Tiana didn't watch the video again.
That was intentional.
One time was enough.
Two times was a mistake.
Three—
Unnecessary.
So she didn't.
Instead—
She focused on everything else.
Work.
Noise.
People.
Anything that didn't involve a microphone.
"Hey."
Tiana looked up.
Her coworker leaned against the desk.
"…If this is about the video—"
"It's not."
Tiana relaxed slightly.
"…Good."
"Someone came by asking for you."
She paused.
"…Who?"
The coworker shrugged.
"Didn't say much. Just asked if you worked here."
Tiana frowned.
"…And you told them?"
"I said maybe."
"…That's not helpful."
"I didn't trust him."
That—
Made her pause.
"…Him?"
"Yeah."
Tiana's expression didn't change much.
"…What did he look like?"
The coworker thought for a second.
"Normal. Quiet. Looked like he knew what he was looking for."
That didn't help.
"…Did he leave a name?"
"No."
"Great."
"He didn't stay long though," the coworker added.
"Just looked around and left."
Tiana nodded slowly.
"…Okay."
Not strange.
But not normal either.
Later—
Tiana walked home.
Slower than usual.
Not because she was tired.
Just… thinking.
Not deeply.
Just noticing.
Jeffery.
No message.
Again.
That made two days.
"…Busy," she said under her breath.
That sounded reasonable.
She kept walking.
Then—
Paused.
A familiar feeling.
Like someone watching.
Not strong.
Just enough to notice.
Tiana glanced across the street.
A few people standing around.
Cars passing.
Nothing obvious.
"…Okay."
She kept walking.
Didn't stop.
Didn't look again.
The next day—
"Are you going again?"
Tiana looked up.
The girl from dance class.
"…You people don't rest," she said.
The girl smiled.
"Just asking."
"No."
"That's what you said last time."
"…And I meant it."
"Sure."
Tiana shook her head.
"I'm not going."
"Okay."
Again—
Too easy.
Tiana narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…Why does everyone say okay like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like you don't believe me."
The girl laughed.
"Because you say things and then do the opposite."
"That's not true."
"It is."
Tiana paused.
"…That's not the point."
"Then what is?"
"…I'm not going."
"Okay."
There it was again.
Tiana sighed.
"…We'll see."
The girl smiled.
"Exactly."
That evening—
Tiana checked her phone.
Still nothing.
No missed calls.
No messages.
She stared at the screen for a second longer than usual.
Then locked it.
"…Alright."
Not annoyed.
Just—
Noted.
She placed the phone on the table.
Then paused.
Picked it up again.
Scrolled through her contacts.
Stopped at Jeffery's name.
Hovered.
Then—
Locked the phone again.
"…Not necessary."
She leaned back.
And for a moment—
Everything felt still.
Then—
A notification.
She picked up the phone.
Not Jeffery.
A message request.
Unknown.
She opened it.
"I saw you yesterday."
Tiana frowned.
Another message followed.
"You've changed."
She stared at the screen.
No name.
No context.
Just—
That.
"…Okay."
She typed.
"Who is this?"
Sent.
Waited.
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then—
A reply.
"You already know."
Tiana's expression didn't shift much.
But something about that—
Didn't sit right.
She stared at the message for a few seconds.
Then—
Locked her phone.
Placed it face down.
"…No."
Simple.
No follow-up.
No curiosity chase.
Just—
No.
She leaned back again.
The room quiet.