How Could I Possibly Be Inconspicuous Novels & Stories

Her head tilted toward me in that way she does when she’s listening—not just hearing, but receiving. No kiss. No scandal. But intimacy has a language of its own. The message beneath the image is short and cheerful in that way that makes my jaw tighten. Thought you should know this is making rounds. Nothing bad—just… visible. Visible. I’ve spent years perfecting the art of invisibility. Not in the literal sense, but in the way that matters—choosing neutrality, keeping my name attached only to work, never to emotion. Being competent but unremarkable. Present but unclaimed.

I told him, looking around nervously. We were silent for a minute. All I could hear was our hearts beating across the living room. “What if we change our identity?” “What?” I shot him a suspicious look. He glared, signaling me to listen. I shut my mouth and nodded. “If we change our looks, names, and the way we dress, no one will know us. We’ll be invisible to everyone else. We just need to move to another city, like we vanished.”

"Uh, yeah. Just something I whipped up for Rhoda yesterday before I went home. It's a little after my shift, I should be heading out. Let me know how everything goes with Vick though." "Of course darling, have a good one." "You too." Retreating to the back with no look in the direction of the man himself, I went through the kitchen doors. I forced my heartbeat to remain calm and steady out of fear of being sought after if he already didn't recognize that I didn't have a scent. Ever since the masking I always wore a strong yet soft perfume that, I believed, took ownership of not having a scent. I wore it so much that it was practically embedded in my skin but it didn't make up for the fact th

They had their own world, their own circle, and girls like me didn't exist in it. You're not a nerd, Kyra texted back. You're just shy. Big difference. Same result, I replied, tossing my phone onto the bed. I got dressed in my usual outfit—jeans, a plain sweater, nothing that would draw attention. The last thing I needed was to stand out. I'd learned a long time ago that being invisible was safer than being noticed. The morning lectures dragged on forever. I sat in the back of the class, taking notes and trying not to think about hockey, wolves, or stupidly attractive guys who lived in my apartment building.

“It would help if we knew which behaviors were shady.” “Right” P’First had nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. “Shady, huh? Well, try to look for the obvious indicators. Anyone who might be trying too hard to look nondescript or conceal their face. Maybe anyone who’s wearing sunglasses on the inside and insists on keeping them. Or someone who is wearing clothing that is meant to hide their identity. Especially hoodies. Thailand heat shouldn’t be a good place for hoodies.” “What else?” Ben had insisted. “I mean… if those are the obvious trades and we’re dealing with someone experienced, then shouldn’t they be aware not to make the obvious mistakes?”

I smiled politely at everyone and headed towards the bus stop. It had been a while since a gate had randomly appeared on the streets and I was starting to get used to it. "Yet another boring day." I grumbled to myself as I walked along the street. I sighed again, and checked that my phone was still on vibrate. I wanted to stay incognito today, so I wore my hoodie over my track suit. With my hood pulled low over my eyes, I was practically invisible. The only people who'd notice me were the ones who knew me personally.

"Who knows… but I guess I shouldn't have left the house last night. Maybe they were tracking my scent." "I'm sure that isn't–" We reached the main road and stopped in front of the intersection. There was traffic and people milling about, but nobody seemed to notice our presence. Even if they did, they were busy talking amongst themselves or looking at their phones, which made us invisible for the most part. "This is as good a spot as any. Let's see if we can blend in a little better now," he gestured to the people milling around us. "The sooner we can ditch these people and find a more isolated area to talk, the less likely we'll attract unwanted attention."

I needed to maintain an air of nonchalance, making my intentions appear less obvious. Suppressing the growing excitement within me, I chose to dress leisurely, opting for comfortable attire that concealed the bubbling anticipation in my veins. I carefully selected a casual yet polished outfit, ensuring that it struck the right balance between casual and professional. A pair of well-worn jeans and a crisp, button-down shirt would suffice.

“Fucking nightshift’s doing my head in.” She had already forgotten she saw me, and if questioned later, she wouldn’t even be able to recall my face. All she’d remember was a man that came in close to midnight. Even CCTV wouldn’t be able to capture my image. My face would be blurred, unidentifiable, but my clothes wouldn’t be, hence the nondescript garb I chose to wear. I shoved my hands in my pockets and hunched my shoulders to make myself appear smaller while I walked down the hallways, ignoring the staff that stopped and attempted to engage with me.

If I can’t figure something out, maybe I can at least find Alaric himself. I rummage through my wardrobe, searching for something inconspicuous. A plain hoodie, dark jeans, and sneakers—it’s nothing special, but that’s the point. I pull my hair back into a ponytail, tucking it under a baseball cap, and slip on a nose mask to further conceal my face. If things go sideways, I can’t afford to be recognised. I glance in the mirror, taking in my reflection. The person staring back doesn’t look like me—she looks cautious and determined, ready to disappear into the background. I take a deep breath, letting resolve settle over me. I have to find Alaric. No matter what.