The Familiar Stranger

Luna paced the length of her apartment, laptop resting open on the kitchen counter as she kept glancing at the screen.

Another message blinked onto the Offline app.

CJ_Offline: You disappeared for a whole hour. I was about to send a search party. Or just cry a little.

Luna smirked, fingers flying across the keyboard.

Luna: You? Crying? I thought you were the “strong and silent” type.

CJ_Offline: Silent, yeah. Strong? Only when lifting pizza boxes.

She chuckled, flopping onto the couch. It was bizarre, how fast she’d grown used to these chats. There was a rhythm to it now. A comfort.

She grabbed her drink and sipped, eyes never leaving the screen. The hum of the old laptop, the flicker of the interface—it all felt… cozy. Familiar. And CJ? God, he made her laugh like no one else in a while.

Luna: Well, I just cleaned the whole damn apartment AND braved the Sunday grocery war. If anyone should be crying, it’s me.

CJ_Offline: You survived. That’s hot.

Also, I'm proud. Did you get snacks at least? Or are we doomed to suffer in bland dinner land?

Luna: Got noodles. And chocolate. Priorities.

CJ_Offline: Marry me.

Luna stared at the screen, startled by the line. She blinked once. Twice.

Then smiled.

Luna:

You flirt like a 90s rom-com hero.

CJ_Offline:

Well, this app kinda gives me 90s energy. If we’re stuck in nostalgia, might as well play the part.

She leaned her head back, eyes wandering across the ceiling. What was this? A digital ghost? A stranger who felt weirdly… not strange?

He never asked for her number. Never tried to video call. Just… chatted. And listened. And teased. And made her feel like the days weren’t as lonely.

CJ_Offline:

So what’s the verdict? Did I win you over yet?

Luna:

Not even close.

CJ_Offline:

Liar.

She laughed again, cheeks flushing for no reason at all.

“God, this is stupid,” she muttered to herself, yet her fingers kept typing.

Luna:

Okay. A little. Maybe.

A beat passed before his reply came.

CJ_Offline:

Good. That’s all I needed to hear.

"that's all I needed to hear? she muttered

The air around her felt warmer somehow. The light from the screen bathed her face in soft blue. Outside, the city buzzed on, uncaring.

Luna opened a snack bar, chewing quietly as she stared at the last message.

Why did she feel like she’d known him forever?

Why did this feel so easy?

Her gaze drifted to the corner of the screen. No time stamps. No notifications. Just the app, floating in its eerie simplicity.

She hesitated, then typed again.

Luna:

You never told me what “CJ” stands for.

CJ_Offline:

And ruin the mystery? NLun

Luna:

You’re impossible.

CJ_Offline:

But charming.

Luna:

Debatable.

CJ_Offline:

Admit it. You’d miss me if I vanished.

Her heart skipped.

She didn’t answer right away.

Her fingers hovered over the keys, uncertain.

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