Joe gets back to busying himself with his campus activities, hoping to take a break from the strange situation at home.
He attends lectures, studies at the library, and hangs out with his friends, trying not to think about the strange vampire lurking in his apartment.
But for the past few days, he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him.
Whether he was in a lecture hall, the cafeteria, or walking around campus, he had an uneasy feeling of being followed. He looked back more often than he cared to admit, but he never saw anyone suspicious.
"Calm down, Joe," he muttered to himself as he walked out of his last class of the day. "You're just being paranoid."
Although he felt safe, the anxiety remained. As he made his way to the library, his phone vibrated in his pocket.
It was a text from Tong: "Hey, do you have time for dinner tonight?"
Joe hesitated, then decided it was time to address his concerns. He quickly typed a reply: "Sure. Have you secured your vampire? I feel like I'm being watched lately. Please tell me Mark isn't stalking me."
A few minutes later, Tong replied: "Easy there, buddy. Mark was in my room all day. He went back to his coffin while I was on campus. There's no way he's stalking you."
Joe breathed a sigh of relief, though he still felt a little uneasy. "Okay. Just making sure. See you at dinner."
Tong's next message came through immediately: "Cool. Let's go to that new Thai restaurant. I heard it's really delicious."
Joe smiled at the unintentional pun. "See you there."
He tried to focus on his studies, but the feeling of being watched was still there. Since the library was about to close, he packed his things and headed to the meeting place.
Tong was already there, leaning against the wall, his signature smile plastered on his face.
"Hey, Joe! Are you ready to enjoy some delicious Thai food?" Tong said as she patted him on the shoulder.
Joe rolled his eyes. "Yeah, come on. And thanks for reassuring me about Mark. I guess I was being paranoid."
Tong chuckled. "Dude, you're too tense. Mark won't bother you. He knows best."
As they walked to the restaurant, Joe couldn't help but look around, half expecting to see someone hiding in the shadows.
They arrived at the Thai restaurant and found a table. The restaurant was bustling with life and the aroma of delicious food filled the air.
"Okay, Joe, seriously, relax," Tong said as they sat down. "You're safe with me."
"Yeah, yeah," Joe grumbled as he read the menu. "I can't shake that feeling. Maybe the whole vampire thing is bothering me."
Tong laughed. "Or maybe you're just going crazy. But seriously, Mark is really easy-going. He's just happy to let off some steam."
Joe sighed, deciding to trust his friend. "Okay. Let's go eat."
The food arrived, and as they began to eat, the conversation turned to more mundane topics. Joe began to relax, the lively atmosphere helping to calm his mind.
By the time they finished eating, Joe was feeling a little better, though he still couldn't completely shake off the uncomfortable feeling of being watched. He decided to chalk it up to stress and the strangeness of recent events.
"Thanks, Tong," Joe said as they walked out of the restaurant. "I need this."
"Anytime, man," Tong replied, patting him on the back. "Now, let's go home before Mark gets too bored."
They walked back to the apartment, Joe feeling a little calmer but still determined to keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary.