The stranger
1932 Words
Chapter Two
Lena’s POV
The phone slipped from my hands, crashing onto the floor with a loud clatter that seemed far louder than it should have in the quiet apartment.
My heart slammed violently against my ribs.
For a second, I couldn’t breathe.
I spun around so quickly I almost lost my balance.
He stood right behind me.
Barefoot and Fresh from the shower. His dark hair still slightly damp, droplets of water tracing slow paths down the side of his neck.
His eyes flickered briefly to the phone lying on the floor between us.
Then to my face.
My chest rose and fell quickly as fear tightened around my lungs. I must have looked ridiculous standing there wide eyed, frozen, like a thief caught red-handed.
“I….I was just…”
My words tangled together, refusing to come out properly.
He bent down calmly and picked up the phone.
For a brief moment, his attention shifted completely to the screen. His thumb brushed lightly over the glass, as if checking for cracks.
I held my breath without realizing it.
Thankfully, the screen looked fine.
But the moment he saw the caller’s name, something in his expression changed.
His jaw tightened slightly. His brows pulled together for a fraction of a second.
A shadow passed through his eyes.
Then just as quickly as it appeared… it vanished.
His face smoothed out again, calm and unreadable.
Like nothing had happened.
He slipped the phone back onto the table casually.
But I had seen it.
And somehow that made my stomach twist even more.
His gaze returned to me.
Only now did he seem to notice the way I was standing, tense, shoulders stiff, fear practically written across my face.
His expression softened almost immediately.
“Hey…” he said gently.
The silence stretched between us.
Then he raised both hands slightly in a harmless gesture, like someone approaching a frightened animal.
“Relax,” he said quietly. “You look like you’re about to bolt out the door.”
I swallowed.
“I’m sorry,” I blurted out quickly, my voice shaky. “I didn’t mean to touch your phone. It just kept ringing and I tried to call you but you were in the bathroom and I—”
“Hey.” His voice interrupted my nervous rambling.
“It’s fine.” He said calmly.
I blinked.
He tilted his head slightly, studying my face.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he added softly.
Something about the way he said it made my chest tighten.
Like he could clearly see the fear running through my mind.
I looked away, embarrassed.
“I didn’t say you would.” I muttered looking away.
“You didn’t have to.”
Heat crept into my cheeks.
The truth was… he wasn’t wrong.
He sighed quietly.
“Look,” he said after a moment, his voice calmer now. “You’re safe here. I promise.”
I hesitated.
There was no way to verify that promise.
But there was also no reason to believe he was lying.
He had already helped me more than anyone else had today.
Slowly, the tight knot in my chest loosened just a little.
“…Okay,” I said quietly.
He gave a small nod.
“Good.”
For a moment we both just stood there awkwardly.
Then he gestured toward the bedroom.
“You should get some rest,” he said. “You’ve had a long day.”
I nodded.
He was right.
I picked up my suitcase and walked toward the bedroom.
But just before I stepped inside, hesitation crept back into my mind.
I turned slightly.
“…Thank you,” I said softly.
He leaned casually against the wall.
“Get some sleep.”
I stepped into the room and quietly shut the door behind me.
Without a second thought, I locked it.
I leaned against the door for a moment, letting out a long breath.
Only then did I look around.
The bedroom was simple.
A medium-sized bed sat in the center of the room with plain gray sheets neatly tucked in. A small wooden nightstand rested beside it, holding nothing but a lamp and a half-empty bottle of water.
There was a closet in the corner.
And a single window with thin curtains that swayed gently with the breeze.
That was it.
No photos.
No personal items that revealed anything about the person who lived here.
It felt strangely… empty.
I placed my suitcase near the wall and slowly climbed onto the bed.
The mattress dipped softly under my weight.
My body finally allowed itself to relax.
And before I even realized it…Sleep pulled me under.
When I woke up again, sunlight was spilling softly through the thin curtains.
For a moment I didn’t move.
I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to remember where I was.
Then everything came rushing back.
I had followed a stranger to his home yesterday night.
My eyes widened and I quickly grabbed my phone from beside the bed.
9:58 AM.
My entire body jolted upright.
“Oh my God.”
I jumped out of bed so fast I almost tripped over my own feet.
How had I slept this long?
I quickly ran a hand through my hair and rushed toward the door.
The apartment was quiet.
I stepped into the living room slowly.
And that was when I saw him.
He stood near the kitchen window, his back facing me.
