BETWEEN TWO WORLDS
1254 Words
CHAPTER FIVE
Author: Treasure Rukky
Sasky's POV
By the time we reached my apartment building, my legs felt like they were about to file a complaint against me.
I hadn't walked that much in months.
The building looked exactly the way I had left it.
Old.
Tired.
And one strong wind away from retirement.
The paint on the walls was peeling.
The staircase looked like it had survived three different centuries.
And somehow…
Seeing it made me happy.
Home.
Not a fancy home.
Not a beautiful home.
But mine.
I climbed the stairs while Kanaris followed behind carrying the small bag we'd managed to bring with us.
I unlocked the door.
The familiar smell of dust greeted me immediately.
Wonderful.
At least the dust had remained loyal while I was kidnapped.
I stepped inside.
Nothing seemed missing.
Nothing seemed broken.
A miracle.
“Not bad.” Kanaris said.
I looked around.
“You're being generous.”
He laughed.
“I’ve seen worse.”
Something told me he was serious.
I wasn't sure whether to ask.
We had barely been inside for five minutes when someone started hammering on the door.
Not knocking.
Hammering.
Like they were trying to arrest somebody.
My eyes widened.
“Oh no.”
Kanaris looked up from the couch.
“What?”
“Oh no.”
“Sasky.”
I pointed dramatically toward the door.
“My landlord.”
The pounding got louder.
“Sasky!”
Yep.
Definitely him.
Mr Rodrigo.
The human version of overdue rent.
“I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE!”
Kanaris looked amused.
I wasn't.
Because Mr. Rodrigo only appeared when he wanted money.
And unfortunately…
He always wanted money.
The banging continued.
“OPEN THIS DOOR!”
I sighed.
“Wish me luck.”
“I’ll attend your funeral.”
“Very funny.”
The moment I opened the door, Mr. Rodrigo practically pushed his way forward.
He was short.
Bald.
And permanently angry.
I had never seen him smile before.
I wasn't convinced he knew how.
“Where's my money?”
Straight to the point.
As always.
“Hello to you too.”
“I don't want to say hello.”
“Obviously.”
“I want my rent.”
I rubbed my forehead.
“Mr. Rodrigo—.”
“No.”
“I'm trying to explain.”
“No.”
“Can you at least let me–”
“No.”
This man would argue with oxygen if given the opportunity.
“You’ve delayed long enough.”
“I was kidnapped.”
I shouted loudly.
He blinked.
“What?”
“I was kidnapped.”
Silence.
For two whole seconds.
Then–
“That sounds like a personal problem.”
I stared.
Absolutely stared.
This man was unbelievable.
From behind me, I heard Kanaris laugh.
The traitor.
Mr. Rodrigo noticed him immediately.
His eyes narrowed.
“Who's that?”
I froze.
Because honestly.
That's a good question.
What exactly was Kanaris?
Friend?
Roommate?
Former hostage?
A suspiciously attractive headache?
I hadn't figured it out myself.
Before I could answer, Kanaris stood up.
And walked over.
He casually wrapped an arm around my waist.
My entire brain stopped working.
“I'm her boyfriend,” he said.
What.
The.
Hell.
I nearly choked on air.
My landlord looked shocked.
I looked shocked too.
Even Kanaris looked slightly entertained by his own lie.
“Boyfriend?” Mr. Rodrigo repeated.
“Yes.”
“Her boyfriend.”
Last time I checked, I wanted the ground to open and swallow me whole.
Immediately.
Right now.
Please.
Mr. Rodrigo looked between us.
Then back to Kanaris.
Then to me.
Then back to Kanaris.
“You're serious?”
“Very.”
The old man suddenly pointed at me.
“Sasky has never had a boyfriend.”
I gasped.
“Why would you say that?”
“Because it's true.”
The audacity.
The disrespect.
The accuracy.
Still disrespectful though.
Kanaris bit the inside of his cheek.
Trying not to laugh.
I could tell.
The jerk.
Mr. Rodrigo eventually crossed his arms.
“Fine.”
Finally,
Progress.
“You have until tomorrow.”
I nodded immediately.
“Tomorrow.”
“If I don't get my money–”
“You will.”
“I meant it.”
“You always do,” I replied.
He pointed dramatically one last time before leaving.
The second the door closed, I turned toward Kanaris.
“What was that?”
“What?”
“You called yourself my boyfriend.”
“You seemed busy.”
I stared.
“You could’ve said friend.”
“I could have.”
“Then why didn't you?”
His lips twitched.
That smile again.
That stupid smile that somehow made me forget what I was angry about.
“I don't know.”
Liar.
complete liar.
And somehow I couldn't stop smiling either.
Which was annoying.
Very annoying.
That evening felt strangely normal.
For the first time in days.
No guns.
No kidnappers.
No underground caves.
Just me.
My tiny apartment.
And Kanaris.
Who somehow looked completely comfortable lying on my couch.
Like he’d lived there for years.
I watched him from the kitchen.
Something felt strange.
Not dangerous.
Just…
Strange.
Everytime I thought about leaving him alone, my chest felt tight.
Everytime he walked out of a room,I noticed.
Everytime he smiled, I smiled too.
Which was becoming a problem.
A very serious problem.
Because I barely knew him.
And yet…
I trusted and wanted him around.
More than I probably should.
The realization scared me.
Maybe that's why I asked the question.
The one that had been bothering me for days.
“Kanaris?”
“Hmm?”
I walked closer.
“Why were you really in that camp?”
For the first time all day…
The smile disappeared.
His eyes lowered.
And suddenly the room felt much quieter.
A lot quieter.
Too quiet.
He remained silent for several seconds.
Then finally spoke.
“My father died.”
The words were simple.
But the pain behind them wasn't.
I immediately regretted asking.
“I'm sorry.”
He nodded.
“My father left me everything.”
I frowned.
“Everything?” I asked.
He nodded again before replying.
“His company.”
His gaze darkened.
“His money.”
A pause.
“His enemies.”
That last one sent a chill down my spine.
I didn't interrupt.
Something told me he needed to say it.
“My uncle wanted control.”
His jaw tightened.
“When he couldn't get it…”
Another pause.
“He decided killing me would be easier.”
My heart sank.
“What?”
He laughed.
But there was no humor in it.
Only bitterness.
“Family can be disappointing.”
I sat beside him.
Without thinking.
Without planning.
I simply did it.
His eyes shifted toward me.
And for the first time…
I noticed how tired he looked.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Like he'd been carrying something heavy for a very long time.
“You know.” I said quietly.
“What?”
“Your uncle sounds awful.”
That earned him a genuine laugh.
A real one.
The kind that warmed a room.
“You have a unique way of comforting people.”
“I try my best.”
He shook his head smiling.
And somehow…
That smile felt important.
Like it was something precious.
Something he didn't show everyone.
Something only a few people ever got to see.
And for reasons I couldn't explain…
I felt lucky to be one of them.
- Writer
