Guess who I am

After a lonely dinner of baked beans and cheese and toast, the phone rang.Jacob was a little hesitant to pick it up.He didn't want to talk to Scott any more.

But then again, today he has deliberately ignored a message he sent; if he does it again, it will not be like his usual behavior.

He answered the phone and said, "Hello?"

"Hi, is that Jacob?"

He pushed back his chair and stood up from the table. "Yes, it's me." So this should be the guy who tore up his ad. "You are Mr. X—"

"Excuse me, who? No, I'm Daniel, and I saw your ad — are you looking for a roommate? I'm interested in your place."

The man spoke so fast that Jacob could barely keep up.He was about to say something, but before he could speak, Daniel continued. "I live in the valley, it's a great place, close to school, not too close, I'd prefer to live a little further away from Pub Street, well, yeah, anyway, since I need one next month New residence, if you are still looking for someone to share, I would like to find a chance to visit you. What do you think?"

"Uh--"

"I have more free time, so I can come to you anytime you're free. Except on Sundays. No, no, it's not because I'm going to church." Confused, could it be that I asked something unconsciously?Jacob put the phone away and stared at it for a moment, frowning, before continuing to listen.

"I mean, maybe I should go to church, after all, I like Pascal's bet—I mean, if you have to choose between two things, it's better to bet on eternal happiness after death, right? Oh, don't you now Thinking, my beliefs conflict with your lifestyle? Rest assured, I am all for gay rights. I am gay myself so you really don’t have to worry about that.”

Note ①: Pascal's wager: the famous proposition of Pascal, the French philosopher in the 17th century.Pascal posits that all humans wager on the existence or non-existence of God.Since God may indeed exist, in this case believers can go to heaven and enjoy endless happiness, while unbelievers will go to hell and suffer infinite pain.If God doesn't actually exist, believers have only limited losses (some fun, enjoyment, etc.).

Jacob couldn't answer at all.He cleared his throat. "Well, of course." Could this be some way Mr. X was playing tricks on him?So Jacob thought of a method that could not only test him, but also treat him in his own way. "One - as soon as I posted it, all the ads got ripped up. Two - I only put my number on those ads. Three - you called me, so you're the one who ripped me up Mr X of advertising."

Their conversation fell short.This is the first time since the phone call.Then the man said, "This logic gives me a headache. But I dare say that we will get along very well in the future. But let me be clear first, you are mistaken, I am not Mr. X, my name is Daniel."

Jacob noticed the wording of the last sentence, it's not Mr. X, my name is Daniel - this sentence can also be understood as Mr. X telling him his real name, right?

Jacob felt his brow twitch into a ball. "You're such a smart guy, Daniel."

"I've dabbled in philosophy a little, so one thing I'm pretty sure is that I don't really know anything. As much as I appreciate your compliments, Jacob, I'm not a smart guy. And there's a hole in your logic —Mr. X must have ripped up the ad after I got a slip of your number."

Right.

"So," said Daniel, "what do you think? May I go and see?"

"Well, yes," Jacob said, "Listen, I'll call you tomorrow and talk to you, okay?"

"Of course. You already have my number."

After hanging up the phone, Jacob stared at his cell phone for a long time.

That... was really interesting.In fact, he didn't know what to think.

But he didn't have much time to dwell on it.

He had just finished washing the dishes when the phone rang a second time.Another unknown number.

He hesitated to pick up the phone. "I'm Jacob."

"Hello, Jacob. I'm Jeremy—Jem, calling to inquire about a rental?" There was an almost melodic quality to the man's voice, as if his words were not Sing instead of speaking.

"You mean your name is... Jem?" Jacob turned away from the sink and leaned back in his chair, staring at the cat clock above the door.The kitten's whiskers indicated the time—it was almost seven o'clock. "Or Mr. X?"

There was a sound of exhalation on the phone, and he wondered if Jem would be snickering on the other end?This might be the reaction of his imaginary Mr. X.

But the other party immediately said: "Who are you talking about?"

Jacob put a hand in his pocket and shook his head.Clearly Mr. X would have to be a little more clever if he wanted to get the bait. "Do you like comics, Jem?"

"It's okay. Well, you, what about you?"

"I've never seen it before. Who's your favorite character?"

"No, sorry, do you interview everyone in this way, way, way?"

Oops, if this person is not Mr. X, Jacob must be acting like a real mental retardation now. "No, sorry, I just... don't mind. When do you want to start renting?"

Jem couldn't finish his words for a moment, and cursed under his breath.Then he laughed. "I'm a little nervous chatting with people I just met, but it's fine when I get to know them well. I basically don't have this problem when chatting with friends."

Jacob shrugged, though Jem couldn't see him.He said it didn't matter because his brother also had a speech impediment.He knew that he should be patient with such a person and give him time to finish what he wanted to say. "I don't mind at all."

He noticed the relief on the other end of the phone, and smiled sadly remembering that his brother had had such a reaction.

"I want to start renting next month," said Jem, "and I don't, don't mind cleaning."

