NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: Neighbor
[No, this fic is not dropped, I was simply focused on another project...
I can't guarantee daily uploads, but I can guarantee at least 1 chapter per week. Depending on how that works out, I'll consider making the chapters longer... around 5-7k words... There is advance chapters... Chapter (singular)... one chapter ahead rn on my p@treon... I'm honestly just pulling this story out of my ass right now... I have the template for key events I wanna happen... but... its always open to suggestions and changes... no u can't see the template... any-who.
(Chapter Start)
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Making his way out of the grand library, Aizen adjusted his newly crafted pair of glasses. He felt an ironic sense of déjà vu wash over him. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow over the bustling city streets.
Chuckling softly to himself, Aizen's gaze drifted into the distance. His eyes seemed to bypass the crowded sidewalks and busy roads, reaching far beyond the tall buildings that lined the streets. It was as if the concept of distance meant nothing to him. His focus finally settled on five individuals dressed in casual grey tuxedos. Each one wore a large white mask on their face—a creepy clown theme. The masks featured bold blue eyebrows, red accents on the lips and nose, and hollow, dark eyes that seemed to stare into nothingness.
As Aizen continued to walk in a certain direction, his gaze shifted past the masked figures to a vehicle speeding toward the bank, moving at almost double the speed limit. An amused smile slowly spread across his face. "Bruce and... Joker,"
Restraining his smile, Aizen retracted his gaze and found himself standing before his intended destination—an old but well-maintained apartment complex. The brick facade was covered in ivy, and a small garden of colorful flowers adorned the entrance.
As he made his way up the creaking wooden stairs. The lenses of Aizen's spectacles briefly displayed countless strings of zeros and ones, flashing rapidly before returning to their original transparency. A small, knowing smile played on his lips.
Meanwhile, inside one of the apartments, silent sobs and whimpers filled the cozy living room. Jenna sat curled up on the plush couch, a thick blanket wrapped around her. Wiping away her tears with the back of her hand, she tried to mask her growing sadness with a large tub of chocolate ice cream, spooning it absentmindedly into her mouth.
In front of her a corpse lay, blood pooling, the metallic smell of blood blocked only by her television screen.
"You can't die, You can't…
…I didn't even get to tell you how I feel"
Through Intermittent sobs the female lead continues to speak.
Her desperate cries and tearful words answered only by the lifeless wind, howling back answers unspoken.
Knock, Knock, Knock
"Hmm…"
Startled by the sudden rapping on the door, Jenna removes her blanket and sets it aside, she goes over to the door and opens it…
As the door opened before me, I let out a friendly smile and lifted my right hand in a casual wave. My left hand was occupied, holding the gifts I had materialized on my way up the stairs. I watched as Jenna's eyes widened in shock, her tear-streaked face frozen for half a second. My smile, ever so sincere, slowly faded, shifting to a look of false concern. My mouth opened, as if I was about to say something comforting—though in reality, I wasn't, because I knew full well that in precisely 0.2 seconds...
Bang!
The door slammed shut, followed by a panicked scream from inside. As the sound echoed through the hallway, I felt a presence lock onto me from over a dozen miles away. My eyes narrowed at the familiar sensation that washed over me. "Superman," I mentally mused.
The gaze peered into the apartment for a few seconds before vanishing just as quickly as it had appeared. The sounds of thuds, clatters, and hurried movements came from behind the closed door. I waited patiently, listening to the muffled chaos unfolding inside. About thirty seconds passed before—whoosh—the door swung open again, revealing Jenna in a completely different attire.
"Hey," she greeted me with a slightly breathless tone, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
"What's up?" I replied with a warm smile, my dialect adjusted to match this world's casual speech—or at least, this country's.
She invited me in enthusiastically, both of us choosing not to mention the little spectacle that had just occurred. As I stepped inside, I couldn't help but notice the sudden tidiness of the living room. It was quite remarkable, considering I had heard the frantic sounds of clutter being hastily shoved away moments before. A quick glance confirmed my suspicion—the closet door was slightly ajar, revealing a chaotic pile of blankets, pillows, and miscellaneous items stuffed inside.
I considered the possibility of 'accidentally' opening it. In the book "Age of Romance" by Christine Fryer, incidents of such embarrassing nature often brought characters closer together. Jenna was—or at least she would be—a key figure in this new persona I was crafting.
A lover, huh? How novel. "Haha..." I accidentally let out a chuckle, causing Jenna, who was leading me to the couch, to glance back at me in confusion.
"My apologies," I said, raising a hand to cover my amused smile. "But there's a smudge of ice cream on your nose. It makes you look kinda cute."
She quickly turned her head away, wiping at her nose with the sleeve of her sweater. When she turned back to face me, her expression was stoic, but the flushed redness of her ears betrayed her inner embarrassment.
"Do you want anything to drink?" she asked, heading over to the kitchen area. The open-plan layout made it easy to see her as she moved, the light catching her hair in a way that highlighted its soft waves.
"Umm... black coffee—no sugar—would be nice," I replied, a hint of doubt in my tone.
"Seriously?" Jenna turned around, eyebrows raised in surprise.
I met her gaze with a sheepish smile. "I normally start the day with such a beverage. I've noticed that beginning something with a touch of bitterness can make things feel sweeter down the line. Don't know if that makes sense," I said with an awkward chuckle.
She gave me a teasing smile. "Unfortunately for you, Mr. Assen, I don't have bitter coffee. I do, however, have beer. Want one?"
I smiled back. "Close, it's Aizen. And yeah, why not?"
Returning from the fridge, Jenna opened a bottle of Corona and handed it to me. The cold condensation from the bottle felt refreshing against my hand.
"Thanks," I said, taking a sip. The crisp taste was a pleasant surprise.
"I overheard the TV playing while walking up, and it sounded like a drama film. Let me guess, you were watching 'Three Loves, One Heart'?" I asked, initiating the conversation.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "How'd you know?"
"Saw it a few times," I lied smoothly. "Although I'm not usually into drama, it's one of my favorite films."
"Really? Then what's your favorite movie?" Jenna asked, her eyes lighting up with interest.
I tilted my head, pretending to ponder the question, though in reality, I was browsing the web using 'Zero.' "Call me a little kid, but I'd say 'Wreck-It Ralph' is the best," I answered with a grin.
"Oh my gosh! I love that movie!" she squealed, her face brightening. "I'm gonna wreck it!" She imitated Ralph, swinging both arms up and down in a playful smashing motion.
"Haha..." I let out a hearty laugh.
"Are you off today?" I asked, taking another sip of the beer.
"Yeah," she replied, settling into the armchair across from me. "I'm normally off on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It's nice to have a mid-week break." She paused for a moment, fiddling with the hem of her sweater. "Umm... do you have a place to stay?" she asked, a faint blush creeping back onto her cheeks.
"Hmm... Yup, I already found one," I said, my tone mirthful.
"Oh," she replied, a hint of disappointment in her voice as she looked down at her hands.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small, shiny key. Twirling it between my fingers, I added, "I'm right next door."
Her eyes met mine, and a smile slowly spread across her face. "Really? That's great!" she exclaimed. "Looks like we'll be neighbors then."
"Indeed," I said with a nod. "I guess we'll be seeing a lot more of each other."
She laughed softly. "I hope so."
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Is manipulated love... and falsified romance still romance?
Honest question. I don't know whether to add a tag or not...