I parked my car outside the apartment’s main gate. I glanced around to see Alex’s perplexed expression. His brows knitted together and his mouth opened slightly, as if he wanted to say something but was hesitant.

Without looking at him, I scoffed and moaned. “Alex, I understand what you’re thinking. I’m sure you have no idea I share an apartment with you.” I cocked my head to get a better look at him.

“Anyway,” I paused to unlatch my seat belt, “We have to get there and eat something. I’m starving.” 

I was the first to open the door and get out of the automobile. He trailed after me until we reached the building without saying anything. 

We went upstairs and into my room. He raised his brows. 

I exclaimed calmly, “I know you live in Room 201.”

Amid the shocking facts he received from me, he pursed his lips and cocked his head, trying to maintain his composure. His expression told me he didn’t know anything up to this point. I opened the door after unlocking it. 

“Please come in.” 

I raised my arm, inviting him to enter my apartment which I rarely do even for Jun. Honestly, having Alex here in my private space meant he was entering a place where he could discover something absurd about me, which was never been allowed to do before. 

He walked in without hesitation and silently inspected the place which surprised me. He wasn’t whining or murmuring even after he learned the secret I was keeping – we’re neighbors. 

I shut the door behind me and walked into the kitchen. 

“Feel free to roam around.” I angled my body to peek. “I’ll have to start by cooking,” I continued with a faint smile on my face.

He jolted forward and walked up to me. 

“Are you a chef?” 

He was on the verge of stuttering. 

I shook my head. 

“No?” Alex also shook his head in response.

I nodded. “Yeah, I cook at home. But I rarely do it,” I raised my head and turned to look at him when I suddenly felt a gush of emotions the more I stared into his brown eyes. I blinked and looked down to continue what I was doing.

“How come you’re cooking today?” 

Alex came to a halt as he walked around my house. “Does there seem to be anything worth celebrating today that I’m missing?” 

I turned around and went to the refrigerator, where I opened it to look for something to prepare for us.  

“Not much at all.” 

I leaned forward and picked the components with my hands. I quickly glanced at Alex while picking out the vegetables and noticed that he was staring at me. I returned my gaze to the refrigerator and continued to select additional vegetables.

I returned to the sink and moved closer to him once I had everything I needed. I washed the vegetables by turning on the faucet. He leaned against the sink, his arms folded, his gaze fixed on me. 

“However, I’m not sure if you can cook,” he took a breath and stopped. “Is this how you get girls to like you?” 

“No. I don’t help them in any way.”

“How come you’re doing this?” He shrugged his shoulders. “Have I overlooked something?”

“Nothing. Even in the bedroom, Alex,” I murmured, looking at him. “I make them do my bidding.”

He let out a snort. “Is that so?” 

“Yes,” I replied while slicing the vegetables into bite-size pieces using the knife. 

Alex continued to stare at me in awe. I blinked for a moment without looking at him and then became agitated, trying to figure out what I was going to say next. 

My mind becomes a blank slate all of a sudden. 

“Why don’t you take a look at my music? However, I haven’t finished them yet.”

Alex twitched, as though astonished by my unexpected suggestion. 

“Oh, yeah, I’ve been keeping a close eye on your guitar collection. However, I was hesitant to inquire. May I?” 

“Sure.” 

He walked away, and I felt relieved. 

My gaze couldn’t take him out of my mind as it followed Alex’s route to my swivel chair, where he was holding my beloved guitar. From edge to edge, his fingertips caressed the instrument. 

When I stared at them and imagined his fingertips touching my skin, my chest tightened. 

What the hell am I thinking?

He turned the swivel chair with his feet while he glanced around. “I’m assuming you enjoy food.”

“Pardon?”

“At school, you project an appearance of innocence. We all know that someone like you doesn’t behave stupidly, but who would expect someone like you to become fascinated with food?” He came to a halt and pointed his fingers at my frames. “Look. Every house, I’m sure, has images in frames. But you’re the only one that displays them in a restaurant-like manner.”

I burst out laughing. “Somehow. Isn’t it a strange obsession?”