"Then do you want to come here to have a look? Someone else wants to rent, but I want to carefully consider who will move in this time."

"Yes, yes. I understand. When is the right time?"

"Can I contact you tomorrow for the specific situation?"

After the call, Jacob took a can of beer from the refrigerator and sat outside, sinking into the old sofa that was about to take root on the balcony.He was about to throw the couch away, but sitting outside with a beer on a cool summer breeze can be addicting too.This will help him think and keep his mind clear.

Or, at least, it generally works.

But tonight, he couldn't get this Mr. X out of his mind.Who is he?Could it be Daniel or Jem?or--

His phone rang again.He stared at the unknown number for a while before he connected vigilantly.

"Hello." The voice was deep and deep, which made him uneasy when he spoke. "I'm interested in the room you're renting out. Is it still available?"

Jacob switched the phone to his other ear. "Some people who want to rent have contacted me, but I want to interview them first before I settle down."

"Okay, that's fine. You want to make sure you get along with the guy you're sharing with. I get it."

Jacob wanted to ask him if he was Mr. X, but suddenly he didn't want to be thought of as a fool anymore.Still, his curiosity got the better of him. "Excuse me," he said, "you haven't said your name yet? . . . "

Could it be Mr. X by chance?

"Call me Zane."

He was completely discouraged, and then told Zane when to come to see the house.He promised to call two other people tomorrow, and he will call too, but maybe not making appointments with other people, just making an appointment with Zane, will help him find out who this mysterious Mr. X is .

Maybe it was one of the three callers.Maybe none of them.

***

The next morning, he returned to the bulletin board and wrote a new message:

Dear Mr. X,

—>Did you call me?

—> If you did, which of the three is you?

—> And why I have a hunch that you are not going to answer the above question either?You're playing a game with me, aren't you?

- Jacob

In order to catch his mysterious Mr. X, Jacob wished he could lie in ambush by the bulletin board all day, but then he would have to wait stupidly.He still has a quiz he has to rush to.

On his way to the classroom, the phone rang again.When it was connected, Scott's voice suddenly rang through the phone, causing Jacob to stop in the middle of the courtyard.

"I know you've been avoiding me, Jacob," he said, "but we have to finish this assignment, and we only have two weeks left."

Jacob held back his curse. "Yes, you're right." Fart. "Are you coming to class today? Are you free to discuss it during lunch?"

He could almost see Scott grinning smugly on the phone. "That's great. How about a little?"

"Okay. I'll see you at the Learning Center later. Talk to me later."

He hurried the rest of the way to the classroom to take the quiz, then headed back to the library for a few readings.

After only half an hour, he couldn't sit still.Wanted to check the bulletin board to see if there was a new reply there.

He packed up his things and left the library, and visited the bulletin board again.When he saw a blue note there with handwriting that he was quite familiar with, he almost couldn't help smiling.

Jacob,

—> Yes, I did call you.

—> How about talking about the three calls you received.Which one do you think is me?

—> I am a gamer.Normally I play board games, but this game looks like fun too.

-Mr.X

Jacob removed the little blue post-it note and put it in the compartment of his schoolbag.He rummaged over what to write as he rummaged for a pen and new lined paper.He tried writing a note, was not satisfied, threw it away and wrote it again.

Dear Mr. X,

I have never heard of either of these games.I'm a Connect Four guy - and only when I'm babysitting my niece.I'd much rather go surfing or do some nice outdoor exercise than spending hours on end in a dark basement.

But you got me curious.I decided to play this game with you because I really like a hard puzzle. Mr. X, who are you?

are you:

Caller number one: Daniel, this guy can't stop talking, I can barely get in a word.His voice is beautiful, but when he speaks, I feel that he is either on drugs, or... tense.

Caller number two: Jeremy, or "Jem" for short, I'm not sure I got it right because he speaks softly with a slight stutter.Unlike Daniel, who was the first to call, this guy allowed me to dominate the conversation.I feel that he is not very nervous when he speaks, but every time he takes time to organize his words, he is a little impatient.

Caller number three: Zane, this man has a voice that can make people's ears pregnant.I really don't want you to be Zane - he doesn't quite fit the pale, sallow-eyed, skinny image I have in mind.This Zane sounds very confident, like a handsome guy, so I have to remind myself, I really don't like you, Mr. X.So again, I hope you must not be Zane.

I have to admit, I dare not say which of the three is most like you in my heart.All three of them were quite polite - even Daniel, despite the fact that he kept talking when he opened his mouth.I have to admit this situation drove me nuts, because in my mind, Mr. X didn't look like such a polite person.

But maybe that's what you put on?

- Jacob

***

Scott sat across from him in the bustling restaurant.A beam of light shone through the window beside them, softening the profile of his ex-boyfriend even more.In Jacob's eyes, Scott was as handsome as ever, but unlike before, there was no disturbance in his heart at this time.It's as if after Scott left, something "they" had about each other just didn't exist anymore.

