5 ╱ 6

Along the way to the apartment, I felt much better than before. Risa had been asking me again about what happened, but I only denied with a jetlag excuse. I did jetlag, but after having asleep, I didn't feel awful like before. People outside still wore something warm, because it was spring. And in no time, it would be busier later since the schools and universities were going to start.

"Hey, could you please not wear your earpod? Just connect your iPod to the car."

I like using my earpod more...

"You won't like them. My taste is unique. Just use yours."

"Don't care at all because I'm driving now. "

I sighed and connected my iPod to the car. I chose my general playlist, which I had made long before in case people were asking me the same request as her. I don't have a specific favorite genre, because if I like it, I will add it to my playlist.

I'm too considerate...

After six songs had been played, we finally arrived at the apartment. It was beyond my expectation since I thought my parents wanted me to suffer.

"Risa-san, you didn't want to get in?"

"No. I need to go back to work. Don't worry, I already told my colleagues that I'm going to be late today. You okay by yourself?"

"Of course. Thank you so much, Risa-san."

I bowed, and Risa waved her hand from the car. After she left, I got into the building since it was still cold, even if you wear padding. Someone greeted me and gave me the card and keys to my room.

"Need some help, Watanabe-san?"

"You don't have to. I didn't bring that much." They will ship it from New York later...

"Okay, have a good time."

I left the tiny room behind the receptionist's desk and walked to the front of the elevator. I was waiting for it to go down. I lost in my thought about what I should do after this. To be honest, I was still too tired to do anything else. Risa packed some meals that at least I could survive until tomorrow.

The bell rang, and the elevator's door opened. When I was about to get in, I was stunned.

It's Ren, again? Does he also stay in here?

I was glad that Ren didn't pay attention to me. Still, I was trying to keep calm, so I would be unnoticed at all. But, since I had been having an unlucky day, I somehow dropped my scarf, and a stranger poked my back.

"Your scarf."

"A-ah, thank you."

After a moment, our eyes met, which is basically the last thing I wanted to happen. This time, Ren even looked more surprised. I avoided his gaze and walked into the elevator fast. I was in agony and debating with my inner self, whether the acting was natural or not.

I really need to go back to New York before it's too late...

✩｡:*•.───── ❁ ❁ ─────.•*:｡✩

"Excuse me, I'm sorry."

Ren came back, and he also got into the elevator.

Why is he coming back!?

He stood up just precisely in front of me. Meanwhile, I didn't breathe at all. It wasn't because the elevator was packed, but I just felt like I couldn't let any sound or air out from my mouth.

One by one arrived on their destination floor, and that was left with Ren and me inside the elevator. I stepped back until my back touched the elevator. I only needed to get off on the 20th floor, but I just realized that there was only number 20 left glowing among the button numbers.

He's on the 20th floor too? What bad luck is this!?

I wanted to make a phone call or whatever, but of course, it is not possible to do when you are inside an elevator. The cold and silent moment was strangely eerie. The nervousness literally covered me. I had a conversation with myself. Maybe this time, Ren forgot something, so he decided to go back again. It wasn't all about me. Maybe.

The bell rang. I pulled my suitcase without overthinking. I somehow relieved because Ren got out by himself first. I acted like a stranger because it would be weird if I started an awkward conversation, like "Good morning," or "I'm sorry about yesterday." Ren might not remember it at all.

Ren is in front of me, I hope...

Ah, he stops.

"Keiko, it's me."

Ren knocked on the door a few times. I passed through him, trying not to give much attention. I walked, not slow nor fast. Something bothered me that time, Keiko is a girl's name...

I arrived right in front of my room. I took the keys from my jacket's pocket.

This is my room. Glad it's not that close to Ren or that Keiko's room.

"Ren, why are you back? Do you really miss me that much?"

I startled because my guess was right. It was really a girl's voice. She sounded so cheerful and happy, but something came up that made me fretful.

"Are you kidding me?"

I tried to open my room, but there was a problem. The key stuck inside the keyhole, and when I tried to pull it, it broke. I cursed so many times inside my head. I could feel the blood rushed through my head.

"Shit, why..."

I grumbled in a low voice.

"You should've not forced it that way."

Ren, why is he here?

"Is that so? But it already happened. Even the spare key won't work because the broken key still stuck inside."

I cleared my throat because I was almost losing my coolness back then. I sounded so grumpy.

Calm down, calm down, calm down.

I took my phone and called the apartment's management. Ren was waiting with me the whole time, but he didn't say anything at all. He only looked at the door being fixed.

I guess, Ren didn't know that I'm Syo... Should I be happy?

"Do you want to wait inside my apartment? Keiko won't be bothered, so don't worry."

"No need. It will finish soon. Thanks."

Why should I? I don't want to bother a lovey-dovey couple in their apartment. Why did he have to mention that Keiko girl, someone I don't even know?

I pouted, and I was more furious when Ren smiled disparagingly to me. I didn't want to admit it, but I indeed was in a bad mood and tired by now. The jetlag was still there. To be honest, I might accept the offer if he didn't mention that Keiko girl.

After everything finished, the worker left, but Ren still stayed leaning the wall right beside my room's door.

"Thank you for me?"

Ren said that with his baritone voice, so gentle and pleasing to the ears. My heart skipped a beat. I flustered once again. I was speechless once again. My eyes pinned to Ren's gaze once again.

"It's been a long time, Syo."

I think I fall in love, once again.

✩｡:*•.───── ❁ ❁ ─────.•*:｡✩

𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒖𝒑𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔, 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒑𝒂𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆

𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐮 ┊ 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***