Chapter 3: The Unknown Number

Khali was in a bad mood, which could be felt in the heavy air as Brady and Rye walked to the cafeteria. Her face showed she was profoundly thinking as she looked into the distance. Khali sat quietly in the backseat of the car on the way home. There was no sign of worry on her face. Rye and Brady looked at each other and felt a quiet understanding.

“Hey, sis, what’s up? Is there something wrong?” Brady asked.

A calm feeling came over them as the sun’s golden rays slowly fell toward the faraway horizon. The day's busy events were behind them, and they started their trip home. Rye found himself behind the wheel, holding it tightly in his hands. Brady sat beside him, a steady figure who would help and support them on their trip. In the back of the car, Khali was sitting down. She slowly turned around to look at her brother, but her eyes were still on her phone. The bright screen on her phone took up all of her attention.

“Twelve weeks. That means three months?” In a calm tone, Khali spoke. Once more, she shifted her gaze toward Brady. “When did Cassie start dating someone?”

Brady took a moment before slowly turning to glare at Khali. “Khay, please stop asking me questions about her. She’s happy now!” Brady said he meant it.

“I promise this is the last question I will ask. I am going to stop asking questions. Please answer me!” Khali demanded firmly.

“Why do you want to know about it?” asked Brady.

A creepy silence in the air was only broken by Khali’s silence. After taking a deep breath, she returned to the phone. Rye’s eyes darted to Khali, and she saw her in the rearview mirror. He looked at Khali, who looked like she was lost in her world. Brady looked out the window, and his eyes were fixed on something outside the glass. He had a sad look on his face that showed how heavy his thoughts were.

“Hey, dude,” Rye exclaimed, “you still haven’t told the coach about your plans for the upcoming weekend in Baguio.”

Brady quickly glanced at Rye. “I’m not sure yet because they mentioned Mom might come home this weekend.”

Rye said, “If you don’t come, our team won’t win.”

Brady couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. “Oh, that won’t happen because you’ll be playing. Besides, it’s just a workout game, right?”

Rye had a smile on his face. “I think you should come for peace of mind too.”

Brady said, “I’ll think about it.”

“Count me in, my dear twin!” Khali exclaimed with enthusiasm.

“They’re going home, right, Mom and Dad?” said Brady.

Khali had a smile on her face. “I just talked to Papa, and he confirmed they won’t be able to return home this weekend.” She even shook her phone.

Brady quickly glanced at Khali. “Hey,” he said firmly, “you shouldn’t be in that spot. You’re impatient, aren’t you? And also, we’re all men, you know?”

“I know you. I won’t bother you or anyone else; don’t worry. I want to go to Baguio, please." Khali was very intrusive.

“Why are you going there? Parks interest you, right?” Brady asks.

“Oh, I researched, and it seems like a haunted house in Baguio. Khali smiled and said, “I want to see it.”

“Huh?” Brady replied, looking surprised. “Why would you want to visit a haunted house?”

“Bring me along,” Khali said. “Please!”

“No! You can’t do that,” Brady said, turning his back on Khali.

“Why? I won’t be any trouble to you.” Khali added.

“We’re riding on the university’s bus.” Brady said, “Sorry, but you can’t go with us.”

“What if I do?” Khali asked.

“No way! You’re such a nuisance!” Brady responded.

Rye quickly took a peek at the rearview mirror, wondering what Khali’s reaction would be.

Khali would sometimes pout her lips and quietly mutter to herself. “I’ll still be there, even if you say no!”

Rye had a smile on his face.

-

Remy could hear a movie playing in Khali’s room as he approached her door. She knew Nanay Remy was there when she stood in front of her room. She could hear the older woman’s thoughts.

The elderly woman said, “You haven’t had dinner yet, so I brought you some milk and cookies.”

She puts the tray on her desk with a light touch. Khali turned her attention to the older lady, who had a smile on her face.

“Can I ask you a question, Nay?” Khali said.

“Very well, what is it?” asked Nay Remy.

There was a moment of silence before Khali could say anything else when her phone rang. She looked at it with interest as she reached down and picked up the thing from the ground. She also found a message on her phone from a number she didn’t know.

“Anonymous number,” said Khali.

“Ask who. That might be a big deal. Before you do something, read the message.” Nanay Remy said.

She quickly tore open the envelope holding the letter because she felt it was necessary.

It has been two and a half months.

Khali’s face turned into a frown. She couldn’t understand it. As time passed, her phone ringing filled the room again. This time, it was a message from a number she didn’t know, which made it even stranger.

That will help.

Considering what was happening, Khali wrinkled her face. She must comprehend the lesson and its benefits. Her rage infuriated Khali. She hates texting by nature. She sensed peril as she glanced around. Someone had prepared a cruel hoax to entertain her. The user wondered how the individual acquired her number.

“Hey, Khali, is there something you want to ask? I’ll be downstairs finishing up some work.” Remy asked her.

She shook her head and had a smile on her face. “Nope, everything’s good. Thank you for the milk and cookies!”

The elderly lady exited her room elegantly and smiling. Khangali regarded the TV. A significant head discomfort developed soon after. Her head and ears felt odd like something was living there.

The thing she dislikes most. Her thoughts raced as she lost control. She has a rare talent in a world where ideas blend. With a thought, she can enter others’ o. In her head, she hears a chorus of clear p and sensations. Hearing and reading others’ unspoken messages is crucial to her. She gently placed her fingertips on her temple. Her warm flesh felt lovely against hers.

