The first time she knocked on my door, it was 2 a.m.
Not the kind of casual knock from a neighbor asking for help.It was slow. Measured. Almost… deliberate.
I stood there for a few seconds, wondering if I imagined it.
Then it came again.
Knock. Knock.
I sighed, ran a hand through my damp hair, and walked toward the door. I had just gotten out of the shower, the apartment still faintly warm from the steam.
When I opened it, she was there.
The new neighbor.
I'd only seen her once before—earlier that day in the hallway. She didn't speak. Didn't smile. Didn't even look at me properly. Just brushed past like I didn't exist.
And now—
She stood right in front of my door.
Her oversized shirt fell loosely past her waist, the fabric shifting slightly with the night breeze from the corridor. The dim light above flickered, casting shadows across her face.
Her eyes met mine.
Cold. Calm. But not distant.
Focused.
"…Do you need something?" I asked.
She didn't answer.
Instead, she stepped forward.
I instinctively moved back.
She walked into my apartment like she had done it a hundred times before.
The door clicked shut behind her.
The sound felt louder than it should have.
"You shouldn't just walk into someone's place like that," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
Still no response.
She stopped in front of me.
Too close.
Close enough that I could notice the faint scent of something clean—like fresh linen, not perfume.
My fingers twitched slightly at my side.
"Are you going to explain what—"
"You were looking."
Her voice cut through my words.
Soft. Flat. Certain.
I frowned. "What?"
Her gaze didn't move.
"Earlier," she said, taking another small step forward. "In the hallway."
My mind flashed back.
The moment she passed by. The brief glance I thought she didn't notice.
I didn't respond.
Didn't deny it either.
She tilted her head just slightly.
Not in curiosity.
More like she was measuring something.
Then—
She reached out.
Her fingers brushed lightly against my wrist.
It wasn't forceful.
Barely even a touch.
But it was enough to make me freeze.
"Now you're quiet?" she murmured.
There was something different in her tone this time.
Not cold.
Not exactly.
Something… layered.
I swallowed.
"You came here at 2 a.m. just to say that?"
For a moment, she didn't move.
Then—
She leaned in slightly.
Close enough that I could feel her breath near my ear.
"You don't seem as bold as you were before."
My chest tightened.
I didn't move.
Didn't know if I should.
She pulled back just enough to look at me again.
A faint curve appeared at the corner of her lips.
Not quite a smile.
But close.
"Or…" she paused.
"…are you pretending?"
My grip tightened unconsciously.
Something about this felt wrong.
Or maybe—
Too intentional.
I opened my mouth to say something.
But before I could—
She stepped back.
Just like that.
The distance returned.
The air between us cooled.
"I'll come again tomorrow," she said.
Like it was already decided.
She turned and walked toward the door.
I didn't stop her.
Didn't even tru.
The door opened.
Then closed.
And just like that—
She was gone.
I stood there for a long time.
Starring at the door.
One thought slowly settled in.
This wasn't randon.
And whatever this was—
It had only just begun.