Five days after the ice cream hangout at Alice's, Enzo's world tilted sideways. On the surface, everything looked normal - same old apartment, same old routine. But something was off, like a picture hanging slightly crooked.
It wasn't about Ronny. Their relationship was still hard to talk about. No, this was new - a constant prickle on the back of his neck, as if invisible eyes were watching his every move.
Then weird things started happening. One morning, after a quick trip downtown with Harry, Enzo trudged back to his apartment, bleary-eyed and yawning. He fumbled with his keys, pushed open the door, and froze. His bed, tucked in the corner of the room and usually a tangle of sheets, was now made with military precision—crisp corners and smooth fabric pulled taut. The trash bin, which should have been overflowing with crumpled papers and empty takeout containers, gaped empty. And his desk, right, his desk. The usual chaos of scattered notes and half-finished lyrics had vanished, replaced by neat stacks and organized binders.
The feeling got even worse last night. As he was falling asleep, the old, unused light on his wall started flickering, making weird shadows dance around the room. A low buzzing sound came from it, freaking him out even more. He grabbed an old shirt and wrapped it around the light, trying to block out the sound and the creepy light. He finally managed to fall asleep, but the whole thing left him feeling really unsettled.
Now, Enzo sat on his bed, staring at his phone with a mix of annoyance and frustration. Someone had been spamming him with random texts every five minutes, driving him nuts. He'd finally blocked the number, but the whole thing left a bad taste in his mouth.
"Ugh, seriously?" he muttered, tossing his phone onto the bed. Anyone in his shoes would be pissed, maybe even freaked out.
Why don't you just move? people might ask.
But well, damn, life wasn't that simple. He didn't have the money for a new place. This apartment and everything in it, were paid for by his songwriting royalties. It wasn't much, but it was enough. Also, cheap apartments were hard to find in this part of town.
But whatever, he can protect himself. If someone really broke in, he'd kick them in the balls. Enzo chuckled, knowing full well he wouldn't be able to do that. He stared at the ceiling, letting out a long sigh.
This was his life, wasn't it? Always dealing with crap. He'd get used to it, he told himself, even though people kept saying 'asking for help wasn't that hard'. But it never felt like an option. He'd handle this, like he always did.
Just as Enzo was drifting off to sleep, a sharp knock on the door jolted him awake. He hadn't had a visitor in ages. Peeking through the peephole, he saw an angry-looking woman standing there, arms crossed. He opened the door cautiously.
"Yes?" Enzo asked.
"Do you think you live in this building alone or what?!" She snapped, arms crossed tightly across her chest.
"What?" Enzo was utterly confused. He'd been in bed all day, doing absolutely nothing. Why was she targeting him?
"You've been dragging your stuff around since this morning! What do you think you are, some kind of mannerless prick!?" she accused
"I think you've got the wrong door," Enzo retorted, flipping his hair back in annoyance. The whole 'being watched' situation had already put him on edge, and now this?
"I live below you! If it wasn't you, then who?" she demanded.
"Maybe the next door, but it has nothing to do with me," Enzo replied, his patience wearing thin.
"You're incredibly rude, you know that?!" she spat.
Enzo's frown deepened. "Oh yeah? And you think you're so polite for calling someone a mannerless prick?"
"Ugh, whatever! Just don't make any noise again, or I'll call the landlord," she threatened.
"Like the landlord will give a shit," Enzo scoffed. "Just go bother the next door." He was ready to slam the door in her face.
"And don't knock on my door again!" he added before shutting the door with a decisive click. He could hear her grumbling outside, followed by a knock on the neighboring door.
Will his day get any better? Enzo thought, burying his face in his pillow. Probably not. He just hoped there wouldn't be any more encounters with the angry neighbor. He could only handle so much before completely losing it. He could hear the muffled sounds of another argument next door, followed by a door slamming shut. Great, she pissed off someone else.
Just as he thought that, another knock sounded on his door. Bracing himself, Enzo opened it. This time, the woman looked different—not angry, but…
"Have you ever met your next-door neighbor?" she whispered, her eyes darting towards the now-silent door next to his.
"No," Enzo replied, a frown creasing his brow. What was going on with her?
"You better stay on guard, I mean..." she trailed off, glancing nervously at the neighboring door and flinching slightly. "Yeah, just be careful. And I'm sorry for earlier." With that, she hurried down the stairs.
