WP#6 What Are They Thinking?

(This post is a part of a series called Writing Prompt Project which entails an article or essay written based on a pre-made infographic writing prompt. To know more about what’s going on, kindly read here.)

I’m writing to you from my old office. You know, that one I’ve told you about – the Korean office. I’m in an MEC room, and I’ve just taken quite a power nap. Anyway, I have a meeting with this company here, and I’ve been waiting for quite a while – like more than an hour. So apart from looking around like an idiot, being consumed by nostalgia, mesmerised by how much things have changed since I’ve worked here, I’ve decided to bring out the ol’ laptop, and start doing this writing prompt. If by some miracle that I finish this here, then there’s something wrong with the way this company handles their visitors.

I call this one “The Man with No Cap Because He Has to Look Professional.”

Anyway, good vibes to all of you, and enjoy.

WP#6 What Are They Thinking?

PERSON IN FRONT

After 5 minutes

O, how the world is full of mysteries. For instance, why is this girl following me?

After 10 minutes

Wow, she is really following me. Is she lost?

After 15 minutes

Okay, this is completely normal, I guess. People are meant to travel in groups – this one isn’t really that different. Perhaps, I should ask her name. She seems nice. Damn it, Robby. You’re just going to keep walking because you’re complete wuss.

After 20 minutes

Maybe my backpack’s open, and she’s been meaning to tell me for a few minutes now. Why is she following me? Is there a “Follow Me” sign on my backpack? Could it be because she likes me? What the f&ck, Robby?

After 25 minutes

This is really starting to bother me. Should I just ask her? She seems to be deep in her thoughts. Is it rude to disturb her? Of course, I’m just going to keep walking because I don’t want this to be awkward.

After 30 minutes

I think it’s safe to say that she is intent on following me. The reason: I do not know. It eludes me. Perhaps, someday she will divulge that information to me. We can enjoy talking about it during dinner or in the pavement before catching a movie. We would laugh on how paranoid I was and on how non-dangerous she really is. She’s not dangerous, is she?

After 35 minutes

Why is she smiling at me? Damn it. Look calm, Robby. Show her you’re strong. Flex your arms a bit so they show through your jacket. Good. She seems distracted. Does she like me? She smells fantastic. I can smell her perfume from here, and the air is thinning. Perhaps, if I flex my biceps more in front of her, she’ll like me enough to reveal to me the mystery of her identity.

After 40 minutes

Is she interested? Maybe I got this all wrong. Maybe she’s sent here by my enemies to push me off this narrow pathway. F&ck. Why didn’t I see it before? It’s a freaking consipiracy! Oh Lord, she’s smiling again. Why does she keep doing that? Like she knows something I do not. Maybe this is a prank from my friends. That bastard, Danny. I’m never going to return his Xbox after this trip.

After 45 minutes

She’s staring at me. What the hell? I’m starting to get annoyed. Why are you following me, woman? I’m just going to give her a nod to suggest that I know what she’s up to. Clearly, I don’t know jack shit of what she’s up to! Why are you here? She’s nodding back. Now she’s looking at my backpack. Did she want something from it? Is she a thief? Is this an elaborate plan to ambush me here and get my belongings? I knew I should have secured that effing shady travel insurance Melissa was talking about. Now I’m going to get gutted and thrown in a cliff.

After 50 minutes

Pull yourself together, Robby. You can’t seriously be scared of one girl. She looks harmless. Although, the really dangerous ones always look that way. I think I can take her if it comes down to it. I can push her with my elbows, and she’ll fall right away. But what if she clings on to me? What if she takes me with her? I’m so f&cked. Please God tell me the reason this woman is following me.

After 55 minutes

She has a knife! It’s a Swiss knife, but still… Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God! She’s been sent here to kill me!

After 1 hour

Now that I’ve calmed down and convinced myself that she just wanted to cut a few branches of that shrubbery as a souvenir, I’ll just admire the view and pretend she’s not following me.

After 1 hour and 5 minutes

Still going to pretend she doesn’t exist.

After 1 hour and 10 minutes

Did somebody tap me on the shoulder? It’s her. It has to be her. Nobody else is here. Unless, she isn’t a real person. Is she a ghost? Is she haunting me? Why is she haunting me? I’ve been a good man all my life. I didn’t hurt a f&cking fly. What the f&ck? No, she can’t be a ghost. She’s opaque. However, she hasn’t said a word either. Why is she so quiet? Is she mute? Maybe her tongue has been cut off. Perhaps if I looked closer… She’s staring at me again. She’s angry. What is she pissed about? I’m the one losing my mind here.

After 1 hour and 15 minutes

She is clearly annoyed. What did I do to upset you? I haven’t said a word to offend you. Maybe she’s expecting something from me. Maybe she expects me to make the move. Should I make the move? It’s going to be like the mile high club here if this goes to where I think this is going. I don’t even know if she’s interested in me. Oh what the hell. I’m going for it. At least, if we die, it’ll be epic.

After 1 hour and 20 minutes

So apparently, that’s not what she wants. What do you want, woman? You’ve been staring it me for a whole hour. What is it? You seem like you’re interested, but when I touch you, you shy away. Don’t tell me that’s playing hard to get – we’ve been having this foreplay for the last hour. If you can just tell me why you’re following me, our lives would be infinitely better. Why?

After 1 hour and 25 minutes

We’re near the end of this path. When will this be over? This girl is killing me – methorically. Is she waiting for her chance to do it in reality? Maybe I dismissed my paranoia quite early. Maybe she’s just bidding her time, waiting for the perfect time to strike…

After 1 hour and 30 minutes

We’re almost at the end, girl. When are you going to make the move? When are you going to release me from this anxiety? This pain. This unholy hell you’ve put me through. Did God send you to me to test me? Maybe it’s a test of faith. The face of evil – that dreamy wide-eyed sexy face.

After 1 hour and 35 minutes

At this point, it just bothers me that I’m scared and aroused by my situation at the same time.

After 1 hour and 40 minutes

I can see the end. Oh my God, it’s there. In a few moments, this will be over. Good riddance, woman. You spawn of profane paranoia, sent to me from the bowels of my discord with the world! F&ck the world! F&ck society! F&ck the system! F%ck EVERYTHING!!

After 1 hour and 45 minutes

Alive! Alive! Alive forevermore; my Jesus is alive, alive forevermore! Hallelujah!

After 1 hour and 50 minutes

Why am I getting sad? Have I grown an attachment to her after all this time? She looks downtrodden as well. Perhaps, she isn’t what I thought she was. Perhaps she was a kind decent and sexually ambiguous young woman. Perhaps she thinks of parting with me, and she already misses me.

After 1 hour and 55 minutes

As I nod to her goodbye, I welcome lovely thoughts: thoughts of our adventures together, thoughts of our clandestine love for each other, thoughts of smiles we exchanged, and just lovely thoughts in general. I will miss you, mysterious follower. You have come a long way, and I’m glad to share this experience with you.

PERSON BEHIND

After 2 hours

I wonder why this tour guide is so quiet. I’ve been following him for 2 hours straight, and he hasn’t said a word or anything about the place. I need a refund.

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That’s about it! I do hope you enjoyed this week’s WP. Also, I hope you’re also doing this project with me. Trust me; it’s a lot of fun. Stay tuned for more WP posts. Have you had a similar experience when travelling? Let me know what you think they are thinking. Cheers! 🙂