Chapter 1 #2
I woke up to a strange noise. I listened carefully and, if it weren’t for the fact that the apartment next door was vacant, I would have sworn those knocks were coming from the wall adjacent to my bedroom.
I didn’t give it much importance and closed my eyes to try to sleep a bit longer.
A while later, the noise intensified and turned into something like a deafening drill.
I tried to keep sleeping, covering my head with the pillow, but it was impossible.
I checked the time—it was ten in the morning, my rest had come to an end.
I got up, took a shower, and put on jean shorts and a white tank top.
When I was ready, I prepared a strong coffee with a splash of milk and some toast. It was November, and during this spring season the temperatures were high, so I went out to the spacious balcony of my apartment where I had a table set with four chairs and sat down to have breakfast there.
I put my feet up on another chair and began reading some messages that had been sent to the group chat with the friends I’d met the night before.
Many were photos we had taken that night.
A voice startled me and made me drop my phone, which shot out of my hands and forced me to perform all kinds of acrobatics to prevent it from falling to the ground, but I managed to catch it.
“Good morning, neighbor! Nice reflexes catching that phone,” greeted a head poking out from the divider of the balcony that separated mine from the apartment next door.
I stared at him in surprise. His presence on the neighboring balcony explained the noises I had been hearing all morning. I could only see his head, but I can assure you that face was very attractive. He was also observing me and had lingered more than necessary on my legs.
“I don’t know who you are, but I can assure you that what you’re doing is rude. I think it’s incredibly brazen of you to peek into someone else’s property like this,” I stated, frowning at him and standing up from my chair to confront him more forcefully.
“I’m Baco, your new neighbor,” he commented, smiling and seemingly unaffected by what I had said. “I thought I’d introduce myself when I heard noises on your balcony. I moved in this morning. What’s your name?”
“Did you hear anything I said? Are you going to apologize?”
“For saying hello? I think it’s good manners to introduce myself to my new neighbor and greet her,” he stated, with that smile that hadn’t left his face since he first appeared.
“Good manners would be knocking on your neighbor’s door and introducing yourself, not peering over uninvited.
Do you realize I could have been undressed?
And I would have been completely within my rights because I’m in ‘my’ apartment,” I maintained, raising my voice considerably and emphasizing the word ‘my.’
“Do you usually hang out naked on your balcony?” he asked with a wolfish grin, completely ignoring what I had said.
“You know what, I’m not going to continue this conversation,” I declared, and quickly left the balcony, entering the living room, closing the sliding door and drawing the curtains.
“You didn’t tell me your name,” I heard him shout, but I had no intention of continuing to talk to that shameless man.
Just what I needed—a brazen neighbor with no sense of boundaries.
I could already imagine what this guy’s life would be like and the noise I’d have to endure from now on.
I was heading to the kitchen when I heard the doorbell.
I walked toward the door certain it would be him, and I wasn’t wrong.
As soon as I opened the door, I was greeted by that shameless smile, though I had to admit it was a very charming one.
“Here I am, coming to introduce myself properly,” he indicated, looking at me with a very, very wide smile. “My name is Baco Darwich and I’m your new neighbor. May I come in?”
Now that I could see his full figure, I had to admit that Baco was very attractive. Not only did he have a handsome face with striking green eyes and dark blonde hair, but he was also tall and athletic. At that moment he was wearing worn jeans and a white t-shirt.
“Very well, you’ve introduced yourself. See you around, Baco,” I said goodbye, trying to close the door, which he prevented by placing his hand on it.
“You didn’t tell me your name.”
“Delfina Darner, and I’m going to ask you to let me close the door and, above all, to stop peering onto my balcony.”
“Pleased to meet you, Delfina. May I come in?” he asked again, looking over my head into the apartment.
“Do you listen when people talk to you?”
“And do you always have your brow furrowed?”
We both looked into each other’s eyes, him with his conquering smile and me, as he had pointed out, with my completely furrowed brow. But I must admit that his smile was contagious, and I ended up smiling.
“You’re impossible. We probably won’t get along, but come in,” I said, moving aside to let him pass. Something told me that, despite being brazen, we would end up being friends.
