Familiar Strangers
1170 Words
Chapter Three
I didn't know it yet, but the man behind the mask may have been the same man I yearned for.
I stood in the kitchen, staring out the window at the sunrise.
I touched my lips, reminiscing. The memories were still stuck in my mind, thinking of how his lips felt and how good a kisser he was. His hand placement on my waist just left me wanting more.
Just thinking of it turned me on and made me want more.
Maybe it was the mask, I thought. Or maybe not.
I stirred my cup of coffee. My hand kept going long after my mind moved elsewhere.
Suddenly, the front door burst open.
“Sis!” He shouted.
It was Daniel with a wide smile and a coat sliding down one arm.
I said excitedly,” You are finally home.”
He put his suitcase down, and then he grabbed me, squeezing me hard enough that I could barely breathe.
“I think that's enough now, Daniel. I can’t breathe,” I said.
A little laugh rumbled through him. "It's good to see you again. I missed you."
“You just saw me last summer break,” I said, laughing into his shoulder.
“That was months ago, and you got taller,” he replied.
“I did not.”
“You absolutely did,” he said seriously. “Or I shrank. Either way, tragic.”
I smiled without meaning to, and said,” How's Columbia?”
He spoke fast,” tiring, amazing, and too costly." His eyes stayed on me, smile easing.” Are you okay?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yeah.”
He didn’t push.
“So I can see you attended the Gala last night. Why didn’t you come home then?” I said.
He smiled and replied, “I was with Stacy.”
“And who is this Stacy?” I asked.
He smiled and replied, “Some girl I met yesterday.”
“Well, at least you even remember her name,” I said.
‘You know, there's always something about the girls at the Gala. They don't look as damn attractive as they would look if you saw them on the street or at a function. On top of that, we had such a good time last night. I might just reconsider seeing her again,” he said.
I looked at him, not taking him seriously.
“Anyway, let me go drop my suitcases upstairs before I collapse because that girl definitely gave me the time of my life last night,” he said, grabbing his suitcases. “Don’t disappear,” he added.
"Not a chance," I replied.
He went up the stairs.
Breathing out, I faced the counter again.
When the front door slammed open again.
“Guess whose home!”
My heart skipped, because I knew whose voice that was.
“Elena!” he shouted in excitement.
He hurried towards me and picked me up off the floor in a tight hug, which came with laughter.
“Adam — !” I breathed, holding tight while he spun me around, just like when we were small.
"Still so easy to carry," he said.
“It’s been a year,” I said, laughing. “Put me down!”
He then put me down.
He took a step back as he tilted his head with his hands on my waist. His smile faded as he looked at me with a shocked expression.
“Wow,” he said softly.
“Wow… what?” I asked.
“You,” he said without hesitation. “Elena, you are…” He shook his head slightly. “You look beautiful.”
The word settled between us, heavier than it should have been.
He looked at me longer than he usually did, yet without pretense. As if this past year had rewritten my shape in ways he did not expect.
I swallowed. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”
“Come on, his voice carried a soft curve at the edge. I look tired.”
“Still counts,” I said.
We looked into each other’s eyes, still close, and his hands still on my waist.
My heart beat quickly, but I tried to remain composed. It felt like the whole world and everything around us had come to a pause.
Finally, it was just us.
Then –
“Adam,” Daniel said excitedly.
Adam moved backwards, creating enough space between us.
Daniel appeared on the top stairs, smiling.
Daniel grabbed Adam tightly. “There he is,” he said. “ My lost but found brother.”
It was all smiles now.
Adam laughed. “Missed you too, man.”
The energy shifted—lighter, louder. Adam’s attention slid naturally to Daniel.
I returned to the counter, wrapping my hands around my coffee.
Daniel poured himself a mug. “Did you get on your flight today?”
Adam nodded and said, “No, I actually attended the gala yesterday.”
A twitch tugged at Daniel’s brow. “Hmm, I thought you weren't interested in that stuff anymore.”
He leaned on the counter, as his expression brightened with energy.
He said,” I didn't plan on staying at all, until I met someone.”
Daniel smirked. “You always do.”
“No,” Adam said, shaking his head. “This was different; we connected on a level I can’t explain. Everything with her felt soft, and the conversation was easy, like I could talk to her for hours. The way she kissed me and how soft her body felt was incredible. Unfortunately, she wore a mask, and I didn’t get her name. Didn’t even see her face, but even with the mask on, she was beautiful.”
A weight pressed in my chest.
“It felt like I had known her forever,” Adam continued, quieter now. “Like meeting her wasn’t new — just overdue.”
I wrapped my hand and tightened my grip on the mug.
“She left at midnight,” he added. “But I swear,” he laughed softly, almost in disbelief. “I’ve never felt anything like that.”
Daniel chuckled. “Careful. You sound like you met the love of your life.”
But Adam didn’t laugh.
“Maybe I did,” he said.
Silence held the air.
Daniel clapped his hands. “Well. Welcome home. We’ll find her. Or someone better.”
He gave a small smile, then it faded. "Sure, maybe."
I took a sip of coffee I didn’t taste.
A single look passed from Adam my way. Then silence settled back again.
I couldn’t read what he was thinking from the way he looked at me, but he was definitely filled with curiosity.
At that moment, Daniel called out his name.
Adam slowly shifted his body elsewhere.
Just like that, whatever had flared up — last night or maybe earlier today — slipped quietly into hiding.
It was unspoken and unnamed.
At least for now.
- Writer
