No. The words kept repeating but were echoing right out of my ears. 'Cause I'm not listening. I shook my head and forced myself out of it. My fingertip was already over the button, and I pressed it.
See, it wasn't that hard, y/n
I praised myself mentally, a light pat on the shoulder. Soon the shift came to an end with only a few people who came in.
As I expected, Matthew waited and drove me back, but this time, his face was lit up like a bright bulb that was going to explode any second now. I raised my brows and I guess he noticed.
"Why the look?" He asked casually while turning the wheel for a turn. I didn't respond and kept my stare. A low chuckle left him as he leaned over and nudged me by the shoulder.
"Nothing," I muttered and averted my gaze forward. It was weird. His disappointment was visible before he quickly masked it. I wonder if I could learn how to mask emotions too.
The car was parked, and I got out. The same stairs led up and down. He followed behind me like a lost puppy. I sighed, and the door opened at my touch.
Just as my foot stepped in, I froze, my gaze taking in the new environment.
The house is polished.
A small movement up the door frame caught my eye. I glanced up only to see a camera. Its circular blackness focused on me. What was going on? My mind was blank and tired.
His sudden voice pulled me out. "I went to the station today. They needed more evidence, so I installed CCTV already. And the house. Well."
He couldn't contain his grin as he brushed past me and stood facing me. Am I dreaming? I need someone to pinch me.
His hand clasped together and his excited grin turned slightly nervous. "So, what do you think?" He gestured back to the house.
My head shifted to the side with a questioning look. When I saw his smile drop more and more, I couldn't help but smile back, hoping it would recover his charming grin.
"Thank you so much." I had no other words in my vocabulary other than that. I am grateful. Happy. Relaxed knowing that from now on I'll come to a cleaner house.
Without thinking about my next action, I am already in front of him. My arms wrapped around him. His body stiffened, and he breathed once, twice, a third time. His muscles relaxed.
His arms enveloped me and cocooned me in their embrace. It's so warm. My face buried in his shirt. He smelled like old money - musky but not strong enough to make my nostrils burn. It's comforting.
What bothered me at the moment was the camera. It was pointed directly at us. After we separated, he went on to finish his stuff. I was mentally noting how many cameras were around.
One, front door. Two, hallway. Three, living room. Four, corridor. Five, kitchen. Are they in the rooms too? I hope not.
It's basically everywhere, and I am not used to this. I tried not to think too deeply. It's for my safety; at least that was what Matthew said.
The sun dipped down to the ocean, going for a swim in its free time as the moon took over. The light it gave wasn't blinding nor hot as the sun. I am starting to develop an admiration for it.
For a hungry stomach, take-out food sounded too good. The dining table was in chaos, with wrappers and trash lying everywhere. A good conversation and food. It sounded like a dream, but it happened. Matthew was a good company, and day by day, I am realizing it more.
Goodnight to each other and we are headed to our separate rooms.
I stretched out. My limbs are begging me to lie down. My mind wandered to Matthew; his kind, charming, caring demeanour. It was lighting up something in my chest, and butterflies were flying.
They are fluttering in my stomach.
My gaze caught a black yet shiny medicine bottle with a white label on the nightstand. My palm wrapped around it, and I picked it up to examine the label.
"Sleeping pills."
Does Matthew know I am struggling to fall asleep? Was he watching, or was he guessing? Either way, this has been on my to-buy list for quite some time.
My fingers twisted the cap open. It opened with the sound of plastic rubbing against each other. One pill dropped into the centre of my palm. My hand hovered over my parted lips.
The pill went down my throat as I closed my eyes. My shoulders bowed down. Much better. Now I have to wait for the pill to work. I tightened the lid and reached down to the place where it was.
A notification.
My hand snatched the phone from the stand. It was the unknown ID that, for some reason, I still have not blocked yet.
"𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥."
