Whispers of Concern

The college cafeteria hummed with the low roar of conversation, punctuated by laughter, the clatter of trays, and the occasional shriek from a group of students across the room. Rose sat at a long table near the windows, surrounded by the familiar faces of Emily and Trina, and the newer additions to their circle—Nick, Kevin, and Sarah. Afternoon light streamed in, casting warm streaks across their half-eaten meals and open notebooks.

Despite the lively atmosphere, Rose’s thoughts remained elsewhere—still tangled in the unsettling events from the night before. The laughter around her felt distant, like it belonged to another world.

“So, Rose,” Nick said suddenly, leaning forward and tilting his head, “spill the beans. What happened yesterday?”

All eyes turned toward her.

She hesitated for a second, then set her fork down and drew a steadying breath. “There’s been a case in my neighborhood. One of our neighbors—Mr. Thompson—has gone missing. The police came last night. They found his clothes… in the woods. Covered in blood.”

A stunned hush settled over the group.

Sarah’s fork clattered to her plate. “Oh my God,” she whispered, her face paling. “That’s awful.”

Nick raised an eyebrow. “Yikes. That’s… intense.”

Sarah looked around nervously. “Do they think it was an animal or—?”

Rose shook her head. “They don’t know. Inspector Turner said they’re investigating. But something about it didn’t feel… normal.”

Emily, sensing Rose’s unease, reached out and gave her hand a light squeeze. “I’m sorry, Rose. That must’ve been really scary.”

“Yeah,” Trina chimed in, her voice gentle, “but it sounds like the inspector is on top of it. I’m sure they’ll find answers soon.”

Nick, trying to lighten the mood, smirked. “Come on, Sarah. Don’t look like that. It’s not like we’re living in a horror movie. Maybe the guy just wanted to disappear for a while.”

“Right,” Sarah said tightly, folding her arms. “Because people vanish and leave blood-soaked clothes behind for fun.”

“Maybe it was a raccoon with a dramatic flair,” Nick added, grinning.

The joke fell flat. Sarah frowned, and even Trina shot Nick a disapproving look. Emily rolled her eyes.

Amid the awkward laughter that followed, Kevin remained unusually quiet. He sat beside Rose, his expression thoughtful, occasionally glancing at her as though searching for the right moment to speak. When the group stood to leave for their next class, he lingered behind.

“Rose,” he said softly, gently touching her elbow, “can we talk? Maybe after class?”

Surprised, she turned toward him. His voice was calm, but something in his eyes caught her off guard—a flicker of nervousness, maybe something deeper.

“Sure, Kevin,” she said with a small smile. “Is everything okay?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he simply nodded and gave her a grateful look. “Yeah. I just… I’ll explain later.”

As they filed into class, Rose found herself glancing at Kevin more often than usual. He was always kind, a little quieter than Nick, and more observant. There was a steady, grounded quality about him that had never quite caught her attention—until now.

The lecture passed in a blur. Her thoughts wandered—back to the porch, the flashing lights, the fear in her grandmother’s eyes, and now to the subtle weight of Kevin’s request.

When the final bell rang and students began to pack up, Kevin met her by the door.

“Do you want to go for a walk?” he asked.

They stepped outside, where the campus pathways curved between rows of maple trees just beginning to blush with autumn. The wind was crisp, carrying with it the faint scent of leaves and something Rose couldn’t quite name.

They walked in companionable silence for a few moments before Kevin finally spoke.

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you for a while,” he said. “But I didn’t want to just… blurt it out.”

Rose tilted her head, curious. “Talk to me about what?”

Kevin paused, his hands in his jacket pockets. “I like spending time with you, Rose. You’re easy to talk to… and there’s something about you that feels familiar. I don’t know. I just wanted to get to know you better.”

She blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the honesty in his voice.

“Oh,” she said, smiling warmly. “That’s… really sweet, Kevin. I’d like that too.”

As they continued walking, something in the air shifted—not the eerie tension of the night before, but a quieter current, unspoken yet full of possibility. While fear still lingered on the edges of her mind, Rose couldn’t help but notice the new thread quietly weaving itself into the tapestry of her days—unexpected, gentle, and maybe just the distraction she didn’t know she needed.

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