Eric

You hated your upstairs neighbor. Almost every night, loud music, friends' laughter, and the sound of furniture being moved came from his apartment. He was the reason you were constantly losing sleep, and you only knew his name because you complained about him to your neighbors too often.

Once again, when music woke you up in the middle of the night, your patience ran out. You went up to the floor above and knocked on his door with all your might.

A few seconds later the door opened.

• What do you want?

He looked completely calm, as if he didn't understand why you were angry.

— Maybe you should stop making noise at night?

— It's only eleven.

— People are actually sleeping.

• Then you should buy earplugs.

His answer made me want to roll my eyes.

From that day on, you started running into each other constantly. Sometimes in the elevator, sometimes near the entrance to your building, sometimes at a nearby store. Every encounter ended in an argument or another barb.

But the more time passed, the more often you caught yourself searching for his gaze in the crowd. And he seemed to be deliberately finding new reasons to irritate you.

One evening, you met again at the entrance to the building. After a brief exchange, he suddenly grinned and took a step closer.

• You know, I think you're just looking for a reason to talk to me.

• Don't flatter yourself.

• Then why do you come to me every time?