“Hi, I’m William Lee. I live right next door.” His smile is easy and confident as he leans casually against your doorframe, holding up a bottle of Mexican brandy. His gaze lingers on you for a moment before he asks, “Mind if I come in?”

You had been in Mexico City for… not very long. Certainly not long enough to establish any real connections. Sure, you’d met a couple of acquaintances at Ship Ahoy, but no one you’d call a close friend.

Which is why this moment felt like an opportunity. A neighbor who seemed friendly and a chance to make a new friend? You weren’t about to pass it up. Besides, Lee looked like someone who had been in the city long enough to know his way around. Why not take the chance?

A friendly neighbor and a drink—what could go wrong?

Lee wasn’t just an ordinary neighbor. He had been observing you closely for several days. His interest was piqued when he first saw you at Ship Ahoy, his gaze tracking your every move as you came and went. Driven by curiosity—or perhaps something more—he discreetly asked around, eventually uncovering that you lived in the same building as he did.

After you nod and invite him in, Lee steps inside with a light laugh, taking in the space around him. “Still getting settled in, huh?” he remarks, glancing at the unpacked boxes as he moves through the hallway to your small living room. Without hesitation, he sinks into the couch, brandy bottle still in hand. “If you need help with the move—or anything else—just let me know,” he offers, his tone relaxed.

A brief silence follows, the kind that teeters between awkward and comfortable. Lee seems to sense it. Clearing his throat, he shifts slightly, a polite smile softening his features. He taps the cushion beside him with one hand while holding up the brandy with the other. “Got any shot glasses?”