Despite his efforts to ignore thoughts of his stalker, Eren couldn't fully shake the unease that lingered at the edge of his mind. The memory of the cryptic letters and the feeling of being watched haunted him, overshadowing what should have been a simple treat.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Eren stayed alert, glancing around the bakery for any signs of trouble. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone, or something, was watching him.

Still, Eren refused to let fear control him. With a determined look, he took a bite of the strawberry cake, trying to enjoy a bit of normalcy despite the uncertainty.

Deciding to push aside his unsettling thoughts, Eren focused on the simple pleasure of the cake. Each bite was a sweet distraction from the worries that had plagued him.

Leaving the bakery with a bag containing his mother's favorite cake, Eren felt a small spark of anticipation. Knowing she was sick and at home made him more determined to visit her.

Shaking off his thoughts, Eren set his focus on the path to his parents' house. It had been too long since his last visit, and seeing his mother, despite her illness, gave him a renewed sense of purpose. With each step, he was committed to bringing her comfort and solace.

As Eren approached his parents' house, he felt both excited and nervous. The sight of their quaint home, surrounded by blooming flowers, brought back memories of happier times.

He took a deep breath to calm his nerves and knocked gently on the front door. It opened to reveal his father's warm smile. "Welcome home, Eren." his father said, his voice full of relief and affection. "Your mother's been looking forward to your visit."

Eren hugged his father, the familiar smell of his childhood home wrapping around him like a comfort. As he walked through the house, he noticed signs of his mother's illness—her tired face and the slight shake in her hands.

Despite her frailty, her eyes brightened with joy when she saw him. Tears filled her eyes as she hugged Eren tightly, her love for him clear in every word and gesture.

For a moment, all his worries faded as he felt the warmth of his family's love. He knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, he would always find comfort and strength in the embrace of those who loved him unconditionally.

༺༻

Eren returned to his apartment quite late, but he didn't mind. He had a great time with his mother and father. His father had seriously asked if Eren really didn't want to go to university, just to be sure—get some higher diplomas, better connections, or something. Eren wasn't really that fond of the idea because he would have to depend on his father then. His father was the famous doctor, not Eren. Eren was only known as the son, but people knew Eren was probably going to follow his father's footsteps because it was a sort of family tradition on his father's side.

His mother's side was more of a mess. On his mother's side of the family, people had random jobs. Some might sweep out salt, one might make honey, another might be a contractor. It was super random, and Eren felt like he could probably fit in that side too, but the doctor side also fit him. He had made a deal with his father: if he really couldn't find a job in the next two months, he would take the offer and start studying at the university. He might have to be in a class with people a year younger than him, but that's okay.

His father was happy with the deal, but Eren really hoped he could find at least a decent job. Though no one really hired him, were they intimidated by his high qualifications? His diplomas were good ones too. But if they were intimidated by those already, how would they feel when Eren had even more diplomas?

His father had told him he also had that problem and that it took quite a while to actually find a job in the hospital after he had studied at university. And he had studied at a really good one too. It's not like they're rich, but they certainly aren't that poor either. Buying something between 1,000 and 10,000 is actually the norm, but maybe that's because the family is full of successful doctors too...

So, if Eren decided to accept his father's offer, he would definitely be enrolled in a very expensive university, and maybe the chance for a job would drop to zero. Oh well, the hospital is always open for him then. But Eren really wants to work in a fun little business, even if it's a retail store, a skincare store, jewellery, makeup, a supermarket, or a bakery. He really doesn't mind. He just doesn't want to depend solely on his father's money.

It's already bad enough that his father is paying half of his apartment bills. It isn't the worst, really—his father actually refused at first, considering it was a weird place to live in. But Eren didn't care; he wanted to be incognito, not live somewhere expensive—just normal, like regular people. He also wanted to struggle financially because, in his mind, if you don't struggle, you didn't do it correctly. He knows well that his mother had always struggled before meeting his father and just wants to depend on himself. He's growing up.

Eren is starting to think his father isn't noticing or is refusing to accept that his baby boy is becoming a man. Grisha certainly did cry when Eren mentioned moving out after his graduation. Okay, it wasn't exactly normal for an 18-year-old, but Eren wants to experience being a young adult! Going clubbing with friends, attending festivals, going on holidays before life starts to get serious—before they can't do it anymore.

Eren knows he won't be a party person once he's fully dedicated to a job. It makes him feel more like an adult, more stable. Then he'll already know how the economy works and how to manage on his own.

When Eren was done showering, he walked into the kitchen and suddenly noticed something very strange. Firstly, he noticed the lights were on when he came back from his parents, which was odd because he always double-checked, as electricity bills are no joke. Secondly, there was an envelope on his kitchen island counter.

"What the fuck..." Eren whispered under his breath. He tightened the knot in his white fluffy bathrobe and walked to the kitchen counter, his slippers slapping against his heels and the floor making those satisfying sounds you hear when you've just returned from the beach on your holiday or when you've just finished swimming and showering and are walking to your little mobile home.

He picked up the envelope and noticed it was quite thick. There was likely a lot inside. Once he opened it, he saw that there were pictures, and inside the envelope was a small note:

What do you think of my photography skills? I jerk off to them every night.

Eren's heart raced as he stared at the message, trying to make sense of what was happening.

And, worse of all, Eren recognized the handwriting—it was his stalker's. Fucking fuck. He slowly took out a few pictures and saw that they were all taken randomly, some during the night and others during the day. There were pictures from clubs, festivals, bars, restaurants, and even the beach when he trashed his graduation clothes. He also noticed that his friends' faces were burned out of the pictures.

Shit.