I opened the door and of course, it wasn't him. Not that I really thought he'd be bold enough to actually show up and drag me back to his house in the middle of the day. I mean, seriously, what am I even thinking? I should be relieved that it wasn't him at the door. That's what a normal, decent woman would feel.
Still, a small, shameful part of me...it was curious. It wanted to know what I would've done if it actually had been him, asking me to come to his house. Would I have just followed him quietly without a word? Or maybe... pretended to resist a little, just to make it seem like I wasn't interested, but deep down, every part of me wanted it and liked it.
Though, it was her, the woman who had moved in last night, standing there with a soft smile and a little plastic bag dangling from her fingers.
I didn't even realize how flushed my cheeks were, how heavy and fast my breathing was, all because of those ridiculous and made-up scenarios rampaging inside my head, about him. But she definitely realized. It felt like her eyes were scanning me, quietly reading every little reaction and understanding exactly what was going on.
Then she gave a teasing smirk and lifted her eyebrows, as if silently saying, "You naughty girl."
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything IMPORTANT," she said, her tone light but covered with a teasing edge.
I quickly steadied myself and returned the smile. "Not at all. You're not disturbing anything."
Her eyes flicked over my face for a second, "Mm, you just looked a little... caught up in something," she said with a small grin, like she was hinting at something but keeping it playful. "Anyway, I thought I'd drop by properly. We didn't really have a proper conversation last night."
"Of course. Please, come in," I said, stepping aside as she walked in.
She looked around briefly and turned back toward me. "It's nice to meet someone close to my age around here. This neighborbood is very... creepily quiet.
I laughed softly. "Yeah, this neighborhood's a bit... quiet that way."
She sat on the couch, and I brought out some tea with a small plate of cookies. The air was calm, just the quiet clink of cups. We properly introduced ourselves. Her name was Lina.
Now that I was seeing her up close, I couldn't help but notice just how beautiful she really was.
She took a sip of tea, her expression shifting into something more thoughtful. "I don't know if I'm just overthinking it," she said, her voice dropping slightly, "but the people I've run into here… aside from one neighbor, everyone's felt kind of weird and creepy.
I looked at her carefully.
"Just now, while I was walking here," she added, her tone firmer, "a couple of men on the street didn't even pretend to be subtle. They were staring so shamelessly, like they were invisible."
I wasn't surprised. That sounded all too familiar.
I offered a polite nod and replied gently, "I hope it didn't make you too uncomfortable."
She let out a short chuckle, brushing her fingers through a strand of hair. "Oh, don't worry. I've learned not to let things like that bother me. I mean… you can't really control how others look at you, right? You just have to develop a thick skin."
Her words felt like an advise.
She actually seemed happy by the attention. She leaned back slightly, her eyes glinting with that same teasing confidence.
She didn't seem like someone who shrunk herself to avoid attention. And I couldn't help but admire her confidence.
"Honestly, all that staring… it just makes me admire myself a little more," she said with a smile. "I mean, am I wrong?"
I blinked, caught slightly off guard by her tone. She gave a light laugh and looked at me, eyes narrowing with mock curiosity.
"So, how have you settled in so far?" she asked, dragging the words slightly, like she was expecting a juicy story to tumble out. "With all these weirdos lurking around… I'm sure it's the same for you, isn't it?" She winked.
I let out a soft breath, then nodded. "Yeah… you're right. The people here are definitely a bit shameless and the best thing to do is just avoid and ignore them."
Lina grinned, swirling her tea lazily before giving me a glance "Sure, ignoring works… if you've got nothing better to do. But if you're bored? Trust me, it's way more fun to play along than to pretend you don't notice."
I replied, a bit startled, "Ho-How can you even say something like that?"
She tilted her head, eyes glinting with amusement as she sipped her tea. "Aww, look at you, getting all flustered." Her smile curved with a teasing edge. "That innocent reaction… it's adorable, really."
I opened my mouth to say something, but she laughed softly before I could. "Relax, I'm just messing with you. Don't tell me you've never had a friend like me before."
