It was almost lunch, but Milan preferred meals cooked by his own hands.
He opened the fridge. Empty.
A sigh slipped out.
"Because of Levis, I forgot to bring groceries."
Grabbing his cap, mask, and glasses, he stepped into the hallway, locked the apartment door, and pressed the lift button.
The doors slid open. Inside stood four girls, laughing, cheerful — until their eyes met his. Their smiles faltered. Fear, unease, suspicion. A forced, awkward politeness lingered in their gazes.
Milan read them instantly.
He sighed, turned away, and took the stairs instead.
"This look gives me comfort and familiarity — but that's only for me. For others, it's different. Everyone has their own reaction. And I respect that."
The girls remained silent in the lift, their joy dimmed, their faces touched by guilt they couldn't name. They had learned something about themselves today — though none could explain what.
---
The small convenience store bell rang.
"Welco—" the girl behind the counter froze. Her voice stumbled.
For an instant, her mind flashed with a dozen possibilities: robber, celebrity, delinquent. But Milan only bowed slightly, grabbed a basket, and moved silently through the aisles.
She watched him from the corner of her eye.
Ponytail, sharp eyes, elegant posture — she was stunning in her own right. Yet now, curiosity and blush painted her face as she tried to fit him into some story: A dangerous man? A hidden superstar? Or… just someone incredibly handsome under that mask?
Milan placed the groceries on the counter.
She hurried to pack them, her fingers moving faster than usual.
He bowed again, ready to leave.
"Sir, wait—" her voice cracked with nervousness. "You… forgot to pay."
Milan blinked, embarrassed. A laugh almost escaped him. "Ah. Sorry, I forgot."
He paid, noticing the flicker of hesitation in her eyes — the fear that, just for a moment, she had thought he might cause trouble.
As he left, she exhaled, half-relieved, half more curious than before. Who is he? What kind of man hides behind that mask?
Meanwhile, Milan walked back to his apartment, grinning behind the mask.
"What an idiot I am… forgetting to pay like that."