I was sitting in the café Alex had first taken me, wondering how my life had come to this. It had been two months since I had lost my job at Bianchi Enterprises as a hacker. It had been more than two months since I had last seen Alex. And for the last one month, even the media didn’t know where the famous eligible bachelor was.
I sighed, placing the coffee mug on the table and leaning my head back, staring out of the window and my mind took me into memory lane, 8 years back.
I was a teenager then and still deciding on what to do with my future. Among the few friends I had during school, I had one friend that many didn’t know of. A pen pal.
We had never physically met but occasionally talked on this app where we could connect with people of similar interests. Sometimes it’s easier to share your emotions with people you don’t know personally, with people you have never met because you aren’t scared that they might judge you. And even if they do, you don’t care much because it’s just a stranger.
Soon it became easier to talk with her about everything, the ragging at school, the random crushes, family issues, favorite desserts, travel goals, just everything.
I found a friend in a complete stranger.
It was also because of her that I chose cybercrime as a career.
If you want to do it, do it. If you don’t want to, don’t. And if you are ever confused, light a candle, close your eyes, make a wish, blow out the candle and go eat some chocolates. Just remember, that wish you made, you must work towards it. That’s what you want.
Wishes don’t come true unless you believe in them.
She was an old soul caught in a 17-year-old girl. She was also the one who first told me about Ray Parker. He lived near her house and she had a crush on him, he was good-looking and a sweet talker.
Poor girl didn’t know he was to become her nightmare too.
For a few weeks, she was ecstatic, the few dates with him had been amazing, she was happy and I was happy for her. The way she talked about Ray made me think he could be perfect for her. Because she deserved it, she was beautiful, in and out.
She couldn’t stop talking about him, his way of eating, his favorite movies, how he smiled, how he held her hands, how with just one gaze he could make her heart skip a beat, how he would pretend to be scared at movies just so she wouldn’t feel embarrassed, how he remembered her likes and dislikes and how he made promises and swore to never break any.
And then she suddenly stopped texting.
For a whole week, I had sent over a hundred messages. I didn’t have her phone number, I didn’t know where she lived. We didn’t share addresses and personal contact information because we liked not knowing it. But I regretted never asking her about it.
A part of me knew something was wrong, a part of me was terrified for what went wrong. I searched for all over social media but ‘Julia’ was a pretty common name.
I knew she had one younger brother and one elder sister, her dad was a mechanic who didn’t love his children as much and her mother was a chef in a small restaurant. I also knew she liked winter over summers, she preferred to sleep till noon and didn’t like breakfasts much. She wanted to be a famous hacker and work for the FBI or some secret agency. But all of that seemed useless.
What was the use of knowing everything about a person except their last name and their contact information?
I spend nights waiting for a message from her.
‘Julia! Where are you? Are you okay?’
‘Did you lose your phone?’
‘It’s been over two weeks! Have you forgotten me? Is Ray keeping you that busy?’
‘WHERE ARE YOU?????? AT LEAST REPLY TO ME ONCE. JUST ONCE. SOMETHING! ANYTHING!’
‘Hi. Did I do something wrong? Are you sick?’
‘Julia, I am really worried now. We have never stopped talking for so long. I need to tell you about this Kdrama I really liked. Also I just lost my earphones and my bro almost killed me for it, they were his actually. Are you reading this?’
‘You know that girl in school who always dresses like a Barbie and looks down on everyone? Well she slipped on a banana peel today. The best moment ever! Everyone was laughing so badly, it was hilarious. Even her skirt flew to her waist and she was so embarrassed, I guess Karma does exist. Is anything new at your school?’
‘It’s been three weeks now. And I can feel that something is wrong but I don’t understand what. You know I’ll always listen to you. About anything. Did your parents fight again?’
‘You aren’t alone. Just talk to me. Or if you don’t want to talk just let me know that. I won’t even ask why. I’ll understand, I promise.’
‘It’s been over a month and I miss you.’
‘I hope you’re doing well. I really hope so.’
‘I am not going to be a literature professor as you suggested, I am going to be a professional hacker and then find out everything about you and slap you for making me go through this.’
‘I won’t message you after this. But I hope you read this. Whatever it is, please be okay. You are a beautiful soul and you need to keep smiling to make the world shine better. I wish you all the best and hope that someday we will meet.’
And that was the last message I sent to her before I deleted the app and cried myself to sleep that night.
“Hey Myra. You okay?”
