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THE YEAR was 2032, and rumours of an ominous serial killer swept through the town like a shadow creeping into every corner. Returning from Manila after completing his Masters degree, Zane Nuñez was immediately aware of the unease hanging in the air. A chemistry teacher and registered nurse by profession, he felt the pull of home when a job offer arrived--teaching at the university he had always aspired to enter. The timing couldn't have been more perfect.

His family lived far from the city where Nueva Aurora University stood, so his older sister, Marianne 'Mary' Nuñez, invited him to move into the shared apartment she was currently residing in.

The taxi eased to a stop, revealing a three-story building looming ahead, its weathered brick façade softened by gleaming glass windows that reflected the dimming afternoon light.

"Is this your stop, sir?" the driver asked.

Lost in his mythology comic on his mobile phone, he remained absorbed as the taxi carried on, captivated by the unfolding mysteries of ancient beings and forgotten creatures of the night.

"Ah! You can't be killed--if only you'd listen to me!" he exclaimed in frustration.

"Sir?" The repeated question snapped him back to reality, silencing his wandering thoughts in an instant. He turned to gaze out the window and spotted the building his sister had mentioned, its silhouette cutting sharply against the dimming sky.

"Oh, yes! Sorry about that!" he said, swiftly turning off his phone and slipping it into the pocket of his black slacks. He pulled out his wallet, fingers fumbling slightly as he prepared to pay. "Just a moment, please."

The driver greeted his payment with a smile, offering a warm welcome to what would soon be Zane's new home. "Thank you, sir," he said, his voice tinged with gratitude.

"Thank you, too." With a nod of appreciation, Zane hoisted his two fully packed bags onto his shoulders, the weight settling heavily against him as he stepped out into the nostalgic surroundings. He glanced up at the building, taking in the few open windows that fluttered with the cold breeze, like silent invitations to the life within. "I hope my stay here will be alright," he murmured.

Before he could even arrive, his sister had informed him that she had already spoken to the landlady--their aunt. She said he was lucky, as there was another apartment available for him, and they both secured a discount on the rent. He had a degree, true, but finding money was still a challenge, especially with his desire to help his family, particularly his father.

Zane would have preferred to stay elsewhere, away from the crowds, or perhaps find a small boarding house. However, with financial constraints and the unsettling news of a killer on the loose, he chose to rely on a trusted relative to ensure both his and his sister's safety, especially since she had come to the city to support her child, who lived with their father in the province.

The buildings, known as shared apartments, were designed for people to live together, often strangers, united by the communal spaces and amenities that fostered a sense of community. As his gaze drifted around the bustling street, it landed on his aunt's coffee shop, just as his sister had mentioned. The familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, drawing him in. It had been ages since he had seen her in person; their conversations had mostly happened over the flickering screens of video chats. The time felt like a splendid opportunity to reconnect, a chance to bridge the gap that distance had created and truly get to know her better.

As he stepped toward the small shop, his gaze fell upon a familiar woman standing at the counter with several staff members. When he opened the door, she turned to him, arms outstretched in an enthusiastic embrace. As he approached, she enveloped him in a warm hug, the comforting scent of her perfume mingling with the sweet fragrance of baked goods, instantly transporting him back to cherished moments from his childhood.

"Zane!" she called out, her voice bright with excitement. He momentarily questioned who the woman was, but soon memories of his aunt's face from their video chats flooded back, bringing a smile to his lips. "Auntie!" he exclaimed, the familiarity washing over him.

"Oh, it's been ten years since we last saw each other in person! How's my amazing nephew?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with joy as she took a step back to admire him.

"I'm doing well," Zane replied, a sheepish smile forming on his lips, warmth flooding his cheeks under her attentive gaze.

"Let's go. I'll show you to your room." She took one of his bags with ease, her strength evident despite her petite frame, and led him toward a door on the left side of her coffee shop.

As soon as they entered, Zane was enveloped by the scent of his new home--a comforting blend of fresh paint and the subtle hint of coffee that perfectly matched his personality. The interior design was modern and bright, with sunlight streaming through large windows, casting a warm glow that reminded him of the cheerful atmosphere back at his family home.

"Most of the residents are still at work or on holiday, so it's not too noisy yet," Clara Nuñez said, chuckling softly.

There was a wooden staircase inside that lead upward, leading to the rooms after they passed what seemed like a cozy chatting spot at the entrance, adorned with inviting wooden chairs and small tables. Mrs. Nuñez guided him up the polished steps.