My reaction felt hypocritical. Acting all startled over a harmless statement... when just yesterday, I was on the verge of being fucked by an old man. My heart skipped at the memory, a shiver crawling down my spine. The way I reacted now felt laughable, like I was still pretending to be the same innocent woman I used to be.
We continued chatting, and her energy was infectious. She spoke freely, playfully, almost like we had known each other for more than just a few minutes.
"Don't be so stiff," she said after a sip of tea, nudging my knee lightly with hers. "You've got to enjoy yourself a little. You know, you get old quick, and I'm pretty sure one day you'll miss those stares."
My eyes widened. I felt my cheeks heat up almost immediately.
"N-no! No way… what are you even saying," I mumbled, covering my mouth slightly, half-laughing, half-horrified.
Lina burst into a laugh, waving her hand as if to brush off my embarrassment. "Relax, its just a joke. Come on, loosen up a little. It's just us girls here. You don't have to be so shy with me."
Her voice had a softness underneath the teasing. Not mocking but more like she was luring something buried inside me to come out and breathe.
"I guess I'll have to teach you how to be yourself again," she added with a small wink. "Don't worry… I have a feeling we'll get along really well."
Despite her cheeky personality, she was actually really charming and fun. She kept pulling my leg like we were old best friends, poking fun at little things.
And I… found myself laughing genuinely. Maybe a little flustered, but still, it felt oddly nice.
A few more minutes passed with us laughing like we had known each other for years. She kept teasing me in that playful, cheeky way of hers, and I couldn't help but tease her back. It felt strange how quickly I had loosened up, how easily I was smiling and laughing with her. Lina mentioned I should drop by her place whenever I was free or just bored, and added that she would do the same. I told her I would, and I actually meant it. For someone I had just properly met today, she already felt oddly familiar.
Not long after, my husband walked in. He caught sight of us on the couch and threw in one of his usual cheeky comments as he joined the conversation. The three of us chatted for a bit, and the energy stayed light and playful. I felt surprisingly at ease, like I could breathe freely.
Eventually, Lina stood up, and said she had to get going. We walked her to the door, exchanged smiles, and said our goodbyes.
For the first time in days, I felt calm. It was refreshing. This conversation, her presence, it was something I didn't know I had been craving. Maybe, it was because she was a woman that made it better. Regardless, it was much needed.
It was late afternoon when I stepped out of the shower and began getting ready for the movie. I kept it simple. A soft, flowy dress, light makeup, and the earrings he always said looked best on me. I stared at myself in the mirror, admiring myself. Adjusting my hair with a smile.
He walked in a moment later and placed his hand on my waist. The warmth in his voice was enough to make my heart flutter.
"You look amazing."
I blinked, caught off guard, then smiled. His gaze stuck on me with a warm smile, and I could feel the weight of something soft between us, like a forgotten comfort trying to return. I touched his hand briefly.
We headed out. I held onto his arm, and he seemed a little surprised by that. Maybe I was too. The sun was setting, and the streets were filled with that lazy golden light. We walked together, but my thoughts weren't entirely beside him.
I couldn't help but notice them. The eyes—shameless as ever. I felt them sliding up and down my body.
I don't know why. Maybe it was Lina. Maybe what she said did stuck with me. These stares made her admire herself more. So, why can't I do the same? She found positive's even in negatives's and I need to start doing the same.
The movie was sweet. It made me tear up a little, just a little. I swear I didn't cry that much, though he still found a way to tease me. But honestly, I didn't mind. His teasing was his way of showing love.
We ended up at my favorite restaurant, and the food was perfect. We laughed, stole bites off each other's plates, and for once, everything felt light. I pushed all the heavy thoughts aside and just let myself enjoy being with him. Though he did creep me out and made me worry, by laughing like a maniac out of nowhere.
By the time we got home, we were tired but in a good way. Warm, full, and happy. It had been a long time since I felt that. And hopefully, days like this will come more often.