I looked up, startled. I blinked, suddenly noticing a single tear flowing down my eye and landing on the cupcake. I cleared my throat, quickly wiping my face.
Evan offered a tissue and smiled softly. “Thanks.”
“Are you okay?” Evan’s tone was filled with worry. He leaned towards me, looking at me. “You have been looking sad for a while.”
I buried my face in my palms, feeling embarrassed. “Sorry.” I mumbled.
“Is it Alex?”
I shook my head and took a few deep calming breaths before finally looking up. “No. it’s not him.” I assured him.
Evan sent a small smile. “He hasn’t come here in over two months. How long will you continue to come here every day?”
I shrugged, looking at the wet tissues. “Until he comes here. Or until I know where he is so I can go and beg for forgiveness.”
Evan patted my shoulder. “Just go home. If he comes I’ll call you. I promise.”
I lifted my head to face him. “Promise? As soon as he comes? Whatever be the time.”
Evan nodded, smiling comfortingly. “I promise. Go home and get some rest.”
I nodded in acceptance. I picked up my purse and walked out. Just before I stepped out of the café, I turned to Evan. “As soon as he comes.” I reminded him again.
Evan nodded. “Yes Myra. I will call.”
“Thanks.” I muttered and walked out.
I stopped at the footpath looking around, puffing out my cheeks I blew a breath of air. “What to do now?” I mumbled to myself.
I took out my phone and wasn’t surprised to see no new messages or missed calls. Zivah had left the job at the hotel to concentrate on her upcoming exams and was probably copped up in her bedroom with empty chips and chocolate wrappers all around the floor. She was always her worst a week before exams.
Athena was probably at the office, she didn’t lose her job but she had to work past shift hours.
I walked towards the magazine stand. “Let’s get jealous over fashion models.” I said to myself.
Just as I was glancing over Vogue and Cosmo magazines, my eyes stopped on the newspaper headline.
‘Ray Parker, the famous hacker, finally behind bars.’
“No way!” I breathed out, grabbing the magazine. My eyes wide open and my heart beating speedily. I blinked, not believing the words.
I grabbed another newspaper, it had similar headlines. ‘Bianchi Enterprises Hacking Case finally closed. Hacker is sentenced to jail.’
My legs couldn’t support me, I stumbled and fell still staring at both the newspapers. I was breathing heavily, my head spinning and the little breakfast I had wanted to come out of my mouth.
I gulped, patting my chest, trying to console my trembling heart.
“Miss. Are you okay?”
I closed my eyes, leaning my head back and taking deep breaths.
“Miss? Should I call an ambulance?”
I shook my head, eyes still closed. “I am fine.” I gasped out.
“Then pay for those papers. You have crushed them.”
I blinked my eyes open, looking down at the papers. I was holding both papers in my fists tightly, the pages crumbled. I slowly loosened my fists. “I’ll buy them.” I said, getting up and leaning on the stand for support.
The man in his mid-thirties looked at me with an angry yet worried gaze. He extended his palm for the money. I gave him the money and thanked him, holding the two papers in my fist tightly.
“What a crazy woman.” He grumbled to himself but I heard him.
“I can’t disagree.” I whispered in response.
In the following months, the case had been off media. The lawyers weren’t saying anything and the media wasn’t informed about what happened in the court sessions.
Alex Bianchi had made sure to keep this case as far away from the media as possible and he had succeeded. I kept waiting for a call from his lawyers or the police. After all, I was the original culprit.
I kept waiting that Alex would eventually tell the court that Ray was innocent in this case and I would be the one put behind bars. I had even mentally prepared myself for it, one of the reasons I was looking for Alex was to apologize for everything and then I could turn myself in.
But this was something unexpected.
I sat at a nearby bench and pressed my palms over the papers, trying to straighten it a little.
“What have you done Alex Bianchi? And why?” I questioned myself in surprise.
I went to page 6 to read the complete story, it wasn’t much actually. Seems like the media only knew the final verdict but no details.
Ray Parker is charged for hacking the famous IT Company, Bianchi Enterprises and found guilty. A sentence of 7 years imprisonment has been the final verdict by the judge. The data hacked is said to be critical and can be misused. But there has been no leak of any data. Luckily the culprit was caught before the data could be disclosed anywhere. Alex Bianchi, the owner is still not in contact and no one knows where he is.
The rest was just assumed by the media and stories on how this will affect the stock market prices of Bianchi Enterprises.