At the top, a narrow hallway stretched out before them, flanked by rows of doors, each marked with a distinct silver house number. Zane's gaze swept down the corridor, where the doors read: 220B, 221B, and 222B. Each one stood next to the other.

220B and 222B were situated close to the staircase, making the middle flat appear more spacious in comparison. Zane glanced at the doors before asking, "Are all those rooms already occupied?" He aimed to pull the lingering questions from his mind, one by one.

"Yes, all of them are. Some are rented out while long-term tenants occupy others," replied Mrs. Nuñez, her tone matter-of-fact as she gestured toward the doors.

"Where do you live?" Zane asked again, curiosity pushing him to seek more details about the new environment around him. He scanned the hallway, wondering how his aunt could have lived all her years of being separated by her husband.

"I reside in the building upstairs," Mrs. Nuñez replied. "Feel free to visit me anytime. Your sister seldom does, as she's typically quite busy with work and her child."

"Sure," he replied, though a question lingered in his mind--why hadn't she just let them stay with her if she lived alone? He shrugged off the thought, assuming it was likely because his aunt, like them, had her own financial constraints and needed to make ends meet. Still, it was fortunate that his sister and he managed to get a discount.

"Those two combined look heavy," Auntie Clara remarked, noticing the weight of Zane's other bag. "Let me take this one again. Come on, I'll show you to your room," she said, walking ahead with ease.

They stopped in front of the apartment in the middle section, 221B. Auntie Clara set down the bag she was carrying. "Allow me to take care of this, Auntie. I'll open it myself," Zane said, trying to intervene out of a mix of timidity and politeness, but she was quicker than him.

"Sorry, dear. Auntie's bones aren't as strong as they used to be," she replied with a playful smile. She reached into her skirt pocket, pulled out a key, and smoothly unlocked the door before he could protest further.

"Thank you, Auntie. I'll take it from here," Zane said, reaching to push the slightly ajar door when a sudden shift in his mood made him pause. An odd sense of unease settled in as a question surfaced in his mind. "Does the person I'll be sharing the apartment with go home to her house, or is she a permanent resident?" he asked.

"Your flatmate isn't inside right now. She told me she'd be out for a bit," Mrs. Nuñez replied casually.

"When will she come back?" Zane asked, a bit more curious now. "And what do you mean by 'she'--is my new flatmate a girl? Is she nice?"

"I'm not sure when she'll be back," Auntie Clara replied. "And yes, I said 'she' because your flatmate is a girl." Her tone remained light, but Zane couldn't help but feel a flicker of surprise at the confirmation, his mind racing with more questions as the door creaked open.

"A girl?" Zane whispered to himself, still processing the surprise.

"Don't worry," Auntie Clara said with a reassuring smile. "She often leaves the apartment, and she mentioned she doesn't mind sharing with a boy."

"Oh, nice!" Zane beamed.

"Just don't meddle with her things," Mrs. Nuñez advised, her smile showing, but with a hint of seriousness behind her words.

As the doors creaked open before him, Zane was greeted by the sight of a room lined with bookshelves, each crammed with a collection of books. The air was tinged with the faint smell of paper and ink. The apartment's interior was splashed with varying shades of fresh paint. One room, likely the living room, had walls the color of amber wood, giving it a warm glow, though the scattered papers on the floor hinted at a resident too busy to tidy up.

To the left, he noticed a room bathed in cornflower blue. From the plates stacked on a small table, Zane guessed it was the kitchen. The apartment was more spacious than he had expected--wide enough for his energetic self to feel comfortable, and he smiled, appreciating the open feel of the place. It felt like a perfect space for him to settle into this new chapter.

"Where's her bedroom?" Zane asked, taking a few steps inside his new home, curiosity leading him as he strolled through the living room. His gaze shifted towards the two doors on the left side of where he was at.

Approaching one, he cautiously turned the handle and opened it to reveal a bedroom bathed in soft peridot hues. The walls glinted in the sunlight that filtered through half-drawn curtains, casting a serene glow over the room. His eyes roamed over the space--more books stacked on a small desk, and more papers strewn haphazardly across the bed, as though someone had left in a hurry. The room felt lived-in, yet there was an unmistakable air of solitude.

In the other room, there was another bedroom, noticeably tidier than the first. Opposite it were two bathrooms and a small library of sorts. "Where does she sleep?" I asked, pointing to the clean room near the balcony on the right.

"There," his Auntie answered, halting him from putting his bag in that room.

"But why is the other room messy?" he asked.

