-KNOCK-
It's a sound of someone knocking.
Isabelle slowly opens her eyes to the sound, then she exits her car. She furrows her brow as she sees a young man standing in front of her, disheveled with bruised cheeks and swollen lips. Despite his injuries, his handsome looks remain intact.
"Please, miss," the young man says.
"I'm being chased by thungs, I was even beaten up," he explains.
Isabelle thinks and goes silent for a second.
"Get in," she instructs.
The young man promptly enters Isabelle's car, and she immediately drives off at a moderate speed.
"Do you want me to take you to the hospital?" Isabelle asks the young man. He simply shakes his head.
"Then?"
"Could you drop me off at my apartment, and I'll find my way from there," the young man says.
**********
Isabelle's car stops in front of the young man's apartment building. Before he gets out, he looks deeply into Isabelle's eyes.
"Alex," he says, extending his hand.
"Isabelle," she replies, shaking Alex's hand.
Alex opens the car door, and Isabelle watches him from inside the car.
"Ouch..." he stumbles.
Isabelle quickly exits the car to assist the young man.
"Are you alright?" Isabelle asks Alex.
"I'm fine, miss, thank you." Alex says with a grimace in his face.
"Come, let me help you," Isabelle says as she supports him.
"Which apartment is yours?" Isabelle asks.
"Number 302, miss," Alex replies.
Upon reaching Alex's apartment, he enters the access code and they go inside together. Isabelle carefully observes every corner of the young man's apartment. It's quite neat and tidy for a bachelor, she thinks.
"Do you have any first aid kit?" Isabelle asks.
"Yes, it's in the bedroom," Alex responds.
After Isabelle tends to Alex's wounds, she sits on the single sofa, closing her eyes briefly.
In the silence, someone's rumbling stomach start to make noises.
"Haha, are you hungry, miss?" Alex chuckles, noticing the person who helped him maybe hasn's had any dinner.
Isabelle, feeling embarassed, avoids answering Alex's question.
"Let's order some food, miss," Alex suggests. Isabelle simply nods.
"What would you like to eat?"
"Just order the same as you,"
"Okay. I'll go to my room to change. My clothes are quite dirty. Here's the money to pay for the food," Alex says, handing Isabelle some cash. She simply nods.
-KNOCK-KNOCK-
Isabelle quickly goes to the door and opens it, collects the ordered food. Pays for it, and take the foods to the kitchen.
-CLICK-
Alex's bedroom door opens, and he emerges, heading towards Isabelle, who has finished preparing their meal. They sit down together, and the only sounds are the clinking of utensils on the dining table.
"Miss, you can stay here for the night. You can go back tomorrow; it's already late. You can sleep in my room, and I'll sleep in the living room," Alex suggests to Isabelle.
Isabelle thinks for a moment and the nods in agreement.
"Alex, you can sleep in the bedroom, and I'll take the sofa," Isabelle softly insists, feeling uncomfortable.
"No need, miss, you can have the bedroom," Alex says.
"But..."
Isabelle's words are interrupted by the ringing of her phone. She looks at it and dismisses the call.
"Why didn't you answer it, miss? It might be important," Alex asks, looking at Isabelle intently.
"It's not important," Isabelle replies shortly.
They both fall into silence, pondering their own thoughts in the room.
The room filled with a palapable tension as Isabelle and Alex sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The faint hum of the city outside seemed to grow louder in the quiet apartment.
Alex finally broke the silence, his voice sounds gentle. "Miss, there's something on your mind, isn't there? You seem troubled."
Isabelle hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "It's just... today has been an incredibly strange day for me. First, I caught my husband with my best friend, and now I'm here with you, helping you after you were attacked. It's all so overwhelming."
Alex nodded sympathetically. "I can't imagine how difficult this day has been for you. But sometimes, life takes unexpected turns, and we find ourselves in situations we never could have anticipated."
Isabelle glanced at Alex, in his words striking a chord with her. "You're right, Alex. Life can be unpredictable. I never expected to be in this situation, but I couldn't just leave you alone when you needed help."
Alex smiled warmly at her. "I appreciate your kindness, miss. Not everyone would have stopped to help a stranger."
As they finished their meal, the atmosphere in the room lightened. Isabelle found herself opening up to Alex, finsing solace in each other's company. Despite the intial awkwardness of the situation, a genuine connection began to form between them.
Eventually, the late hour caught up with them and Isabelle yawned, feeling the exhaustion from the emotionally draining day. Alex noticed her fatigue and offered to make up the sofa for her.
"You should get some rest, miss," he said. "I'll sleep on the sofa. It's the least I can do after all your help."
Isabelle protested at first, but Alex insisted, and she reluctantly agreed. They bid each other good night, and Isabelle settled into the comfortable bed in Alex's room.
As she lay there, Isabelle couldn't help but reflect on the events of the day. She had experienced heartbreak and betrayal, but she had also found unexpected kindess and companionship in the form of Alex.
**********
TO BE CONTINUED...