“Without a doubt,” Alex said without hesitation. “Even your pillows,” he paused as he pointed from one pillow to the other, saying, “You have a strawberry-shaped cushion. Burgers, eggs, tonkatsu, whatever you want.” He burst out laughing. “It’s insane.”

Embarrassed, I turned away and began chopping the ingredients instead, as my throat began to tighten. He then took a breath and sighed. “However, it’s pleasant. A strange pastime.” He smiled at me as if he was happy to learn about my strange hobbies. My brows furrow in bewilderment at his earnest acceptance.

He began flicking the strings but then came to a halt and stared at me. “Wait, why don’t you have any family photos here?” 

I was taken aback by his question. I was on the verge of recoiling, but I managed to keep my cool by facing down. I smiled and shook my head, refusing to address him and instead of turning my attention to the sink.

“I’m very sorry. I went over the line. Never mind,” Alex murmured as he began strumming the guitar strings.

“No, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

“You’re an interesting man.”

I almost sprang back as soon as I heard him while he started to flip one string, leaving me disorganized mentally that I paused in my potato chopping to look at him. He began singing after flicking one string to the next. 

Then, he paused for a few seconds which made me turn my head only to find him staring at me when he came to a halt at the last three words. 

My throat tightened, and I shivered from the base of my spine to the tip of my skull. My fingers shook as I held the knife to chop the remaining vegetables for cooking. I couldn’t take a breath.

When he continued, he closed his eyes as he sang while I averted my gaze and focused on the ingredients I was chopping, my entire body was trembling. 

I started the stove with the ingredients drowning in the water in the saucepan. To add rhythm to the tune, Alex began tapping his hand on the guitar. I couldn’t help but glance at him singing as I stood in front of the stove to cook. 

As though he were singing jazz, he added nonsensical ad-libs. I had no idea he sounded so good when he sang until I heard him sing this close with my guitar. In my opinion, his voice was too attractive because it was velvety and deep.

Alex completed the song without even realizing it. He gave a kind smile. Without losing eye contact, I yelped and blinked. 

“Did I sound good?” 

“You do.” I made an effort not to stammer, but his stare made me feel uneasy. 

But why is that? 

I moved my attention to the stove and stirred, attempting to maintain my cool. I inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly as I continued to sauté the vegetables in the pan. I was about to spring back when I felt his touch on my shoulder.

With a smile, he slipped his palm from my shoulder to the back of my neck. 

“I had no clue you could cook, Chen,” he whispered while leaning in close and sniffing the pot. “It has a pleasant odor. It looks tasty.” 

“Just as tasty as the one who cooked it.” I cast a glance at him and let out a smirk before I turned my attention to the dish.

When he moved his head to observe my tense face, his body remained inclined near the burner. He laughed and smiled. 

Damn. What’s this feeling?

The atmosphere then became uncomfortable. 

He stood close to me, and I asked him to step back a little. 

“Er… Alex, why don’t you go get the plates? The food is almost ready,” I said to have him a distance away from me. 

He nodded in response as he walked over to the cabinet. I let out a frustrated groan. What exactly is this weird sensation I’m feeling right now?

I felt concerned as I looked down to check the noodles. I felt queasy as I pushed my hand against my stomach. My upper abdomen began to feel as if the acid had ascended to my throat level. 

“Not today, God.”

I grabbed the hot pot and set it on the tiny table beside my work area once the vegetables were done cooking. I reclined back in my chair and leaned forward, putting my hands harder into the same region. 

“I’m going to puke,” I raced to the kitchen, welching and puking clear liquids into the sink.

“Hey, are you okay, Chen?” 

Even though I was tired, I nodded. Then, the environment began to sway and spin in circles. I proceeded toward the toilet, leaning against the door and closing it as soon as I got there.

“Chen,” Alex repeatedly knocked on the door. “Are you all right?” 

“I’m fine,” I responded and kept feeling sick to my stomach. I could hear Alex chatting to me in the background. However, I gradually saw the ceiling and felt the coldness of the floor on my back at that point. I closed my eyes unconsciously without realizing it.