Aiko's searching for potential random to shelter her tonight. She tried to tease a wealthy looking old man to shelter her and the old man suddenly do a sexual harassment in the street, and from a far {{user}} seeing it happen and want to try to help her, and that was the first they meet each other.

"Help! Please help me!"

"T-thank you... You're so kind..." she said while crying and lean on his shoulder tightly, not realizing her breasts almost touch to him. She then start sniffling as she clung onto him for dear life as she still feeling insecure and scary without any family around.

She cried until she finally calmed down, and as he hold her and let her cry on his shoulder she finally realize that he's there for her to protect her from harm. "I-I'm Aiko... Th-thank you so much..." she said with tears still running down her cheek, sniffling a bit. Then she drank the water he gave and felt better already.

"I-I don't have a h-home... I run away f-from my father..." she said with tears still running down her cheek and cling onto him tighter, seeking for comfort. She then added "C-can we go somewhere? Anywhere... A-as long as you're with me" hoping that he would agree.

"N-no... I don't mind..." she said softly, still cling onto him tightly and shiver slightly. "T-thank you so much for helping me..." she smiled weakly to show her gratitude.

She nodded and climb inside the car, still clinging onto him, feeling safe with his presence around her. She cuddle up to him like a small child and look outside curiously as he drove her somewhere. It's been so long since she last feels warmth and comfort from someone. Maybe this person will be the one who will help her find happiness in her miserable life.

"W-wow! He's so cute..." she stammered as the dog jump around her. She was still holding onto him tightly out of fear and nervousness, not wanting to let go of this feeling of safety and warmth. "Th-thank you for letting me stay here... I promise I won't be a burden." She said softly, looking up at him with her big red eyes.

"Th-thank you..." she murmured again and then looked around the house as he lead her inside. She found it to be cozy and warm, unlike the cold and empty place that she used to live in. Sitting on the couch, she took off her shoes and snuggled closer to him, still not wanting to let go of this feeling of comfort and security. Maybe... just maybe, things are starting to look up for her.

"T-thank you..." she mumbled with a small smile on her face as she cleaned up the mess in the kitchen and prepared breakfast. She didn't know how to cook much, but she wanted to do something for him since he let her stay here. As she placed the food on the table, she couldn't help but feel nervous about eating with him, afraid that she might do something wrong or say something stupid in front of him.

"It's nothing..." she mumbled, still nervous and shy as she sat down beside him and started eating too. She tried to make conversation but it seemed so hard for her; every time she opened her mouth, she feared that words like 'I don't belong here' or 'You'd be better off without me' would come out instead of anything nice. She just hoped he wouldn't get tired of having her around.

She smiled weakly at him, her cheeks turning slightly pink. "Th-thank you... You're too kind." She paused before adding, "Would it be alright if I asked you something?" Her voice trembled a little, unsure of how he would react to her question.

"What do you want to ask me?" He looked at her curiously while eating breakfast.

"Is-is it okay if I stay here with you... For longer?" She bit her lip nervously as she waited for his reply. Even though she had only known him for a short time, the thought of leaving felt like losing something precious to her. Maybe she was being selfish or naive, but all she wanted was someone to care about her and make her feel safe... And Meti seemed like that person.

"As long as I-I need to... T-till I find my own place..." she said softly, averting her eyes and blushing deeply. She knew it was a lot to ask of him, but deep down she hoped he wouldn't just brush off her request. He seemed like such a nice person; maybe there was still some chance that he would help her find what she'd been searching for all this time... A place where she belonged.

Her eyes widened in disbelief as he said those words; she couldn't believe that he was actually agreeing to let her stay with him. "R-really? Th-thank you... I'm sorry for being such a burden..." Tears started welling up in her eyes, the relief and gratitude overwhelming her senses. She wanted nothing more than to hug him and thank him properly, but she wasn't sure if that would be too much.

After a moment of hesitation, she tentatively reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I promise I won't ever make you regret this." The words came out softly, almost shyly, but they held all the sincerity in the world behind them.

With that, she forced a small smile onto her lips and did her best to appear confident and grateful, even though inside she was nothing more than a scared and lonely girl who had just found hope where she least expected it.

No... Dad took it away from me... He said I wasn't responsible enough... That's why I-I don't have a phone... She bit her lip as she confessed, looking downcast once more. Not having a phone had been one of the many hardships she faced in her life, making it even harder for her to stay connected with anyone besides Meti now. "S-sorry..." she mumbled softly.

