I got out of bed feeling restless, left my room, and walked to the kitchen. I didn’t know what time it was, but outside the window everything was dark and the streets were quiet. I guessed it was somewhere in the middle of the night.
I opened the fridge, got some cold water, and closed it again before taking a sip. These past few days have been strange for me. And the dreams I’ve been having… they’re weird, but also terrifying. I keep seeing myself being murdered by a man I can’t recognize. They say that if you remember a dream when you wake up, it has a meaning-but what meaning? I don’t want to believe in things like that. So after washing my glass, I went back to my room and tried to sleep again. But before I closed my eyes, I prayed.
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of my alarm and another notification from my phone. I turned off the alarm clock on my bedside table, sat up, and grabbed my phone.
When I unlocked it, I saw my co-workers flooding Messenger with messages even my boss, who was still on his business trip.
But one word caught my eye.
“Murder.”
“Sir Kyle got murdered in his house. One of his friends visited this morning and found him on the bed covered in blood, the knife still in his chest.”
My eyes widened. I couldn’t stop imagining how it happened. Did the boss know about this?
“The store is currently closed,” the boss announced in our group chat.
I sat down on the chair and stared blankly ahead. I felt sad. Sir Kyle was kind to me kind to everyone, always smiling. Who would do that to him?
Another notification popped up.
CALEB VINCENT:
Good morning, beautiful! Hope you have a great day!
I just stared at the message. Great day?
It wasn’t a great day. Not when we just found out that our boss’s grandson had been murdered by someone unknown. There weren’t even official announcements yet, but I wasn’t in any position to know more.
Minutes passed, and I still didn’t reply. Then Caleb sent another message.
CALEB VINCENT:
"You up?"
ELIRA SHANE BUENAVENTURA:
"Yeah, I’m up-good morning, by the way."
I put my phone down and covered my face with my hands, scared and confused. I didn’t know why I felt confused, but the fear was real. Sir Kyle was murdered. I never expected something like this to happen to him. He didn’t have enemies. He was always kind to us, even giving us breaks we usually didn’t get in the shop.
I’d been sitting there for almost an hour when I heard Sierra’s door open. She looked at me, and I could tell she felt the same grief. She must’ve seen the group chat too. She walked toward me and hugged me from the side. I hugged her back, gently patting her shoulder.
Our morning started cold and quiet.
We ate, cleaned the apartment, and… nothing.
We didn’t feel anything. No joy, no energy. How could we, when someone we considered a friend-Sir Kyle-was gone? Not just to us, but to all the workers including his family.
My boss messaged me and then called about something important regarding the shop. I could hear in his voice how he felt when someone you love dies so suddenly, the pain is sharp, unreal. It really was unexpected.
We talked for almost an hour before the call finally ended.
A knock echoed from the front door.
I froze and stared at the locked door, my heartbeat quickening. I didn’t answer just kept staring until the person on the other side knocked again.
“Elira? Are you there?”
It was Caleb.
I panicked a little and almost tripped as I rushed toward the door. I peeked through the peephole first, only opening it once I was sure it was him.
He stood there holding a bouquet of roses, and in his other hand, a teddy bear hugging a Toblerone chocolate.
“Caleb-oh my god, why are you here? H-how d-did you even know my room number?” I asked, completely confused.
I didn’t remember ever giving him my room number. All I knew was that he was aware I lived in this building. I peeked down the hallway no one else was there, just him. For a second, I thought maybe he came with the landlord, and that’s how he found my room… but no. He was alone.
“Ah… your friend,” he said.
My brows furrowed. He already knows Sierra?
“Sierra? My roommate?” I asked.
He nodded with a small smile. “Yeah, Sierra. She gave me your room number. Sorry for disturbing you though-maybe I should’ve messaged you first.” His voice had a hint of embarrassment, maybe guilt.
“It’s okay.”
I actually like that you’re here.
But I didn’t say that out loud… it felt too early.
“Come in,” I said, opening the door wider.
He stepped inside, looking around the place while I closed the door behind him and locked it. “Cozy apartment,” he complimented, before turning back to me and handing me the bouquet of roses and the teddy bear hugging the chocolate. It was…so cute.
“Thanks. It’s a simple apartment. Have a seat first.”
I walked to the living room and gestured to the sofa. He sat down gently, and God it was actually… hot.
Sierra really taught me to be less formal, but right now, I wasn’t sure what to do with myself.
I slowly sat down next to him…
What was I supposed to do now? We were completely alone. Sierra wasn’t here she was out with her family until tomorrow.
I glanced at him cautiously, my eyes widening when I realized he was already looking at me. I immediately looked away, my face burning red as I tried to hide behind my hair.
“Do you want some snacks?” I asked awkwardly.
“It’s okay,” he replied.
Not good.
Now I had no idea what to say next. What topic were we even supposed to talk about? I didn’t want the effort he made coming all the way here to go to waste.
“I actually have something to tell you,” he said.
His tone shifted serious… maybe even mysterious. I looked at him. He held my gaze, and for a moment, it felt like his eyes were telling me something, something I couldn’t fully understand yet.
Slowly very slowly he leaned closer.
I watched his eyes flick down to my lips as he licked his own, then he met my eyes again. He kept staring, but not in a creepy way. It was the kind of stare that makes you feel like everything will be okay… as long as he stays right there beside you.
Gently, he lifted his hand to hold my chin, guiding my face up toward him. I closed my eyes when I felt him getting closer his breath warm on my skin, his other hand settling on my waist.
But then…