Maybe in a Dream

Chapter 3

As I was walking out of the coffee shop, I knew exactly what the rest of my day was going to look like, retrieving what things I could from my drenched apartment. It wasn't going to be the most exciting day, but I guess it gives me something to do before work tonight. My train of thought was interrupted by an aggressive buzzing in my back pocket, I reached in to grab it and of course it was the group chat with my friends again.

Angie: GUESS WHO HAS A DATEEEEEE

Saira: wait don't you have a bf?

Angie: not me 💀

Lauren: girl what

Angie: EVE

Me??

Angie: yesss with that guy we were talking abt a few days ago, the one that plays bass.

Oh

Shit I had gotten so wrapped up in everything else going on in my life right now that I completely forgot I was getting put on another date.

Angie: what's wrong you don't sound excited.......wait did u find another guy??? 😆

what no 😭

Angie: oh bummer, but at least you have this guy oh btw his name is Jace and he said ur pretty cuteeeeee😆😆😆

You showed him what I look like already?? Angie 😭

Angie: ok I may have gotten caught up in the moment of it but I wanted to show u off to him is that so bad? Anyways I have the date, time, and place for ur little meetup!!

I sighed before I sent the next message,

Go on tell me

Angie: it's at this restaurant downtown he'll pick you up and take you there from your apartment at 7:00 tomorrow.

Shit I almost forgot to tell them my apartment is kinda flooded and I'm living with some rich guy that I saw in my dream.

Uhm here's the thing, my apartment kinda got flooded and now I'm moving in with a friend for the time being so...

Angie: oh ok just send me the address and I'll move it over to Jace for ya

Great...thanks

Inside I was freaking out, what if I actually end up liking this Jace guy and I screw it all up when he sees I'm living with Si? And this is why my life is a complete disaster. I shut my phone off and put it back in my pocket as I walked to the train station to get a ride back to my flooded apartment.
As I walked up to the building there was security at the front doors, "excuse me ma'am, residents are not permitted to enter the building at this time." A wave of panic ran throughout my body, "I'm sorry but my things are still inside if I could just-" "is there a problem?" I turned to see Si towering over me, how did I never notice how damn tall he is?? The security suddenly seemed more cautious of their actions, "oh no of course not, we will allow you to grab your things ma'am." I wondered why the security seems so alert when they saw Si, like he has authority over them or something. The guards moved away from the door as Si opened it in front of me. It was a silent walk to the elevator since pretty much all I could think about was the question of what power does Si hold here? As we entered the elevator I took the privacy opportunity to ask him about it. "Si, I have a question" he turned to look at me after pressing the button for my floor. "What is it-" "wait a second how do you know what floor my apartment is on?" Si paused for a moment and continued on like I didn't just ask him a question. "Fine be that way" I whispered under my breath, "what was that?" Si asked with the most sincerity. "Nothing, but anyway why was the security so easy to let me in when they saw you?" "Oh well my family owns this building, in fact we own a lot of apartment buildings in this area or have some type of business with them. So anyone in our family is of high respect to the staff." "Damn I knew you were rich but you have authority too?" "I wouldn't say that" he said with a smile. The elevator slid open revealing the damp carpet in front of us. I already know this is going to feel disgusting under my feet. A chill went down my spine as the carpet squished under me, "gross" I whined "it's not that bad come on let's go, I'll help you" he smiled. As we walked I felt the need to say something to ignore the squishing sound, "why do you smile all the time?" I only realized after I had said it that that could be a very personal question. "Sorry if you don't want to answer that's fine I didn't really think-" "no it's alright...honestly I just think there's no point in dwelling on sadness, how will you enjoy your life if you're frowning all the time?" He laughed. "And besides, when I'm with you I have no excuse not to smile" I went silent, so he was in the romantic mood, noted. "you're a charmer aren't ya" I laughed awkwardly playfully punching him in the arm. he let out a soft laugh, almost like a scoff since I was awkward about his comment, but what was I supposed to do? I had just met this guy and I wasn't sure why he was already so infatuated with me. Even after all of his romantic remarks I remember why I am with him now in the first place, I won't just stand by and allow someone to die when I can do something about it. After what seemed like the longest and most awkward walk of my life, we finally reached my apartment. I went to unlock the door but I became distracted when Si leaned his elbow up agains the wall next to me, leaning his head on his hand, just staring at me. I kept my eyes forward trying not to pay attention to what he was trying to do to me. As I was messing with the key attempting to unlock the door I dropped the keys. The loud jingle of the keys hitting the ground sent my body into panic, now I looked like an idiot and he definitely knew I was only paying attention to him now. We both reached down to grab the keys at the same time and bumped heads, "oh I'm so sorry are you okay?" He raised his hand up in front of me. "Yea, yep, yes, I'm great heh..." I unlocked the door as quickly as I could only to reveal that all of my furniture was soaking wet, but most importantly it was so messy I couldn't let Si see this!!! I leaned up against the doorframe as he was trying to walk in, "hey heh I think we should come back later the security was right it's way too soaked in here to grab or even pack anything so let's just go" I tried to push him with all of my strength out of my door way but I swear no matter how hard I tried the guy would not budge even a millimeter. "Why? It should be just fine. What are you worried I'll comment on how small your apartment is?" I looked up at him my hands on his chest from attempting to push him out, "ok well no that was not it but you just made the comment so that ship has sailed." Before I knew it he grabbed me by the wrists and moved me out of the way, "let's just go this doesn't need to take longer than planned, besides I'm sure it's not as bad as you are making it out to be". Si charged in the apartment, he stood in the middle of the living room then turned to face me as I was still standing outside. "Come on I don't bite get in here" little does he know it's not him I'm worried about, "seriously you don't realize how messy it is? You must be a super clean freak right?" I stepped in the apartment. "Oh yes I do see the mess, I just don't want to make you feel embarrassed about it. No worries let's just get your things and go" with that comment, I suddenly felt a bit more at ease even though it seemed a little back handed I was willing to ignore that and focus on the fact that he spared my feelings out of kindness. "We should start in my bedroom since that's where most of my essentials are" I suggested as we made our way to my bedroom, everything was pretty much soaked but I grabbed whatever could be salvaged. Like clothes for example that I am able to wash.