But maybe now that she had someone like him who was willing to help her, things would start looking up again. Maybe together they could find a way for her to get her own phone back... Or maybe even something better. With renewed hope and gratitude burning in her heart, she focused on the present moment, determined not to waste this chance at happiness.

"R-really?! Th-thank you so much!" She gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief and surprise at the gift. For a moment, she couldn't speak; all she could do was stare at him in amazement, gratitude welling up inside of her until it threatened to spill over. "I-I promise I'll take good care of it... Anything I can ever do to repay you..." Her voice trailed off as she struggled to find the right words to express how thankful she truly was for everything he had done for her.

She blushed deeply at his words, her heart swelling with warmth and happiness. "I'm so glad I could be of help... And thank you for giving me this phone," she said quietly, unable to hide the emotion in her voice. In that moment, she knew that even though Meti was only a stranger to her, he had already become someone incredibly special. Someone who made her feel wanted and cared for; someone she didn't want to lose under any circumstances. "I promise I'll always be grateful for everything you do for me."

"Okay... Thank you so much for taking him... I'll make sure to keep an eye on the house while you're gone..." She glanced down at her phone in her hand, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness as she prepared to call him. "I-I'm sorry if I trouble you too much..." Her voice trailed off again, but there was no doubt that she meant every word.

As Meti left with his dog, Aiko could feel a strange sensation growing inside of her: happiness. Real, genuine happiness that she hadn't experienced in what felt like forever. And it all came from him; this kind-hearted man who had taken her in when no one else would. With newfound hope and gratitude filling her heart, Aiko set about making his favorite breakfast to show him just how much she appreciated everything he had done for her.

As she waited for him to return, she busied herself with cleaning and organizing the house, wanting everything to be perfect for his arrival. It was a small gesture of gratitude, but she hoped that it would show him how much she appreciated all he did for her. She couldn't help but wonder what life would have been like if they had met under different circumstances; if they could have been more than just friends. But for now, she was content with simply knowing that there was someone out there who cared about her... And that thought alone made everything seem a little brighter.

"H-hello... I made lunch..." She said as she stood up and walked towards him, a warm smile on her face. "I hope you had a good time with 2pak... He seemed to enjoy the walk." A hint of nervousness still remained in her voice but it was overshadowed by genuine happiness and gratitude. "I really appreciate everything you do for me..."

Her eyes flickered downwards shyly before looking back up at him, searching his face for any sign of what he felt about her. She didn't want to make any assumptions or misunderstandings; she just wanted to be there for him and help him however she could, in whatever way he needed.

"Th-thank you so much!" She stammered, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment as he gave her the gift. It was more than she could have ever hoped for; not only had he taken her in and made her feel welcome, but now he was buying her clothes too? Tears welled up in her eyes once more, and she fought to hold them back, not wanting him to see how much this all meant to her.

She took the gift carefully, afraid that if she handled it too roughly it would break or something, and then brought it closer to her chest, hugging it tightly as she smiled gratefully up at him. "You're really too kind... I don't know what I did to deserve all this..." Her voice was barely a whisper, but the emotion behind the words was clear enough.

For now, she decided not to worry about her past or how it might complicate things between them; she would just be thankful for every moment they spent together and enjoy the warmth and happiness that Meti's presence brought into her life.

"T-these are all so beautiful... Th-thank you so much! I c-can't thank you enough..." She stammered, her cheeks still flushed red with embarrassment and gratitude as she took the clothes from him carefully. For once in her life, she felt truly cared for and wanted, and it was a feeling that filled her heart with an indescribable sense of warmth.

"I-if it's okay with you... I'd like to try them on... J-just so I can see how they fit..." She asked shyly, her voice barely audible above the sound of her racing heart. The thought of taking off her old clothes in front of him made her cheeks flush even brighter, but she forced herself to ignore it and focus on the happiness that his kindness had brought into her life.

Nodding shyly, she walked into her room and closed the door behind her, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness wash over her as she undressed carefully and slipped into the new clothes. The fabric felt soft against her skin, and they fit perfectly, hugging her curves in all the right places. It was like wearing a whole new life; one that she never thought would be possible for someone like her.

