Five Doubts (part 1)

pov: Narrator

"So they'll be our new tenants?"

he folded his arms as he watched Chase's face unable to say anything.

-after all they did to him, he still helps them, this kid-

"Veronica, you must understand, I can't."

"I know, you are kind hearted, after all aren't you?"

"I'm sorry."

Chase lowered his head, thinking it was wrong, but Veronica put her hand on him.

"easy, it's good that you're like that"

Chase smiled at her and before leaving she left him a few words.

"You should introduce yourself, after all you are the owner."

so she was left alone crossing her arms with a serious look on her face.

-I swear if they do anything to Chase, the worst they'll have to worry about is finding a place to sleep-".

with dark thoughts in her mind, she fixed herself a smile and left the place to introduce herself to the new housemates.

...

Chase on the other hand went to get ready to leave to go grocery shopping, he stopped by Juliet and Nidia's room to see how things were going, finding Nidia alone with a faraway look.

"Is something wrong?"

Even though he hesitated for a second, he went inside trying to help.

-his sad look, that distant thought, something bad must be happening to him-.

Nidia looked at him as soon as she heard his voice, but answered with a forced smile.

"It 's nothing."

Chase calmly walked over to her and sat down next to her, stroking her head.

"Sometimes nothingness can do a lot more damage than something, but holding on to it will only cause you to neglect your heart. Perhaps, the best solution is to stop focusing on nothingness o'clinging to a way out."

Chase removed his hand from her head and let her smile at him, as she looked at him dumbfounded.

"besides, if you need help talk to me"

In a second she grabbed his hand as Chase prepared to leave.

"ah- I... Thank you."

Blushing, she thanked while still holding on to Chase's hand.

-was it always like this?

perplexed he looked at her, but smiled at her.

"It's all good, relax, see you later."

Chase pats her head one last time before leaving, and she blushing stays inside, while from the other side someone watches what happened.

.....

Likewise the way in the direction of the store was not so long or problematic for Chase, he only tried to answer the doubts in his mind, doubts about Nidia's behavior. She used to be such a bitch at school, with everyone, but now she was so helpless, so weak.

"why did she come here, she is wealthy after all".

Still that didn't stop him from buying the things he owed and heading back home, when he felt someone following him.

-Oh no, this could be bad.

At a discreet point he turned to see who it was, turning out to be a dark-haired girl with tattoos on her body, listening to music on her phone.

At that Chase sighed in relief and continued on his way, but still the footsteps behind him continued without stopping.

-Pick up the pace.

Faced with that decision, he quickened his pace, losing the young woman on the way, as she continued at the same walking pace.

"that was strange."

Chase calmly walked home, ordered the groceries and went back to his room to get some work done, when Veronica knocked on his bedroom door.

"Come in."

She opened the door with a smile and behind her the young woman Chase saw on the walk.

"Chase, this is Jasmine our new roommate, she is a friend who asked me to come live with us."

"hello"

With a look of curiosity he walked around the place, seeing the bed, papers stuck on the wall, each one written, some all over the floor, causing him doubts.

-Could he be a writer? Surely he's a nerd?

"It's a pleasure, Jasmine."

Chase shook her hand and she accepted he squeezed, but her gaze strayed to Chase's wrists which left intrigue in her gaze, but Veronica soon pulled her out of the place to introduce her to the others.

-Chase? a nerd with cuts is common, maybe...but he looks familiar.

--

Time passed casually, Jasmine managed to settle in the last empty room, while Nidia was trying hard to get a job, looking through the newspapers or even on her phone.

On the other hand, it was not so difficult for Julieta to get a job as a health inspector, as it turns out she has the qualifications to do it and even studied something similar.

Veronica on the other hand was directly in charge of the management of her premises, when her mother passed away she not only took charge of the house, but of her entire chain of restaurants, for that she studied a career in cooking with which she could cover the little knowledge in the area.

Unlike Chase who does not need a job per se, after all every month he receives a fairly generous amount of money, but still prefers to stay with Veronica and pretend to be unemployed.

-----

Another night with fulminating dreams over his head, Chase wakes up sweaty heading for the bathroom, stops by to see Veronica as usual and tucks her in well so she doesn't get sick.

"You'll be better this way"

he leaves the place, without noticing that someone is watching him, Chase continues with his routine, bathing as usual and going for a run.

At the door watching him as each time he walks away at a fast pace, a woman in pajamas watching him.

Nidia squeezes her chest with both hands, as a tear escapes her face.

"Why do I feel so much pain seeing you, who are you?"

Her words were carried by the wind, but not a single person was standing to see them, they were only caught by the dark sky that would soon disappear just like her words.

Jasmine on the other hand was looking through her photos.

"I know I've seen him somewhere, but where?"

her doubts kept hitting her mind and unable to disperse she decided to stand up and walk in the direction of Chase's room in order to get an answer.