Secret Admirer

      The school day has come to an end. I sauntered down the street to the dorm, checking my phone for new notifications. I caught sight of a chat with my best, and perhaps only friend Alex. He didn't have to sort the letters today, so I just turned off the phone and walked a little faster.       I reached my room. Opening the creaking door with a key, I went in and stretched lazily. On the table, as usual, there were stacks of letters that could not wait for their owner. A few gifts from fans and sheets of paper. Everything is as usual.       I put the phone on the table and went to the closet to change, but I didn't get there. A letter lying on the made-up bed caught my attention. It was different from the ones in the stack. This one had a red ribbon and a sticker. I came closer and picked it up, frowning.       After hesitating, I took a pair of scissors from the table and cut off a piece. There was a paper with text inside: "I'll be counting down the hours all day until I meet you."        Your secret admirer.       It's hard to say what I experienced. On the one hand it's cute, but on the other it's scary. I started to think who it could be. Fortunately, I didn't have to think long. Alex came to mind first. Although it sounds absurd, it seemed to me that lately he has been looking at me more often. Maybe that's what he's hinting at?       Putting the envelope aside, I decided to write to Alex about it. I opened the chat, clicked on the message box and blunted it. And what to say? I don't think it's worth saying straight out, "Hey, listen, did you write that weird letter?" However, I'll be honest, if it was one of the fans, I would write like this, but Alex...       After a little thought, I wrote:       "Hey, didn't you come by my place today?"       Alex surprisingly answered right away:       "Hey, no i didn't. Is something wrong?"       I realized that I was unlikely to get an answer that way, but I didn't want to ask directly either. I decided to try to get a confession out of him with words, not with these strange letters. I replied:       "No, nothing. I just asked"                               ***       The morning started with a heat wave. I was sitting and literally roasting in class. Trying to cool off with the help of a notebook, I caught Alex's gaze on me, but when I looked back at him, he immediately hid his eyes. Trying to figure out if I've seen the envelope? I wonder what he will prepare this time.       I went back into the room. This time there was a small box on the table. I looked down at the door and came closer. She was also tied with a red ribbon. I unsteadily untied the ribbon and opened the box. There was a bottle of water and a note. I was surprised, but I took the note: "I look into your eyes and see my soul reflected in them."       Your secret admirer.       I shuddered. I didn't think Alex was capable of such terrible speeches. I decided that I needed to get a confession out of him and get to the truth.                               ***       I stared at Alex's back. A plan has matured in my head. I need to catch him after class.       The bell finally rang, and I jumped up from my seat to block Alex's path. It's just us in the classroom.       — Well, shall we go? — I asked, putting my hand on his shoulder.       —Eh? Uh... y-yes,— he stammered, and walked briskly to the door.       I quickly overtook him and blocked the exit.       — Wait!       He, apparently not expecting this, was scared and blushed, as it seemed to me.       — You're coming today, aren't you? — the question was a trick. If he gets scared, then these are his notes. If he just answers "Yes", then it's not him.       — W—where to? - Alex asked, dumbfounded.       Inside, I was damn glad. These are his notes! That's just it... Was I glad that I guessed the author of the notes, or that he was in love with me? Because of this question, I did not immediately answer Alex.       — Oh, well... l-letters! — I threw up my hands, as if saying the obvious things.       —Ah... Sure,— he seemed upset.       I let Alex pass and watched him go. The question I asked myself caught me off guard. What a nightmare... However, I still had other things to do. We need to make sure that Alex is the author of the notes.       I hid in the hallway opposite, and waited for this "secret admirer" to appear.       — Vladimir!       A student who noticed me shouted. As if on cue, others heard her, and a crowd began to approach in my direction.       They surrounded me from all sides. I tried to get out of it, they say, and I'm in a hurry, but I couldn't stay in place after that and just wait. In the end, I had to answer each one, and when I signed the last notebook of some girl from the music club, I took up the position again.       After a while, I heard footsteps. I started up and began to watch. More and more clearly, I could hear someone coming closer. I looked out quietly and saw Alex coming to the door. Overjoyed with my detective skills, I jumped out of my spy hideout with a triumphant yell.       — Got you! — I pointed my fingers at the scared guy. He twitched and then clutched at his chest.       — What the heck was that?! — it seems he was unhappy. — Gee, you scared me! And anyway, why are you sitting here?       — Why did you come? — the question sounded more epic in my head.       — What do you mean? — He arched an eyebrow. — To sort letters. Or have you already done it?       — What? — I was expecting to hear a confession that these are his creepy notes and ribbons. — Oh, I already have... In short, you can go! — I got a little angry with myself and gently pushed my friend away from the door, entering the room myself.       I sighed noisily. I wanted to lie down on the bed and take a break from all this. Forget about those stupid notes and gifts from... A stranger? Or is it Alex after all?       I lay down on the bed, but before I could think about anything, I felt something under my back. Straightening the blanket, I saw another note: "With thoughts of you, I fall asleep and feel happy all night."       Your secret admirer       He's a genius. A terrible genius. Or is she? But in any case, I felt as if thousands of eyes were looking at me now, and everyone belonged to him... Or her. I didn't have the strength to think anymore, so I just went to bed.                               ***       Angry, I went to my room. I can't stand Simone, especially at rehearsals. Is it really so hard not to spoil everyone's mood at least once? I was as angry as ever, almost making my hair stand on end. Also this fan...       I nervously pulled the pen and saw another note on the table. I didn't even read it this time. I got tired of playing detective, so I took the note and went to Alex. Not head-on, but I will know the truth!       I didn't have to walk long, I met him in the hallway. He noticed me and was surprised.       — Ah, Vladimir! I was just going to-       — Tell me honestly: is this yours? — before he could finish, I almost showed him the note right next to him. — And this? — I took two more notes out of my pocket.       — What is it?       — I wanted to ask you the same thing, — I defiantly crossed my arms over my chest. It was as if there was a fire burning in me and a desire to get an answer from him. — Why did you write all this? Couldn't you have said it in person? — I started walking forward, forcing Alex to step back against the wall. — You're my friend, you have the opportunity to talk to me! I understand if you had some fan of mine, — Alex lightly bumped the back of his head against the wall.       — What are you talking about?..       — Seriously, if you have something to say, say it in words! — I said, finally pinning the poor guy into a corner.       Alex looked at me briefly. I wasn't going to take my eyes off it.       — I like you, — he said, exhaling.       It seemed to me that my heart skipped a beat. To be honest, I didn't expect him to actually say this to me personally. My face changed instantly.       — I've been wanting to say this for a long time, but I've only got the courage now... — He looked away guiltily, as if I were blaming him for some oversight. — Say something...       It's like I've swallowed my tongue. On the one hand, I was glad that this person turned out to be Alex, and on the other...       — I... don't know,— I said honestly. The fire in his chest died down with the ends. In its place came fear and embarrassment, probably... I didn't fully understand what I was feeling myself.       — That's good with me, I understand, — he smiled sadly, as if he knew that I would say this, but did not want to accept it. — Can we still be friends?       We both knew that it wouldn't be the same as before, so after giving myself an extra second to realize the future action and mentally sending everything to hell, I just kissed him. Anyway, we won't be the same friends anymore, so I decided to give it a try. Surprisingly, I did not feel disgusted as before from kissing some girl, but on the contrary I liked it. Maybe it was all a new experience, but my heart was telling me something else. Even my hands were shaking a little.       —I think I like you too,— I said on an exhale, breaking away from the kiss.       Alex was surprised in response, but then he smiled and laughed. I couldn't help but smile like an idiot, too.                               ***       — So what were those notes? — Alex asked when we went out into the yard to take a little walk, and then sat down on a bench.       Here are all my investigations and an imaginary cork board with pins and threads collapsed into the abyss.       — Aren't they yours? — I asked in a trembling voice, hoping that he would say that he was just joking with me.       — This is the first time I've seen it, — he replied, perplexed, reading one of the notes. — Well, it's creepy...       — I thought you wrote them, — I handed him another one. — Wait, who else has "access" to my room? — I asked fearfully.       — As far as I know, no one except you and me... — Alex also looked at me with fear.       — Uh, I'm sorry...       Alex and I turned our heads in the direction of the sound at the same time. There was a girl in the shape of a musical club standing there and nervously fingering her pigtail.       —Uh, these are my notes... — She replied, embarrassed.       I was upset. I did not expect that such a modest girl would be the author of such horror.       We talked to her. She explained to us that she had lost an argument to friends who adore me, and she would have to write similar notes for a week. She had access to the room because she stole the key from the director. I don't know where they got the duplicates from... Fortunately, she apologized and promised that this would not happen again.        Since then, Alex and I have often recalled this incident at the dinner table with the noise of the TV.