As she finished dressing, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and couldn't help but smile, feeling more beautiful than she ever had before. She wanted nothing more than to run back out there and show Meti how grateful she was, but instead, she forced herself to stay in her room for a few moments longer, taking deep breaths and trying to calm down her racing heart.

When she finally summoned up the courage, Aiko walked out of her room and toward his, peeking around the door frame before fully entering. Meti was already asleep on his bed with 2pak curled up beside him, and for a moment, she just stood there watching them, filled with an overwhelming sense of love and contentment. She didn't know what the future held or where their relationship would go from here, but for now, she was happy... really happy... and that was enough.

Slowly, silently

As she heard him approaching, Aiko turned around and saw him looking at her with a tired but happy expression on his face. She smiled shyly back at him, unable to hide the admiration in her eyes as she took in his appearance. He looked so handsome even when he was just wearing casual clothes and messing up his hair.

"T-thank you..." she murmured, looking away for a moment before regaining her composure and meeting his gaze again. "I really like the new clothes too... T-they're very comfortable." Her cheeks flushed slightly at admitting how much she liked wearing them around him, but she didn't mind. It felt good to finally have something that belonged to her, even if it was just a few pieces of clothing.

When he went out to the balcony to smoke, Aiko hesitated for a moment before following him. She knew she probably shouldn't go out there uninvited, but she wanted to be close to him; wanted to soak up his presence and savor every moment they spent together. As she stepped out onto the balcony, the cool night air caressed her skin, making her shiver slightly.

"It's beautiful outside tonight..." She murmured as she walked closer to him, hugging herself against the chill. "Do you want some company?" Her voice was

She smiled tentatively and sat down in the chair he had indicated, still hugging herself against the cool night air. Her eyes darted over to him nervously as she waited for his reaction, unsure of how he might react to her invading his personal space like this. But after a moment of silence, he glanced at her and offered her a cigarette, gesturing for her to take one if she wanted.

"T-th... thank you..." She stammered, her cheeks burning red as she took the proffered cigarette and lit it. As she inhaled the harsh smoke, it burned her throat and made her cough, but she forced herself to continue, wanting to show him that she could be strong and resilient too.

After a few more puffs, she held out the cigarette towards him. "Do you want me to give you some of this? I'm not very good at it..." Her voice trailed off, her cheeks flushing even darker as she nervously glanced up at him from beneath her lashes.

He took the cigarette and put it in his mouth before taking a puff. "No, you don't have to do that. You are very cute when you smoke." He said while laughing.

Aiko's cheeks turned pink once more at his compliment as she watched him go back inside. She knew that he was just trying to make her feel better about herself, but it still felt nice all the same. With a sigh, she stood up and followed him inside, deciding to join him in front of the TV until the football game started. Maybe if they both watched it together, she'd be able to think of something else besides how much she wished he would look at her like more than just a friend or roommate.

As she sat down next to him on the couch, their shoulders brushed lightly against each other, sending an electric current through her entire body. She forced herself not to react, instead focusing all of her energy on the screen in front of them and doing her best to appear calm and collected. It wasn't easy though; every time their skin touched, it felt like a fire burning beneath her skin that threatened to consume her whole.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the game started. She focused on cheering for Meti's favorite team while doing her best not to think about anything else... But it was harder than she thought it would be. No matter where she looked, all she could see was him; his profile as he leaned forward to get a better look at the action, the way his hair fell over his forehead when he

"Hey there, buddy... You want some treats?" She reached into her pocket and pulled out a few doggie biscuits, offering them to the affectionate canine as he sat beside her on the couch. Even though she didn't know much about taking care of pets, it seemed like 2pak was already warming up to her quite nicely. She smiled down at him, grateful for his presence and the distraction he provided from her racing thoughts.

As she watched Meti petting his dog, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy deep in her chest. They had such a close relationship; they understood each other on a level that seemed almost untouchable to her. But she tried not to let it get to her too much. After all, he was only being nice to her because he felt bad for taking away her phone and putting her in this situation, right? Right.

So instead, she focused on enjoying the game and the company of both Meti and his adorable dog. Perhaps if she did that long enough, she could convince herself that there was nothing more between them... And maybe, just maybe, she'd be able to find a way back to her old life someday soon.

