Hunter Andrews

2

My new apartment is on the 24th floor. It is so lovely because the window faces the city with tall buildings. City lights are like stars down there. I just finished unpacking my stuff, and now I am ready to go to bed with an oversized shirt. It is 10 p.m. now, but I haven't been sleeping. Luckily, I found a bottle of wine in the last box I unpacked earlier, so I decided to have some of it.

I went to the veranda to watch the lights glinting from the houses and the neighboring building. There is one building on the opposite side that is connected to this building, and it has 30 floors. Some of the lights in every room are off, but I saw one room where the light is on.

A silhouette of a couple having dinner. The table had a flower in the middle and a bottle of wine. It is just a shadow of flowers on a vase, but I'm sure it is roses. I bet they are celebrating the anniversary of something. Sometimes, I felt jealous of everyone else having someone in their lives. They are not alone in this big, comfortable but lonely apartment.

The silhouette of a man stood up, and he took the hand of the woman, and then they started dancing the waltz or something. Then, they stop, and the silhouetted faces are touching each other. I can’t see it, but I'm the man who is starting to take off his coat while their faces remain touched. I went inside my apartment and closed the sheer curtain of the glass doors, for I knew they would be doing more than just kissing. I just smirked at it and then suddenly felt alone. This f*****g singleness, I hate it. I emptied my glass of wine, then I lay on my bed. This f*****g loneliness.

I can’t help but think that if I broke up with Josh sooner than eight years together, I might be an expert on dating. Or I might find someone I will marry. Perhaps I’ll be married by this time. I'm almost thirty, but my life doesn’t seem fulfilling. I don’t even recognize love anymore. I feel like we are just faking orgasms every time Josh and I have s*x. Eight long years! f**k it. I wonder if I even feel romantic about it. Or if it is even real feelings. It just makes me feel empty inside. It just makes me long for someone. I hate this feeling…

In the morning, I wake up to the light passing through my glass window. I don't need to set my alarm in the morning to wake me up because the windows are facing the sun. I sat on my bed, stretched, and yawned.

I got ready for today's schedule. First, get breakfast. Drop a file in the office, then I will shop for a dress in the afternoon. Before I went to some cafe outside, I stopped at the entrance of the building where the mail locker is located. I checked Bobbie's mail because she told me her wedding invitation to me had been mailed. I told the guard attending the entrance, “good morning” when our eyes crossed. He smiled in response and looked away, paying attention to other people coming in and out of the Silver Building. He isn’t actually on standby or security at the entrance but in the main station. The building has the highest security system installed for hired personnel.

I was looking at my locker number as I entered the station. I don’t have the time to be amused by how pretty the main station at the entrance is because as soon as I found the mail, I opened it. I helped Bobbie with the design of her invitation, and she chose my design, which I felt so flattered about.

A guy arrived in the mail locker. His locker is two lockers away from mine. I glanced at him while he was busy with his phone. He is pretty attractive to a man wearing pajamas for his morning jog. He glanced at me too and waved his hand to say "Hello." Then he took the mail from his locker and told the person on the phone that he got it. I was surprised when he looked at me, so my hand automatically waved back, but he didn't see it because he was opening his mail too. s**t, I am too obvious.

I glanced at him discreetly every second or two, not to be noticed how stupid I am. He slightly grinned at his phone. I wonder if he is grinning at something fun on his phone or the music he is listening to on his AirPods. But I wonder if he is grinning at me because he noticed me staring. Again. ‘Dammit, Pipe! Pace yourself!’ I warned myself.

He took an envelop from his locker that gave me a noticeable frown. I'm a bit shocked by the mail he had. I squinted my eyes into it; there was no way we are attending the same wedding. I didn't know this guy as Bobbie or Jordan's friend. But the design, I know the design is perfectly similar to what I'm holding.

I cleared my throat and finally said, "Wedding invites, too?" trying to sound so casual.

And when he glanced back, I saw he was a bit surprised too. "I guess," he replied, showing me the card.

We are comparing our cards and no doubt we will have the same wedding to attend.

"I'm sorry I haven't introduced myself yet," he paused before saying his name, "Hunter Andrews." then he out his hand to me with a smile.

There is something in his smile that gives me shivers inside. Or maybe his hand is soft but firm as he shakes hands with me, releasing electricity to my nerves. I think I'm melting right now.

"Piper Reed," I replied, clearing my throat. "Are you on the groom's side?"

"Yeah, college pal. You?"

"Bride's best friend, I guess," I smiled archly.

He raised his eyebrow in amusement. We were almost stuck in awkwardness, so I excused myself to go for breakfast and he excused himself to have a morning jog.

"I gotta go. See you around. It's nice meeting you, Piper.” He waved his hands.

"You, too.”

I observed him jogging away from the Silver Building, then I told myself, “See you around, Hunter."