Chapter 12: A Neighbor’s Care

A Startling Visit

The faint light of morning filtered through the blinds of Gaona's apartment, casting soft rays over the cluttered mess he called home. He had barely stirred from his restless sleep when a loud knock echoed through the room, jolting him upright.

The sound startled him so much that he tumbled off the edge of his bed, landing with a thud on the floor. Groaning, he scrambled to his feet, his heart racing as he stumbled toward the door.

When he opened it, Aria stood on the other side, her wide, radiant smile as bright as the morning sun. She held a bag of groceries in one arm and waved with her free hand.

“Good morning!” she chirped, her voice cheerful and full of energy.

Gaona blinked at her, still half-asleep and thoroughly confused. “Aria? What are you doing here?”

“I thought I’d stop by and make you a little breakfast,” she said, brushing past him into the apartment as if she owned the place. “Consider it my way of saying thank you for spending the day with me yesterday.”

“Wait, what—” Gaona began, but his words trailed off as he turned to see Aria standing in the middle of his living room, her eyes scanning the disaster that surrounded her.

The Mess and the Hug

Bags of trash and recyclables were piled in the corners, empty food containers littered the floor, and dust coated almost every surface. The air was heavy with the faint, stale smell of neglect.

Aria’s smile faltered, replaced by a soft frown. She turned to Gaona, her green eyes filled with something he couldn’t quite name—pity, concern, or maybe a mix of both.

Before he could say anything, she stepped toward him and wrapped her arms around him in a sudden, gentle hug. Gaona stiffened, completely taken aback.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered into his ear, her voice low and sincere. “You’ve been living like this for a long time, haven’t you? You haven’t had anything to keep your spirits up, have you? And you decided that this…” She gestured at the room around them. “…was the best you

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Portillo / Eternal Code /

could do?”

Gaona opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out.

Aria pulled back slightly, her hands still resting on his arms. Her gaze softened as she smiled at him. “Hon, you need a good woman’s touch in your life. Lucky for you, I don’t have anything planned today.”

Cleaning and Sprucing

Before Gaona could protest, Aria grabbed his hand and began leading him around the room, her voice light but firm as she gave him instructions. “We’re going to fix this. Starting now.”

Together, they tackled the chaos of his apartment. Aria directed him to gather trash while she wiped down surfaces and swept the floors. She worked with surprising efficiency, her movements graceful yet purposeful.

As they worked, Aria chatted casually, her voice filling the silence that had once dominated the apartment. She asked Gaona about his hobbies, his favorite foods, and his thoughts on everything from music to movies. Her energy was infectious, and before long, Gaona found himself laughing and talking with her as if the mess around them didn’t exist.

By the time they were finished, the apartment looked almost unrecognizable. The piles of trash were gone, the surfaces gleamed, and the air smelled faintly of the cleaning products Aria had somehow produced from her bag of groceries.

Breakfast and Admiration

With the cleaning done, Aria set the groceries on the counter and turned to Gaona with a satisfied smile.

“Now,” she said, placing her hands on his shoulders and gently pushing him toward the bed, “you sit down and relax. Everything else is in good hands.”

Gaona hesitated but ultimately obeyed, sinking onto the edge of the bed as Aria turned her attention to the groceries. He watched in awe as she moved around his small kitchen, pulling out ingredients and utensils with practiced ease.

The aroma of cooking soon filled the apartment, replacing the stale air with the warm, inviting scent of freshly made food. Gaona’s stomach growled, and he realized he couldn’t remember the last time he had a meal that wasn’t reheated leftovers or diner scraps.

When Aria finally set a plate in front of him, it felt almost too good to be true. The food

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Portillo / Eternal Code /

was simple—eggs, toast, and a small side of fruit—but it looked and smelled incredible.

They ate together, though Gaona noticed that Aria spent more time watching him than eating her own food. Her gaze was soft and full of admiration as he took his first bite.

“This is amazing,” Gaona said, his voice filled with genuine awe. “You’re… incredible. At cooking, at being a neighbor, at being a… friend.”

Aria raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a teasing smile. “Just a friend?”

Gaona froze, his fork halfway to his mouth. He stumbled over his words, his face turning red as he tried to backtrack.

“I-I mean, you’re more than a friend—I mean, not like that—I mean…”

Aria laughed, the sound warm and light. “Relax, Gaona. I’m just teasing.” She winked at him before standing to collect their plates. “You’re too easy to fluster.”

An Unwelcome Disruption

As Aria washed the dishes, humming softly to herself, Gaona leaned back on the bed, finally feeling at ease. For the first time in a long time, his apartment felt like a home.

But just as he was beginning to relax, a knock on the door shattered the peace. Gaona sat up, his heart sinking slightly as he wondered who it could be.

When he opened the door, he froze.

Standing in the doorway was Alina, her expression a mix of surprise and warmth as her eyes met his.

“Gaona,” she said softly. “I hope I’m not interrupting…”

Before Gaona could respond, Aria appeared behind him, her usual confident smile firmly in place.

“Well, well,” Aria said, glancing between Gaona and Alina. “I see I’ve overstayed my welcome.”

Gaona turned to her, his mouth opening to protest, but Aria placed a hand on his arm, her touch gentle but firm. “It’s okay,” she said, her voice low enough that only he could hear. “We’ll talk later.”

Turning back to Alina, Aria extended her hand with a bright smile. “I’m Aria. Gaona’s neighbor. It’s lovely to meet you.”

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Alina hesitated for a moment before shaking Aria’s hand. “I’m Alina. An old friend of Gaona’s.”

“Of course you are,” Aria said with a wink. “Well, I’ll leave you two to catch up.”

She stepped out of the apartment, her smile never wavering. As she passed Gaona, she leaned in slightly and whispered, “I’ll see you later, handsome.”

With that, she disappeared down the hallway, leaving Gaona standing in the doorway, torn between the unexpected visit from Alina and the lingering presence of Aria.

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