"Careful, Elina. You'll knock me over one day." At this moment, Mia smile looked a bit more mature than the seductive smile that she had from before, making Alex look at the beautiful girl, who appeared around the same age as him.
Before Mia can say more, the sound of footsteps echoes from deeper inside the apartment. A tall, broad-shouldered man steps into the living room, his expression calm but tired.
He's dressed casually, his shirt slightly wrinkled, as though he's been lounging at home.
"You're up late, Kian." Mia looked really familiar with that guy. Making Alex wonder if she was the sister of that boy or maybe a relative.
But then a bold guess appeared in his head.
It made him laugh, even though he was still making out, that the girl his age was referring to Mia as her mother and all while thinking like a Webtoon.
He could still make out how Mia could have adopted her; given a setting like this, it is not uncommon in Webtoons.
"Hmm. Neighbour?" As Kian finally noticed the presence of Alex, he wondered out loud. Making Mia nod as she walked beside Alex and patted his shoulder, feeling a bit anxious but spoke to them in a cheerful tone.
"Yep. Alex, this is Kian—my husband. Kian, this is Alex from next door. I just met after coming from the gym." Alex's mind buzzed at his husband's word. As he finally realized why he felt an odd anxiousness in Mia's act.
"Hello!" Alex greeted. After which, Elina also spoke in a sweet voice, just like her mother, though there was trace of lingering shyness in it.
"Mia tends to adopt the neighbours into her circle. Don't be surprised if she ropes you into something." Kian spoke. While seeing Alex not mentioning anything, Mia felt a bit relieved. Given all Alex's acts, she could tell Alex had a nice-type personality and opened up a bit more.
"Ignore him. He's just bitter; I keep making him try new things." Mia rolls her eyes, a playful smile on her face.
Looking at three of them, Alex felt a bit complicated, thinking how Mia was having an affair down there, but he was not here to talk about logic with others, and personally thinking about having a shot with a married woman was making his emotion rise.
As he remembered a theme like this, also called NTR, he realized how his thinking was already getting attracted toward things like sex.
After their brief conversation in the hallway, Mia glances at Alex, who seems ready to head into his apartment.
But instead of stepping inside her own, she leans against her doorframe, her eyes lingering on him. Her chest was pressed on the door as she spoke in a seductive tone, "Hey, Alex."
"Yeah?" Alex turns his head in surprise, thinking how she hasn't gone in yet. Mia tilts her head a little cutely, and with a playful smile, she curves her lips. She reaches into the pocket of her jeans and pulls out a small card, holding it between two fingers.
"In case you ever need something. Or... just want to talk." She steps forward, holding a small card out to him. Her movements were casual, but there's a certain grace to the way she came close to him, her deep gaze drawing his attention.
Alex hesitates for a moment before taking the card. Her face closed in, and with a light touch of her lips, although a bit fleeting, it sent an unexpected jolt up his mind.
"Thanks cutie. I… appreciate it." Mia watches him with an amused glint in her eyes, as if she can read the thoughts running through his mind. She crosses her arms lightly, leaning in slightly, just enough to close the gap between them without seeming intrusive.
"You don't strike me as the type who asks for help easily. Am I wrong?" Mia's gaze lingers on him, her voice dropping just a touch, enough to make the air between them feel heavier.
"Goodnight, Alex. Don't lose that card. You might need it sooner than you think." Alex watches as she disappears into her apartment, the sound of the door clicking shut echoing in the quiet hallway. He looks down at the card in his hand.
Her name is scrawled neatly across the top, followed by a phone number. Under it, a single line catches his eye: "For anything. Don't hesitate."
Making him think.
'When did she write that.'
Though for Alex the words feel heavier than they should, like an invitation wrapped in ambiguity. Alex steps into his own apartment, shutting the door behind him, as he did not want to think more about it than it was.
His mind buzzes with questions he doesn't quite know how to answer yet, all revolving around the seductive lady from next door.
