Episode 3 - The Neighbor

The Neighbor

That night, the neighborhood was quieter than usual.

The hum of streetlights filled the air, soft and steady. Seth sat by his window, watching the new house next door — the one that had been empty for almost a year.

Now it wasn’t empty anymore.

A moving truck was parked outside, headlights still on.

He could see people carrying boxes into the house — a tall man, a woman in a scarf, and a girl who looked about his age. Her hair caught the light when she turned.

Seth didn’t know why, but he couldn’t look away.

______________________________________________

The next morning, school felt like background noise. Madam Ariella’s voice echoed across the room, but Seth’s thoughts kept drifting back to that girl.

“…and remember,” Madam Ariella said, tapping the board, “your project partners will be assigned today.”

Seth blinked, pulled from his thoughts just in time to hear his name.

The next morning, school felt like background noise. Madam Ariella’s voice echoed across the room, but Seth’s thoughts kept drifting back to that girl.

“…and remember,” Madam Ariella said, tapping the board, “your project partners will be assigned today.”

Seth blinked, pulled from his thoughts just in time to hear his name.

“Seth and… Mira.”

He froze. That name. Mira.

The class murmured softly as a new student stood up. The same girl from last night — now in a clean uniform, standing quietly near the window, eyes lowered.

He froze. That name. Mira.

The class murmured softly as a new student stood up. The same girl from last night — now in a clean uniform, standing quietly near the window, eyes lowered.

Madam Ariella smiled warmly at her. “Everyone, please welcome Mira Anderson. Her family just moved into the neighborhood.”

Seth felt his heartbeat in his chest. The coincidence was too strange to ignore.

During break, he found her near the noticeboard, reading the assignment sheet.

He hesitated, then walked up slowly.

“Hey… I guess we’re partners,” he said awkwardly.

She turned, smiling slightly. “Yeah. I’m still getting used to everything here.”

Her voice was soft but carried a confidence that drew him in.

They talked — about the project, the school, the teachers. She seemed calm, but her eyes occasionally darted around, as if checking who was watching.

When the bell rang, she whispered, “Do you like it here?”

Seth shrugged. “It’s okay.”

She nodded. “Good. Maybe it’s better than where I came from.”

He wanted to ask what she meant, but before he could, Madam Ariella called him from across the class.

“Seth, a moment please.”

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

In the staff room, Madam Ariella closed a file and looked at him carefully.

“I paired you with Mira because I believe you’ll help her settle in. She’s bright, but she’s… been through a lot.”

Seth frowned. “A lot? Like what?”

Ariella shook her head. “It’s not my place to say. Just be kind to her. And stay focused, Seth. You’ve been… distracted lately.”

Her tone was gentle but sharp enough to make him feel guilty.

“I will, Madam,” he said quietly.

As he turned to leave, she added, almost to herself,

“Sometimes people enter our lives for a reason, Seth. Don’t ignore the signs.”

That night, Seth couldn’t sleep.

He stood by his window again. The house next door was dark — except for one light upstairs.

Behind the curtain, he could just make out a figure — Mira, writing something in a notebook. She stopped suddenly, looked toward his window, and for a moment, their eyes met through the glass.

A chill ran through him. She smiled faintly… then turned off the light.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The next morning, Seth found a small folded paper inside his math textbook.

It wasn’t his handwriting.

“Meet me by the old playground after school. Don’t tell anyone.”

No name. No clue. Just that.

He looked up — Mira was sitting two rows ahead, pretending to read.

But Seth could swear… she was smiling.

************** end of episode 3 *************

Please like and follow me if you want to read more

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***