Rey sat cross-legged on the cold wooden floor, facing the blank matte black wall of Kylo Ren's studio apartment. The evening light from the large window across from her only managed to highlight the silhouette of her body. She bit the tip of her pencil, her eyes glazed over.
Why did I agree to this? she thought.
Her doubts returned to haunt her. There was something illogical about being here, in the apartment of a stranger she had just met the night before, a man involved with a dangerous biker gang.
The apartment was almost ten times the size of her small apartment in Oakwood. And why was everything black? Black walls, black leather couches, cold steel desks. Even the bookshelves were dark, though they were nearly empty.
The monochrome color scheme felt odd, reflecting an emptiness that contrasted with the simplicity of her cramped apartment filled with paint and sketches.
Was this just her taste, or was there something deeper behind it?
She wondered why someone would choose to live in such darkness, when the view of the city outside the window was so dazzling.
Rey stared at the black wall in front of her.
Kylo Ren just said he wanted her to paint here, on that big empty wall. But what should she paint? He gave no instructions, no specific theme, no color preferences. He just told Rey to submit any ideas she liked later, when Kylo returned to the apartment.
Rey was confused. Usually, people who asked her to paint had a clear vision. Why was this man so hands-off? Was this a trap? Or did he really not care about what she was going to paint?
Unconsciously, her fingers began to move on the sketch pad. Her mind was blank, but her hands seemed to have a will of their own. Slowly, an image of a space shuttle was created, hurtling at the speed of light along a space tunnel. At the end of the tunnel, there was a burning flame, as if pulling the shuttle towards destruction.
Rey frowned, staring at the sketch. Where did this idea come from?
Suddenly, Rey's stomach growled loudly, breaking the silence of the cold apartment. She just realized that she hadn't had lunch. With a little hesitation, she got up and headed to the kitchen area located in the corner of the room.
The kitchen was as minimalist as the rest of the apartment, with plain black cabinets and barely used stainless steel appliances.
Rey opened the refrigerator, hoping to find something to eat. However, it contained only a few bottles of cold mineral water, a pack of fresh-looking green vegetables, and a few unappealing apples. No leftovers, no snacks, nothing to fill her rumbling stomach.
As Rey closed the refrigerator door with a little disappointment, she thought again.
This man, Kylo Ren, was truly a mystery. He brought her to his luxurious apartment, asked her to paint, and then just left. He didn't even check to see if she had eaten or had anything to do. And what was even strange was why he trusted her so much? He had only met Rey the night before, under tense circumstances. How could he be sure that she wouldn't steal something from his apartment that was clearly filled with expensive items, or betray him in some other way?
With an uncontrollable curiosity, Rey began to wander around Kylo Ren's apartment. She walked past a bookshelf filled with only a few classic leather-bound volumes and a single photograph framed in silver, facing down so that its contents were not visible.
She observed a clean work desk without a speck of dust, only a sleek laptop and a few neatly closed documents. There was no trace of real personality, as if its owner was trying to hide himself from the world.
Rey's steps took her to the sleeping area, which was only visually separated from the main room by the arrangement of furniture.
There, a large bed dominated the room, covered with a sleek yet cold jet black bed cover. Beside the bed, a simple nightstand with a modern reading lamp stood.
Rey stopped in front of the large window that stretched near the bed. From there, she could see the view of the city that was starting to sparkle with the lights of the evening. The cold night air felt through the glass. She stared at the view, trying to find answers to the questions that were spinning in her mind about the mysterious man named Kylo Ren who brought her to this place.
Fatigue from lack of sleep and a chaotic mind finally took over. Unconsciously, Rey stepped closer and sat on the edge of the bed. The surface of the bed cover felt cold and slippery beneath her hands. She leaned her back against the soft headboard, still looking at the city lights twinkling in the distance.
The unexpected comfort and ease of the luxurious bed slowly relaxed her. Her eyes felt heavy, and before she knew it, Rey's consciousness faded, leading her into a deep sleep.
She didn't know how long she had been asleep. Suddenly, she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder, followed by a deep voice calling her name.
"Rey."
She blinked, trying to gather her senses. The dim light of the floor lamp illuminated the silhouette of a man standing near the bed. A faint masculine scent pierced her senses.
"Rey," the voice repeated, this time a little more firmly.
"You fell asleep."
Rey finally recognized the figure. Kylo Ren. He was back. Rey immediately straightened up, feeling a little embarrassed to have fallen asleep in a stranger's bed.
"Sorry," Rey mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
"I didn't mean to..."
Kylo Ren just stared at her with an expression that was hard to read in the dim light.
"You must be tired."
Just then, Rey's stomach growled again, this time louder and clearer amidst the silence of the apartment. Rey blushed, lowering her head.
Kylo Ren paused for a moment, then a barely perceptible smile curled the corners of his lips.
"Looks like someone's hungry," he said, his tone slightly softer than before.
"I brought something for dinner. Spaghetti."
