Desperate

Rick's point of view:

The stalker was...

LIMPING?!

Please don't tell me...
No, It can't be...
The stalker is...


No!
I cannot judge the person so quickly.
Maybe it was just pure coincidence...
Or maybe he really was the...

Aaaargh!
I do not know what to think anymore!

"Rick!" Chelsea gleefully called out as she opened the gate.

"Hi Chelsea." I weakly greeted back. My mind was a mess.

"Why weren't you going inside? C'mon!" Chelsea said as she grabbed my hand and pulled me towards her house.

"Chelsea... um... I think... I know who's the stalker." I whispered, making the last sentence inaudible.

"Pardon?" Chelsea said as she turned to me.

"Nothing. I think you're looking more beautiful each day." I beamed.

Chelsea blushed.
"Shut up! Let's go!" she smiled again.

My heart felt heavy.
How could this happen?
I can't help but think that the stalker was...

Suddenly, I smelled something delicious.

"Wow! Lasagna!" I happily exclaimed when I saw the big plate of hot, sizzling lasagna.

"Hope you'll like it." Chelsea smiled as she reached for some spoons and plates.

"Who made it?" I asked as Chelsea reached out the plate to me.

Chelsea grinned.
"It was my first time cooking."

My eyes widened.
"This is very good for a first-timer!"

Chelsea smiled sheepishly and took a seat beside me. She served me first before putting lasagna on her plate.

"Let's eat!" Chelsea said as she took a spoonful of lasagna into her mouth.

Even if there's a mountain of lasagna in front of me...
I still can't take my eyes off her.
Chelsea was just so beautiful.
I really can't believe she's finally MINE.

As Chelsea chewed her first taste of the lasagna, her face paled.

"Something wrong?" I asked worriedly.

Chelsea quickly ran to the comfort room with her mouth full. But when she came out, her mouth was empty.

"It tastes terrible," Chelsea whimpered as she wiped her mouth, "Don't eat if you want to save your tongue."

Because of what Chelsea said, I was afraid to eat it. Since I was a child, I had a poor stomach. If I take in something that I don't really like, my stomach starts aching so badly.

"I'm so sorry, Rick." Chelsea apologized as she carried the mountain of lasagna towards the sink.

Suddenly, I noticed something.
Her hands and fingers were filled with burns and bandages.

"Maybe because of cooking." I thought aloud.

Touched, I approached Chelsea and gave her a back-hug.

Surprised, Chelsea turned to me and blushed.

"Wh-what are you doing?" Chelsea stammered.

I grabbed the plate of lasagna from her hands and brought it back to the table.

"Don't!" Chelsea exclaimed.

"I'll eat it." I announced as I took a spoonful of lasagna into my mouth.

Here it comes...

"Don't! Spit it out!" Chelsea ordered hysterically.

Sure, it tasted terrible.
But, good thing that I was able to keep a poker face.

"It tastes okay." I lied and glanced at her wounded fingers.

"You don't have to force yourself." Chelsea said as she snatched the plate from me.

I grabbed her hand and kissed it.

"Don't hurt yourself again, okay? If you do, I'll go crazy." I whispered as I stared into Chelsea's brown eyes.

Chelsea laughed.
"Okay."

I left Chelsea's house happily.
I felt free and satisfied.
I almost forgot the incident a while ago.

That reminds me!
The stalker!

I grabbed my cellphone and punched in Dale's number.

"Hello?" Dale asked in a sleepy voice.

"It's me, Rick. I hope I didn't wake you up."

"You already did. What's the problem?"

"The watch... the Rolex watch... who gave it to you?"

The other line was silent.

"Dale? Who gave that to you?"

"Wait! I'm thinking..."

"C'mon. Think quickly."

"Wait! Don't give me pressure..."


"C'mon. Faster!"

"I got it!"

"Who's he?"

"I forgot his name."

"Dale! C'mon refresh yourself."

"Okay. I'll try to remember..."

"C'mooon..."

"Aha! I got it!"

"Who is he?"

"Aaron? Allan? Arvin? I don't remember! But his names starts with 'A'"

"Huh?"

"I've got it," Dale exclaimed, "His name is...














"... Adam."