Ephraim got home faster than usual, maybe because of the lightness in his steps or the lingering adrenaline from his excitement.
Once inside, he couldn't help but smile at himself. Living alone for the past five years since he'd started working, he'd grown accustomed to the quiet.
He'd moved to the bustling city for his job, far from the rural hometown where he'd grown up, and most of his days followed a steady routine: work, a visit to the bookstore, then home.
Socializing had never been his strong suit. Besides his colleagues—most of whom were men—he didn't talk to many people, and rarely went out except for essentials. Thinking back, it wasn't surprising he'd felt such a thrill from chatting with Mikha, even more so with someone as beautiful as her.
He sighed, leaning back into his chair. 'If only I had the power to read people's thoughts or emotions, he mused. Life would be so much easier.' The thought made him laugh. "As if something like that exists outside of fantasy."
Most of his free time was spent immersed in books or gaming on his computer—strategy, first-person shooter (FPS), Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), and RPGs, depending on his mood. And then there was anime, with a mix of genres that kept his imagination running. For him, these hobbies were more than just pastimes; they were a much-needed escape from the monotony of everyday work life.
Looking at it this way, it wasn't surprising he'd turned out as he had—living alone for five years, like a single-player game with no real change of scenery. Just him, his home, and his routines.
Shaking off the thought, he locked his door and immediately checked his phone, still replaying his earlier encounter in his mind. He opened the chat with Mikha, his fingers hovering uncertainly over the keyboard. After a moment, he hesitated, then closed the chat without typing. I'll message her before starting the book, he decided, feeling both eager and nervous.
His gaze drifted to the most intriguing item in his bag—the mysterious book he'd bought. "I'll get to you soon… after I recharge a bit," he muttered, choosing to save it for later. Falling into his usual routine, he ate dinner, took a shower, and let the day's tension slip away. He always liked to save the best part of his evening for last.
After taking a shower and making dinner, Ephraim's mind wandered as he ate, drifting from thoughts of his family to the work waiting for him tomorrow—and, of course, back to the girl he'd talked to earlier.
Before he could second-guess himself, he pulled out his phone and typed a message to her. "Hey."
A reply came almost instantly. "Yeah?"
Ephraim paused, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. He hadn't quite planned what to say next.
After a few moments without a follow-up message from him, Mikha sent another one. "You want to know about the book, right?"
"Yeah… did you get home already?" he typed, hoping to keep the conversation going.
"Just closed up the store and on my way home," she replied. "I'll let you know when I start reading it."
"Sure, take care… and don't forget to eat later," he added, feeling a little bolder.
"Oh? Getting braver over text, are we?" she replied with a laughing emoji. "Didn't see that side of you in person."
Ephraim grinned. "Oh yeah? And you're still the same—still cheeky, huh."
"I can't help it if I'm consistent," she shot back, adding a winking emoji.
Their exchange felt light, and easy, and Ephraim couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement. After a few more texts back and forth, they wrapped up their chat. Smiling to himself, Ephraim set his phone aside, realizing he'd finished his meal without even noticing.
His gaze drifted to the mysterious black book on the table, its dark, textured cover catching the dim light. Now that the day's excitement was fading, a growing curiosity tugged at him once more. He reached over, brushing his fingers along the swirling contours, feeling an unusual pull, almost magnetic, drawing him in.
As his fingers traced the intricate patterns on the cover, shadowy apparitions flickered outside his windows, like figures lingering just beyond the glass. A few lights began to waver, their soft hum turning irregular, but Ephraim was too caught up in his anticipation to notice. His mind was focused solely on the book, eager to unravel the mystery within.
"Alright," he murmured to himself. "Let's see what secrets you're hiding."
With a steady breath, he cracked open the cover, unaware of the shifting shadows around him.