Rey looked up, slightly surprised.
"You... brought dinner?"
Kylo Ren gave a small nod.
"I'm not sure what you like. Spaghetti is usually safe. Let's eat, and after that, I'd like to hear your painting ideas."
He turned and walked into the kitchen area, leaving Rey still stunned on the edge of the bed. Awkwardness and curiosity mixed in her mind. Why was this man so unpredictable?
Rey followed Kylo Ren into the kitchen area. She watched as he pulled out containers of spaghetti and sauce from a dark shopping bag. He also took out two plates and some silverware. They ate in silence for a while, only the sound of forks clinking to break the silence of the modern, cold apartment.
After a few bites, Kylo Ren looked up at Rey.
"So," he said, setting down his fork,
"tell me about your idea for the painting."
Rey took a deep breath. She wasn't entirely sure about the idea of a space shuttle that had just come to her. But there was something compelling and powerful about the image.
As she explained her concept, she began to share a little about herself.
"I... I don't have a family," she said quietly, looking down at her spaghetti.
"I grew up in an orphanage. Then I went through the foster system a few times. I got out eight years ago because I was old enough."
Kylo Ren listened intently, his gaze intense but not judgmental.
Rey continued,
"Since then, I've been trying to make a living on my own. Painting murals, doing odd jobs... I'm saving up money to go to college, majoring in art."
There was a hint of hope and vulnerability in her voice.
Kylo Ren asked a few questions, wanting to know more about Rey's experiences in the orphanage and the foster system, about the kind of art she enjoyed most, and her dreams for the future. He seemed interested, listening intently without interrupting.
When Rey felt comfortable enough to ask back,
"What about you, Kylo?" she asked cautiously.
"What do you do? Why are you interested in art?"
Kylo Ren paused for a moment, his expression softening slightly once more to a blank, reserved one.
"I... did this and that for Rider Snoke," he replied simply, avoiding Rey's gaze.
"And I appreciate art. That's all."
He then turned the conversation back to the mural, asking for more details about the shuttle sketch and its meaning.
Rey felt an invisible wall rise between them again, a barrier that clearly showed that there was a part of Kylo Ren that he did not want to share.
When Kylo Ren asked again about the details of the shuttle sketch, Rey nodded and began to explain, but her mind wandered. As she spoke about the symbolism of fire and travel, her eyes silently studied the man before her.
Kylo Ren was tall and sturdy, with broad shoulders and a slightly hunched posture, giving the impression of being intense and a little burdened.
His skin was pale, contrasting with his jet black hair that was wavy and fell slightly untidy on his forehead. His facial features were sharp, with a sharp and slightly aquiline nose, and a strong jaw.
His lips were thin and often flat, but Rey had seen a slight curve at the corners when he smiled slightly earlier. His eyes were dark and sharp, able to glare with an intensity that made Rey feel like she was being stripped naked.
There was a thin scar that was faintly visible near his eyebrow, adding to the impression of mystery and a possibly turbulent past.
His appearance tonight was simple plain black shirt and dark pants, but they fit snugly against his body, accentuating his athletic physique. There was an aura of power radiating from him, a dangerous calm.
As Rey took in every detail of his appearance, she became more and more convinced that Kylo Ren's past must have had a profound effect on his life today. There was a sadness hidden behind his piercing eyes, and the emptiness of his apartment felt like a reflection of the emptiness inside his own.
Rey felt a strong urge to find out more about this mysterious man. Not just out of simple curiosity, but because she felt a strange resonance between them, a faint bond she had felt since their first meeting in that dark alley.
As she finished the mural in this apartment, Rey resolved in her heart, she would find out the secrets behind Kylo Ren's defensive walls, bit by bit, with the strokes of her brush.
With a little hesitation, Rey held out her sketchbook to Kylo Ren, showing him a drawing of a space shuttle hurtling toward flames. Kylo took the book, his eyebrows slightly raised at the image. He stared at the sketch for a moment, his expression unreadable.
Finally, he looked up at Rey.
"This is interesting," he said, his tone flat but not dismissive.
"There's... an intensity to it. I'm all for this idea."
Rey felt an unexpected relief. She had thought Kylo would have more specific preferences, or even reject the idea that had just come to her.
"Can you start right away?" Kylo Ren asked, handing Rey the sketchbook.
"When do you need supplies? Paints, brushes, and such. Just name a budget."
Rey was a little surprised by Kylo's seriousness.
"I... I can start tomorrow. As for supplies, I need to make a list first. I'll probably have a figure in the morning after I check the art store."
Kylo nodded. He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a key.
"This is a duplicate key to the apartment. You can come and go whenever you need. I may not always be here."
He handed the key to Rey. Their fingers touched briefly but deeply. Rey took the key with a little nervousness, feeling a new responsibility now in her hands.
"Thank you,"
Rey said, gripping the key tightly. She felt like a new chapter in their strange interaction had just begun.