Enzo stood there, dumbfounded. "What the fuck?" he muttered, closing the door.
Enzo sat on his bed, replayed the neighbor's warning in his mind. It was too weird to ignore. When he'd moved in, the next apartment was empty. Then, last month, someone new moved in. He'd never seen them, never had any problems... well, except for the three knocks on the wall every day. That was odd, but nothing to worry about, right?
"Seems my life's turned into a mystery novel." Enzo sighed, He scrolled through his phone, looking for a distraction. He sent Harry a few funny videos, chuckling at his friend's quick replies. Then he dove into a webtoon Harry had recommended, losing himself in the colorful panels.
As the light outside faded, signaling the approach of dusk, Enzo decided he deserved a reward for keeping his cool amidst the chaos. He grabbed his jacket and headed out, taking the stairs.
Midway down, his phone buzzed. It was Ian.
'Hey, are you free this evening?'
Well fuck
"Even if I was free, which I technically am," he said, "the answer is still no."
'No,'
'Alright,' came the instant response.
He pocketed his phone and walked out into the street, taking a shortcut through a narrow alley toward his favorite taco place.
To be fair, he didn't hate Ian. He just needed some alone time, away from any human interaction – except for the friendly taco shop staff, of course.
Enzo entered the shop, placed his usual order, and waited, tapping his foot impatiently as he watched people come and go. Then that unsettling feeling crept up on him again, the sensation of unseen eyes on his back. He glanced around, but it was just the usual crowd—people going about their business. He turned back to the menu, hoping the feeling would pass, but it only intensified when he looked away. He pulled out his phone, trying to distract himself, but it was no use.
"Order number 53!" the staff called out. Enzo grabbed his food and hurried back towards his apartment.
He hurried down the same alley he'd taken earlier, but this time, he wasn't alone. Footsteps echoed his own, keeping pace with his every move. He stopped, and they stopped. He quickened his pace, and they did too.
He began to panic, Enzo changed direction, hoping to lead whoever was following him away from his apartment. Even on the crowded street, the feeling of being followed persisted.
He fumbled for his phone, trying to call someone, but his sweaty hands made the screen unresponsive. In his panic, Enzo wasn't watching where he was going. He rounded a corner and slammed into someone, nearly losing his balance.
"Whoa, easy there," a familiar voice said. Enzo looked up to see a man with neat blonde hair and a stern expression. It was Nolan.
"Enzo?" he asked, steadying him with a firm grip.
"Thank God, Nolan," Enzo breathed, glancing back to see if he was still being followed.
"Are you okay?" Nolan asked, looking in the same direction
"Yeah, I'm fine," Enzo said, trying to sound convincing.
"You sure?" Nolan didn't seem to buy it. "Do you need a ride home or something?"
Enzo was grateful for the offer, but his apartment was close. If he accepted the ride, whoever was following him might discover where he lived.
"Can you take me somewhere else?" he asked, a hint of desperation in his voice.
"Where?" Nolan glanced at his watch.
"Your house?" Enzo hesitated.
"Sure," Nolan agreed without hesitation, leading him towards his car. No further questions, just a silent understanding. Enzo was relieved. Nolan seemed to sense something was wrong, and that was enough for now.
The ride to Nolan's place was short but fuck, Ronny was clearly displeased to see Enzo arrive with his brother and a quick conversation with his brother seemed to shift his anger elsewhere. He returned looking less annoyed, though still a bit sullen. He silently took the taco bag, arranged the food on a plate for Enzo, and sat down to watch him eat.
The three of them settled on the couch, the TV on, but no one spoke.
Suddenly, a woman's voice broke the quiet from the front door. "Oh, we have a guest today?" Enzo hadn't even heard her come in.
She had sleek black hair and kind brown eyes, just like Ronny's. Her smile was warm and welcoming, softening the sharp lines of her glasses and scrubs. She tossed her keys aside, grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen.
"Long story short, he's Ronron's friend," Nolan explained.
"Nolan, I told you not to call me that in front of my friends," Ronny grumbled.
"Aww, so my little brother doesn't want to be cute in front of his friend, huh?" Nolan teased, pinching Ronny's cheek in a surprisingly playful gesture. The normally stern looking Nolan was a complete softie around his brother.