I closed the paper and leaned my head back. Staring at the pale blue sky and clouds. “What to do now?” I whispered to no one.
I sighed, looking at the newspapers again. This was true, it actually happened. He is really sentenced to jail.
I pressed the newspapers, straightening them more. I gently and neatly folded them and put them inside my purse. “Let’s drop you someplace nice.” I said to the newspapers.
I stopped a cab and got in. After forty minutes, I finally reached my destination. “You can stop here.” I told the cab driver.
I paid the driver and got out. I walked to the place I hadn’t visited in over a year.
“How are you?” I said, looking at the grave.
‘Julia Brown. A loving daughter and sister. Find peace where you are.’
I sighed, smiling sadly. “I am sorry for not coming sooner. I have been busy.”
“I didn’t get you flowers this time. I got you something better.”
I leaned and put the neatly folded newspapers on the grass. “I got our revenge, Julia. He’s finally in jail. I know how I did it wasn’t right but I didn’t have any other choice. I couldn’t let it slide not after what he did to you. I hope you understand and forgive me.”
I kneeled down and pressed my fingers on the grave. “If I had known then that you lived here I would have come to you sooner. But I did come to come, late but I did.”
I sighed, looking at the dried up white flowers. “See you were loved. Look at all these flowers.”
I fought my tears, my lips trembling. “I hope you find peace now. He’s is gone now for 7 years and I hope he regrets all that he did, but I think he’s crazy you know? Maybe needs a mental institution before jail.”
I breathed out. “I’ll visit you soon okay? Don’t miss me too much.”
I patted the grass gently and got up. Taking one last look at the grave and let one tear silently roll down my eye. “I miss you, my pen pal.” I whispered, wiping away the lone tear.
I turned and started to walk back, my head hung low as I blinked and urged myself to not turn into a sobbing mess.
I stopped suddenly as I saw a pair of black boots a few feet away. I slowly glanced up and almost fainted at the sight. “Alex?” I whispered.
I blinked multiple times, wondering if I was dreaming. Standing in front of me was Alex, dressed in a black suit with a bouquet of white lilies in his hands.
I gulped, as I stared at him. He looked tired and equally surprised to see me.
“What are you doing here?” His raspy voice sent a shiver down my spine and just realized how much I had truly missed him.
“I-uh.” I pointed behind me at the cemetery. “I came to see a friend.”
He nodded, looking down awkwardly and tapping his left feet.
“You?”
He glanced up for a second and then looked down again. “A family member.”
I nodded, playing with my fingers nervously. There was so much I wanted to ask him, so much I wanted to tell him, so much I wanted to hug him. But all I could do was stand there uncomfortably and silently.
“Okay then.” He said, turning to the left and walking ahead.
I staring at his retreating back and pressed my lips together. If I lose this chance to talk to him, I would not get another one.
So I took a deep calming breath and then ran after him, “Alex!”
He turned surprised. “Yes?”
I stopped just a few feet away from him, I opened my mouth but words didn’t come out. “Gosh!” I whispered to myself wanting to bang my head against a wall. How can I be speechless at a time I won’t scream?
“Do you want to get coffee after this?”
I blinked, stunned at the words. “Huh?” I squeaked out.
Alex raised one eyebrow in amusement. “Coffee?”
I nodded aggressively. A balloon of hope filling up. “Yes, yes, definitely. Coffee sounds good. Yes!”
Alex just nodded. “Wait outside, I’ll come in a few minutes.”
I nodded again. “Yes, okay! I’ll wait.”
I took a few steps back, smiling gratefully at Alex before turning and running outside. I leaned against the cemetery wall with a hand over my wildly beating heart. “Puff!” I puffed out the air, closing my eyes and taking a few calming breaths.
“It’s fine. This is your chance to come clean. To explain yourself.” I whispered to myself.
“Just calm yourself first.” I patted my chest, consoling myself.
I had managed to compose myself and even formulated in what order I would tell the story to Alex. It all went down the drain when an enraged Alex stopped in front of me.
My neatly folded newspapers in his hands, his eyes blazing with fury, his one fist clenched tightly. I could see he was grinding his teeth, I pressed myself against the wall, feeling a little nervous and scared.
He threw the newspapers at my feet. “How the hell do you know my sister?”
And just like that everything I had thought of, every story, every reality, every truth disappeared. And my mind turned blank.
The axis of my world had tilted.
Fate, my dear, can be a tricky friend.