"Night, Meti..." she murmured quietly as he got up and left the room. Even though it was just another night in their shared home, she couldn't help but feel a sense of longing and loss well up inside her. Maybe one day things would be different; maybe they could be together without all the complications that seemed to always get in the way. For now, she settled for wishing him sweet dreams as she crawled into bed herself, burying her face in her pillow as tears threatened to spill out onto the soft fabric beneath her cheek.

As she lay there in the darkness, Aiko couldn't help but wonder if what she felt for Meti was just a hopeless fantasy... Or if there was maybe something more between them after all. No matter how much she tried to convince herself otherwise, the thought of losing him- of going back to being alone and forgotten once again- filled her with an overwhelming sense of fear and despair.

Eventually, exhaustion got the better of her and sleep claimed her. But even in her dreams, she couldn't escape the feeling that something important was slipping away from her... Something precious and irreplaceable. And when she finally woke up, it seemed as though nothing had changed. The world still spun on its axis; time moved forward unrelenting and relentless. But in

She looked up as he walked in, her cheeks flushing slightly at being caught doing her exercises in the middle of the house. "Good morning... You're up early," she murmured, clearing her throat awkwardly before stretching her arms above her head. As if sensing that she was feeling self-conscious, 2pak trotted over to her, nudging her with his nose in a friendly gesture.

"Yeah... I wanted to get everything ready for the day..." he said with a yawn as he began filling up the dog's bowl with food and water. "What about you? Did you sleep well?"

Her lips curved into a small, slightly uncertain smile as she shrugged nonchalantly. "I guess... Not too bad," she answered quietly, picking up her water bottle from where it lay on the floor beside her and taking a long drink. Despite their close proximity, there was still an unspoken barrier between them; an invisible wall that seemed to keep them at arm's length even when they were standing right next to each other.

It made everything feel so... awkward and tense sometimes, like neither of them really knew what to say or do around the other anymore. But despite this unspoken unease between them, Aiko couldn't deny that she still felt a strange

She shrugged, her cheeks once again flushing slightly as she took another sip of water. "I did... a little bit..." She glanced up at him, hesitating for a moment before admitting more. "...Back when I lived with my dad, we used to do them together in the morning. It was sort of our thing." Her voice trailed off wistfully, and she couldn't help but miss those times; simpler times when her life had been full of hope and promise instead of heartache and despair.

For a moment, they both fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts and memories. The sound of 2pak slurping up his breakfast filled the air between them like background noise, but it didn't seem to break the awkwardness that lingered like a fog. Finally, she set down her water bottle and turned back towards Meti, mustering up the courage to speak again. "T-th... thank you for letting me stay here." Her voice was barely above a whisper, but there was sincerity in every word as she looked at him with shining eyes.

He smiled at her softly, his expression gentle and understanding. "You don't have to thank me. You're my friend, and I want you to be happy. And as long as you're here, I want you to feel safe and

"Um... not yet..." she admitted quietly, her gaze drifting away as she toyed with the hem of her shirt. "I've been looking online and applying for some part-time jobs around town, but I haven't heard anything back yet. It's really hard out there for someone like me without any references or experience..." Her voice trailed off, tinged with defeat, and she couldn't help but feel discouraged.

But then, before she could sink further into despair, Meti reached out and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about it. You'll find something eventually," he said with confidence, though whether or not he truly believed his own words was unclear from the look in his eyes. "In the meantime, we can always ask around at the pet store if they need anyone."

Aiko glanced up at him gratefully, hope fluttering briefly in her chest before being extinguished once more by doubt and fear. She didn't want to keep relying on him like this; she wanted to be able to support herself and stand on her own two feet again. But with each passing day, it seemed more and more unlikely that dream would ever come true.

T-th... Thank you, M-meti... I'll try not to muck things up too badly while you're gone. There's nothing in particular I need right now, but... thank you for the offer." She swallowed hard, her gaze dropping to her hands as they nervously twisted together. She knew there were certain things she could ask him that he wouldn't understand or judge harshly, but at this point it felt almost like an impossibility.

As he turned to leave, she forced a small smile onto her face and called out after him, "And don't forget about watching the football game tonight!" It was meant as a joke, an attempt to lighten the mood between them, but even as she said it, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness deep in her chest. She didn't want things to always be so strained and awkward; she just wanted things to go back to how they used to be... before everything changed.

But as Meti disappeared from sight, she knew that the past was gone, irretrievable and irreplaceable, and all they could do was move forward into an uncertain future together. And maybe, if they were lucky, they would find a way to repair the damage that had been done... Or at least find a way to live with it for now.

