neighbor {edited}

Vesna pulled her hair in a ponytail and stepped out of her apartment building, not before grabbing her water bottle. She checked the time on her watch as she approached the elevator. It was five in the morning, the usual time she would hit the gym before she got ready for her day.

Just as the door was about to close, she slid her hand between them, causing the doors to reopen, revealing a familiar face. 

She spared the man a small glance before stepping inside and pressing the button for the second floor, where the gym was located.

Vesna's penthouse was located on the top two floors of the building but beside her, there was another penthouse located on the same floors owned by the man who stood beside her. this was the first time she had encountered him in this building. 

Ziyan slightly stiffened, recognizing the familiar lavender scent wafting from Vesna. Although the harsh light made it difficult to see her clearly, he could still make out her figure in the mirror-finish doors.

He would have thought she was following him, but that would be impossible. No one knew he lived here.

Ever since the accident, his family and friends had treated him with excessive caution, making him feel like a fragile doll. Their pity was suffocating, and he longed for freedom from their constant concern. That's why he had moved out and did not give his location to anyone besides his secretary and his grandmother. He would never dare to hide anything from that woman, not unless he was courting death. 

Ziyan ignored Vesna, just as she had ignored him. Perhaps she did not recognize him. Though it was hard to believe anyone would forget his handsome face, and even if they somehow did, it was hard to forget a 'blind' handsome face.

Vesna leaned against the elevator wall and pulled out her phone while she waited. Halfway through, the lights in the elevator flickered once, then twice. They barely had time to register the change before the elevator suddenly jolted to a halt, plunging the small space into darkness. 

Unbothered by the situation, Vesna pressed the emergency button as she used her phone's light. As she spoke to the building's maintenance team, providing details of their situation, she noticed the uneven breath of the man beside her, even though he was making an effort to stay calm.

After concluding her call with the authorities, Vesna turned her phone's light toward him. "Are you okay?" 

Ziyan squinted his eyes behind the glasses at the sudden light flashed on his face but did not show the discomfort on his face. 

"Yes," he replied stiffly. 

Vesna raised an eyebrow in amusement finding him rather cute. Without warning, Vesna reached out and took his hand in hers, startling him.

"What are you doing?" He asked, his voice a mix of surprise and confusion.

"Let's stay like this for a while," Vesna replied, "I'm not a fan of the dark. It makes me uneasy."

"Well, if it makes you feel better," He said after a moment, his voice less tense. The warmth of her hand seeped into his skin, calming his racing heart. 

They stayed like that for a while and when Vesna got tired of standing, she sat down, pulling him along with her. 

 "So, I don't think we've met properly. I'm Vesna." 

"Ziyan."

"Nice to meet you, Ziyan," Vesna continued. Vesna shifted her legs, finding a more comfortable position on the floor. The elevator's floor was not the cleanest, but she was not one to care. 

"I am your new neighbor in case you haven't noticed." 

Ziyan silently observed her in the mirror. Now that the only light here was the one coming from her phone, he could see her face clearly, well, as clearly as one could see in darkness. 

He took in her innocent, angelic appearance. Her features, bathed in the soft glow of the phone screen, were delicate and ethereal. It was as if he was looking at an angel, pure and untainted 

Vesna continued talking, her words ranging from her favorite local coffee shops to her hobbies. She spoke with a light, engaging tone, and though she received occasional short hums or one-word answers from Ziyan, she didn't seem to mind. 

Suddenly, Ziyan interrupted her mid-sentence. "Do you really not recognize me, or are you just pretending not to know?"

A smile played on Vesna's lips, and for a moment, a glint appeared in her eyes that Ziyan. 

"I'd rather not mention that encounter," Vesna replied calmly. "I was in a rather bad mood that day, and I'd prefer to leave it in the past."

Ziyan was taken aback by Vesna's candid response. "I see."

Vesna tilted her head. "Now that you've brought it up, I have to ask - are you okay? I mean, about that day."

Ziyan shrugged his shoulders, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"I'm fine," he replied, his voice softer than before.

He realized, with a start, how much he had relaxed in her presence. The initial anxiety that had gripped him when the elevator first stopped had melted away, replaced by a strange sense of comfort.

"I'm glad," Vesna replied, her voice warm.

They continued to chat, their conversation flowing easily. Time seemed to fly by, and before they knew it, the elevator jolted back to life, the lights flickering on.

As the doors opened on the second floor, Vesna stood up, stretching her legs. "Well, looks like our little adventure is over," she said, offering Ziyan a hand.

He took it, allowing her to help him up.

"Indeed it is," he replied, a hint of regret in his voice.

Vesna stepped out and turned back to Ziyan with a smile. "It was nice talking to you, Ziyan. Maybe I'll see you around sometime?"

Ziyan nodded, surprising himself with his response. "I'd like that."

"Great! Well, I better get going. Take care, neighbor," Vesna said, giving him a small wave before heading towards the gym entrance.