Elevator

--Yui's POV--

Walking alone this late at night, the feeling of exhaustion from personally tending to my bakery is slowly creeping up on my muscles. I really need to schedule a massage soon. Kisa has been adamantly suggesting it for over a year now. That best friend of mine could only think about living the moment. But I can't blame her. With all the negativity and unnecessary pressure existing today, anyone would give everything just to have that once in a blue moon vacation.

While I envy her way of life, I'm not in a place where I can do what she does. I have bills to pay, rents and a business to run. I guess I am what they say a workaholic. I blame my love of money for that. I grew up in a middle class family, with two siblings. I am a middle child and the only girl among my siblings.

Though my parents did their best to give us a comfortable life, there are things that we still couldn't afford back then. That's why I grew up always wanting to gain money. I saved up what little I could save from my allowances back when I was still in college, and even did some part time jobs just to gain more.

As soon as I finished studying, I worked as an employee to earn a capital good enough for a small online business. Luckily, I was persistent enough to finally have a larger capital and a few more to build my physical bakery and invest in the stock market.

My small set of friends always pester me to buy a car but my bakery is only a few blocks from my unit and its not like I am the outgoing type. I am vanilla like that. My life basically is always house, bakery, bakery, house. I occasionally go home to visit my parents but that's only once a year. They're worried about me cause I am already twenty eight years old and have never been into a relationship.

Its not like I'm not trying. I also want to date someone, but I guess I priorities money over relationship so much that I actually don't mind dying a v*rgin.

This is almost pitiful. Entering my condo building, checking my mailbox, waiting for the elevator to open with an ice cold beer I bought from the convenience store. Kind of sad really. I have the life of a lonely maid.

As I entered the elevator car, I didn't notice the man waiting beside me. Not until he pressed his floor button first. I'm usually not the prying type, but seeing his muscular biceps as he pressed his floor button piqued my interest. The elevator door closed and his reflection from the metal door tells me that he's a very tall, like more than six feet tall, muscular, sporty kind of man. It takes all of me just to keep a low key, nonchalant profile while checking him out.

Honestly, people like this shouldn't exist.

The elevator dings, and I am rattled to realize that we live on the same floor. The door opened, and I realized that he's waiting for me to get off first. I guess he is a gentleman. As I alighted, I don't know why but my usual pace is slower. Am I waiting for him? I better snap out of this, I should. I know I should, but why? Why does my feet slows down even more? I can feel him walk beside me. Oh My God! I am such a creep.

"uhhh? Miss?" he asked.

My ears might just explode from pleasure. His voice is deep and manly. Just hearing those words makes my heart flutter. I need to check with my cardiologist. Maybe I am sick.

"Miss? Are you okay?"

"Uhhh. Y-yeah. S-sorry. Was I blocking the way?"

"No. I guess...uh..."

He turns his head the other and I noticed that his ears are a little flushed. We walked slowly in silence, surprisingly it wasn't awkward. I felt comfortable, it oddly almost feels familiar. As I reached my unit, I noticed how he stood in front of the door next to mine. I blinked, confused.

"Uhhh. I guess we're neighbors..." he said.

"Ahaha. Y-yeah. Sorry for not knowing, my b..work is...uh...you know, time difference..." I struggled. "Anyway, nice to meet you...uh-"

"Kei. Name's Kei."

"Mr. Kei. I'm Yui."

I offered a handshake and didn't expect to feel his big, yet appealing hand. As we exchanged a brief smile, I now noticed how handsome he is. His eyes are of bluish hue, and the small speck of mole below his right eye makes it more alluring. I also can not help but internally scream at his lips which looked like its waiting to be kissed. Oh Dear! Am I s*xually frustrated?

As I entered my unit, I couldn't think of anything else but his face. Has my spring finally came?

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--Kei's POV--

Holy sheet! She finally noticed me. Damn! My heart can't stay still as I look at the hand which held hers. Its been five months since I've moved here and I guess I fell in love with her the moment I first saw her. It started when I came home late from my training. My muscles ached so much from exhaustion and I couldn't bear with it any longer. As I rode the elevator that night, the squeezing pain only intensified. I tried my best not to show it, but she noticed. As soon as we arrived at our floor, she approached me, with a flushed face. I can smell the grilled smoke from her, so I concluded that she is a little drunk.

"Good work today." She said, grabbing my arm placing it around her shoulders as she placed her free hand on my back. "You shouldn't burden your body. Give it time to heal. Resting is part of a good training too." She preached like a drunkard.

I usually would've talked back to her since I am a little annoyed and short fused because of the pain but I find her words cute. To think that I find a stranger's words comforting is a first. She patiently assisted me until I reached my door. To my surprise, she only lives next door.

Our encounter should've been just a distant memory but it lingered. Her face stayed in my mind.

Every night, after training, Yui and I would share an elevator ride. It annoyed me that she doesn't remember me. She's only always focused on the ground cause she always keeps her head down.

But I still feel satisfied sharing an elevator ride with her. I don't know anything about her, and I aimed to know her better yet five months have passed and I'm still stuck at square 1.