“Let me tell you that when you smile, you’re much, much more beautiful,” he stated as he entered.
“Well, alright, you’re here now. Please tell me you’re not going to be one of those annoying neighbors who comes over constantly asking for things,” I said, and he burst out laughing.
“If I need something, I might ask you, but I’ll try not to be annoying,” he said as he sat down, or rather sprawled out on the long living room sofa. “Do you live alone?”
“Yes, I live alone. You?”
“Me too, although I should warn you that at night, I’m usually accompanied,” he pointed out with a sly smile.
I could just imagine! I could already see myself spending sleepless nights or sleeping on the living room couch to avoid hearing the noises from my neighbor and his conquests.
“Please tell me you didn’t put your bed headboard against the wall adjoining my bedroom.”
Baco burst out laughing again.
“Show me your bedroom so I can confirm.”
“You know, something tells me I shouldn’t enter that room with you. Don’t worry, I guess I’ll find out soon enough,” I stated, and he laughed again.
“You’re very funny. I have no doubt we’ll get along great.”
And I thought the same. Beyond the fact that Baco was a very attractive guy who probably had women drooling over him, he didn’t provoke that kind of reaction in me. I found him to be a friendly and carefree guy with whom I could potentially have a friendship.
“If you’re not too annoying, I suppose we might get along.”
“I promise to try to be as little annoying as possible,” he said, smiling—this man was always smiling. “I don’t have anything in the fridge so...”
“See, you’re already starting off badly. What are you going to ask me for?” I asked, interrupting him.
“You have no faith in me!” he exclaimed. “I was thinking of inviting you to lunch. I saw there’s an Italian restaurant a block away. Would you join me?”
I looked at him with narrowed eyes, I still didn't trust him and, besides, I had just met him and didn't feel very comfortable having lunch with him.
“I appreciate the invitation, but I already have plans to have lunch with a friend today,” I lied, not wanting to tell him the real reason for my refusal.
Baco looked at me suspiciously.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” he asked, abruptly changing the subject.
“No.”
“Then I can invite you to dinner. How about we have dinner together? If you want, we can do it here or at my apartment, though let me warn you that I still need to buy many things,” he proposed.
I evaluated him and decided to say what I was thinking. If we were really going to be friends, better to make things clear.
“Baco, I’m going to be honest with you because I get the feeling you’re a natural-born charmer,” I stated.
He looked at me and smiled, so I continued, “I think you’re nice and we could be friends, but if your invitations are aimed at sleeping with me, I’ll tell you right now that you’re wasting your time because… ”
“Are you gay?” he said, interrupting me.
“I’m not gay, I like men, but I’m not going to sleep with you. If you accept a friendship, count me in; otherwise, don’t bother insisting.”
Baco looked at me seriously, but suddenly burst out laughing and extended his hand.
“You’re very direct, I like that. Deal! Let’s set aside the sexual part and try to be friends. It’s quite new for me, but even though I think you’re a beauty, I’m willing to have you as a friend.”
I reached out my hand and we shook on it, sealing the deal.
“Well, now that we’re officially friends, can we have dinner together?” he insisted.
“Sounds good to me.”
“Give me your phone number so we can text each other and coordinate,” he asked, very cheerfully.
We exchanged numbers and then he left as happily as he had arrived. I was clear that nothing sexual would happen with him, but for some reason, I felt that Baco was going to be significant in my life.
Later I cleaned the apartment and then went to the supermarket to do some shopping. I prepared a light lunch for myself and after resting for a while, I headed to the gym for a workout.
I got home around seven in the evening and, as I was taking my phone out of my gym bag, I saw I had a message from Baco.
“Shall I pick you up and we have dinner out?”
My response:
“Do you like pizza? I know a place that makes exquisite ones and plays good music”
His response:
“Perfect. I’ll pick you up at nine”
At nine I was ready to go out to dinner with my new neighbor. To tell the truth, even though I had just met him, I didn’t feel uncomfortable. I sensed that I was going to have a pleasant time.
For my look, I opted for straight-cut, high-waisted white pants paired with a black halter-neck sleeveless bodysuit. For footwear, I had chosen strappy high-heeled sandals. I put on a little makeup and left my hair loose.