Jay-Jay's POV
I stared at the screen for a long time.
Too long.
My thumb hovered over the keyboard, unmoving, like it didn't know what to do either.
From: Gagonbaliw
You still didn't reply.
I exhaled slowly, leaning my head back against the cold stall door.
"This is so stupid," I whispered to myself.
It was just a number.
Just a random person.
So why did it feel like this?
Why did it feel like if I replied… something would change?
I tightened my grip on my phone.
Then, before I could overthink it again—
I typed.
You:
Who are you?
My heart immediately started racing faster.
I stared at the message for a second… then pressed send.
And just like that—
It was done.
There was no taking it back now.
No pretending I didn't care.
No acting like it didn't matter.
Because I replied.
And that meant something.
I swallowed, staring at the screen, waiting.
Nothing.
No reply.
One minute passed.
Then two.
Then five.
I frowned slightly.
"Wow," I muttered. "Now you're quiet?"
I locked my phone, annoyed at myself for even waiting, and stepped out of the stall. I washed my hands slowly, staring at my reflection in the mirror.
"You're actually crazy," I told myself.
Replying to a stranger.
Letting it affect you.
Thinking about it this much.
Yeah.
Definitely crazy.
I dried my hands and walked out of the restroom, trying to act normal again. Like nothing just happened. Like I didn't just open a door I couldn't close anymore.
When I got back, Rakki immediately looked at me.
"You took forever."
"I was busy."
"Doing what?"
"Living my life."
She narrowed her eyes. "Suspicious."
"I'm not suspicious."
"You disappeared with your phone."
"So?"
"So that means something."
"It means I went to the bathroom!"
Mica calmly looked at me. "Did you reply?"
I froze.
Then sat down.
"…maybe."
Rakki gasped loudly. "YOU DID?!"
"Keep your voice down!" I snapped, looking around.
"Oh my God," she whispered loudly instead, which was not helpful at all. "What did you say? What did he say? Who is he? Is he cute? Is he rich? Is he—"
"I said who are you," I cut her off.
Both of them went quiet.
Then looked at me.
Then at each other.
Then back at me.
Mica nodded slowly. "Good."
Rakki pouted. "That's boring."
"I'm not flirting with a stranger," I said.
"Yet," she muttered.
I kicked her lightly under the table.
"Ow."
"Shut up."
For the next few minutes, they kept trying to get more information out of me, but there was nothing else to say.
Because he hadn't replied yet.
And for some reason…
That bothered me more than it should.
Lunch ended too quickly.
Classes started again.
And the rest of the day felt… longer than usual.
Every few minutes, I checked my phone.
Still nothing.
No reply.
No message.
No sign of him.
By the last subject, I was already annoyed.
"Why did I even reply…" I muttered under my breath.
Maybe he was just messing with me.
Maybe it really was a wrong number.
Maybe I was just overthinking everything.
Yeah.
That had to be it.
The final bell rang, echoing through the classroom.
Everyone started packing up, chairs moving, voices rising again.
I grabbed my bag and stood up, ready to leave, ready to forget about this whole thing.
Ready to go home.
But just as I stepped out of the classroom—
My phone vibrated.
I froze.
Slowly…
I looked down.
One new message.
From him.
From Gagonbaliw.
My heart started pounding again.
I hesitated for a second.
Then opened it.
From: Gagonbaliw
You really don't know?
My breath caught.
Before I could even react—
Another message came in.
From: Gagonbaliw
That hurts, baby.
My eyes widened slightly.
"What—"
Another one.
From: Gagonbaliw
After everything… you still don't recognize me?
I stopped walking completely.
Students passed by me. Noise filled the hallway.
But I couldn't hear anything.
Because my eyes were locked on the screen.
My heart beating too fast.
My mind racing.
After everything?
What was he talking about?
Who was he?
And why did it suddenly feel like…
This wasn't just some random number anymore?
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