"I bet your friend thinks otherwise," Nolan said, turning to Enzo with a smirk.
"Yeah, I think it's cute too," Enzo admitted, glancing at Ronny, who pouted and looked away.
"Fine, if you say it's cute," Ronny mumbled.
"Well, what's your name, sweetie?" The woman asked, sitting beside Ronny and patting his head.
"I'm Enzo," he replied with a smile, which she returned warmly.
"I'm Lily, the mother of these two boys," she introduced herself. "I'm sorry if they bother you in any way."
"No, not at all. They're really good friends," Enzo assured her.
"That's a relief. Well, I'll let you boys be. I need some sleep badly," Lily said, standing up and heading towards the stairs.
"She's just like that," Nolan explained. "Being in the medical field, sleep is a luxury."
Enzo watched her go, a thought nagging at him. Was this family a house full of geniuses? The mom's a doctor, the oldest son's a scientist, and the youngest's a talented composer? And they were all so attractive. Must run in the bloodline.
"So, are you going to tell us what's going on?" Ronny's question hung in the air, heavy with expectation.
Enzo fidgeted, his usual smile faltering. Sharing his fears wasn't on his bingo list, and he certainly didn't want to burden them with his worries, not now."I just got chased by a dog." he lied, forcing a smile he hoped was convincing.
Ronny exchanged a knowing look with Nolan, who sighed and stood up. "I'll go take a bath," Nolan said, glancing at Ronny. "Tell me if you need anything." He walked past the kitchen, leaving Enzo alone with Ronny. The silence was thick, and Enzo could feel Ronny's intense gaze on him.
"Want to take a bath?" Ronny asked, breaking the silence. "You're planning to spend the night, right?"
"Ah... yeah, I guess so," Enzo replied, grateful for the offer. He pulled out his phone to set an alarm for the morning, but froze. The screen was flooded with texts from that strange number again.
Ronny remained silent, but his stare intensified. It seemed he'd already made up his mind about Enzo staying the night. "You remember where the bathroom is, don't you?"
"Yeah," Enzo answered quietly.
"Just go in there, I'll bring you some clothes to change into," Ronny said, heading upstairs.
Alone again, Enzo let out a heavy sigh. Today's events had drained him. He just wanted to sleep and forget about everything. He had never experienced anything like this before. His life had always been challenging, but this was a whole new level of challenge. He had no idea what he'd done to trigger this chain of events, but he desperately wished it would all just stop.
The bathroom was immaculate, larger than Enzo's entire apartment. The luxurious shower and bathtub screamed wealth. He shed his clothes and stepped under the warm spray, the water soothing his tense muscles and calming his frazzled nerves. Just as he began to relax, a knock sounded on the door.
"Can I come in?" Ronny's voice filtered through the frosted glass.
"Yeah," Enzo replied, and the door creaked open. Ronny stood there, holding a neatly folded set of clothes. He placed them on the counter and then just... stared?
"What?" Enzo asked.
"Nothing, just wanted to admire the view," Ronny said with a chuckle.
Enzo smirked, raising a soapy arm. "Pervert."
Ronny's eyes lingered on Enzo for a moment, a hint of mischief in his expression. "Need any help in there?" he asked, his tone playful but with an undercurrent of something more.
Enzo blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in mood. This guy was unpredictable, he thought. You could never tell what he'd say next.
Ronny just smiled. "Heh, don't mind me. I'll leave you to it." He turned and left, closing the door behind him.
Enzo shook his head, a confused smile tugging at his lips as he finished his shower, threw on some clothes, and headed to Ronny's room. He figured he'd be sleeping there, but he was confident nothing would happen tonight.
Ronny was sprawled out on the bed, scrolling through his phone. When Enzo walked in, Ronny glanced up, eyeing him in a way that made Enzo feel oddly awkward. He smiled and set his phone aside.
"I thought you wearing my shirt would look a little... different," Ronny said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Enzo asked, dropping his stuff.
"You're smaller than me." Ronny paused, eyeing him again. "I thought my shirt would make you look all tiny and cute, but... not really."
Enzo looked down at himself. It was just a bit loose—nothing major. Whatever Ronny had imagined, it was probably something ridiculous.
"You perv," Enzo chuckled, sitting on the bed.
"I'm gonna take a shower too. Don't pass out before I'm back, okay?" Ronny said, heading to the bathroom.
