บท 15: Between Worlds
The crisp morning air brushed through Queen's window as the first light of the day filtered in. She sat at her desk, trying to concentrate on her novel edits, but her mind wandered. She had just finished another chapter late into the night, and now, the pressure to complete her academic reports loomed overhead. Queen had become an expert at juggling both her academic and writing worlds, but today, the balance felt more fragile than ever.
Her phone buzzed.
Jihoon: How is Queen today? I haven't heard from you.
Queen stared at the message, her fingers hovering over the screen. She still wasn't ready to forgive Jihoon for his constant interference. Even though he had been trying to help her with her manuscript, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was more of a distraction than a help.
Instead of replying, she put her phone face down and focused on the report she had been procrastinating on for days.
Her first class of the day was an Indonesian Literature course. It was a lecture-style class, where the professor dissected works from various Indonesian authors, and Queen had always found it to be insightful—though it didn't come close to the thrill of her writing sessions.
The lecture hall buzzed with the usual chatter as Queen entered. She spotted Fika already seated near the front, her eyes glued to a book.
"Morning!" Queen greeted her, sliding into the seat next to her.
Fika glanced up, her eyes sparkling. "Hey! Did you finish editing the last chapter?"
Queen sighed, leaning back in her seat. "Yeah, but I'm starting to think I'll never finish the whole thing. There's just too much to do."
Fika chuckled. "Tell me about it. We're all drowning in assignments, but you're juggling the world of novels on top of that. You're amazing."
Before Queen could respond, the professor walked in, and the lecture began. The day felt long as the hours stretched out, each class bringing more pressure and exhaustion. Queen found herself yearning for the quiet solitude of her apartment, where she could escape into her world of fiction.
By noon, the lecture ended, and Queen walked out of the building, her mind already on the upcoming editing session.
"See you later!" she waved to Fika, who was heading toward the library.
Queen decided to take a detour to the campus café, her stomach growling. She grabbed a quick bite before heading to her next class, an elective course on Indonesian poetry. The class was fascinating, but today, it felt like just another obligation on her already overloaded plate.
Meanwhile, in the same campus, Mondy was sitting in the courtyard, his eyes scanning the pages of a thick novel. He didn't mind being on his own, though he always made sure to keep an eye on Queen from a distance. She had no idea, but Mondy had been following her for months now, reading her novels, admiring her writing style. He wasn't the type to make his presence known easily, and he preferred it that way.
Mondy knew that Queen's life wasn't as perfect as it seemed. The way she balanced university life with writing, the subtle stress that was visible in the way her shoulders sagged when she thought no one was looking—it fascinated him. It made him want to understand her more, even though he knew it was a long shot.
Not far from him, Marchelle sat with his group of friends, his glasses reflecting the midday sunlight as he flipped through the pages of Queen's latest novel. He'd always admired Queen's writing, but it wasn't just about her talent. There was something about the way she wrote that pulled him in. He had a quiet admiration for her, but it was not the kind of admiration that he made public.
"Marchelle, you still reading that book?" one of his friends teased, but Marchelle didn't respond. His mind was far from the joke. Queen's words had a way of getting under his skin, lingering long after the page was turned. He couldn't help but wonder if she ever noticed people like him, readers who were more than just fans, who saw something more in her work than the average reader did.
As the day wore on, Queen's final class wrapped up. She was exhausted but determined to push through the day. She had no time to waste.
Back at the apartment, Fika and Mey were already preparing for their own set of classes. Fika was handling her assignment with quiet efficiency while Mey tried to finish a report on literary analysis. Queen had barely spoken all afternoon, her mind absorbed in her own thoughts.
"Are you okay?" Mey asked, glancing up from her laptop.
Queen sighed, rubbing her temples. "I just don't know how I'm going to do it all. Between the novels, the deadlines, and now all this academic pressure—it's too much."
Mey shook her head sympathetically. "You're doing great. We're all behind on assignments, but you have the hardest job, trying to balance both. Maybe we should plan a break soon, just relax for a bit."
Queen smiled weakly. "I wish I had the time."
Her phone buzzed again, and she glanced down to see Jihoon's name on the screen.
Jihoon: Just checking in. I know you're busy, but I wanted to ask if we can talk about the next steps for your manuscript.
Queen gritted her teeth, but she forced herself to remain calm. She didn't feel like responding, so she left the message unanswered.
In the quiet of the apartment, Queen's thoughts drifted back to her readers—especially the ones who had shown so much devotion to her work. She couldn't help but wonder who they were, these secret admirers who sent her thoughtful gifts and messages. They weren't just fans—they were something more, something deeper. But she had no idea who they were.
Later that evening, Fika received a message from Mondy. It was brief, just a simple "Hey, how's Queen?" but it made her pause. She had been seeing Mondy around campus, always quietly observing, never truly participating. She had known him for a while, but their interactions were limited to the occasional greeting in passing.
Fika: She's fine, but she's been stressed. You know how she is.
Mondy: Yeah, I figured. It's just... I wanted to check on her. She's a bit of a mystery.
Fika blinked at his message, curious. She knew Mondy had always been interested in Queen's work, but there was something different in his tone this time. He seemed... concerned.
Meanwhile, Rendy, who had been watching Queen from afar for months, couldn't get her out of his head. It wasn't just her writing he admired; it was her. Every time he saw her walk across campus, his heart raced. He wasn't just a fan of her books—he was obsessed with her. He knew she had no idea who he was, but that didn't stop him. He had to find a way to get closer to her, to make her see him, to make her realize that he was the one who truly understood her.
But for now, Rendy kept his distance. He watched from afar, hoping that one day, Queen would finally notice him.
As the night settled over the city, Queen lay in bed, her mind buzzing with all the things she needed to do. There were assignments to finish, revisions to make, and an ever-growing sense of pressure weighing her down. But in the back of her mind, she couldn't shake the thought of her secret admirers—the ones who seemed to know her better than anyone else.
Who were they?
Why were they watching her?
And most importantly, what did they want from her?
The answers would have to wait for another day.
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