I dropped my bag near the couch and exhaled.
Today was strangely good.
Maybe the universe finally decided to reward me
with a psycho who brings comfort food and a professor who somehow makes anatomy sound poetic.
But my cramps had other plans.
I kicked off my shoes and shuffled toward the bed.
The moment I opened the door, the familiar scent of white lilies wrapped around me again.
On the table
a steaming bowl of noodles, a cup of hot chocolate, and a folded napkin like some quiet ritual.
My throat tightened.
How could he always know exactly what I wanted?
I picked up my phone.
A new message blinked on the screen.
A: Hey, gorgeous! Are you alright?
I stared at the words for a second, heart thudding.
Me: Yeah... thanks. But there's no need to do all this.
The typing dots appeared instantly.
A: It's the bare minimum.
I almost rolled my eyes. I wanted to reply something sarcastic
maybe call him a creep
but another message arrived before I could.
A: Distance is worse. If your "space time" is over…
Me: Yeah, I mean, no.. You already came and did all this! Space time where?
There was a pause. Then
A: Elina, when you're in pain, I don't give a damn about "space." I'll break every line you draw if it means you stop hurting.
My fingers went cold.
That same scent of lilies grew stronger.
A soft knock echoed from my balcony door.
And this time… it wasn't the wind.
The knock came again
soft, deliberate.
He could have broken in like before, but this time… he waited.
Like he wanted my permission.
My heart thudded painfully. My palms were cold, but I still opened the balcony door.
He stood there tall, handsome, in black again.
The mask hid the top half of his face, but not his mouth… those familiar lips curved slightly, as if he already knew I wouldn't resist.
"So finally, you creep," I muttered, trying to sound braver than I felt.
He stepped closer. His presence filled the space between us -- heat, scent, the faintest brush of breath. My gaze betrayed me, slipping to his lips again.
He didn't say a word.
Instead, he tilted his head slightly, his voice dropping to a murmur that felt too close:
"I missed you… my ruin."
Before I could answer, he kissed me.
It wasn't gentle. It wasn't sweet.
It was claiming --dark, desperate, like he'd been starving for it.
For a heartbeat, I forgot everything
the fear, the lilies, even who he was. All I could think of was him. My mind screamed to push him away, but my body betrayed me.
When he finally pulled back, I stood there breathless, dizzy, lost.
He looked at me once
eyes unreadable
then whispered,
"Next time, don't make me wait."
And then he was gone.
My knees felt weak when he left, my breath uneven
like the air itself still remembered him.
I touched my lips; they burned where his kiss had been.
Every part of me screamed this is wrong, yet my chest… ached for him to return.
I sank onto the couch, heart still racing, trying to make sense of what just happened.
He wasn't supposed to be real
not the masked stranger, not the man who spoke like my nightmares and dreams had merged into one body.
But the warmth of his touch, the faint bruising pressure of his kiss…
that was real.
The smell of hot noodles and chocolate still lingered on the table.
I told myself I wouldn't eat it
it was his, from him but my stomach growled louder than my logic.
So I ate. Every bite, every sip.
It was warm, soothing, and disgustingly good.
I hated how it comforted me.
When I finished, I lay back on the couch, staring at the lilies on the table.
Maybe he knew my cravings better than I did.
That thought alone was terrifying… and weirdly calming.
My phone buzzed.
One new message.
A: "Sleep, my ruin. You're trembling ..ummm I can still feel it."
I didn't even realize my hands were shaking until then.
I typed and deleted a dozen replies
from You're insane to Come back.
In the end, I threw the phone aside and buried my face in my palms.
The window curtains swayed lightly; the smell of lilies still lingered.
It felt like he was watching
not to harm, but to claim something he already believed was his.
And the worst part?
A part of me… didn't want him to stop.
By the time I crawled into bed, exhaustion dragged me under.
Just before sleep swallowed me, a faint whisper brushed my mind
"You're mine, Elina. Even when you dream."
I jolted awake, heart hammering
but there was no one in the room.
Only the mark on my lips,
and the lingering taste of danger.
I stared at it for a moment, sighed, and set it aside.
My body needed rest, so I didn't think much. Creepy things were my new friend now, apparently.
Whatever it was
I'd think about it tomorrow morning.
I pulled the blanket up to my face and closed my eyes, not noticing the faint scent of lilies still lingering by the window