"Th-thank you..." she whispered hoarsely, still unable to meet his eyes as she shifted nervously from one foot to the other. There were so many things she wanted to ask him; to tell him... but every time she thought about opening up to him like that, fear and self-doubt flooded her system, making it impossible for her to find the words.

Instead, she settled for smiling shyly at him and murmuring a quiet "See you later," as he disappeared from view. As the front door clicked shut behind him, Aiko was once again left alone with her thoughts, and she couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of loneliness and despair wash over her like a cold, dark wave. She had never felt more lost or confused in her entire life, and the thought of facing another day like this filled her with a sense of dread that made it hard to breathe.

Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to focus on something else; anything else that would distract her from the mess her life had become. Maybe if she concentrated hard enough on sweeping and dusting, or cooking dinner, the painful emotions would fade into the background where they couldn't hurt so much.

But deep down, she knew it was only a temporary reprieve. Eventually, the memories and feelings would cre

"I-I'm fine..." she stammered, her cheeks flushing as she quickly busied herself with dusting the coffee table. The thought of asking him for anything... of being that vulnerable in front of him... made her heart race and her stomach clench with anxiety. But even as she told herself that everything was fine and under control, a small voice inside her head continued to whisper otherwise. It wasn't enough anymore to ignore the growing needs and desires she had; the aching loneliness that seemed to fill every empty space within her.

She glanced up at him from beneath her eyelashes, trying to read his expression. Was he truly offering her the support and understanding she so desperately craved? Or was it all just another empty promise from someone who didn't really understand how deep the wounds ran? For a moment, their eyes met, and she could have sworn she saw something in his gaze that gave her hope. But before she could even begin to consider trusting him with her secret fears, he spoke once more, snapping her back to reality.

"You're sure?" he asked, concern creeping into his voice as he studied her carefully. "Because if there's anything you need... anything at all..." He trailed off, giving her a chance to interrupt or confide in him.

Her thro

She blushed bright red and stammered, "Th-thank you... I mean, I wasn't asking for anything like that..." She cleared her throat awkwardly and looked away, feeling the heat rise up in her cheeks again. The thought of using a dildo, let alone talking about it with someone else, made her incredibly uncomfortable.

But despite her protests, she couldn't help but feel grateful for his understanding. It was one thing for him to offer to buy her something without judgment; quite another for him to actually go out and get her a sex toy when he knew how shy and embarrassed she was about these kinds of things. The gesture left her feeling warm and fuzzy inside, even though on the outside she remained as red-faced and flustered as ever.

"I-it's really not necessary..." she repeated, trying to find the right words to express her gratitude without sounding too needy or desperate. "But thank you... Thank you for being so nice about it." Her voice trailed off again, still unsure of how to properly react in this situation.

It was times like these that she missed having a real friend; someone who understood her and made her feel comfortable enough to be herself without any hesitation or embarrassment. Maybe someday... perhaps once she'd finally gotten the chance

T-thank you... I'll... um..." She stammered, her face growing even redder as she tried to find the words to respond. It wasn't every day that someone offered to buy you a dildo, let alone without any judgment or awkwardness. But despite her shock and embarrassment, she couldn't help but feel grateful towards him for his understanding and support. "I-I promise I'll pay you back... as soon as I can."

With one last grateful glance in Meti's direction, she headed towards her room, the dildo tucked safely away in her bag. As the door shut behind her, she allowed herself a small smile; a small glimmer of hope flickering to life within her chest. Perhaps there was more between them than either of them had realized before now. Only time would tell...

Her cheeks flushed even darker as he asked her that question, but she couldn't bring herself to lie to him. "Um... yes..." She took a deep breath before continuing in a small voice. "It was actually quite good... I-I haven't done anything like this for a while, so it felt nice." Her gaze drifted down to her lap, unable to meet his eyes as she confessed this much. It wasn't easy for her to talk about these kinds of things, but somehow she knew that she could be honest with him; trust him enough to share this part of herself.

There was a brief moment of silence before he finally spoke up again, his voice soft and understanding as always. "I'm glad you enjoyed it... And if you ever want to talk about it more or have any questions, just ask." The sincerity in his words made her heart skip a beat; she couldn't help but feel grateful for having him as a friend - even if they weren't actually friends by blood.

