"Sorry, I bothered you guys." "But it's really an emergency" she continued.
If the rat was running around in her when she sleep and might crawl over her legs. Regina was amused just imagining that.
Riyu closed the door with himself already outside. He headed for Regina's apartment door.
"Where do you want to go?" Regina asked, blocking Riyu to went into her apartment
"Do you want help right?" Riyu asked. With a heavy voice but still comfortable to hear. Awesome! just cause of his voice, Regina swallow her saliva
"Y-yes"
Regina realized that it was the first time she had heard the man's voice.
"Then step aside."
Riyu entered, ahead of Regina and Regina soon followed.
"In the cupboard under the sink." Show Regina.
Riyu knelt down with one leg folded. As easy as it was when he brought Regina's box, he also opened the cupboard without hesitation.
Regina got on the chair, "How?"
"There is not anything."
"Really?" Regina saw to Riyu. "But I heard something moving in there."
Riyu moved the bottles and also shifted the plastic bowls. Even put his head on the cupboard. "There is no."
"Is that true?"
Riyu poked his head out of the cupboard and looked at Regina flatly. "You want me to dig into this closet to be sure?"
"Not!'
"Of course, cause if you say yes. I wouldn't have done it."
"But what if it turns out that the rat does exist in this room, and is already hiding somewhere."
Riyu patted his shoulder from the dust. "Then you can take care of yourself."
Riyu was about to leave but Regina got in his way. "Wait...would you like to check all the other places?"
For a moment, Riyu was silent.
"I just need to make sure that there really aren't any animals here. I won't be able to sleep tonight if I think there's something hanging around," Regina continued.
Riyu instead passed past Regina.
Regina almost thought the boy would leave, but not! Riyu came back after looking for something in her room. Then re-examined the space under the kitchen counter.
All the items in the cupboard were moved one by one. There was a place that Regina missed cleaning up so dust and cobwebs hit the man's body and head.
The man's half body was in the closet, Regina asked. "You found it?"
No answer. The next few minutes it was only filled with the sound of things shifting and then Riyu came out of the closet, holding a mouse that was still alive. Regina screamed and threw the empty tray that was on the table towards Riyu.
"I'm sorry," Regina noticed her reflex. "Do you feel sick?"
While rubbing his forehead Riyu stood up. His appearance was messy although he still looked handsome. His hair was dusty and his white t-shirt was dirty.
"Your problem is solved." He said then took the rat that was still moving about trying to escape away.
Regina was silent for a moment. She looked at the kitchen cupboards and the open door. Damn, she really troubled people that she didn't know even on the first day of her transfer.
Before the discomfort took hold, Regina headed for her kind neighbor's door. Knocked several times but the door wouldn't open.
"Is he angry? His clothes are dirty, why not take them off?" Regina muttered.
"Or maybe his head was bleeding cause the tray earlier?" Regina muttered again.
Finally, Regina knocked faster. Regina didn't want to bang but she panicked too much, without thinking Regina turned the door handle which was not locked. Regina was surprised but tried to peek through the small gap there.
"Excuse me," he opened the door wider.
Regina entered and noticed her bare feet on the cool wooden floor. The smell of the room made her feel comfortable. All the walls are white. The windows are big too. The white curtains matched the sofa. Only the seat light on the sofa was on and no one was there.
Cassandra's taste is very graceful and comfortable. Regina was still watching her surroundings, interested in itching to peek at the lit laptop on the sofa. But trying to contain her impolite urge, since entering without permission was too much, Regina then spoke. "Hello...anyone? I'm Regina, your neighbor who asked for help earlier. I just wanted to thank you."
"You're welcome."
The sound made Regina jump on her feet and turn around. Riyu stood in the doorway, then headed for the kitchen and washed his hands there.
Regina was curious. "What are you doing with the mouse?"
"I put it on the side of this building."
"Sorry I just walked in. I thought Cassandra was there. I also wanted to thank you for my door this afternoon."
The man came out of the kitchen drying his hands and looking at Regina.
"We haven't met. I'm Regina, you can call me Rere."
Riyu put the cloth that he used earlier on the kitchen counter. "You don't know me?"
"Cassandra only told me your name," Regina replied. Seeing Riyu frown, Regina seemed to have said something wrong.
Riyu approached Regina until it was close.
Riyu asked in a low tone. "So, What is my name?"
Regina must look up due to the difference in their height. The top of his head was only as shoulder-length as the men. And what is this? What's with Regina's heart?
"Riyu," Regina's voice seemed to be squeezed. "You're Riyu."
Then suddenly Riyu slipped his white t-shirt over his head. Made the man bare-chested.
Regina took a deep breath and covered her eyes with her hands. "What are you doing?"
"Take off my t-shirt," Riyu said casually.
"What did you open it for?" Regina peeked through her fingers. Good grief.
"Because it's dirty."
"Sorry about that. Can I wash it for you?"
"I have a better idea." Regina's hand was touched gently, to be brought down from her eyes. "Want to help me shower?"
Regina stepped back. Riyu was clearly teasing her. Even though the guy has a girlfriend. "Where's Cassandra?"
"You really haven't realized it or are you stupid?
"What?"
"No Cassandra here. This is my apartment."
Regina gasped, her hand which was covering her eyes turned to her mouth.
So her neighbor is Riyu!
Regina immediately turned around wanting to get out of there. But Riyu grabbed Regina's hand too quickly. Due to the sudden pull, also unexpectedly, Regina was pushed closer to standing in front of Riyu.
"Where to?" Riyu asked still teasing this woman who looked tense because of her invitation earlier.
"I-I'm going back to my apartment."
"Are you afraid of me?"
"no." Even though it is yes!
Regina tried to release her hand which was still in Riyu's grip. The man held it firmly, but not painfully. The distance between them was thinning.
With the remaining courage that Regina had find, she returned Riyu's gaze. The two of them stood still. Rigid. Like a lifeless statue but it was clear Regina was holding her breath.
Nothing is wrong. The man was a stranger, but for some reason Regina felt at home looking at him for a long time.
Slowly the grip on Regina's hand loosened. When completely released she run back to her apartment.
Regina locked the door twice then backed away with blinking eyes. What was that? She clutched her chest which was pounding so hard it almost hurt to feel.
This beat is different. Which made her forget her broken heart just like that...