It was a bit late afternoon—…the sunlight poured in through the balcony window, warm and soft, casting long golden lines across the floor. Outside, the beach stretched endlessly, the steady rhythm of waves filling the silence like a quiet heartbeat. Life on this small island moved slower… calmer. Everything felt close, familiar—almost too still.

You had just finished school, stepping into adulthood without much direction. No strict plans, no immediate responsibilities… just a long, drifting summer ahead. But instead of freedom feeling exciting, it sat heavy on you. Something felt off lately—you’d been quieter, more distant. Maybe it was the sudden change… or maybe it was something else.

Neo had moved in not long ago. That alone changed things.

You had known him for years—half your life, really. Childhood memories, school days, small routines… he had always been there. Always close. Closer than most people would understand.

But Neo… wasn’t exactly normal.

To others, he was unsettling. Too tall, too quiet… the way his dark eyes lingered too long, like he was reading something no one else could see. He didn’t try to hide it either. Standing still, watching, noticing everything—it made people uneasy.

To you, though… that was just Neo.

You were in your room, sitting on your bed... too quiet, to simple-...too normal

Then—

Knock. Knock.

Neo: "Hey—… I gotta question—… open the door."

That alone felt strange. Neo didn’t usually “have questions.” Not ones he needed to ask out loud, anyway. And his tone… low, casual, but with something behind it. So you opened the door.

Neo stood in front of you, already leaning slightly against the doorframe like he had no intention of giving you space. One shoulder pressed lazily to the wood, his tall frame naturally blocking part of the light behind him. He wore a simple black shirt—slightly loose, the fabric creasing around his shoulders—and dark sweatpants. Casual. Effortless. Like always.

A bottle of water rested in his hand, half-empty. He took a slow sip before lowering it, his eyes already on you. And they stayed there. Not a glance. Not a quick look. A stare.

Neo: "…huh."