6

Anna
The bicycle comes to a halt near the entrance of my apartment. I dismount and carefully take off my helmet. "Goodnight," I say, extending my hand to hand over the helmet.
"Goodnight," Dylan responds, his face adorned with a gentle smile as he gazes at me.
"Hey,"he calls out before I keep a step back. He removes his helmet and holds it netween his arm and body. "I'll be coming to drop you to work tomorrow." He says.
"That's okay,” I brush off. "You might be late for work."
"No, I won't be,"
"Is it?" I ask, crunching up my nose. Dylan's office and my workplace are located in opposite directions. 
"Yeah, I'm gonna be your business partner very soon."
"Really?" I squeel, surpised.
"Yes, and my company has appointed me to meet with Mr Han tomorrow to introduce our deals."
"Whoa, that's great." I jump forwars punching on his arm. "Looking forward to working with you." I announceas I join my feet and bend a little in courtesy. My lips spread to a gigantic grin and birstvout laughing when Dylan's chuckles get louder.
"Alright." I take a step back waving at him. "I'll head back first." I add.
"Goodnight, sweetheart.” he winks, and I turn around.  
Stopping in ny tracks, I turn again to take a look at him. "Goodnight, Prince." I bid facetiously. I walk into the apartment, and once I've noved in further, I hear the engine ofbthw bike. He has always waited till I head in before leaving. Dylan, having him adms my friend in my life is a definitely a blessing. 
Fiddling with the handle of my bag, I wait for the elevator, and I turn to my left at the sound of footsteps.
"You home dear?" the familiar soft voice asks, it's aunt Cathy. She lives on the ninth floor and oftens visits my place. Whenever she bakes something, or when she celebrates any special event, she shares the food among particular neighbours, and she invites me over to her house for tea and chat. Her husband frequently works overtime, and her two children, her daughter, live in her college dorm. She seeks for my oresence when she is bored or lonely and her daughter is particularly mad at her for treating me like her daughter. Her son married last year and I attended his wedding, it's funny that I stood to get the boquet thrown from the bride and everyone wished and told I would be married soon. Bruh, i haven't dated anyone yet to give a thought to marriage.
"Yes, Aunty, you are back from your son's place, right?” I ask, passing her a gentle smile. Her cheerful smile and carved eyes were enough to expose that she has been in her son's place. Aunt Cathy is like specially bonded with her son as their relationship was healthy. She sometimes conplained me about her daughter as her daughter oreferred dealing her life by her own. She is not wrong anyways. It's common to get that attitude as I did the same.
Sometimes, it's better to deal with our life by ourselves instead of seeking help, as once we seek help it becomes habitual and no one will bother to give you a hand later except for the people who sincerely cares about you. My neighbour, he is the only one person who was sincere with me more than my parents. As my patent relationship turned toxic and unhealthy, i hated to stay at home, and I always zoned off in school. He was my senior, and he visits my classroom many times. He waves at me through the window as he walks across the classroom and keeps an eye on me to wjere ever I go. Jackie, that was what I called him like it was his name. I couldn't remember his real name as I'm used to calling him Jackie, which was the name of my pet, which died a few months ago before I moved into the neighbourhood. 
When I feel down, he borrows books from the library, and sometimes he buys a new one with his pocket money. He was profound and equally annoying as well. He enjoyed teasing and pranking me. His prank led to an injury when I was fifteen, and I still remember how he came to hospitals. His eyes were pooled with tears like he was hurt. 
His parents were always bymusy with work, and he was mature enough toblive alone until night for his parents arrival. Till then, we stayed together. Those were my life's happiest memories. Jackie, his existence is irreplaceable. 
"Anna," Aunt Cathy's voice brings me back to reality, realising that the elevator door is open. I nod with a smile, and I follow her inside.
"You met your new neighbour,” she asks the next second.
"New neighbour? I didn't know about it!" I shake my head with kotted brows, curious.  
The frot door was closed in the morning, and I don't recall anyone who visited to see the house, and there were no clues of moving in. There weren't any luggage outside as well. Maybe the things were moved when I was put for work. 
A new neighbour,  is really surprising news.
