My Crazy Neighbor

7

"Fine, what time?" I asked.

"Tonight!"

"I told you she'd agree."

"6 pm later," Tiana replied with a smile. I just nodded. They were easy to get along with because they were very friendly.

They insisted that I accompany them, so I just shrugged. We were walking to campus. They were chatting while I listened quietly.

"Hey, keep it down!" Lance scolded us in a hushed tone. He slightly bowed as if afraid to meet our gaze.

"Gosh, don't look at him," Liana whispered softly, making me confused about their actions.

I furrowed my brow and looked up as if avoiding them. From the second floor of the building, a man stood wearing a white t-shirt, leaning on the railings with a cigarette in hand.

"He's scary," Tiana whispered, hurrying her steps.

"Dvmn. He looks devilishly sexy," Liana whispered softly and squealed in excitement.

I returned my gaze to the man. His expression was serious, as if lost in thought. He looked more menacing and dangerous while smoking.

"But he's a dangerous man, you all know that. His attitude is bad. And his image isn't good," Piana said seriously.

The two fell silent, and I was also confused by their conversation. I hadn't seen that man yet since I arrived here.

Piana looked at me. Her face remained serious, as if she could read my thoughts.

"You don't want to know. He's a dangerous man, or let's say he's more than that."

Lance and Liana were speechless, also hearing it from Piana. I looked back at the man we were discussing earlier.

I was slightly startled when I saw him looking in our direction. Our eyes met. His gaze was serious and menacing.

I looked away and clenched my fist. My palm suddenly felt cold. He's very scary and intimidating.

"This h!ck€y looks good on you," he whispered deeply while tracing his finger on my neck. His Adam's apple moved up and down as he stared intensely at my neck.

I swallowed hard and felt weak at his actions. His eyes darkened. I could see the veins in his neck slowly appearing. He growled as if in pain.

He stepped back from me.

"Run."

"H-Huh?"

He gave me a stern look. A warning. I stepped back and frantically tried to open the door. I could hardly open it due to excessive trembling. Even my knees were giving in.

I heard him click something. The door opened on its own. I quickly opened it and left, but he spoke.

"You're playing dangerously, Beauty," he said coldly.

After that day, I never saw him again. It's been about a week. The night was silent, no sign of the man who always stood by the railings of the second floor at the university.

I looked down at my shoes. There was a little mud sticking to them from the recent rain. It was already late afternoon, and I decided to walk all the way back to my apartment.

With every step I took, I counted. Suddenly, I felt like I was back in my childhood memories—carefree, with no worries, just enjoying myself.

I quickly looked back upon hearing a faint sound. I furrowed my brow because there was no one behind me. Until I saw the plastic bottle, I felt relieved. Maybe it just fell from someone passing by.

I continued walking down the street until I passed a dark alley. Nothing bad happened to me. I smiled, but it faded when I saw the three men.

I swallowed hard.

I think they're drunk, and that's not good. My hands started trembling. I looked around to see if anyone was coming my way, but there was no one.

"Danger is everywhere. Remember that."

The words suddenly popped into my mind.

"AIDAN"