“Ah, this hurts!” she moans softly.

On the bed, she bent over, leaving part of her body in the air. It shocked her when the music reached her. Her eyes began to tear, shining with wetness. Her flushed cheeks showed her emotions. Over time, her temple veins grew more visible.

“Aargh!” Khali whispered.

It felt like Khali’s head was about to break open from the terrible pain in it. Tears kept falling down her face and wouldn’t stop. Khali heard bits of whispered talk from the crowd around her while keeping her ear out of sight.

“What’s going on, Khay?”

Brady had gone into Khali’s room without her knowing. Brady saw how hard it was for his sister when she had headaches.

“Nay! Nay!” Brady yelled out for help.

Brady turned his attention to Khali, who was moving around and making low, painful noises. Right away, Brady exited his seat and walked over to the window. He carefully opened the thing in front of him with a sense of excitement. His hand went to his phone, and he dialed a number while he did this. He was looking forward to the call.

-

Nanay, Remy, Brady, and Rye crowded around the doctor in the busy hospital with worry. With fear written all over their faces, they talked to the medical professional. As Khali lay in bed in the hospital, their eyes closed quickly as they fell asleep. While this was happening, the world outside the room continued to be busy.

“She’s had three terrible headaches in the past three months.” Nanay Remy said.

“But no, we didn’t find anything in the tests on her head during the first month. Oh, Khali is doing great! She’s healthy and strong. That’s good news! Her CT scan and x-ray were fine.” The doctor said, “I don’t see any problems with her head.”

“So, you’re thinking it might be stress?” Rye asked

“Maybe, but from what you’ve told me, it seems like her headache has been so bad that she passed out, Brady.” said the doctor.

“Uncle, do you think there’s something better we could do?” Brady asked.

“Have you tried seeing a psychiatrist?” asked the doctor.

Brady looked upset. “My sister’s not crazy.”

“Brady, you know that’s not what I meant to say,” the doctor said, urging him to understand.

“I’m sorry, Uncle,” Brady said, feeling guilty.

The doctor said, “I can refer Khali to one of my colleagues.”

Brady quickly looked over at Rye.

-

Khali left the hospital right away after spending a few hours there. When they got home, Rye wasn’t there. He walked over to Brady’s house and felt excited as he approached the front door. As soon as he stepped inside, he couldn’t help but notice how appealing the couch looked. It was calling to him. He gave in to its pull and sat down, sinking into the pillows and taking it easy. As Khali walked up the stairs, Brady stood behind the couch and watched her without moving.

“Hey, Khay, your uncle seems to think that...” Brady didn’t get a chance to finish what he was saying because Khali interrupted him.

“I’m not crazy, you know? Ugh, so irritating!” Khali said it irritably.

Brady found that he couldn’t speak right away. He was confused and couldn’t figure out how Khali had the strange knack of knowing what he was going to say next. Brady wondered if Khali’s doctor had already told her about her meeting with the therapist.

“I apologize if I’ve caused you to worry about me again. But trust me, I’m okay. No need for a doctor,” Khali said.

“What is wrong with you? When we were kids, we took you to a different hospital to find out why your head was..."

“I am just fine. I’m a little stressed out!” Khali replied.

Lady luck would have it; she accidentally met Rye’s eyes and caught him looking in her direction. She felt strange in her chest as they looked at each other. She quickly turned her eyes away from him.

“I shall go into my room,” said Khali.

Khali quickly flipped over on his heels and turned his back on the two guys standing before him. He pushed himself forward without pausing for a second, his feet quickly ascending the stairs in determined steps.

-

She felt exhausted as she entered her bedroom. She sought comfort in the warm bed. She sighed and sank into its smooth surface. She progressively relaxed throughout the day. She could not look away from the opening.

She cried as she struggled with her incredible skill. People frequently misinterpret her as insane. Khali considers her talent a curse, while others consider it a blessing. She fears talking to others for a reason. How to distinguish between actual and imagined ideas keeps popping up in Khali’s mind. As she unlocks her phone, Khali shakes her fingers from constant viewing. The final message from the weird, unknown number makes her recall a lot.

“Two months and a half, does this mean...?”

She looked at the desk calendar with interest, hoping to find proof of her thoughts about Cassie. The strange message from a number she didn’t know hinted at something, and she couldn’t help but wonder if she was right. With the way time works, where moments disappear like sand through a sieve, three months is the same as twelve weeks.

“Cassie’s been pregnant for three months!”

Khali grasped her phone hard, her expression determined. She stopped to consider the consequences of her actions. She breathed deeply, gained courage, and texted a stranger on her phone.

K: Hi

It surprised her when the unknown number on the other end answered immediately.

U: Hello

K: I appreciate the information you gave me.

U: You’re welcome. Do you know if I have been helpful?

Khali quickly replied without any doubt.

K: Yes, you’ve answered my question. Who are you, though?

An answer from the unknown number came in just a few minutes.

U: Friend

Khali’s face turned into a frown. He answered her question with a single word as if he didn’t want to reveal who he was.

K: Could you tell me how you found out my number? But what did you say to me about that information?

The unknown number responded to her message after a short pause.

U: I’m always here if you need someone to listen. I’ll be here for you.

When she asked the question, the unknown number answered thoughtfully.

K: It’s okay if you don’t want to say who you are.

Khali nervously awaited a reaction, but the unknown number didn’t answer, not even recognize her last message. She thought about changing his given name to a more appealing nickname while she thought about the idea. She finally chose the name “Sherlock” after giving it much thought.