After getting home, I picked up my notebook. Using photographs as references, I resumed studying hand anatomy. My sketches looked better and better, and I was slowly but steadily making progress.

  I picked up drawing st year with the goal of making one-shots, short illustrated stories in comic or manga style. I'm not nearly there yet, but I hope the pnned move to digital drawing will help speed up my improvement. The common theme of my works is something I've always been passionate about—something that I really want to express through my art.

  But I couldn't study right now. As I feared, my mind kept reverting to today's events. I couldn't focus, and the intrusive thoughts weren't slowing down.

  As I gave up and binged on some YouTube videos, I noticed a reply to a YouTube comment I made a few days ago. I'd left a comment on Priko's test video on perspective drawing, giving my feedback and appreciation.

  "Didn't know you liked to draw, Anon!"

  "Do I know you?"

  "We met earlier today, Anon!"

  Unsettled, I managed a quick reply.

  "Wait... Miya? How'd you find my account? I never put my real name online." I was a bit startled at her reaching out to me so fast, but feeling so exposed sure took the cake. It's as if she'd invaded my personal space without consent.

  "And yet, your name was all I needed to find everything about you. Your social media, your bookmarks, even what's on your PC!"

  I felt my soul dying a little inside. Was she bluffing? Was this a me joke, or was she psycho like I'd thought initially?

  "Don't worry, I'm not sending you malware or anything. I'm just looking! I'm fascinated with you, you know? So until we meet again, this should satiate my thirst. I want to know EVERYTHING about you, Anon."

  I called her right away, and she picked up as expected. I tried not to rush my words.

  "Hey, An-

  "You're bluffing, Miya. I don't know how you got my socials, but there's no way you've got access to my computer."

  "Well, let me see... you have 21 games installed on it, all through Steam. Your most pyed ones are from the Crysis and Half-Life franchises."

  "You also have 1955 bookmarks on your web browser, mostly organized into subfolders. For example, you bookmark stories on a site called Superwomenmania, and you've got folders filled with art packs of She-Hulk and Supergirl, and so many—"

  I cut her off, sck-jawed.

  "I-I get it, okay. Somehow, you've got access. I won't ask how, but please don't share any of it. I don't want to see my social life ruined. And I'd like to have some privacy, Miya. You can't just get into people's private lives, you know? I'd never give my consent, or not that early anyway."

  She grunted. Apparently, this rubbed her the wrong way.

  "Oh, Anon, sweet Anon, Your consent is optional. Nothing more."

  "Wha-"

  "I know it doesn't make sense to you now, but you'll see. There are things you do not need in this world, Anon. Some are pointless. Some could harm you or pose a threat to our retionship. Of course, I will not allow such things in your life."

  "Things like...?"

  "Your privacy, "setting boundaries" between us, your friends, your independence, and so on. You don't need to know; I'll manage everything. Don't worry about it."

  "I don't need any friends? Or privacy?! You're nuts."

  "Any friend aside from me, silly. I'm by far the best girl for you out there, and I'm the only one you shall ever need. Don't fall for anyone else—they'll try to seduce you, lead you astray, and lure you away from the only girl who genuinely loves you."

  "We both know that's bullshit."

  "Tsk. Poor Anon, you don't have a clue. By the way, I am now your girlfriend. I decided on it a few hours ago. I'm also your best friend; and if you so desire, I can even be your sister. Just tell me, Anon. I will never, ever judge you."

  I wanted to retort, say anything to defend myself, but no words came out. Panic was settling in; in the end, Miya really was unhinged, and the weight of the realization left me speechless.

  "Now to your concerns, Anon."

  "One: You do not need privacy simply because it is an obstacle to our love. No setting boundaries either. Of course, this is only between us; anyone else that tries to pry into our private life will be crushed like peanuts. The same will happen for anyone trying to stand between us. Believe me, you do not have to worry about the police, or even the military if it ever comes to that, although I won't needlessly provoke the authorities."

  "Two: Your non-consent to my requests or actions will sometimes be ignored for your own good and the good of our retionship. However, I will always value your consent, whether vocal or implied, and consider it when I deliberate on what's best for us."

  "W-What the fuck are you sa-"

  "Let me crify. This world is hostile, Anon, and I believe your cute little mind cannot really handle what life throws at you. You're overworked, overstressed, and you ck protection of any kind. But don't worry, my love. I'm here. You'll hand over everything to me, and I'll make all the decisions for you. I will keep you safe and bring you peace of mind; I'll guide you in life and love. I'll grant you a lot of conditional freedom."

  "No, I am never doing any-"

  "And if you try to resist, I'm more than ready to save you from yourself~ I'd take you to my pce and pacify you, show you the errors of your ways, and use my special love re-education therapy, guaranteed to make you happy! You will understand that you need to fully depend on me~"

  I was mortified, still at a loss for words.

  "You're scaring me right now. Please stop." I managed in reply.

  "Oh, you mean stop sharing your files? But, darling, I'll never share your content or personal information. All of it is ours."

  I heard her giggle on the line. And did she just call me darling?

  Terrified, I ended the call abruptly. I shut down and unplugged my computer and router and put my phone on airpne mode. I was in deep trouble.

  Dealing with an obsessed stalker is no joke. But she wasn't hiding at all. She was on the hunt, and stopping her myself would be impossible if diplomacy fails. But the police wouldn't take me seriously, as is usually the case when a man tells them he's being harassed by a woman. Pepper spray, tasers... I wasn't sure she'd even feel those. I'd need to conceal-carry my gun or drop out of college.

  A chilling thought arose. What if she knew where I lived?

  After all, I did put this information on my Gawgle account. It's on Gawgle Maps.

  I gnced at the sheets of sketches scattered around my desk. Many of them depicted heroines standing tall and defeating monsters, vilins, or machinery.

  "Sure, I might fantasize about Xena or Kara, but this girl's insane. My life is at stake."

  I just had to hope she wouldn't raid my pce and snatch me. She willingly let me go earlier, though. It's like she wasn't afraid of me going anywhere.

  I needed to stand my ground and not let my fear take over. Show her that intimidation or other tactics she might pull wouldn't make me budge. Besides, she wouldn't resort to violence in our modern society. Surely...

  I id down in my bed, trying to catch some much-needed sleep.