“Hello? Who’s there?” My voice trembled as I carefully slid out of bed, tiptoeing toward the closet.
My heart pounded in my chest, confusion swirling in my mind. “How could someone be hiding in my closet?”
I froze when I saw a figure emerging from behind the wardrobe, my breath catching in my throat.
“It’s me!” A young man stepped forward with an air of confidence, his elegance undeniable.
His appearance, so refined and polished, made my heart flutter unexpectedly. “It’s great to see you again, Miss Kimberly!”
His dark, intense eyes and soft, melodic voice filled the room with a strange charm. My mind went blank as I stared at him.
Was this real? Could he really be the one standing here, in front of me? His fingers playfully pointed at me as he flashed a warm smile.
“Aren’t you glad to see your old friend?”
Old friend? My pulse quickened, and I felt a strange heat rise to my face. He was flawless-perfect in every way. I was lost in his presence, unable to pull myself together.
“Huh?” I finally managed to scoff, feeling embarrassed.
He took a step closer, and I quickly looked away, staring at the floor to avoid his intense gaze. “W-what route did you use to get here?” I stammered, pointing dumbly at the closet.
His laugh was soft but rich, sending a shiver through me. “I’ve been here since the morning, waiting eagerly for your return.”
“Since m-morning?” I stuttered, shocked. “But… why? And how did you even get in here?”
“I wanted to surprise you. When I got here this morning, I found you had blacked out. So, I used your phone to text your dad. I told him what happened, and he came right away to take you to the hospital.”
I blinked in disbelief. “Wait, that was you? I knew I sensed someone before I passed out…”
“Yep, it was me,” he confirmed with a smile.
“Oh… well, thanks for that,” I said awkwardly. “But, why? Why were you here? You’ve been here all day? What if I hadn’t come back tonight? Would you have waited forever?” My questions spilled out rapidly.
He gently placed a finger on my lips, silencing me. “Shh. Relax. I’ll answer everything one by one.” His touch was soft, his voice soothing. My heart skipped a beat.
‘Did his hand just touch my lips?’ My mind raced, and I found myself staring at him like a deer in headlights. His deep eyes were so close to mine that I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry.
“Uh, what… what brings you here?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“I wanted to see you again.” His words were simple, but the way he said them felt like an electric charge running through me.
“But… why?”
He chuckled, shaking his head slightly. “I don’t know why. I’ve just been thinking about you, about seeing you again.”
“Oh,” I nodded, not sure what else to say.
He hesitated for a moment before adding, “I thought you’d ask for my name first.”
His words made me freeze. ‘Oh no! He must’ve heard everything I was saying earlier!’ I felt my face flush with embarrassment.
*Clearing throat* “What’s your name?”
“Damien,” he said with a soft smile.
“Oh, Damien… that’s a nice name,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant, but inside I was thrilled to finally know it.
“Seems like you’re not much of a talker, just like last night,” Damien remarked with a slight chuckle. “Or… are you uncomfortable around me?”
“No, it’s not that!” I protested, quickly shaking my head.
He patted the bed beside him. “Come sit.”
Hesitant, I walked over and sat next to him.
“So, when are you leaving?” I asked, hoping not to sound too blunt. “You can’t stay here all night.”
He threw his head back and laughed heartily, catching me off guard. His laughter was infectious, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“You really don’t want me staying here, huh?” His eyes sparkled with amusement. “Are you expecting someone else?”
“What? No!” I shot him a glare, my cheeks flushing. “It’s just… what if someone sees you here? It could cause problems. How would I explain why a guy is in my room at this hour?”
He grinned, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay! I was just teasing. I’m not staying, don’t worry. I just wanted to check on you, and now that I see you’re fine, I’ll be on my way.”
My heart sank a little as he stood up, getting ready to leave. I didn’t want him to go, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it. Instead, I just sat there in silence, watching him.
He made his way to the door, but I quickly remembered. “Wait! You can’t leave through the door. Someone might see you.”
He turned back, a mischievous smile on his face. “Ah, you’re right!” He changed direction, heading for the window instead.
I watched in awe as he reached for the window. “Are you sure you’ll be okay going out that way?” I asked, genuinely concerned.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” he assured me, flashing me one last smile.
Just as he grabbed the window, we heard a knock at the door. My heart dropped.
“Hush!” I whispered frantically, waving my hand at him to stay quiet. “Who is it?” I called out, trying to sound calm.
“It’s me, Kimberly. Open the door.”
My heart froze. “Dad!!” I gasped, spinning around to face Damien.
I quickly rushed to Damien’s side and whispered in his ear, “My dad is coming in. You need to hide in the closet again, now!”
“Okay,” he replied without hesitation, slipping back behind the closet.
I hurriedly readjusted the window curtains and walked toward the door, trying to seem half-asleep. As I unlocked it, I yawned for added effect.
“Dad, why are you back?” I stretched, feigning sleepiness.
“Were you already asleep?” he asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.
“Yes, Dad… you woke me up by knocking,” I replied, rubbing my eyes.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I just need to check something,” he said, stepping past me without further explanation.
My heart began to race as he went straight to the window and opened it, glancing outside.
I stood frozen, unsure how to stop him without raising suspicion…