++
++
Alex steps into his apartment and closes the door, leaning against it as the day's events replay in his mind. He holds the card loosely in his hand, staring at Mia's neat handwriting. The words, "For anything. Don't hesitate," seem to echo louder than they should.
Setting the grocery bag down on the counter, he sinks onto the small couch in the corner of his apartment. His eyes drift back to the card, his thoughts spiralling.
When he remembered the application, and with a touch, he opened the application that was provided to him by the god's as a cheat that will help him in this world.
"Profiles," "Tasks," "Resource," and "Analyze." Inside the application, the front page was empty due to having no target or other function for the moment, but there was still (+) an option at the top.
After clicking on it. Alex found four things in it having a 'profile' option. 'Tasks' option. 'Resource' option, and 'Analyze' option in it. As soon as he clicked Analyze, he was able to scan the card and found the trace of DNA from it, and along with it, an image of the seductive lady along with the several options opened in the main page.
"Subject: Mia
Status: Married. Emotional Barriers Present.
Emotional Affinity: Moderate.
Compatibility: High."
"DNA analysis is complete. Emotional Influence Settings are now unlocked for this subject. Activate customization for further interaction."
A digital avatar of Mia appeared on the screen, her expression calm but unreadable. Under her image, several sliders and options lit up:
Trust Level: [Moderate]
Attraction Level: [Dormant]
Loyalty: [Locked]
Emotional Vulnerability: [Analyzed...]
And at that moment, Alex did not know that at the neighbouring household, they were having a talk about him, which will lead to the start of his sexual life in the coming future.
The apartment was modest yet cozy, filled with the soft glow of a light. Mia stood in the kitchen, stirring a pot of stew while her husband, Kian, reclined on the couch, a newspaper spread out in front of him.
Their daughter, Elina, was tucked into bed after an exhausting day of school.
When Kian brought up the topic, "You know, I've been thinking about that guy we met outside today. Alex, wasn't it?" Kian's words draw her attention toward him. As she looked at her husband a bit curiously, since he brought out that boy topic.
"What about him?"
"Well... don't you find it odd? He had been living here for a few months or something. And I don't think I've ever seen anyone else going into or coming out of his apartment. No family, no friends—nothing." After getting brought out by Kian like this.
Even Mia felt perplexed and thought, How she never had thought it like this, given previous Alex truly had no presence to him at all, and due to work, his mother only tends to visit at around night, so nobody had even seen her coming that much.
Mia stirred the stew thoughtfully, her brows knitting together.
"That's... sad, if true. Living alone like that, barely interacting with anyone. It makes me wonder if he even has proper meals or company." She wondered out loud.
Making Kian chuckle as he looked at his wife and thought how simple her thinking tends to be sometime, so he just added his own thoughts in it.
"Well, it's not like it's our place to interfere. Some people prefer their solitude."Mia's lips curled into a faint smile, but her eyes carried a hint of mischief.
"You always say that, but you're the one bringing him up in the first place. What's the matter, Kian? Feeling neighbourly?" Kian let out a lowchuckle, folding the newspaper and setting it aside.
"Maybe. Or maybe I'm just curious about what kind of person he is. People who live alone tend to have... stories, you know?" Kian said while leaning on the side.
"Stories, huh? Or maybe he's just someone who prefers peace and quiet." Mia giggled.
"Well, peace and quiet shouldn't mean starving. If you're so curious about him, why don't you take him something to eat? We've got more than enough stew in the pot." Mia's eyes widen as she smiles at her husband's look.
"You want me to take him stew? Isn't that a bit much for someone we barely know?"
"Why not? It's a good icebreaker. And you're always talking about wanting to make more connections in the building." Mia tilted her head, considering the suggestion. There was a warmth in her gaze—a hint of genuine concern for the quiet young man she'd met earlier.
"Alright, fine. I'll take him a bowl. But only because you suggested it." Not knowing the fact that it was not just the food the boy might end up eating that day.
Mia muttered. "He did look like someone who could use a warm meal... and maybe a bit of company."
"Also, I also need to thank him for keeping it silent.' She muttered inside her mind.