Tonight I got lucky. She looked at me for the first time since our first encounter. And this time, she's not drunk. Instead, she smelled of lavender and vanilla. I love the way her glasses settled on her small cute nose, and her luscious lips looked like it needed to be kissed. She even put on a high ponytail for the first time, exposing her pinkish white neck. I like how she's always dressed in long jeans and long sleeves. The only exposed skin in her are her hands and face. The mystery keeps me interested to be honest. My past girlfriends exposed too much skin. Though that was okay and I wasn't against it, its a breath of fresh air to see someone dressing a little conservatively.

I wondered if she has someone special. But the thought of her being with someone else only infuriated me so I let the thought go.

I wish I could talk to her more.

Maybe I'll get lucky again tomorrow.

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---narrative---

The next morning, Yui woke up late since its her scheduled day off. As she groggily walked towards her bathroom to take her shower, Kei's image came rushing back. She blushed unknowingly and hurried to take her bath.

After doing her daily routine, she went out to buy some groceries. She was hoping to bump into Kei but it was all for naught. Days passed, then weeks. Weeks turned into months, but Yui failed to see him again. She was starting to feel down until she saw him again but this time on her tv screen.

"Oh. So he's a pro volleyball player." she muttered as she felt relieved.

The last few months have been nothing but assumptions and overthinking for Yui. But her heart sank once again as soon as the thought of Kei being a sports celebrity must meant that he must have, for sure, a girlfriend.

"Ha! Of course he has! Look at that face! Who wouldn't fall for such a handsome man? Maybe he's already married? ahhh! Sheet! Why am I getting emotional?" Yui muttered as her tears slowly stream down her face.

Then her door bell rang.

Yui rushly wiped her tears, hoping that its him.

As she opened the door, her heart sank as soon as she saw her parents standing outside.

"Surprise!"

"You...what? Why are you here?"

"This girl... Did you forget your birthday again?" Yui's Mom said.

Her father and mother entered and gave Yui their present.

"What is this?"she asked.

"Its an album of the husband prospects for you."

"Ha?"

"Your siblings are now more than stable, and we are living comfortably, I think its about time you think about yourself, Yui."

"Mom... this is not the day for this. I don't want to be forced into marrying someone. Those are only for the rich people."

"Did you forget that you're also rich now?"

"That's not the point."

"You work like you have to provide for the whole country. Yui, we're not poor anymore. Its time to find yourself a man."Yui's mother stated.

"Stop thinking about the stock market and your bakery for a while, you need to relax."

" Not you too Dad."

"We will not force you tonight. But at least think about it? We're not getting any younger. Your siblings now have their family of their own. We worry that you end up alone. I can't believe I gave birth to someone who could even forget her own birthday."

" We will not ask for any grandchildren cause we don't really know if you want to have them, we just want you to have someone by your side as you grow older, Yui. regardless of the gender."

"Its interesting that you even considered that I swing that way Dad."

"Can you blame us? You never dated. Not once. Anyway! At least try to date once a month. Better yet once a week! God! I can't stand your empty house."

Yui smiled as she listened to her parents rant the whole night.

Midnight came and sleep still evade Yui. She went to her balcony and enjoyed the full moon as she drank her hot tea.

"I wonder where he is." Yui muttered under her breath as she glanced towards his balcony.

Her eyes twinkled as soon as she finally saw his face.

Their balconies are so close that with just one leap, they could reach each other.

"Hey neighbor." Kei greeted with a smile on his face.

"Hey... Long time no see." Yui replied, wishing that the darkness of the night was enough to hide her blush.

"Yeah. I just came home."

"I see. Congratulations on your win."

"You saw the game?"He asked, with surprise on his tone.

"Yeah. I saw it on replay. I didn't know you were a celebrity."

"I guess I wasn't that popular."

"Haha. I bet you are. I just didn't know, cause I am living under a rock."

"Well, I'm thrilled to know that you finally noticed me."

Yui paused for a moment, trying to process his words.

"I didn't know you wanted my attention that bad."

"Your attention is all I want." Kei stated, determined to let Yui know about his intentions.

Yui stood abruptly and tried to escape the heat of his gaze but as soon as she turned towards her balcony door, Kei's words stopped her.

"Sorry."he stated, desperation in his voice was evident. "I got impatient."

Yui turned to face him. "Sorry..."

"For what?"

"For trying to run away."

"Its only natural. I am a stranger after all. Hitting on you so suddenly, it--"

"Strangely, you occupied my mind these past few months." Yui stated as she cut him.

"What?"

Yui replied with a smile. "Will you please take responsibility?"

Kei's eyes glinted and he soon ran inside his room. Yui wondered where he went then her door bell rang.

She hurriedly went to open her door and saw Kei outside.

"about that responsibility..."Kei stated.

Yui smiled and took a step closer. Kei held her hand and bend down to place his forehead against hers. As soon as Yui closed her eyes, Kei caressed her cheeks and finally claimed her lips.

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