I stood in front of my bedroom door
My hand hovered on the knob, heart pounding so loud I was sure Elena could hear it from the hallway.
She was right behind me — calm, quiet, waiting patiently.
Okay. This is fine.
She's just coming in to look at new books to read. Nothing weird about that.
I took a deep breath, turned the knob, and pushed the door open.
"Here… um… this is my room."
I stepped aside, letting her walk in first.
Elena entered slowly, eyes moving around like she was seeing everything for the first time.
My bed was right by the window, sunlight spilling across the blanket I'd barely bothered to straighten this morning.
The carpet had that big goofy cat-face pattern I'd loved when I was twelve — now it just looked childish.
My computer sat on the side desk, screen dark, keyboard dusty.
The wardrobe was open a crack, one sleeve hanging out like it was trying to escape.
My study table was beside the PC, covered in pens, notebooks, and a half-eaten bag of chips I'd forgotten about.
And straight ahead, facing the bed — the giant shelf.
Years of my life stacked in colorful spines. Anime manga, Japanese light novels, even some Chinese novels I'd collected because the covers were pretty and the stories as well.
Elena's gaze moved over it all, quiet and curious.
I swallowed.
"Um… you can sit on the bed if you want. It's more comfortable than the floor."
She nodded once, "Thank you" and sat on the edge of the mattress, posture perfect, like she belonged there.
I turned to the shelf, pretending to scan the titles like I didn't know every single one by heart.
Alright, she's in the room.
My room.
This is cool.
Let's be chill about this.
I can do this.
Just pick a few good ones.
But I could feel her eyes on me.
Not in a creepy way — just… watching. Quiet. Steady.
The back of my neck prickled like she was staring right through me. I fumbled a volume off the shelf, almost dropped it and clutched it tighter.
She's probably thinking I'm weird for having so many books.
Or that the room's messy even after I cleaned.
Or that I'm taking forever.
I kept my back to her, pretending to read spines I'd read a thousand times.
Why does it feel like she's staring at my soul?
Is she bored?
Am I boring her?
Should I say something?
What do I even say?
I grabbed another volume, one I loved and turned around slowly.
"Um… this one's really good too," I said, voice a little too high.
"If you really like the series you read, this has a lot of romance and—"
I stopped mid-sentence.
Elena was right in front of me.
As if she'd just… appeared there So close I could see my own reflection in her honey-gold eyes.
I flinched hard, stumbling back. My shoulder hit the shelf behind me. It wobbled dangerously. A single book slid off the top — straight toward my head.
Before I could even react, Elena's hand shot up — without looking and caught it mid-air before it could hit me.
Her hand stayed there, hovering just above my head, fingers wrapped around the book. She was staring at me — calm, steady, unblinking.
I stared back, stunned.
What the heck is happening?
"We're finally alone in this small space," she said softly.
My heart skipped.
She continued, Elena lowered her arm slowly, bringing the book down between us as she spoke.
"I've been trying to learn more about all kinds of stories. Especially the ones you like to read."
She tilted the book slightly, smiling faintly as she scanned the cover.
"Romance is very interesting. Yet Out of everything I've read so far… Every genre and every story. It always comes back to one thing."
She looked up at me — without turning her head, just her eyes shifting to meet mine. Elena came closer slowly, placing the book back on the shelf behind me.
"Love." she said.
I flinched a little.
Why is she cornering me like this again?
It's all turning a little bit weird.
The room felt smaller. The air felt thicker… I couldn't think straight.
I swallowed, throat dry.
"Y-yeah… love. The stories are… all about that… A lot of people like it, ya'know?"
Elena didn't move back. Her gaze stayed on mine — soft, but intense — like she was trying to see something inside me.
"I find it fascinating," she said quietly.
"I—I guess so," I stammered. "It's… nice to imagine."
She tilted her head slightly, still not stepping back.
"Do you imagine it?"
I blinked.
"Me? Uh… sometimes. I mean—everyone does, right?"
The silence stretched — not uncomfortable for her, but agonizing for me.
Then Elena spoke, voice soft but clear.
"I couldn't see anything that night… but only the sound. And your voice was the one thing I recognized. I'm glad I finally found you here."
I froze.
"…What?"
"I've been looking for you."
She smiled faintly. "You piqued my curiosity."
My stomach dropped.
"Looking for me? And… curiosity… about what?" I asked cautiously, hands gripping the book so tight my knuckles turned white.
"About… romance. A companion. A lover."
My brain short-circuited.
What… What did she just say?
Is this… a sort of confession? To me?
Does she perhaps swing that way? She doesn't even look like one either.
Before I could process anything, she held something out in front of me.
My heart stopped.
It was dirty. Muddied. Worn from rain and time. But I knew it instantly.
It was my old romance comic.
The one I'd left in the mountains that night — the same one I'd abandoned after Faye and the others made fun of me.
One of the worst days of my life.
I thought it was gone forever.
And now it was in Elena's hands.
She wasn't even from here. How does she even have it?
Wait…
Is that why she was there when I met her on the path? Is Faye involved? Are they friends? Am I being tricked all this time?
Is that why Elena had no problem cornering me like this… again and again?
I thought… Elena would be different.
I thought she was just like me…
Was I wrong? Did I disillusion myself with my own fantasy?
My chest tightened.
I feel like I couldn't breathe.