Now, Bianca instinctively curled up on the sofa, trembling with fear. She imagined countless black shadows reaching out to grab her.
“No, stay away from me!” she cried out in terror.
Panicked, Bianca quickly turned on her phone’s flashlight. The dim light eased her fear a bit.
But then, she realized her phone had a low battery because she had forgotten to charge it.
Just then, her phone rang-it was Dave!
Relieved, Bianca answered right away.
“I got a message from property management saying the power’s out because of a broken circuit. They’ll fix it by tomorrow morning. How are you doing there?”
Bianca’s heart felt a mix of comfort and sadness hearing Dave’s voice.
If only he hadn’t worked overtime… If only he were with her tonight…
“I… I’m okay,” she replied, her voice tinged with longing.
With a shaky breath, Bianca managed to force a smile and act calm. She wanted to tell him how scared she was and that she wished he’d come home, but she knew it wasn’t the right time, so she kept quiet.
“Are you sure?” Dave asked.
“Yeah…” Bianca replied, trying to hold back her tears.
“Okay, then. Try to get some rest. You’ve had a long day,” Dave said, trying to comfort her.
Right after their call ended, her phone battery died, and the light was instantly extinguished.
Feeling utterly helpless, Bianca squeezed her eyes shut, her heart racing as her mind conjured up terrifying images. The darkness seemed to amplify her fears, making the shadows around her feel sinister and threatening.
It was a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from. If only there was someone there to comfort her and chase away the darkness.
Bianca whimpered softly, feeling cold sweat bead on her forehead and trickle down her face.
With each passing minute, it became harder for her to breathe.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of the door being unlocked.
Then, a faint light streamed in through the crack of the door as it was slowly opened from the outside.
Dave entered the apartment with an emergency flashlight in his hand. When the light fell on the sofa, he saw a scared girl curled up into a ball, tears streaking down her face. She looked fragile under the bright light.
Feeling the light, Bianca slowly opened her eyes, fluttering her eyelashes delicately. Her big eyes were filled with sadness, making her look very pitiful.
Before Dave could react, she suddenly jumped off the couch and threw herself into his arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.
Dave put the emergency flashlight on the table, then gently lifted Bianca’s tearful face.
“Why are you crying?”
He felt bad for her.
“I thought you said you wouldn’t be back tonight?” Bianca saw him and started crying, unable to stop her tears, her voice shaky with emotion.
“I was going to stay at work, but when I heard you on the phone, you sounded scared. I got worried, so I came home.”
Dave gently moved Bianca’s messy hair away from her face. His voice was calming, and it made her cry even more.
“Sorry for being late.”
Bianca’s cheeks were wet from tears, but she smiled weakly. “I’m happy you’re here now.”
Dave gently wiped away her tears, saying, “Hey, don’t cry. You look even more beautiful when you’re not crying.”
Bianca stopped crying and sniffed.
She realized she had her arms around Dave. She could feel his slim waist through his clothes.
Surprised, Bianca pulled her hands away quickly as if she were in shock.
She blushed and stepped back without thinking.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Evans, I… I was just really scared. I didn’t mean to do that.”
‘She was brave just a moment ago when she hugged him. Why is she suddenly shy?’ Dave chuckled softly at the thought.
He moved closer to her, one step at a time, while Bianca kept backing away until she fell onto the soft sofa.
Dave leaned down, his hands near her ears, his face close to hers.
Her shy and beautiful look made him want to tease her playfully.
“It’s going to be a long night. I’m feeling a bit bored. Maybe we could find something fun to do together?”
A strange smile appeared on his face.
“What?”
Bianca blushed, her shyness spreading to her neck, turning it red. She forgot all about being scared. She leaned into his hands, biting her soft pink lips, and looked at him with a shy sparkle in her eyes.
Her eyes were clear, still showing traces of tears. At that moment, Dave couldn’t help but be captivated by her mix of innocence and quiet intelligence and the joy she had brought him that night.
At first, he only meant to tease her, but now he felt drawn to her pink lips as if he couldn’t resist.
As his handsome face got closer, his nice smell filled the air. Bianca’s heart raced like crazy, almost jumping out of her throat.
Just as their lips were about to touch, Bianca suddenly turned her head, avoiding the kiss.
“No. We’re just friends.”
Suddenly, Dave realized he was caught up in the moment, surprised by his desire for her. It was the second time he had lost control like this.
His throat visibly moved as he swallowed. He straightened up and unbuttoned his shirt collar, trying to calm down.
Bianca was captivated by his actions and couldn’t look away.
“I was just kidding.” After a while, Dave returned to his usual calm expression. He laughed at Bianca on the sofa. “Are you still scared?”
Bianca shook her head, feeling confused. She understood that he was just joking. She had thought he was serious about kissing her.
The idea that she might have wanted it left Bianca stunned.
‘Was I actually looking forward to it?’
Bianca felt like she was going crazy!
“It’s late. You should take the flashlight to your room and get some sleep.” Dave looked at the clock on the wall.
“What about you?”
“I’m not afraid of the dark. I’ll be okay.”
Feeling like Dave had put aside his work to be with her, Bianca realized she shouldn’t be so focused on herself. In the dark of the night, the flashlight could bring comfort.
So, Bianca went to her room, got her bedsheet and blanket, and spread them out on the living room floor.
“You take the sofa, and I’ll sleep on the floor. Let’s both sleep here in the living room tonight.”
Dave smiled resignedly and asked, “Aren’t you worried I might do something while you’re asleep?”
At first, Bianca hugged herself instinctively when he spoke, but then she realized he wasn’t that kind of person.
“Of course not. I trust you.”