"Your new neighbour is the landlord." she says, and she moves closer to me.
"He is so handsome,” she squeals like a little girl, grooming her idol. "Having a pretty girl like you as a neighbour will surely make a love story." she literally made a spin by clapping her hands together like she won a lottery.
"Your assumption is beyond my thought." I declaim with a tight smile, adjusting my glasses.
"Ohh, I forgot that you have a boyfriend, poor neighbour.” she adds sympathetically. 
Oh, did I forget to tell that she is actually a typical adorable drama queen.
She has consistently held the belief that Dylan and I are a couple, despite my repeated explanations that he is not my boyfriend. Nevertheless, she persists in urging me to invite him over for dinner.
"Okay, darling, take care, goodnight." she walks out as we've reached her floor.
In a few minutes, the closed door opens again and I walk ahead and my eyes squint noticing  that the surroundings were enveloped in darkness, save for the faint glow of moonlight filtering through a small grille window.
Is there a power cut? But the levator worked fine and there was light on the floor below. 
Taking cautious and deliberate steps, I retrieved my phone from my bag, intending to use the flashlight. Before I could switch my mobile, I shudder.
Bang!
The sudden loud noise behind me made me flinch, and my hands automatically move up to my chest to calm my rapid heart. Shit, I dropped my phone.
I walk slowly and carefully while dragging my feet along the floor in search of my phone. The dim moonlight offered little assistance, so I kept my gaze fixed downwards, desperately trying to locate my lost device. My body froze, and my heart skipped a beat. A piercing scream involuntarily escaped my lips as I accidentally collided on someone.
My feet stumbled back at the sudden force, and gravity left me alone. My eyes squuezed shut as a swift reactiom of my body and my eye lods opened the next second, feeling a large arm wrapped around me.
Chills run down my spine whenbighy chilly breeze travels through the tiny grilled window on top. What just happened?
I knocked someone, I'm sure it's a human as the hand around me feels warm, and the strong muscles made it clear it was a human. I'm relieved to know it's a person imsted if it is a ghost which appeared out of nowhere. The lights are off all of a sudden, and the silence is nerve-wracking. 
Who is holding me?
Wait, the landlord, Aunt Cathy, told he moved in.
I look up, attempting to get a good look at the person who saved me. The figure looms above, his height surpassing mine as my head barely reaches his chest. I stare up at him, my chin raised high in the air, meticulously examining his features in the dark as the little rays of light from the outside shine over his face.
Time seemed to stop when my brain captured the exact image of this person.
My landlord, my neighbour—
My brows knit as the lights switch on, and myvhaze follows hisbother hand noticing his fingers working on the maon saitch. I look up again at him like a robot. 
"Had enough looking at me,” he smirks, and hisbgaze moves down, and his eyes meet mine for a second.
—Is my boss!
A hot blush of embarrassment spreads across my cheeks. I push his arm, and I take a wide step away from him. 
Damn... Why the hell on earth did Ibstare at him, engrossed in it... It will be loe if i say he isn't handsome. He is too good looking to be jerk, or maybe the closer look is more captivating.
He takes a step forward, those pair of deep eeyes watching ne like, I don't know, how to describe it. It gives me this some kind of feeling, like looking into his makes him familiar.
He bends with his hands inside his pockets. Like I'm so short, it just his actions make me feel small. 
"Is this how you treat your neighbours.” he asks, arching a brow in amusement.
This freak really enjoys awkwardness.
"I ...uh—"I stutter, unable to find words.
He stands, and before he could say anything, I rush, I literally run to my door. Quickly unlocking the door, I jump in and slam the door shut without taking any more glance at him. I hide behind the door, pressing my right cheek against it, myvhand stull wrapped aepund the knob.
"You left your phone here,” Mr. Han calls out.
I adjust my glasses and slowly open the door, peeping outside to find him casually leaning against the wall, flipping my phone playfully. Acting swiftly, I rush out and snatch it from his grasp, hastily retreating back inside, ignoring his loid chuckle.

Book Comment (87)

  • avatar
    MaylanVERONICA YAI

    so sweet

    22d

      0
  • avatar
    Urinn

    Recommend this novel😭😭🥹

    18/09

      0
  • avatar
    Dalma Kahing Asmilin

    thanks

    09/09

      0
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