"That is because she's been living here for a long time, and she often uses both--the one on the left is mostly her thinking spot," she replied. "Put your bags here in the living room. Perhaps you need some rest after that long trip of yours."

"Okay." He breathed as he grabbed his bags and placed them on the long sofa facing the television between two mini bookshelves. "Oh, I guess she wouldn't mind if I put those papers in a better place, right?"

Zane pondered over his new flatmate's hobbies as he stood in the doorway, his gaze drifting back to the scattered papers and the books filling the shelves in the living room. "Could she be a reader like me?" he wondered. His thoughts wandered to the piano he'd glimpsed in the mini-library--perhaps she loves to play music.

His restless energy eventually got the better of him. He allowed himself to collapse onto the long sofa, using his bags as makeshift pillows, much like he would at home. As he lay there, facing the wall opposite the bluish kitchen, the soft hum of the city outside faded into the background. Zane closed his eyes, letting the soothing air from the ceiling fan wash over him, as his thoughts slowly began to quieten.

"I'll be back at my shop now. If you need any help, just call me, alright?" Mrs. Nuñez said as she opened the door once more.

"Okay, Auntie. Thank you," Zane replied. He watched as she stepped out, the door gently closing behind her, leaving him in the comforting solitude of his new home.

As soon as the door clicked shut, Zane lingered in his spot for a moment. He was on the verge of closing his eyelids and indulging in some well-deserved sleep when a restlessness stirred within him, an energy that refused to be contained. It pulsed just beneath the surface, yearning to be released, nudging him to explore this new space rather than surrender to the comforting pull of slumber.

"What can I do? I'm hungry," Zane murmured to himself, pushing himself up from the sofa and beginning to pace back and forth in the living room.

"Ah! I'll visit the coffee shop then," he declared, as if confiding in an invisible friend. A smile tugged at his lips at the thought of warm pastries and rich coffee. "I hope they have some bread there."

From one of his bags, Zane pulled out his wallet and tucked it securely into his pocket as he headed downstairs.

As he stepped into the common room, his eyes caught sight of a door on his left side. It looked like it might lead directly to the shop, a tempting shortcut, but being the good lad he was, he chose to enter through the main door of the café instead.

"Oh, you're here!" Mrs. Nuñez beamed. She had just finished serving a customer and was returning to the counter with an empty tray in her hand.

"I just thought I'd grab a bite to eat, Auntie," Zane replied with a grin. "Is there any bread?"

"What do you want?" she asked, her hands busy arranging some freshly baked pastries. "You can also choose coffee."

As Zane let his gaze wander over the menu, his eyes widened at the prices of the food being served, momentarily taken aback. "Ah, no coffee for me", he thought, quickly recalibrating his choices. "I'm alright with just chocolate crinkles," he answered, smiling politely, hoping to keep it simple as he adjusted to his new budget.

"It's your first day, and that's why you can choose anything. Auntie will treat you," she said in a conspiratorial whisper.

"Oh, wow!" Zane replied, a mix of embarrassment and gratitude washing over him. He knew he was hungry, but with the need to balance his allowance for the upcoming school year looming on Monday, he added, "The cheapest, please."

"Perhaps you might like a latte," Mrs. Nuñez suggested.

"Sure!" he nodded. "That sounds great."

"Go on and sit wherever you want while I get your order," she said, gesturing toward the cozy seating area.

Zane found a small table by the window, the sun spilling in and casting a warm glow over the space as he settled in. As he faced the back of the counter, the chairs and bookshelf came into view. One book caught his eye, its spine prominently displaying the title Mythology. With no one sitting nearby, he seized the opportunity to read while he waited.

"Mythology!" he beamed, dashing towards the shelf. Just as he was about to touch the book, a hand faster than his snatched it away. "Sorry! Do you want to borrow it too? You can take it."

Accepting his defeat, Zane took a step back, only to find a woman standing at the same height as him. She wore a plain pink shirt tucked into her blue squarepants. The warm rays of the sunset streamed through the glass windows, illuminating her burgundy brown-coloured hair and casting a soft glow on her long eyelashes. The light highlighted the gentle contours of her cheekbones, adding an ethereal quality to her simple beauty as she stood there, momentarily caught in the golden light.

He was about to move to another seat when her voice halted him: "Another Nuñez." The words were soft yet clear, making him stop in his tracks.

"Wait, what? How did she know that?" he thought. Confusion flickered across his face as he studied her, trying to make sense of the connection she seemed to have to him.