CHAPTER 48
ISHIKA
The apartment feels different the moment I step in.
It’s not something I can point at immediately.
Nothing obvious is out of place. The lights switch on the way they always do, the faint hum of the fridge fills the quiet, the curtains move slightly with the evening breeze slipping in through the half-open window.
Everything looks the same.
And yet—Something isn’t.
I stand just inside the door for a second longer than usual, keys still in my hand, my bag hanging off my shoulder. My eyes move slowly across the room like I’m trying to catch something in the act of being wrong.
Nothing moves. No one jumps out…thankfully. Still…the feeling lingers. Like walking into a room where a conversation has just ended too abruptly. Like something was here…and now isn’t. I exhale softly, shaking my head.
“You’re overthinking,” I mutter under my breath, stepping inside and shutting the door behind me.
The click echoes a little too loudly. I’ve lived alone long enough to trust my space.
I’ve never had reason not to. And yet tonight, my fingers linger on the lock a second longer before I finally turn away.
I drop my bag on the chair, slip out of my shoes, and move further in, trying to shake the unease off like it’s something physical.
Maybe it’s just been a long day. Maybe my brain hasn’t caught up with the quiet yet. Maybe—My phone buzzes. I don’t even have to check the name. A small, traitorous part of me already knows. I pick it up anyway.
Golden Boy ??
A stupid smile threatens to form before I can stop it. I roll my eyes at myself. I tap on the notification to open his text.
Golden Boy ??:
Reached home, Sunshine?
I walk toward the kitchen, leaning against the counter as I type back.
Me:
No, I’m texting you from a parallel universe.
There’s a pause. I can almost picture him texting something stupid that will definitely make my heart race.
Golden Boy ??:
Ah, you forgot to inform me. Text me the details on how to enter your parallel dimension and I’ll be there. I don’t want to be in a world where you aren't. *Sad emoji*
See this is what I am talking about. I feel my face heat. I bite back a smile, opening the fridge just to give myself something to do. I’m not even hungry. Still, I stare inside like something interesting might magically appear.
Me:
Shut up. You’re forgetting our condition, this is cheesiness level 100.
Golden Boy ??:
*Laughing emojis* I can almost sense your annoyance because *devil emoji* I know I made you blush. *Wink emoji*
If he was here, I may have smacked him. I shake my head, pushing away from the counter and walking toward the bedroom. Everything looks the same. Bed slightly unmade. Pillow where I left it. Books on the side table. Nothing disturbed.
And yet…That feeling again. Subtle. Like a whisper I can’t quite hear. My fingers tap against my phone absentmindedly. My phone buzzes again.
Golden Boy ??:
Video call?
I don’t think much before accepting his call and just swipe the green button up.
His face fills the screen a second later.
Hair slightly messy and wet as if he’s just out of shower.
I may as well drool because I can’t help checking him out and he knows that because he’s smirking right now, I roll my eyes and I am glad he chose not to comment because that would have been an instant end of call.
“There you are,” he says, like he’s been waiting.
Something in my chest softens immediately. “You just saw me two hours ago,” I point out, setting the phone against the dresser so I can move around.
“Two hours is a long time.”
“For you, maybe.”
“For me, definitely.” I catch my reflection briefly as I walk past the mirror.
And then—I stop. My gaze sharpens. My eyes move to the small wooden box on my dresser and I feel my chest tightens. I walk closer and open the box only to find it empty and my heart picks up.
No. No, no.
I reach inside, moving things around even though I already know. It’s not there.
My pendant. The last gift my father gave to me.
My fingers go cold. “Ishika?” His voice pulls at me through the phone. I blink, forcing myself to breathe. He frowns, his tone sharper this time as he asks, “What happened?”
I swallow. My eyes scan the dresser again. Then the room. Then back to the box.
Think. Think.
“Nothing,” I say again, softer this time. “I just… thought something was missing.”
His expression shifts. Concern settles in immediately. “What?”
“It’s probably nothing,” I add quickly. “I might’ve moved it.”
“You don’t sound like it’s nothing.”
Of course I don’t. I force a small breath out.
“It’s just a pendant,” I say, trying to keep my tone casual. “I probably kept it somewhere else and forgot.”
The silence that follows is almost deafening. He doesn’t buy it. I can see it in his eyes. “Are you sure?” he asks carefully.
I don’t want to lie to him but I have some doubts.
I never wear this necklace so it’s not me who moved it, I always make sure to keep it in this box, because…
I cherish it too much. It’s a source of comfort for me and it’s missing.
Something feels wrong, was there an intruder? I suck in a deep breath.
“Ishika—”
“Let me look around,” I cut in, a little too quickly. He goes quiet. “I probably just misplaced it,” I add, softer now. “I’ve been tired. It happens.”
It doesn’t. But I need him to believe it does. His jaw tightens slightly. He’s not convinced. Not even a little.
Still he chooses not to push me thankfully, “Okay,” he says finally. “I’ll come over.”
“No.” The word comes out immediately.
He blinks. “Ishika—”
“I’m fine,” I insist, forcing a small smile. “If something was wrong, I would tell you.” That part isn’t entirely a lie. He studies me for a long second. Then exhales slowly.
“…okay,” he says again. I nod once, even though something inside me still feels…off.
I turn back to the dresser and my ends land on the glinting silver necklace. It’s on the dresser, how? I don’t think I have opened this box in a long time. But relief floods through me so quickly my knees feel weak for a second. “I found it,” I say, letting out a small breath.
His expression changes instantly. “Where?”
“Right here,” I say, picking it up. “I must’ve moved it and forgot.”
He watches me carefully. Still not entirely convinced, it scares me sometimes that he can read me so well, despite me trying my utter best to be unreadable. The tension in his shoulders eases slightly.
“See?” I add lightly. “Crisis averted.”
“Wear it,” he says.
I frown, blinking a few times, unable to gather his request or…more like an order.
“What?”
“Wear it,” he repeats, softer now. “I want to see.”
I hesitate for half a second. Then unclasp it. Slide it around my neck. The familiar weight settles against my skin. I look back at the screen.
His expression shifts. “It looks pretty on you, Sunshine,” he murmurs. I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear, suddenly very aware of his gaze. “You look so beautiful,” he adds.
My fingers brush the pendant lightly. “Don’t stare,” I say, trying to sound unaffected.
“I have all rights to.” I roll my eyes. But I don’t look away.
“Careful,” I warn. “You’re getting soft.”
“Only for you.” There’s no hesitation in it. No teasing edge. I don’t know what to do with that. So I don’t respond.
I just sit there, fingers resting lightly against the pendant, watching him watch me. It feels good.