—

After what felt like centuries of packing cardboard boxes, we were finally down to the last batch of things besides furniture and such. I grabbed everything one by one, crouching down in front of the box, trying my best to make it fit in one box since we had so many already. "Is that the last one?" Si asked approaching me from behind. I taped the box up and turned to face him, box in hand. "Yep, I made sure everything fit in this last one since we clearly have enough boxes". Si laughed taking the box from me, his hands brushing mine as he pulled it away. He dropped the box on top of the stack with the other six boxes, "how exactly did you plan on bringing all of these boxes to my apartment by yourself?" "I'm not sure, I guess I underestimated how many things could be salvaged from a flood." "well you're lucky I showed up then" "how did you know I was here anyway?" "well I didn't know you were here, I actually came here to handle this pipe situation. My dad owns this hotel so he sent me to take care of the situation, we have to decide when we are going to be able to fix this, let residence back in, and recompensate them for their personal belongings that were damaged in the flood." wow, I never realized that a situation like this had so many factors that needed to be taken into account. "jeez, seems like you have a lot on your hands right now. Why did you come help me if you were so busy?" "I'm not sure, I just felt the need to help you just as I am doing letting you stay with me. I feel drawn to you in a way, sorry I sound like a crazy person. Here I'll help you load these into the car and I will drive you back." I wasn't even sure what I should say after that, he seemed a bit embarrassed admitting that he was drawn to me. Then again maybe me saying nothing could be making him feel even more embarrassed, what if he does think I think he's a weirdo? I followed him to the elevator, though I could barely see him since the boxes I was holding were blocking my view. He insisted on take the heavier boxes even though I am completely capable of carrying them, but it seemed as if even if I tried to put up a fight about it he wouldn't give, so I just let him. The elevator ride down was no different, silent as the tension in the air ate me alive. At this point I couldn't really tell what he was thinking, his blank expression wasn't exactly helping. walking out the door he smiled at the security guards from earlier and thanked them for their cooperation. He then loaded each box into the trunk of his car, taking the ones I was holding out of my hands. Once we arrived, I couldn't believe what I was seeing, this was not just an apartment building this bastard lives in a penthouse! "Whats with the face?" I didn't even realize I was making a face, "sorry, it's just I thought you said you lived in an apartment, not a penthouse." "sorry, I just didn't want you to think I was bragging." "Oh no trust me I wouldn't have thought about it like that." "well that's good to know, by the way here is the code to the door I wrote it down on a piece of paper for you, I'll text it to you too. Sorry, but I really need to go I am late as it is so lets get these boxes in fast." "okay no problem" Si and I quickly brought the boxes inside his penthouse and he was gone as soon as the last box was out. I sort of felt bad for making him so late to his meeting, but then again it was sort of sweet that he put it aside to help me. Holding the last box in hand my phone buzzed in my pocket, it was Si. The message read: The door code is 121800, don't forget it!!

I quickly type the number in on the door lock, which was electronic with a screen. I didn't know what to expect when I walked through that door but I figured nothing short of expensive.