deliciously as we've never tasted it before. Make her tempted and drooling" Farah adds and playfully stick out her tongue.

"Uh-uh, no way. You won't know when I'm on diet. Bleh! I-"

A waitress comes, give a menu and order paper with a pen as well as asks for their order thus the conversation ceases just like that. They begin to look at the menu and immediately write their order thereupon give it to the waitress. The latter says thank you and they reply back with a smile. Anne consecutively looks at the waitress because of her dimples on both sides, perfect U-line, not-so-pointed nose, oval shape face and big eyes but somehow she looks familiar as she has had met her somewhere. Not to forget, the bit tan skin that suits her makes her more attractive as she would definitely make other girls insecure including her despite the short height she has that made her even cuter. What matter the most is that she looks like the mysterious guy she met a few days ago.

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She maunders outside a store for a minute or two while holding a plastic bag in her left hand that contain 2 small bottles of coffee and lattes then spaced out about what had occurred after she finished eating. "Anne! Anne!"Someone called her from afar not long after but she did not hear. Breathe the cold air refreshed her mind after sending her mother to her friend's house and stopping by a grocery store to buy a cold latte and coffee afterwards. She is supposed to be at home right now and resting. But her mother buzzed her just after she, Farah and Raja finished eating because of sore matters. Her mother said her father was working and no one can send her to her friend's house because she wants to meet them. It's been so long. 'Mom? Really? That's what you called emergency?' She thought. The recalled was passing in a flash.

And now, she seeks for the voice everywhere until she faces this one standing tall and sturdy man with an almost square face, neat beard, sizeable eyes, sexy lips and pointed nose walking in her direction. 'Is he the one who's calling me just now?' She questions herself. And again, she lost in her thoughts thinking about why he calls her and such. Feeling bizarre, he calls her once again as she is still not moving an inch from her spot.

"Um, miss? Are you okay??? Miss?"

"......."

"Miss Anne??!"

"U-uh, d-did you call me?"

"Uh, yes... I have something to tell you"

"Me? Um... about what eh?"

"Follow me then I'll tell you"

"What makes you think that I'll follow you? I'm sorry, not my intention to offend you or what but who are you? I definitely won't follow you"

'Ya Allah, he's weirdly attractive but no sh*t. I'll better get going before... no no no, I don't want to even think about it' She thought with her brows knitted and shakes her head after.

"It's really important. Serious. If not, I won't be following you here"

"Why not tell me here instead?"

"I can't. Can you just please follow me? It's about us"

"Sorry, I don't even know you and not to mention about us. Don't be ridiculous"

'What does he mean about us? It's ludicrous and grotesque' She thought with a glower on her front.

She begins walking away and heading to the parking lot without a glance. She is getting ready to get into her car when he suddenly approaches her from behind and apologizes for being rude earlier. He promises not to force her again and asks for her number if she can meet him at some other time. She concurs and gives him her number. He then bids goodbye with apologetic peepers. She feels a tad guilty yet expeditiously drives home. After a quarter of an hour, she gains, turns off the engine and hops out of the car with her handbag on her arm. She then locks her car and closes the gate leisurely pacing while glimpsing outside a second. One black shiny car stops surprisingly in front of her house. She thought it is maybe the neighbour's family or maybe be just waiting for someone thereupon walk to the door while rummaging in her bag for a key.

As she twists the knob, someone briskly pushes her inside and locks it right away. She is flabbergasted and nearly gets a heart attack. What is scaring her more is the man that she met just now is 10 metres ahead of her. He steadily walks to her with a dark expression. It made her widen her eyes. Breath hitched and becomes heavy as she walks backwards till unknowingly her back touches the hard walls. She tries to get away by moving instantaneously to the right but he abruptly put his arm there. She could run away easily now by slowly moving to the left without him knowing while keenly peering into his eyes to distract him.

He unexpectedly corners her with his left arm unknowingly showing his lopsided leer which one hundred per cent makes her unbelievably go off her head together with swearing internally. And there she is, standing weakly between his arms and looking anywhere but him when there is only an inch close proximity between them. Her chest panting with alarms up and down in a double-quick time like a haunted house tour just came to an end. He simpers all of a sudden and could have been seen that his nose is almost touching her's as well as could feel his blows breathe on her face. He changes his expression back to the intimidating one which is the opposite of what he showed her in front of the grocery store just now. She gulps the lump in her throat at the closeness. The introductory begin to set in.

"Remember me?"

"......."

"Cat got your tongue, exquisite?"

"Wha-what do you want??!"

"You don't have to shout. I heard you very well, shadowy ethereal beauteous. And I told you to follow me but you said no... so, I don't have any other choices"

"W-what d-do you mean? You always got... options! Please.. let me go..."

"Well, I guess now I've more time to spend with you..."

'Oh no, I'm dead for sure. I'll be dead by tomorrow. Oh, Ya Allah! This is not good! I should give him my money. The only RM50 left in my wallet and my- Eh?!! Wait, how come this dimwit jerk knows my house?!! Please, mum and dad, help me... please.stop.falter-' She thought, still stumbles over the words.

"In your house... just..."

"W-what are you talking about? How do you know my house? You said you wanna tell me something. So, what is it?"

"You're cute when you're mad. Oh, I follow you from the grocery store and nothing actually. I just wanna warn you to cancel your trip to Japan"

"And why is that?"

"Just... cancel it. Aside from scrubbing it, you can just staycation here. Much better than going abroad"

"Meh... you don't have a valid reason though why do I have to listen to you?"

"Just... do it, d*mmit! Ugh! Don't make me-"

"I've many things to do than listen to your abrupt remarks if you please!"