8. Stalking

"Ela, can we have dinner together tonight?"

"Yes, Bro!" I agreed.

"May I join?" asked Leni.

"I also want to join," said Roni.

"Oh, why do they want to come with us," said Layzal in his heart. Then he said, "Sure if you guys want to come, but pay it for yourself."

After finishing work, then we go home. Me and Leni went back to the dorm. Meanwhile, Layzal and Roni returned to their respective homes.

***

The evening came, and we went to eat at Resto Lago.

"Please take a look at the menu first," said Layzal.

"I want to eat fried rice," said Leni.

"I also want to eat fried rice," said Roni.

"Then I'm the same, want to eat fried rice," said Layzal.

The three of them compactly want to order fried rice. Meanwhile, I was still flipping through the food menu book and thinking about what to eat.

"What do you want to eat, Ela?" asked Layzal while looking at me.

"Same, fried rice," I said, putting down the food menu book.

After that, we ordered four fried rice and four orange juice. While waiting for our food, we chatted. Then Roni asked Layzal, "Zal, are we going to Lago Village tomorrow?"

"No, for a while, we are in the city first," said Layzal.

A few moments later, our food came. I saw them start eating their food while I just stared at mine. Before everything changed, I was like them- eating food like an ordinary human. But now my appetite is gone. However, I have no other choice. I have to eat in front of them. I started spooning my rice, then ate it. Layzal never saw me eat or drink, so when I ate the food, he looked at me intently as if he did not want to miss the moment.

Because he kept looking at me, I asked, "Why, Zal?"

"No problem," he replied with a smile.

"Hi, everybody!" Ammar greeted us.

Hi, Ammar! Come eat together," Layzal invited Ammar to eat.

"Yeah, sure," Ammar then joined us for dinner. Then he sat down next to me, and my heart beat wildly.

I understand love--often takes time to grow between partners. But somehow, when I met him, I immediately felt a connection. It is also possible that it is not love but lust or a crush. I also know lust is part of love, but love cannot be part of lust. If I had to debate whether or not I fell in love with him, then most likely I was not, but I'm probably on my way there. Because from the first meeting, I considered him my first love.

I also know that love is a complicated thing. Maybe I'm in love, but he is not. Even though I am a vampire, I cannot force someone to fall in love. Moreover, he does not seem to behave like he is in love. Sometimes, two people can be on different timelines, with one falling in love before the other, and this is where I stand, but that is okay. Love is different for everyone, and there is no set timeline. I will start by keeping open communication with him. It does not matter if I have to say--I am in love with him, and it does not matter if he does not feel the same way as long as he cares about me and still wants to be friends with me. The most important thing is not to let me lose faith because love can take time.

Besides, I have to be ready to get my heart broken because love does not happen like in stories or fairy tales. A love that is so beautiful and ends in happiness. Now I have to think, how can I communicate with him?

"Ela, why are you only looking at the rice and not eating it?" Ammar asked me, and I smiled.

"Yes, I am eating it," I spoon the rice and eat it. Then I asked permission to go to the bathroom for a while, "Excuse me, friends, I need to go to the bathroom first."

"Sure," they replied.

"Now, what should I do? I have eaten two spoonfuls of rice, but I feel the rice is not good," I said as I walked back and forth in the bathroom. After a long time--pacing in the bathroom, I disappeared to avoid my food. After disappearing, then I called Layzal.

"Hello, Ela. Why did you take so long to go to the bathroom?"

"Zal, I'm sorry I did not ask permission first. Now I'm taking Niken home." I lied.

"Niken, who is she?"

"Someone's daughter left behind at Resto Lago. You do not have to worry because I'm fine. Oh, yes, could you pack the fried rice for me, please!"

"All right, El, then you be careful."

We quickly ended our conversation on the phone.

"Honey, I can only stare at you from the tree," I said, in the form of a bat perched on a mango tree in front of Resto Lago while looking at Ammar, who was eating.

Finally, they finished eating as well. Then they said goodbye to each other. Ammar immediately headed for his car. I did not want to be left behind--in the form of a bat, I disappeared into the trunk of Ammar's car and accompanied him to drive the car--alone.

***

Ammar had reached the house. He immediately got off the car and entered the house. Meanwhile, I was still in the trunk of his car. After a long time in the trunk car-- I disappeared, flew out, and looked around the house.

"All the lights have been turned off. Maybe he was asleep," I said, perched on the balcony of Ammar's room.

I disappeared into Ammar's room. I saw he was fast asleep. I stood near him and smiled happily. "Ammar, you are handsome. Why do you sleep smiling? You are dreaming about me in the palace of the neighboring country?"

"Ela?" said Ammar, who suddenly woke up. However, I have gone missing, and I have not gone far. I disappeared under Ammar's bed.

I hid under the bed in the form of a bat. In my mind said, "Do not let him see me."

"It's strange. I had the feeling that Ela was here. Ah, maybe it was just a dream," said Ammar, then fell asleep again.

I was still under the mattress. Finally, I slept under Ammar's bed.

***

The next morning. I did the same. In the form of a bat, I was in the trunk of Ammar's car and accompanied him to work. However, who knows what happened, in the middle of the road suddenly the car stopped.

"What happened again to this car," said Ammar, then he got down and opened the front car. After that, he went to the car trunk, and when he opened his car door, he saw me, "Bat?"

"Wo o, I got caught," I immediately flew away. However, not long after that--I came back wearing neat clothes and using a police car.

"Ela?"

"Good morning Ammar!" I give my smile as sweet as possible. Then I asked, "Why did the car break down?"

"Don't know why it broke down," he said while fiddling with his car.

"Ouch," he was hurt.

"Ammar," I approached and immediately sucked his injured finger.

I sucked his blood relentlessly until he asked me to stop, "Ela, come on, stop, please. I'm fine."

I stopped sucking it, and I felt unwilling if his blood was wasted. But I also have to control my thirst for blood.

"Ammar, please forgive me."

"You like to drink blood?"

"What? What are you talking about? I don't understand." I was confused by his words.

"I mean, usually girls are disgusted by blood, but you are not."

"I'm disgusted, too," I pretended to spit out the blood I sucked up. Then I said, "Ammar, our blood is united. I cannot throw out your blood, but later when I get hurt, your blood will come out by itself."

Hearing what I said, he smiled. The smile that made me not want to stop seeing it.

"Ammar, your car is broke down. Let me take you using a police car, please."

"Okay, I'm in a hurry too. Thank you, Ela, lucky to have you."

"I am happy to help."

Then we went to the office together.