CHAPTER 5
839 Words
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
She couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Nia slowly lowered the baseball bat.
"...A coat hanger?"
She stared at it for a few seconds before letting out a long sigh of relief.
"I seriously need more sleep."
She rubbed her face, muttered a few words about her imagination, and dragged the coat hanger back into its proper place.
As she turned to head back upstairs, she froze.
The front door.
It was slightly open.
A cold breeze slipped into the house, making the curtains sway gently.
Nia frowned.
"I could've sworn I locked it..."
She quickly shut the door and checked the lock twice before finally convincing herself she had probably forgotten to close it properly.
Little did she know...
A pair of crimson eyes watched the house from across the street.
The figure stood beneath a flickering red streetlight before disappearing into the darkness.
Sunday morning arrived with warm sunlight pouring through the bedroom window.
Unlike the previous night's unsettling events, the morning felt peaceful.
After getting dressed, Nia made her way to church.
Ever since she was little, Sunday church had never been optional.
Her mother had always told her,
"No matter how difficult life becomes, never forget God."
After her parents passed away, her aunt continued that tradition without a fail.
So even after moving out to attend university, Nia still found herself attending church every Sunday.
The familiar hymns, the pastor's sermon, and the warm smiles of the congregation brought her a sense of comfort she hadn't realized she needed.
For a while...
The nightmares didn't seem so frightening.
After church, Nia decided to stop by the city library.
The quiet atmosphere was exactly what she needed before classes resumed the next day.
Rows upon rows of books stretched before her.
She wandered through the nursing section before spotting a medical textbook she had been wanting to borrow.
"There you are..."
Unfortunately...
It was on the highest shelf.
She stood on her tiptoes, stretching her arm as far as she could.
"Just... a little... closer..."
No luck.
She sighed.
"Being short should honestly be illegal."
A quiet chuckle came from behind her.
Before she could turn around, a hand reached over her shoulder with effortless ease and pulled the book from the shelf.
The familiar scent of rain lingered in the air.
Nia turned.
NIA'S POV
I turned and froze when I saw him.Zay. Our eyes met. Those deep brown eyes stared back at me, calm but yet impossible to read. "Zay?" , I called out softly. He didn't respond but handed me the book. "There", he said, his voice cold. I smiled warmly "Thank you". Unlike Yesterday, Zay didn't smile back. His expression calm.
Distant.
Almost unreadable.
"
I should get going", Zay said quietly before turning to leave.
I blinked.
That's it? I couldn't understand.
Yesterday he smiled like we knew each other since birth but today?, he acted as if we were complete strangers. I sighed. People nowadays have the memory of a mirror. They reflect your warmth while you're standing right in front of them, but the second you walk away, your image is gone. I rolled my eyes and found a quiet corner of the library to read.
After spending nearly an hour reading, I returned the book to the shelf-with someone's help, of course.
The moment I stepped outside, my phone rang.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw the caller ID.
Anna.
I answered immediately.
"Girl, you're still alive?"
A soft laugh echoed through the phone.
"Of course I am. Family reunions are exhausting, but I'm finally back."
"I'm glad you're alive," I teased.
"So... what happened while I was away?" she asked.
I let out a tired sigh.
"That's a very long story."
"Hmm... judging by your voice, it must be interesting. Tell me everything tomorrow at the university."
I smiled and nodded, even though she couldn't see me.
"Deal."
"I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you. Bye."
The call ended.
I hailed a taxi and headed home.
ACROSS THE CITY
Zay stepped into his house, exhaustion evident in every movement.
He shrugged off his jacket and tossed it onto the couch.
Just as he started walking away...
He stopped.
His expression hardened.
Someone was inside.
Without hesitation, his hand moved to the pistol hidden beneath his jacket.
He quietly drew the gun and made his way toward the kitchen.
"Who's there?"
His voice was calm, firm, and commanding.
Silence.
Then...
The sound of sizzling pork reached his ears.
The rich aroma drifted through the house.
Zay tightened his grip on the gun and stepped into the kitchen.
He froze.
A young woman with long crimson hair casually stood at the stove, humming to herself while turning slices of pork in a frying pan as if she owned the place.
He slowly lowered his weapon.
"...What are you doing in my house?"
The woman smiled without looking at him.
"Is that really how you greet an old friend?"
She turned around.
.......
- Writer