Enzo lay back, mindlessly watching videos on his phone when a weird number started calling him over and over. Every two minutes, his phone buzzed until his patience finally snapped.
"What the fuck..." Enzo muttered, flipping on airplane mode. He tossed the phone aside, trying to shake off the unease that had settled over him. The door creaked open, and Enzo looked up to see Ronny coming back in, shirtless and carrying a couple of water bottles.
"Hey, you okay?" Ronny asked, noticing Enzo's troubled expression. "You looked stressed when I left."
"yeah," Enzo replied. He wasn't in the mood to dive into any details or explain.
"You know you can talk to me about anything, right?" Ronny said.
"I know," Enzo muttered. Yeah, he knew, but this wasn't worth dragging Ronny into right now.
"Okay, I won't push. Just tell me when you're ready," Ronny said, pulling Enzo into a hug. He always knew how to shift Enzo's mood with the smallest gestures. His heart started pounding, and it felt like his anxiety was slipping away, replaced with something else.
It hadn't been that long since they slept together, and the memory of that night still lingered, but nothing like that was going to happen tonight. Enzo was too tired for that whole process.
"Mind if I turn off the light?" Ronny asked.
"It's your room," Enzo replied, putting his phone aside.
"I know, but I thought I'd ask," Ronny said, turning off the light and slipping back into bed. He snuggled close, pressing his nose to Enzo's neck. It sent a strange sensation through him—uncomfortable but not in a bad way.
"You smell like me," Ronny commented, his voice a low rumble.
Enzo chuckled. "Well, yeah, I just showered at your place with your stuff."
"But you smell sweeter," Ronny continued, pulling him closer. The warmth of his skin against Enzo's made everything feel... more intense. Enzo's face heated up, grateful for the darkness that hid his reaction
Ronny didn't say anything, but Enzo could tell he was up to something. His warm breath on Enzo's neck was followed by the soft, unexpected stroke of his tongue along his neck to his ear. Okay... that was definitely freaky.
"Do you know what you're doing right now?" Enzo asked, feeling a little conflicted, though it wasn't exactly bad.
"Yeah," Ronny replied, his hands slipping under Enzo's shirt. This was bad. Really bad.
"Can I kiss you?" Ronny asked, so bluntly it nearly made Enzo's heart explode. He was just too good at this.
"Sure," Enzo said, his face burning. Ronny had this way of being both casual and way too much at the same time.
Ronny's hand cupped Enzo's face gently, and despite the darkness, Enzo could sense Ronny's smile. Slowly, Ronny leaned in and kissed him, the warmth of his lips sending a shiver through Enzo. The kiss deepened, and when Ronny tugged at his lower lip before slipping his tongue in, it felt like Enzo's mind went blank. The kiss was slow and hot—really hot. Enzo's toes curled each time Ronny moved his tongue, and when Ronny's hands started drifting lower, Enzo quickly pulled back.
"That's enough," he said, breathless. If he didn't stop now, Ronny would probably take things all the way.
"Okay," Ronny agreed, rubbing Enzo's lips gently before placing a soft kiss on his cheek. He lay back down and wrapped his arms around Enzo, holding him close without saying a word.
The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. Enzo could hear his own heart pounding, and he felt his face grow hot with embarrassment. In his mind, he'd already labeled what they had as a relationship, but the reality was that he and Ronny had never actually discussed it. Moments like this made Enzo second-guess every assumption he'd made. He took a steady breath. At least they were still friends, he reminded himself, clinging to that certainty amidst all the confusion.
"You know," Ronny finally spoke, his voice soft, "you're like an open book, but sometimes... you're really hard to read."
Enzo rolled his eyes, "Yeah, well, everybody has secrets, Sherlock. Not everything needs to be shared."
"Fair enough," Ronny chuckled.
"Shut up. Let's just sleep," Enzo said, turning to hug Ronny, who hugged him back tightly.
"Okay," Ronny whispered, his voice more relaxed now. "Let's just sleep and forget about today."
Enzo snuggled in, glad for Ronny's warmth but still feeling kinda off. He really hoped all the weird crap from today wouldn't happen again - those creepy footsteps following him around, and all the bizarre stuff going on in his place. As he started to doze off, Enzo just wanted things to chill out. No more freaky shit, please. Just a normal, boring life would be nice for once.