Ryn quickly pressed the b.u.t.ton to keep the door stay open.

Two women entered the lift breathlessly. Ryn stepped back to give s.p.a.ce for them. She took out her phone and checked the messages while waiting for the lift to bring her to her floor.

"Ca... Catherine?" one of them gasped.

Ryn lifted her head when she heard someone called her name. Her brows lifted to see Rebecca and her friend. What were they doing here?

"Wh... what are you doing here?" Rebecca choked out, still trying to believe her eyes. Her eyes did not play with her at that time. It was really Ryn. When they returned she kept telling herself it was not Ryn, that she was dreaming. But now...

"Yes?" Ryn asked back, puzzled with the expression both the women were having. Why were they looking as if they were seeing a ghost? Was her appearance gave so much shock to them?

What did she do to them to result in this reaction?

Rebecca took a deep breath to calm down. Even when her friend was pinching her arm hard to make sure they were not dreaming, she did not notice the pain at all. However, before she could ask the question, the elevator's door was slid open and Ryn, the subject of her question, gave them a forced smile and quickly walked pa.s.sing them out of the small compartment. 

Ryn did not thing she wanted to spend more time with these two weird s. She had better things to do.

Before the door was closing tight, Rebecca unconsciously pressed the b.u.t.ton to keep it open as both of them leaned out to peep at where Ryn was heading at. Their eyes widened when they saw her standing in front of a door. 

Was that her house or someone else? 

Their silent question was answered when Ryn unlocked the door and entered the house. There was no sound coming from the house, no greeting or shouting. Just silence.

"I... I guess... she's our new... neighbour?" Rebecca looked at her friend with her eyes wide open.

"I... I guess... so..." her friend choked out in reply.

Both looked at each other, sharing the same shock look. How... how could they break the news to Irene? Irene would be furious when she knew about this. 

"Why don't we... Why don't we keep this a secret from them?" Her friend suggested slowly.

Rebecca nodded. That would be the best idea. They just kept this a secret from the others, especially from Irene.

Both agreed and finally pressed the b.u.t.ton for their floor. Both of them forgot to press the b.u.t.ton because they were too shocked to see Ryn here, in this building.

Ryn, on the other hand, was too exhausted to think about them. She did not even notice they were checking out her home. She simply dropped her bag on the floor and went to lie on the bed. Just a couple of hours of resting before she checked her schedule for tomorrow.

"I need to go to the driving school, " she mumbled to herself as her eyes grew heavier and heavier and lastly she succ.u.mbed to the lure of the sandman.

Two hours later, she woke up, bright eyes and energetic. She hummed to herself as she checked the refrigerator. Although she had already had her dinner with Mika, she still needed to check the grocery. She did plan to go for grocery shopping earlier but forgot about it when she was with Mika just now.

"Hmm... Steak, condensed milk, egg, b.u.t.ter, maybe chicken? And chocolate... More chocolate..." She frowned and checked the cabinet. No instant noodle. Horror. 

"Is it too late to go to the shop now?" She looked at the time. Although the shop was still opened, in fact, if she must, there was a shop that opened 24 hours and 7 days a week not far from the apartment. About 2 kilometres from her home.

But... She was too tired... And lazy... The exhaustion from yesterday's travel was still yet not disappeared, added with the work today, the stress from having to wake up early and rus.h.i.+ng everyone and... And...

Screw it. She was just plain lazy to go out again. That was the real and only reason for her decision.

She could just go buy the things tomorrow.

Ryn nodded at her decision, quite happy actually, and returned to her bedroom to continue her sleep. She would check her schedule tomorrow morning when she wakes up.*~*~*~*She woke up, not because of the alarm of the clock, which she set before she fell asleep last night. She woke up because of a dream.Ryn's eyes widened. Her breathing was fast and chaotic. Her body was shaking. Everything around her was dark. She slept with all the lights off. So when she suddenly woke up, she found herself in the dark.She almost had a panic attack but she managed to remember that she was in her room."Oh G.o.d… not again…" she choked out, pulling her knees close to her chest. She hugged her knees tightly, trying to stop the s.h.i.+ver.Why did the dream come again? Hadn't she moved on? Why did the nightmare come again?She took a few deep breaths, still trying to calm herself. She did not want to fall back into the old her that time. She did not want to become 'her'. "I am no longer 'her'. I am older, stronger and better, " she told herself repeatedly, trying to believe it but the whispers in her ears and in her heart kept telling her she was weak, stupid and pathetic. She could not even take care of her relations.h.i.+p and dared to think she could survive being alone."No. I am not the old me. I am better now. I am in a better place. I don't need to care what others think about me as long as I am happy. I am not pathetic. I am not, " she almost cried but managed to hold the tears this time. However, her eyes were already wet with punished tears.It was still early, only around 4 in the morning but Ryn was fighting against her 'demon' while others in the same building were still deep in their slumber.