SAFE HOUSE
Amara's shoes tapped softly against the polished floors as she stepped inside the apartment, her suitcase dragging behind her.
The place was… quiet. Not just quiet because of thick walls—but quiet in spirit. Peaceful. Still. A quiet that seemed to settle in her bones.
It smelled faintly of green tea and something woody—maybe cedarwood or incense, soft and clean. The lights were dim, a warm gold, nothing harsh or blinding. A small lamp glowed in the corner of the living room, casting soft shadows on pale walls.
The apartment wasn't large, but it felt… intentional.
Everything had its place. No clutter. No noise. A soft grey couch sat in the centre, cushions placed perfectly, not a wrinkle in sight. A low wooden table stood in front of it, topped with a neatly arranged tea set—delicate, untouched, like it was waiting for someone who never came.
Books lined the shelves, most in English, some in Chinese, their spines neatly aligned. There were no family pictures, no flashy decorations, just a single framed painting above the couch—an ink sketch of bamboo trees swaying in the wind.
It was simple. Clean. Almost too perfect.
It was nothing like she imagined.
"This…" Amara muttered, pausing in the entryway, her eyes scanning every corner, "This is not what I expected."
Kai locked the door behind them, the click soft but final. He slipped off his shoes with quiet ease, placing them neatly by the door, then gestured subtly for her to do the same.
"I can't carry you to the dorm," he said simply, his voice steady, calm.
Amara spun to face him, frowning. "Why? You said I could get a room there."
Kai moved past her, his movements smooth, controlled, as he hung his jacket carefully on a hook by the door.
"The dorm is too far from campus," he replied, not looking at her. "Transportation won't be easy, especially for someone who just landed. Registration fit tire you. it's better you stay here with us, it's your safety first."
His voice wasn't harsh—just matter-of-fact, like he was stating the obvious.
Amara's frown deepened. "Safe?" she repeated, almost scoffing. "I'm in a city, not a forest, and I can take care of myself."
Kai's gaze lifted to meet hers—steady, unreadable. But this time, there was a quiet firmness in his voice.
"It's not about whether you can take care of yourself or not," he said. "It's about a city you don't know yet. You can't be ready for anything that can happen yet."
The words struck deeper than she expected.
She opened her mouth to argue, then shut it again. She hated that part of her knew he wasn't entirely wrong. The city outside already felt too fast, too unfamiliar.
But still… this wasn't what she planned.
"I didn't come to squat," she muttered, stubborn. "I go stay small. Once I register, I go find my own place."
Kai's lips tugged slightly, almost like a knowing smile—but it was too faint to read.
"No wahala," he replied simply, as if it didn't bother him at all. "Rest first."
He nodded toward the hallway. "Guest room dey there. Everything you'll need dey inside—blanket, towel, even a charger. Make yourself comfortable."
Amara hesitated, her pride still burning, but the exhaustion in her body dragged heavier than her stubbornness. She dragged her suitcase toward the room slowly, throwing a cautious glance at him.
"You sure your roommate no go vex?" she asked again, unwilling to fully relax yet.
Kai's tone remained calm, that slight edge of amusement lingering underneath. "Ethan is not around tonight," he said. "And he would love you, we've talked about it,In fact e no even dey house steady."
Amara snorted softly, muttering under her breath as she rolled her suitcase toward the room. "Still mad sha…"
Kai's quiet chuckle followed her, low and soft. "Life dey mad sometimes."
As she passed through the living room, she caught more details—the carefully folded blanket over the arm of the couch, the soft slippers tucked neatly near the corner, the faint hum of an air purifier somewhere in the background.
Everything about the place felt calm. Still. Like it was untouched by chaos.
But maybe too untouched.
"You're too quiet to have a roommate," she muttered from the doorway of the guest room, unable to stop herself.
Kai's voice came from behind her—calm but steady.
"I'm used to the quiet," he said simply. "Noise no dey help person think."
Amara glanced back at him, raising a brow. "That's what you always think?"
Kai's lips lifted faintly, but his gaze remained steady. "I'm always watching."
The way he said it made something in her chest tighten—not from fear, but from something… unexpected.
She swallowed, forcing her eyes away from him.
She slipped into the guest room before she could think too deeply about it.
Inside, the room was small but soft, just like the rest of the apartment. Pale curtains hung loosely by the window, filtering the city lights into soft gold streaks. A neatly made bed with clean, white sheets waited in the corner. A small wooden desk sat by the window, with a simple lamp and—strangely—a fresh potted plant on it. The plant's leaves were bright green, vibrant against the room's quiet tones.
She sat down on the bed slowly, letting her body sink into the soft mattress. Her heart still beat too fast. Her mind spun with questions.
But she couldn't stop thinking about him.
The way his eyes held hers, calm but steady.
The way his voice never rose, never rushed.
The way he looked at her—not like she was a burden… but like she was something fragile.
Why did that unsettle her more than it should?
She let out a shaky breath, staring at the ceiling above her. She wasn't supposed to feel anything—not here, not with him.
But her chest tightened anyway.
From the kitchen, Kai's voice drifted softly again, pulling her from her thoughts.
"You hungry? I fit heat small food."
Amara hesitated, staring at the doorway.
She should've said no. She should've kept her guard up.
But her voice came out softer than she expected. "Anything would be okay."
Everything about this night felt like a mistake—but her body was too tired to care anymore.
Kai moved quietly in the kitchen, the faint sounds of clinking plates and the soft scent of rice and ginger filling the air.
Amara lay back, letting the bed swallow her.
Her heart wouldn't slow down.
She didn't know what scared her more—the city outside… or how easily she was starting to feel safe with Kai.
Or worse… how easily she was starting to notice him.