My Unfolding Story

21. A new friend

Andrew's POV

The thought of a stranger inside my house was also haunting me now and then. So I decided to be careful and I didn't tell Lexi anything as I didn't want to make her panic. Lexi had left early that morning and when I was about to leave, I saw the door and something went through my mind. What if the person has entered through the doorway. I have to be careful anyway. So I changed the code and decided that I would tell the code to Lexi in the evening as I would try to come back early that day.

Lexi's POV

I was so angry on Andrew that I didn't want to look at him. I ignored him all the time. I left early before he woke up. From the morning, I was feeling sick. I felt nauseous and had a stomach ache. But I thought the pain would go away after a while but it became severe before I returned home. The work was hectic at the office too. I held my stomach all the way in the elevator as I couldn't stand straight. The pain was increasing with time. The moment I reached the door, I pressed the code but it was wrong. Andrew has changed it. Why? Because he didn't want me to enter his home when he wasn't there. Tears started rolling down my cheeks as I was in pain already. Before I could knock on the door, I collapsed on the floor when I heard footsteps approaching towards me. Someone tried to wake me up but I fainted saying 'Andrew'.

I opened my eyes to see a white ceiling in front of me and then an unfamiliar face. I got startled and when I was about to get up, he made me lay down. "Slowly slowly", he said. "Where am I?", I said and realized I was at the hospital getting IV drips. "Are you feeling better now?", he said. "Much better", I said and looked at him with a confused face. I didn't know him. "Sorry. I didn't introduce myself. Myself, Ryan. I have moved to the apartment today. When I reached the corridor, I saw you and you were about to faint. That's why I brought you here", he said. "Thank you so much Ryan", I said. "Do you live there?", he said and I nodded saying 'yes'. "Please call someone. They would be worried at home", he said making me realize it was already dark outside. "Who is gonna be worried?", I said to myself as I stared at the wall in front of me. My gaze turned to the person who was now standing by the door panting from running all the way there. "Andrew", I mumbled. But Ryan heard me. "So you were saying his name when you fainted", he said when Andrew looked at him. "Hi! I'm Ryan. I live next door", he introduced himself. "Thanks for helping her. By the way what happened?", he said with concern which made me look at him. I was wondering why Andrew was so worried about me. Ryan replied that I had severe food poisoning. "The doctor told strictly that from now on no outside food", he said to Andrew. He nodded and shook hands with Ryan thanking him again. Now Andrew stood beside the bed and said, "are you okay now?" I nodded turning my gaze away from him.

"But how did you know?", Ryan said. I was even wondering the same. "The security informed me as soon as I reached home. I thought I'd be early today but the traffic delayed me", said Andrew. "Ohh! Okay. Here are the medicines which Lexi should take", saying this he handed over the medicines which he had already bought. "How did he know my name?", I saw him with that look which he understood and replied. "They asked for your details when I brought you here. So I didn't have a choice but to open your handbag and I found your office id card. I nodded at him with a slight smile. Ryan had already cleared the hospital bill and refused to get the amount when Andrew offered him. "It's okay. We are neighbors now. So...lemme go. Will see you later", he said looking at us. When Andrew was about to escort him, he said, "it's okay. You stay with her". Saying this, he left. He seemed to be a good man. Now only me and Andrew were in the room. The silence was loud. He spoke after much hesitation. "Actually I forgot to inform you that I changed the passcode. I thought I would reach home early before you reach but I.." Before he finished the sentence, I stopped him. "Enough Andrew. I know why you changed it. Now in your vision, I'm a thief. Right? You don't want me to be in your home when you're not around. Am I right Andrew?"
He glared at me and said, "will you please stop it Lexi? You need rest and please keep quiet and sleep. If you want to fight, do it in the morning. Just take rest", he said covering me with the blanket. "But...", I said and he cut me off. He kept his index finger on my lips "shhhh, just sleep. Understand?", he said and I gave up. What we didn't realize is that for the first time, we were addressing each other by our names.

Outside the hospital,

Ryan walked out of the hospital. He extended his hand to check and it has started raining. He took his jacket from his shoulder bag and he wore it. He covered his head with the hood from getting wet. He ran on the pathway before it started to pour. Yeah! He was running in a BLACK HOODIE.