His phone pressed against his ear.
“…I told you not to call me again.”
His voice was low and cold.
Nothing like the calm tone he had used with me last night.
I froze.
“…No,” he continued sharply. “You listen to me this time.”
There was a pause.
His shoulders stiffened slightly.
“I’m not coming back,” he said firmly. “So stop looking for me.”
My breath caught slightly.
The anger in his voice was unmistakable now.
“You should’ve thought about that before,” he added bitterly.
Then suddenly, He ended the call and the silence in the room returned.
That was when he turned.
And saw me.
For a split second, surprise flickered across his face.
Then the tension in his shoulders eased.
His expression softened almost immediately.
“Good Morning.”
His voice was completely different now.
Calm again.
Like the anger from a few seconds ago had never existed.
“Morning,” I replied hesitantly.
I stepped forward awkwardly.
He ran a hand through his hair.
“I ordered food,” he said casually.
My eyes widened.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know.”
He leaned against the counter.
“But I did anyway.”
“I can manage,” I said quickly. “You’ve already helped me enough.”
He shook his head lightly.
“It’s already on the way.”
I hesitated.
Then sighed.
“…Okay.” I simply said and went to sit on the couch while he stood, leaning against the wall, watching me.
A faint smile touched his lips.
A few minutes later, a knock sounded at the door.
Soon the small table in the living room was filled with takeout containers.
The smell alone made my stomach growl embarrassingly loud but he pretended not to notice.
We sat across from each other quietly for a moment before he spoke.
“By the way…”
He pointed his fork at me slightly.
“We never introduced ourselves.”
That realization hit me again.
I cleared my throat slightly.
“I’m Lena.”
His lips curved faintly.
“Nice to meet you, Lena.”
He took a sip of his coffee before adding,
“I’m Noah.”
“Nice to meet you too,” I said with a small smile.
We ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes.
But curiosity eventually got the better of me.
“So… what do you do?” I asked.
His fork paused mid-air for a brief moment.
Then he shrugged casually.
“Nothing exciting.”
“That’s not an answer.”
He chuckled softly.
“I do some work here and there.”
“What kind?” I asked, that wasn’t an answer.
“Different things.”
His responses were vague.
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
“You’re very mysterious, Noah.”
He leaned back in his chair, a small amused smile playing on his lips.
“Or maybe,” he said lightly, “I just like my privacy.”
I studied him for a moment.
Something told me there was a lot more to him than he was willing to share.
“How about you?” He asked me.
I looked at him wondering if I can trust him or not.
“I should…probably go…” I said standing up.
“Wait..” he stopped me and I sat down back.
“Do you have anywhere you can go?” He asked me.
Honestly I don’t but I can’t continue staying here, in a stranger home.
“Don’t lie to me” he added.
“No, I don’t have enough to rent an apartment. The landlord I talked to already agreed to collect what I have and when I get a job, I pay him but he cancelled last minute” I said, sadness submerging me.
He observed me for a minute. “Why don’t you stay here? “ he asked and my eyes widened.
“With you? What? No..”
“Not permanently, just till you are able to afford your own place”
“But… where am I going to stay? No, I don’t want to inconvenient you” I tried protesting.
“You can take the room. I will stay here” he said referring to the living room.
“No, I can’t allow you sleep on the couch”
“I am not complaining. Besides, I can just get a bed and put it here. Don’t worry about that”
“But why are you helping me? You don’t even know me” I said, slowly getting emotional.
He gave me a look I can’t explain. “I don’t know too. You…just cut my interest” He said, staring intently at me.
My heart skipped a bit staring at him and I looked away immediately biting my lips.
“So what do you say?” He asked.
If I said no, I would end up on the street till I can afford a place. And also, it is dangerous.
He seemed like a nice guy but at the same time, there is something about him that seemed strange.
But what is the worst that could happen? If he wanted to hurt me, he would have when he had the chance.
“Yes. Thank you so much, I promise, I would pay back” I told him.
“You don’t have to”
“I insist”
His phone suddenly beeped before he could talk.
“I would take this” he said and I nodded. He stood up and walked out of the living room and that was when I noticed his phone.
It was the latest iPhone. The girls at the foster care used to talk about it a lot and how expensive they were.
How did he have the money for such an expensive phone and living in this kind of place?
He also didn’t tell me what work he does which is really suspicious.
I am about to be the house mate of someone I only knew of his name.
- Writer
