The scent of his cologne lingered in the air, an unmistakable blend of musk and mystery. Samuel Carper, a young man in his twenties, paced the small living room, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his worn jeans.
Jobless and weighed down by the burden of his circumstances, he stared out of the window, lost in thought.
"You should leave with your dad... I'll come later," Mrs Carper said softly, her voice carrying a hint of exhaustion.
A nod came in response, followed by the sound of retreating footsteps. The door clicked shut, leaving Sam in the silent confines of the house.
Meanwhile, outside, his father sat waiting patiently in the car. The engine hummed softly as he drummed his fingers against the steering wheel. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the driveway.
When the car door opened, he turned with a gentle smile. "Son... what did your mother say?"
Sam slipped into the passenger seat, exhaling a weary sigh. "She said she'll come after cleaning the house."
Mr Carper nodded thoughtfully, shifting the gear into drive. "Alright, let's go then. We need to clean the new apartment too."
As they drove away, the city blurred past the windows, buildings standing tall against the fading sunlight. The atmosphere inside the car was calm but tinged with unspoken worries.
As they stepped out of the car, his father looked around in awe. "Come out... we're here already!"
Sam followed, his gaze wandering to the security cameras mounted on the walls. They seemed to be everywhere, watching, recording every movement.
"Son, I'll go in first. You bring the bags alright?" Sam nods in response, following his father words but he couldn't shake of the feeling.
Something felt off seeing so many CCTV cameras everywhere. Are they in rooms too?. Sam thought before hearing a noise from inside. He hurried back inside, his heart pounding against his chest.
Without wasting another second, he flung the door open and rushed in.
"Dad, what happened!?" he muttered under his breath, panic creeping into his voice.
"Woah! What are you freaking out about?" His father voice called out, startled.
Sam's eyes darted around the room. "N-No... I mean... what happened?"
The room was spotless, every surface gleaming. It was as if no one had ever stepped foot inside.
"Look, the house is already clean. Probably that guy did it. He's really so nice. Always helping us out." Mr Carper arper said, while unpacking the luggages.
But Sam, he still couldn't understand one thing. It was grand and luxurious, far beyond anything they had ever dreamed of. But something about it felt... strange. The apartment had been gifted to them by a mysterious man that his father adore so much, someone Sam could not quite understand.
....
Sam let out a sigh as he leaned back in his chair, pushing his empty plate slightly forward. "Dinner was so tasty, Mom!" he exclaimed, his smile warm.
His mother chuckled softly. "Eat more!" she encouraged.
"Okay!" he grinned, reaching for another helping.
But before he could start, his father spoke up. "Well, I called him."
Sam paused mid-bite, his fork hovering above the plate. "Right now?" he asked, eyebrows raised.
"Yup," his father nodded. "He said he wants to see how we're doing here... if there's a problem or not."
Sam furrowed his brows. Who are they even talking about?. Don't tell me it's that guy... he wondered silently.
His mother glanced at the clock. "Oh honey... it's already so late."
Just then, the doorbell echoed through the house. Ding dong.
"Guess he's already here," his father remarked casually.
Sam sighed, reluctantly pushing back his chair. "Sammy, can you please open the door?" his mother asked gently.
He nodded and got up, muttering under his breath. "Shit... my food is getting cold."
Trudging to the door, he noticed something peculiar even before he reached the handle — a strong, overpowering smell of cologne filled the hallway.
Wait... such a strong smell of cologne?
He opened the door and blinked in surprise. Standing there was a tall man in suit with a charming smile. "Sorry for disturbing your family dinner," he greeted politely.
Sam rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah... it's okay. Please come inside."
The man stepped in with a gentle smile. "Thank you," he said.
What a strong smell... Sam thought, his nose crinkling slightly.
He closed the door behind them but froze for a moment, the scent lingering in the air.
The dining table was far from the entrance, then... how did he know that we're eating dinner?