LOVE IN THE APARTMENT
EPISODE 5
The argument between Alex and Emily had left a palpable tension in the air. They both went about their day, trying to avoid each other, but the silence was deafening.
As the evening drew in, Alex decided to cook dinner, hoping to break the ice. But as he was chopping vegetables, Emily walked into the kitchen, her eyes fixed on her phone.
“Hey, Emily, can we talk?” Alex asked, trying to sound calm.
Emily barely looked up. “What’s there to talk about?”
Alex sighed. “About what happened earlier. I think we need to clear the air.”
Emily shrugged. “I don’t see the point. You always get upset over nothing.”
Alex’s frustration simmered just below the surface. “Nothing? You always dismiss my feelings and concerns. It’s not nothing to me.”
Emily finally looked up, her eyes flashing with anger. “Fine. Talk. But I’m not apologizing for anything.”
The tension between them was electric, and it seemed like the conversation was going to be a very difficult one…
The argument they had earlier still lingered in the air, and Alex could feel the weight of Emily’s resentment.
Alex hesitated, unsure of how to navigate this unfamiliar terrain. “I just feel like we’re not getting along, and I don’t know why. We never used to have problems like this.”
Emily shrugged. “We never really knew each other before, Alex. We’re just figuring out that we’re not compatible.”
Alex felt a pang of disappointment. Was it really that simple? Were they just incompatible?
But as he looked at Emily, he saw something there, a glimmer of hurt and frustration that went beyond mere compatibility. And he realized that he wanted to understand her, to know what made her tick.
“Can we try to understand each other?” Alex asked, his voice softening.
Emily raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. “I don’t know, Alex. I’m not sure we’re worth the effort.”
The conversation hung in the balance, uncertain and precarious, like the fragile threads of a spider’s web…
That evening, Emily was in her room, engrossed in a book, when she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. She tried to ignore it, thinking it would pass, but it came again, this time more intense. She shouted loudly, unable to bear the discomfort.
Alex, who was in the living room, came running into her room, concern etched on his face. “Emily, what’s wrong?” he asked, rushing to her side.
But Emily brushed his hands off, her eyes flashing with irritation. “Don’t touch me, Alex. Just leave me alone.”
Alex hesitated, unsure of what to do, but he knew he couldn’t just leave her like that. “Emily, please, keep still. Let me help you.”
But Emily screamed in pain, her hands clutching her stomach. “It hurts, Alex. It hurts so much.”
Alex’s face softened, and he gently rubbed her stomach, trying to soothe the pain away. “What can I do to help you, Emily? Tell me.”
Emily’s voice was barely above a whisper. “I need…I need pads. For my monthly flow.”
Alex nodded, understanding, and quickly ran out of the room. A few minutes later, he returned with a pack of sanitary pads and some painkillers. Emily was lying on the floor, her face contorted in pain.
Alex handed her the pads and drugs, then helped her up and led her to the bathroom. He waited outside, his ears straining to hear any sound from within.
After some time, Emily emerged, looking pale and weak. Alex helped her back to her bed, his arm around her waist. He laid her down gently, then sat beside her, holding her hand.
As the painkillers kicked in, Emily’s eyes began to droop. Alex watched over her, his face filled with concern, until she finally fell asleep.
He relaxed, standing up and stretching his arms over his head. He looked down at Emily, making sure she was okay, before quietly leaving her room…
After Alex left Emily’s room, he came into the sitting room, sighing heavily as he dropped onto the couch. He rested his head on the soft cushions, his eyes closing in exhaustion. He hoped Emily would be okay, that the pain would subside and she would get some rest.
As he sat there, his breathing slowed, and he felt his eyelids growing heavy. Before he knew it, he had dozed off, the silence of the room enveloping him like a warm blanket.
It was half an hour later when a knock on the door woke him up with a start. Alex rubbed his eyes, yawned, and got up to answer the door. He opened it to see Jamie standing in the hallway, a concerned expression on his face.
“Hey, man,” Jamie said, as Alex stepped aside to let him in. “What’s up?”
Alex shrugged, still trying to shake off the sleep. “Not much, Jamie. Just a long day.”
Jamie nodded sympathetically. “You okay? You look like you’ve been through a wringer.”
Alex forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit tired.”
Jamie’s eyes narrowed. “And Emily? How’s she doing?”
Alex hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. “She’s…she’s sleeping. In her room.”
Jamie nodded, his expression softening. “Okay, good. I’ll go check on her later.”
The two friends exchanged a few more pleasantries before Jamie bade Alex goodnight and headed to his room. Alex stood up too, yawning once more, and retired to his own room, the silence of the night enveloping him once again…
To be continued ………
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Story by Vivi
