On the other side, Loir finally gathered his courage. He looked at Sam, cleared his throat, and blurted,
"Since you came all the way to my place… won't you stay for a cup of tea?"
Sam chuckled, scratching his neck. "Ah… not today, maybe next time."
Loir's ears flushed red. He leaned forward, insisting softly, "But then why did you say that thing at the bookstall?"
Sam tilted his head, puzzled. "Which thing?" Then a grin tugged at his lips. "Oh… that? I said it casually. Why? Do you want me to mean it?"
Loir's face turned even redder, and he fumbled for words. Sam only laughed again and said, "Alright then, I'll see you tomorrow at school. Now go inside."
Even after stepping into his house, Loir peeked through the window, watching Sam walk away. His heart was racing so fast that he pressed a hand to his chest and muttered to himself, Did Sam just indirectly propose to me? Something I've never managed to do all these years? His cheeks burned as he realized he couldn't wipe the smile off his face.
---
That night at dinner, Mrs. Starling turned to Yuni and said,
"Go on, take some apples and oranges to our new tenant. And tell him he should join us for breakfast tomorrow morning."
Yuni lit up immediately, excitement sparkling in her eyes. She bounced off her chair, hugging the fruit tray like a prized mission.
Skipping across the hall, she rang the doorbell of the "prince charming's" apartment. No answer. She rang again.
The door finally swung open—Elis stood there, damp hair clinging to her face, a towel draped around her shoulders. The sight made Yuni freeze for a second, her heart skipping a beat.
Before Elis could even react, Yuni darted inside, plopped the fruit basket onto the little table in the hall, and chirped,
"Mom said to give you these! And tomorrow morning, you have to join us for breakfast, okay?"
Elis simply nodded, silent, her gaze unreadable.
Yuni shifted nervously. "Um… did I disturb you?"
Still no answer. Yuni tried again. "So… what do you do, Mr…?"
Finally, Elis replied curtly, "I work a private job."
The way she said it felt like a wall slamming down. Yuni, still smiling, pressed, "Oh, I see. But your parents—"
"Why are you so nosy about people's lives?" Elis snapped, voice sharper this time. "Don't you have anything better to do? Maybe worry about your own instead of poking into mine."
Yuni froze, stunned. The words cut deep—too deep. Her throat tightened, and tears welled up before she could stop them. She bit her lip, spun around, and ran out, slamming Elis's door behind her.
Back in her room, Yuni threw herself onto her bed, hugging her pillow as tears soaked the fabric.
Elis, standing alone in her apartment, let out a heavy sigh. Running a hand through her hair, she muttered to herself,
"I shouldn't have snapped like that… she knows nothing about my problems. She didn't deserve it."
For the first time since moving in, Elis felt a pang of guilt she couldn't shake.
To be Continue....