Jude Bellingham || ⁶

It was almost ten o'clock at night when you left your apartment with a trash bag in your hand. The hallway was completely silent... until you heard the sound of keys.

When you looked up, you saw him.
Your neighbor.
Jude had just arrived. He was wearing a gray sweatshirt, a black cap, and had a backpack slung over one shoulder. Noticing you, he glanced up for a moment.

It wasn't the first time they'd met. In fact, they'd been living next door to each other for months. But, if they thought back, they'd probably only exchanged about three conversations... all too brief to be considered friends.

Silence settled between them once more. Jude seemed ready to go into his apartment, but before opening the door, he looked at you again.

— We happened to meet again.

He let go with a small sideways smile as he turned the keys between his fingers.

— I'm starting to think it's become a habit.

He said this while still looking at you, as if he hoped that perhaps you would have a longer conversation than before.