Chapter 5: The Unspoken
I couldn't stop thinking about her.
The lift ride that day. Her hesitance, the way she’d looked up at me, then quickly turned away. She was playing hard to get — and I couldn’t help but enjoy it.
I found myself counting down the hours, waiting for any excuse to bump into her again. But life in this condo wasn't as simple as I thought it would be. It was getting harder to focus on work, on the small things, when all I wanted was to see her again.
That evening, I was walking back to my unit after grabbing a quick bite from the hawker center when I spotted her in the hallway.
She was standing outside her door, fidgeting with the lock. She had on her usual—black leggings and that oversized hoodie. But tonight, her hair wasn’t tied up; it cascaded over her shoulders in messy waves, looking even more effortless than usual.
I felt a pull toward her before I even knew it.
“Hey,” I called, my voice loud enough to get her attention but soft enough not to startle her.
She turned, surprise flickering in her eyes. She hadn’t seen me coming. “Oh. Hey,” she said, her tone still warm, but distant, as if unsure of what to say.
I took a step closer, leaning against the wall just a little too casually. “What’s up? You know, I was just thinking about you.”
Her cheeks flushed almost instantly. “Really?”
I nodded, not giving her a chance to look away. “Yeah. I think I might actually start wondering if you’re avoiding me.”
She smiled, a little bit of amusement in her eyes. “I’m not avoiding you,” she said, looking down for a second before meeting my gaze again.
I tilted my head slightly, a teasing smile pulling at my lips.
“Then why don’t you let me buy you that coffee?”
She hesitated, the words almost slipping out of her mouth before she closed them again. I could tell she was debating whether to go for it.
I wasn’t about to make it easy for her.
“I’ll make you a deal,” I said, stepping closer, just enough to close the space between us.
“If you come with me for a coffee tonight, I promise I won’t ask you to talk about your boring life or anything. We’ll just... relax. Maybe have a conversation that’s a little less ‘neighbourly,’ if you know what I mean.”
Her brow furrowed, and her lips parted slightly, unsure.
“Why don’t you tell me if it’s worth it?” I pressed.
My voice was lower now, teasing, almost daring her to say no.
The silence stretched between us for a beat too long, but then she surprised me.
“Fine,” she said, almost as if she hadn’t fully thought through what she was saying.
I smiled, the edge of triumph curling up in my chest.
“I’ll grab my jacket,” she added quickly, stepping past me into her apartment.
I leaned against the wall, trying to calm the pounding in my chest. This was happening. It wasn’t some random coincidence anymore.
I could hear her moving around inside, the sound of her shoes tapping on the floor as she returned. She stepped out wearing a soft, oversized cardigan over a tight-fitting T-shirt. The curves of her figure were subtle, but I couldn’t help but notice. And her eyes... there was something different in them now. A flicker. Maybe she was finally letting her guard down.
“Let’s go,” she said, looking up at me again, her lips slightly curved in a shy but daring smile.
I took a moment to study her. This was more than I had expected. She wasn’t exactly the type to chase someone, but I could feel her pulling me in.
“Let’s,” I said, my voice thick with anticipation.
We walked together, the cool evening air brushing against our faces. The whole walk was charged, the silence between us comfortable but thick with something unspoken. I stole a glance at her every now and then, watching her face. The way she bit her lip. The way her eyes flickered with curiosity, but also with a little bit of hesitation.
We reached the café just a few blocks down from the condo. It was quiet at this hour, the perfect place for something that felt like an illicit meeting. We sat down, and I leaned in just a bit closer.
“So,” I said, breaking the silence, “tell me something. What’s the deal with you? You don’t strike me as the type who gets out much.”
She smirked a little. “And what’s the type I am, then?”
I smiled. “The kind that keeps people guessing.”
She raised an eyebrow, her voice dropping slightly. “Is that what you’ve been doing? Guessing?”
I nodded, my lips curving into something almost predatory. “Yeah. Guessing... and now I’m thinking about what’s next.”
The tension hung thick in the air between us. I didn’t say anything more, but I could feel her drawing closer, just a little bit, as if she were waiting for me to take the next step.
And I was ready.