C26 The Apartment

The mountains slowly faded behind them as the jeep moved down the winding road toward the small town.

Morning had fully arrived now.

Sunlight touched the peaks in soft gold, the storm leaving the air unusually clear.

Inside the vehicle, silence sat between them.

Not uncomfortable.

Just… thoughtful.

Aisha leaned her head against the window, watching the familiar roads return.

Her life.

Her clinics.

Her patients.

Everything that felt normal again.

After the chaos of the last night, it almost felt unreal.

“You’re quiet,” Arjun said, his eyes still on the road.

She shrugged slightly.

“Processing.”

“Processing what?”

She glanced at him.

“The fact that I got kidnapped… rescued by a soldier… hid in a cabin during a mountain storm… and somehow ended up back here like nothing happened.”

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

“When you say it like that, it sounds dramatic.”

“It was dramatic.”

They reached the small apartment building just after noon.

Aisha’s apartment sat on the second floor, a simple place she shared with her roommate while working in the nearby clinics.

Before she could even unlock the door—

It flew open.

“AISHA!”

Benji practically tackled her.

The hug knocked the air out of her lungs.

“Oh my god, where were you?!” Benji panicked, holding her shoulders tightly and checking her face like she might disappear.

“I called you like twenty times!”

“I know, I know,” Aisha laughed weakly.

“I’m okay.”

Benji stepped back slightly.

Then finally noticed the man standing behind her.

And froze.

Arjun stood quietly near the doorway, one hand resting casually in his jacket pocket.

Tall.

Calm.

Composed.

Benji blinked once.

Then twice.

“Oh.”

Aisha knew that look immediately.

Her roommate’s eyes slowly scanned him from head to toe.

Taking in everything.

The broad shoulders.

The relaxed but controlled posture.

The calm expression that came from someone who had seen more of the world than most people.

His complexion was fair but lightly tanned from training under harsh sun.

His lips naturally pink.

His features sharp but relaxed.

The kind of quiet presence that didn’t need attention to command it.

Benji cleared their throat.

Then whispered dramatically to Aisha—

“Why is there a movie hero standing in our hallway?”

Arjun raised an eyebrow.

“I can hear you.”

Benji coughed awkwardly.

“Right.”

Then their expression immediately changed again.

Back to panic mode.

“WAIT.”

They grabbed Aisha’s arms again.

“You disappeared all night!”

“You didn’t answer your phone!”

“Your last location was literally a highway!”

Aisha sighed.

“Okay, so funny story.”

Benji stared at her.

“I got kidnapped.”

Silence.

Benji blinked.

“…what?”

Arjun stepped forward calmly.

“It’s handled.”

Benji slowly turned toward him.

“…handled?”

“Yes.”

Benji stared between them.

Processing.

Trying to understand.

“Okay,” they said slowly.

“We’re calling the police.”

Arjun nodded once.

“That would be wise.”

Two hours later, two police officers sat in the apartment living room taking notes.

Aisha sat on the couch explaining everything.

The road.

The motorcycles.

The van.

The warehouse.

Arjun stood quietly near the window, arms crossed.

Listening.

Observing.

Benji, meanwhile, sat beside Aisha like an overprotective guard dog.

Eyes constantly flicking toward Arjun.

Studying him.

Finally Benji leaned closer to Aisha and whispered—

“Who is he?”

“A soldier.”

“That doesn’t answer anything.”

Across the room, Arjun spoke without even turning around.

“She’s correct.”

Benji’s eyes widened.

“You’re doing that thing again.”

“What thing?”

“The mysterious man who answers questions without answering them.”

Arjun finally turned around.

Calm.

Unbothered.

“I answered the question.”

Benji crossed their arms.

“You answered a question.”

Aisha rubbed her forehead.

“You two are going to fight, aren’t you?”

Both of them answered at the same time.

“No.”

“Yes.”

The police officers tried not to laugh.

When the questioning finished, the officers stood to leave.

“We’ll investigate the location you described,” one of them said.

“And we’ll stay in contact.”

The door closed behind them.

The apartment fell quiet again.

Benji immediately turned toward Arjun.

Eyes narrowed.

“So.”

Arjun waited.

“You saved her?”

“Yes.”

Benji nodded slowly.

Then pointed a finger at him.

“That means I like you.”

Aisha blinked.

“That was quick.”

Benji continued.

“But if you disappear again without explaining anything…”

They leaned forward slightly.

“…I will personally hunt you down.”

Arjun studied them calmly.

Then said simply—

“Fair.”

Aisha sighed.

Already regretting introducing the two most stubborn people she knew to each other.