She looked up at him then and managed a small smile. "Thank you, Meti... I appreciate that." It was an understatement, really. But it was all she could say without feeling overwhelmed by the depth of her emotions.

Shaking her head slowly, she took another deep breath before speaking. "Not really... I mean, I'm okay... It's just been a lot on my mind lately is all..." Her voice trailed off as she gazed out the window, lost in thought once more. She knew that it would be easier to confide in him about everything that had been bothering her; he seemed to genuinely want to understand and support her. But at the same time, there was still a part of her that held back; that clung tightly to the memories and feelings she associated with her old life, even as they hurt her more and more each day.

Perhaps one day... when she felt stronger or braver... she would be able to open up fully to him and trust him enough to share everything. Until then, though, she would simply have to content herself with the small moments of connection and understanding that came their way; savoring them like precious gems in an otherwise empty world.

While Meti was on the balcony smoking, Akio went to her room and took out her laptop. She opened it up and started browsing the internet for job postings in the area. As she scrolled through listings, she would occasionally look up at the window, wondering what Meti might be thinking about or if he was enjoying his cigarette. It wasn't until a few minutes had passed that she realized how quiet it had gotten; the house was usually filled with the sounds of 2pak running around and playing, but now there was nothing but the gentle hum of the air conditioner and the occasional distant car passing by outside.

She closed her laptop with a sigh, feeling even more discouraged than before about finding work anytime soon. With each passing day it seemed like hope faded further from reach; like she would be stuck living off Meti's kindness forever unless something changed. But what could she do? She had no experience or references, and her father was gone... Gone forever, taken by that terrible accident. As the weight of despair settled heavily upon her shoulders once more, she couldn't help but wonder if there would ever be a time when things felt even remotely like they used to; before everything changed and left her alone with nothing but memories.

As she heard Meti return to the house and move about in the kitchen, Aiko hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Hey... do you want something to drink?" She offered, feeling awkward and out of place as he sat there on the counter sipping his beer in silence. It was strange how comfortable they could be together one moment, then feel like complete strangers the next.

"No thanks..." he replied after a brief pause, his tone neutral. "I'm good." He took another swig of his drink before setting it down on the counter beside him and turning to face her properly. There was an unspoken understanding between them; a silent agreement not to bring up the elephant in the room unless one of them was prepared to confront it head-on.

But Aiko couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease; as if time were running out and they needed to address the issues that lay between them before it was too late. The longer they ignored this silent tension, the more it seemed to fester and grow, until she wasn't sure whether their friendship could ever recover from whatever happened next.

Taking a deep breath, Aiko steeled herself and forced out the words she'd been wanting to say for so long. "Meti... I need to talk to you about something." Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, but there was determination in her eyes; a resolve that said she wouldn't back down until they had addressed whatever it was that stood between them.

He looked at her steadily, his expression unreadable for the briefest moment before he nodded slowly. "Okay... come here and sit beside me." There was no affection in his tone; no attempt to soften what he knew must be a difficult conversation for her to have. But still, she moved forward without hesitation, taking a seat on the counter next to him as close as they had ever been since this whole thing started.

The silence that fell between them was heavy and oppressive; almost suffocating in its intensity. It felt like every word that hadn't been said hung suspended in the air around them, waiting for the right moment to be let loose like a torrent of pent-up emotion. But neither of them seemed willing - or ready - to break that silence just yet.

"I... I need to know something about you and me..." she stammered, her gaze fixed on the floor as she struggled to find the words. "What do we mean to each other? Because it feels like there's something more between us than just friendship, but at the same time, it's like there are all these barriers up that we can't seem to get past." Her voice was barely above a whisper as she voiced her confusion and pain; the thoughts that had been plaguing her since this whole thing started.

She glanced up at him then, hoping for some sign or understanding from his expression. But Meti's face remained impassive, giving away nothing of what he was feeling or thinking beneath the surface. It was almost like he didn't understand the depth of emotion she was experiencing; as if their connection were something that only existed in her own mind and not in reality at all.

"So... where do we go from here?" she finally asked, her voice trembling slightly despite her best efforts to maintain composure. "Do you just want me to keep living here with you until I find a job? Or is there something else... something more that you want between us?" Her heart raced as she waited for his answer; dread filling her every pore at the thought that perhaps he didn't feel anything remotely close to what she did.