Jacob watched him as he made plans for the interview assignment.Like this - sitting across from him, chatting nonchalantly, eating, and stealing a few Scott's fries from time to time, it seems that it is not as difficult as imagined.

"I want to interview you," Scott said.

Jacob ate another french fries, and accidentally saw Scott looking at him with a smile, and when he found out, he quickly turned serious. "Why interview me? I haven't done anything worth mentioning."

"The interview I envision doesn't need to focus on what you have done...it is more inclined to interview your feelings around certain topics. We can make a provocative work."

Jacob leaned back in his chair and looked out the window. A large group of students were hurrying to their next class. "To be precise, how do you feel about what?"

Scott was excited. "I've started thinking of some questions I'm going to ask you, but... I want to capture your reaction to them on camera for the first time. Emotion is the key to this piece." He pushed his plate away. Jacob moved closer. "You can finish these fries if you want."

"I was going to finish eating anyway."

"I know. Just accept my offer."

***

After Scott left, Jacob stared at his empty seat and shook his head.He was a little uneasy, always feeling that it was a bad idea to say yes to Scott.But he calculated that not only would they be able to complete their homework more quickly, but they would only need to meet for formal interviews.

He walked out of the restaurant leisurely, and went to the bulletin board again to see if there was a small note for him there.

Jacob,

Just talk about Mr. X in your mind in detail.He sounded stereotypical enough, so funny.

-Mr.X

Also: I never pretend.

Suppressing a laugh, Jacob scribbled his answers before leaving for class.

Dear Mr. X,

What I imagined you to be like: self-righteous, terrific, the kind of die-hard fan who likes to collect otaku T-shirts printed with jokes from science students.But when you're giggling at the bulletin board and tearing up the ad, that T-shirt is like your medal.You have a high IQ and are smug. Although you can act like a nice guy when you talk to people on the phone, deep down you think that you are the best.

- Jacob

In the back and forth between him and Mr. X on the bulletin board, his class and the rest of the day somehow passed.Those messages made him sometimes frown, shake his head, and laugh out loud.There won't be many classes tomorrow, so he's going to sit around the bulletin board and wait.

Jacob,

You're right about one thing - I'm embarrassed by the number of those "nerd" T-shirts.Many are gifts.

Well, I lied to you.I gave up struggling.The truth is that except for two items that were given by others, all the others were bought by myself.I am indeed a diehard fan!By the way, my nephew who lives in Germany likes to collect Star Wars character figures from Kinder Wonderful chocolate eggs - he's a fanatic, even though he hasn't seen the movies yet (he's only four) and he's old Pronounced as "the large intestine of the planet ③", it made me laugh out loud.Anyway, I just have to get a "Planet Bowel" custom t-shirt.I have to say, this is by far my favorite piece of clothing.

Note ②: A kind of snack for children, a small toy is hidden in the chocolate egg.

Note ③: StarWurst: wurst means sausage in German, which is similar to Wars in pronunciation.

Have you invited all rental candidates to interview?

-Mr.X

Dear Mr. X,

Yes, please finish.Didn't you get my call back?

-J

J,

Jacob, this trick is awesome!

I like difficult games.If my answer to your last question is "yes" and you call only one of those three candidates, then you've got me!

If I say I didn't get the call, then you can rule out a... suspect (so to speak).

I will neither admit nor deny.But, after you meet those three people who might be your future roommates one by one, maybe with luck, you will recognize me?

Just one question... what do you do when you find out who Mr. X is?

Reply: 'J' - uninhibited, I like it!It seems we are getting to know each other better.

Dear Mr. X,

You don't want to rent that room.

J,

I read your message again over lunch.

I found that I have never said my impression of you.Of course, I know you never asked, but since I'm being pushy and cocky, just listen.

You don't want to leave a bad impression on anyone - so your messages are always soft-spoken, and you never say anything harsh without reservation.However, you can't hide the sarcasm in your words.

In my imagination, you probably have a sullen expression on your face, which sets off your eccentric temperament.

I'm looking forward to when I can see it for myself.

Why can't I rent that room?

Dear Mr. X,

I did have a good laugh.

If you can't rent it, you can't rent it. I neither forget nor forgive the "tearing advertisement incident".

J,

I understand.You're the grudge type.

Don't even comment on my description of you?Is it because I hurt you?

What do you think of this paper?

Dear Mr. X,

You didn't and never will "pit my heart".

This paper is not bad.Who would have thought you were an environmentalist?After all, you tore up all my number strips, which I can't agree with.

Well, I have a little confession to make: today I wanted to catch you red-handed, hunkered down in the learning center, sitting on a blue chair with a clear view of the bulletin board.When I saw a man posting something, I thought it was you, so I ran over in a hurry and almost jumped on him.

Turns out those people just want to sell their used mattresses.

It's funny though, I'm kind of glad I didn't catch you like this, or it would feel like cheating.

So, I've now called those three people who could be you back and made interview appointments.I look forward to finding out which one is you when we meet.

Maybe when the time comes, our impressions of each other will be confirmed.

Or among us, who would feel unexpected?

-TBC-