Chapter 7
1041 Words
Finally, it's Sunday!
Wilona stretched as the morning sunlight filtered through her bedroom window.
The past few days have been exhausting. Company things, moving into her new apartment, unpacking boxes, and settling in. She barely had time to catch her breath, but at least things were finally coming together.
Reaching her phone, she dialed her bestfriend number.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," Melly greeted her cheerfully. "How are you? I almost called the Los Angeles police to report your missing. You haven't given me a word since you left, you brat!"
Wilona smiled, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, honey, but I'm having trouble breathing. This whole moving thing is taking a toll on my time, energy, and mind, Mel. It's been a busy week, you know."
"I can imagine. How’s the new place?" said Melly.
"It’s nice," Wilona replied. "Spacious, quiet... well, mostly quiet."
Melly caught onto the hesitation in her friend's voice. "Mostly?"
Wilona sighed. "I have a neighbor. He moved into the penthouse, on top of my unit, a few days ago. Earlier, he and I met at the cafe in the office and I spilled the first coffee I got after arriving here. And damn, he was wearing an expensive shirt, which he said was very expensive and limited edition!"
There was a pause before Melly's excited voice rang through the phone. "A neighbor? And in the penthouse? And you've met before, in a dramatic scene like in a Korean drama? Oh my, this sounds interesting already!"
"It’s nothing like that," Wilona insisted. "I barely know him. We just bumped into each other a few times."
"But you live in the same apartment. Even though you live in different units, there is always the possibility of meeting again and there is a possibility that he will also look for an opportunity to meet you again, right?"
Wilona rolled her eyes. "You’re reading too much into it."
Melly's voice sounded very serious,
"You should at least consider opening your heart to new people, you know? Maybe it’s time to--"
"Not happening," Wilona cut in, grabbing a sweater from her closet. "Anyway, I have to go soon."
Melly sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. But mark my words, I have a feeling your penthouse neighbor is going to play a bigger role in your life than you think."
"Tsk! Don't act like a fortune teller, honey. You don't even know who he is or what he looks like. I don't even know. This is all just a coincidence. Don't make a big deal out of it."
"Ohoo, my baby Wilona, if you only thought it was a coincidence and meant nothing at all, you wouldn't have told me about him in our first communication after you moved and didn't contact me at all for a week!" Melly's words sounded like a taunt, said in a cheerful and satisfied tone.
"Melly, you're satisfying your own imagination!" Wilona argued.
"Come on, you're not going to tell me about every chance encounter you have with a taxi driver, or with a coffee shop employee, are you?" Melly pouted.
"Goodbye, Mel, I'll contact you again, later," Wilona said, laughing as she ended the call.
She got dressed quickly, slipping into a simple blue T-shirt, jeans, and flats shoe, before grabbing her purse. As she made her way down to the parking lot, she adjusted her scarf, lost in thought.
Just as she reached her car, she spotted Josh, the neighbors, walking toward her.
He looked like a menswear model in a famous fashion magazine, dressed casually, a plain white t-shirt under a short-sleeved shirt with a blue and white checkered pattern, beige cargo canvas pants and white sneakers.
Wilona wondered, why something so ordinary could look so good on Josh.
"Well, well," Josh said, stopping in front of her. "Look who’s up early."
Wilona crossed her arms. "Some of us have places to be."
"Perfect," he said smoothly. "Come with me to the supermarket."
Wilona raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me? Supermarket?"
"I need to pick up some cooking necessities," he said. "And since you’re my new neighbor, it’s only fair that you help me get acquainted with the best places around."
"Not interested," Wilona said flatly. "I have somewhere important to be. I don't have much time. It's Sunday and I intend to make the most of it for myself."
Josh seemed unaffected by Wilona's curt remark. He played with the car keys in his hand.
"Where do you want to go? I can drive you," he said casually.
"I can take a taxi," Wilona said, stepping toward her car.
"But you owe me," Josh pointed out, smirking. "Did you forget?”
Wilona froze. "Owe you for what?"
"My expensive and limited edition shirt," Josh reminded her. "You spilled coffee on it last week, remember? You said you’d make it up to me and the last time we met, when I helped you move your heavy stuff, you said you agreed to be my guide in exchange for that shirt."
Wilona clenched her jaw. "You were the one who offered to help and you were also the one who said about me being a guide without asking for my permission. You decided everything as you pleased."
Josh shrugged. "I know. But I’ve already decided that this is how you’re paying me back."
Wilona stared at him in disbelief. "You’re impossible."
Josh shrugged and smiled. He led Wilona toward a black Maserati in the parking lot.
"And yet, here we are," Josh said, opening the passenger door of his car.
Wilona was stunned. A Maserati? And he also lived in a penthouse and wore limited edition shirts. Who exactly was this strange neighbor. Was he a millionaire playing at being a regular person?
Wilona exhaled sharply. Arguing with him was a lost cause. "Fine," she muttered, sliding into the seat.
Once they were on the road, Josh glanced at her. "So, where exactly are we going?"
Wilona’s expression turned solemn. "A cemetery."
For the first time, Josh didn’t have a witty remark. His playful smirk faded, replaced by a look of surprise.
"A cemetery?" he repeated.
Wilona nodded, staring out the window. "Yes."
Silence settled between them as Josh’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. He loss for word.
- Writer
