The partition between the balconies was merely a sheet of glass, offering little more than a visual separation between the two spaces. Celeste leaned over it endlessly. The world seemed to tilt slightly as she bent down, a heavy fog descending over her thoughts as she reached for a rubber band. The apartment next door had always been empty. She still didn’t know who it belonged to.
Just then, a sharp pain shot through her head; she couldn’t care less anymore. She staggered toward the bed and collapsed onto it without a second thought. A phone rang from outside the door at that moment. Damien’s low voice sounded, “Lingy, what’s up?” Whatever the call was for, Celeste was in the dark. Damien’s tone softened as he gently massaged her. “You wait for me there. I’ll be right over.” Celeste heard him leaving in a hurry. The sound of a car engine rumbled downstairs moments later. She had no interest in dealing with Damien anymore. She closed her eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.
Half an hour later, Adriaan ran into Damien’s mother, Margot, in the hallway as he was about to return to his room. Margot caught sight of him and smiled. “Adrian, you back too,” she said, stepping onto the stairs. “Yes, Margot,” he responded politely before opening his room door. The room was dim, but he immediately spotted the figure lying on the bed. He immediately slammed the door shut just as Margot was about to pass by. His sudden reaction left her puzzled. She frowned and stared at him. “What’s wrong, Adrian?”
Adrian glanced back and quickly changed the subject. “Margot, what kept you out so late tonight?” Margot was briefly taken aback. Adrian held immense prestige within the Wrendlord family, second only to Alan himself. She usually treated him with cautious respect, and it was rare for him to take any interest in her whereabouts. She was particularly suspicious, so she chatted with him openly. The two stood at the door for nearly ten minutes as she shared stories from her outing with her friends that day. “It’s getting late. I’ll leave you to rest,” she said.
Adrian surprised the door once she finally left. He quickly locked the door behind him and switched on the dim wall light. The light was dim, but enough to wake the person in bed. Celeste rolled over but was completely awake. Adriaan’s brow lowered slightly when he saw Celeste on the bed. Yes, it was indeed as he’d expected. He then extended his hand to nudge her shoulder. Celeste wrapped her arms around his neck instead, pulling him into her embrace. The sudden closeness allowed him to catch a whiff of her scent. It stirred a familiar feeling within him once again.
She shifted slightly forward, and her lips unintentionally brushed against his cheek. A tingling and numbing feeling spread through his body; he’d never experienced anything quite like this before. The atmosphere subtly shifted in an instant. He stood up straight as he stared down at her.