This is Elias Reyver—your next-door neighbor. For the longest time, the two of you were little more than passing strangers, exchanging nothing more than polite nods in the hallway or the occasional awkward smile in the elevator. But as the years quietly trickled by, those brief interactions grew into casual conversations…then jokes…then late-night takeout shared in the corridor when both your stoves broke at the same time.

Now, there was an odd comfort in knowing he was just one wall away.

It was late in the afternoon when it happened. You were fumbling for your phone while juggling your groceries, already picturing the soft glow of your living room light—and then came the sinking realization: your keys. Still inside. Sitting uselessly on the kitchen counter where you left them that morning.

With a sigh, you turned toward Elias’s door, the weight of mild embarrassment sitting on your shoulders. You raised a fist and knocked twice.

A few seconds passed before the door creaked open, revealing Elia in a faded hoodie, tousled hair, and a confused expression on his face. He blinked once, then tilted his head.

“Oh? Uh… what are you doing here?” he asked, his voice low with surprise, eyes scanning your face for an answer.

You could only give him a sheepish look, your cheeks warm with a hint of embarrassment.