I smiled at the notification.
Seems like we've got a new friend, I murmured to myself as I continued writing in my planner.
I'll accept the friend request tomorrow. Right now, it was the thirty-minute no-phone-before-bed rule.
With that decision made, I placed my phone on the bedside table and switched off the lamp, letting the quiet darkness of my room slowly pull me toward sleep.
The next morning, I woke up to a quiet house.
No footsteps downstairs.
No clattering dishes in the kitchen.
Nothing.
The silence felt strange… almost unnatural.
I stretched lazily before heading to the shower. After a quick rinse, I dressed in sweatpants and an oversized hoodie. I tied my hair into a messy bun and, to complete the look, I put on my reading glasses—instantly making me look like a total nerd.
Not that I minded. Comfort always won over fashion in the morning.
I grabbed my tote bag and headed downstairs, walking straight to the kitchen to grab some milk from the fridge.
That's when I noticed the sticky note on the fridge door:
Out for a business trip. We will be back in a week. If you need anything, message our assistant.
That was it.
So blunt. So cold.
A small shiver ran down my spine as I stared at the note a moment longer than necessary.
I sighed and poured myself a bowl of cereal, eating quietly at the kitchen counter, the spoon clinking softly against the bowl.
Slurp.
"Ah… right. The friend request. I almost forgot about it," I muttered.
Reaching for my phone, I opened the language learning app and accepted the request from Li Wei.
I didn't think much of it and placed my phone down again, finishing the rest of my cereal.
After washing the bowl, I grabbed my bag and hurried toward the door.
"Miss Vicenza…?"
The butler called out behind me.
"Yes?" I said, turning my head.
Every time I looked at him, my heart skipped a beat.
He was eight years older than me. His tall physique, green eyes, and sharp wolf haircut always made my knees feel weak.
But no… I refused to let my imagination wander too far. Besides, I knew he barely noticed me. To him, I was simply his employer's daughter.
"I was instructed to take you to school," he said politely, opening the car door.
"No, thanks. I can go on my own," I replied quickly.
"And if my parents told you to keep an eye on me… you should probably remove that thought from your head."
Without waiting for a response, I walked away.
Hours later, I was seated in class, jotting down notes as the lecturer went on about sustainable tourism.
One thing about me: I was a complete nerd. Straight A's in every unit.
During lunch break, I sat alone in the cafeteria because Tracy had band practice. The noise of students chatting and laughing filled the room, but somehow I still felt invisible.
My phone suddenly lit up with a notification.
It was from Li Wei.
Curious, I quickly opened the app.
Li Wei: hi there 😊
My heart skipped slightly.
Me: Hello, my name is Vicenza. I'm from Kenya.
I was about to put my phone down when I noticed the three dots appear almost immediately.
He was typing.
Li Wei: Nice to meet you. I was happy when I saw you accepted my friend request.
A small smile crept onto my face.
Me: Sure. I would love to exchange cultures with you.
Just then, I glanced at the time and realized I was already late for my last class of the day.
Me: Talk to you later.
I sent the message and shoved my phone into my pocket.
The last class went by in a blur—group discussions, presentations, and endless notes.
After school, I invited Tracy over to spend the night, and she was thrilled.
"Finally, I get to see where you live…" she said, grinning.
I just nodded, smiling. The only reason I had invited her was because I didn't want to spend the night alone at home.
Hours later, we arrived at the front gate. Tracy's mouth was wide open, still agape as we neared the mansion.
"Tracy… can you please close your mouth?" I giggled. "You look like a cracking frog."
"Wait… you mean this is your house?!" she finally managed to ask.
Before I could answer, my phone buzzed.
I opened the language learning app.
Li Wei: Vicenza… are you still there?.. or did you get kidnapped? 😂
I let out a faint smile. Wait… was he waiting for my message all day?
Me: Sorry about that. I was at school and got caught up in activities.
Suddenly, Tracy nudged me. I looked at her, her eyes sparkling, and followed her gaze.
Of course. She was staring at Greyson, the butler. I mean… who wouldn't?
I dragged her inside as Greyson bowed slightly when I passed.
"Who… who… who is he?" Tracy stammered.
"He's just the butler," I said, opening the fridge and tossing her a juice box.
"Such a handsome man… as your butler? Wait, since when did you have a personal driver? How come he never drove you to school?" Tracy fired question after question.
"Hold your horses, Tracy," I said, giggling. "Yes, he's handsome. Yes, he's my personal driver. And no, he never drove me to school because I didn't want any attention."
Tracy went quiet, sipping her juice loudly.
My phone buzzed again.
Li Wei: It's okay, my deer.
Me: Deer?.. 😂....as in the animal?
Li Wei: Yes. I find you adorable from your profile picture… and I like your curly hair.
I blushed as my heart raced.
Me: Ah… thanks, I guess…
"I'm going upstairs to take a shower, Tracy," I said to my friend, who was still too shocked to speak.
"Make yourself comfortable… maybe watch some TV or grab something to eat," I added as I headed upstairs.
I was about to enter the bathroom when my phone lit up once more.
Li Wei: You're welcome, deer. I'd really like to get to know you better… Can we exchange numbers and chat on another app?
I froze.
Of course I had friends on the language learning app, but no one had ever asked for my number before.
A flutter ran through my chest. Could this… really be the start of something new?
Everything I knew about my quiet, invisible life felt like it might change in just one conversation.