CHAPTER TWO- EMBARRASSED.

~Mira POV~

Grey Anderson!

How could he be my match? I guess I am in for some shit this evening.

He had recently moved into the apartment next door and the first impression was nothing to write home about.

I first saw him in the hallway that Tuesday evening, lugging two overstuffed boxes and looking like the weight of the world was strapped to his shoulders. His hair was messy, his jaw shadowed with stubble, and he didn’t look particularly friendly.

I almost slipped past quietly, but of course, my mouth betrayed me.

“Uh… do you need a hand with that?”

He glanced up, his dark eyes locking on mine for just a second before he shook his head. “No. I’ve got it.”

The words were blunt, not exactly rude, but enough to make my cheeks warm. I gave a quick, nervous laugh, hugging the grocery bag tighter against my chest. “Right. Sorry. I just thought…”

The box slipped from his grip and thudded against the floor. A pair of socks tumbled out, one landing right by my shoe. My instinct kicked in before my brain could stop me, I bent quickly to grab it, only for him to crouch at the same time. Our hands brushed.

I froze. He didn’t. He just took the sock, shoved it back into the box, and muttered, “Thanks.”

I stood up too quickly, nearly tipping my bag, and of course, that was when the carton of milk decided to slide out. It hit the ground with a splash, bursting open and sending white liquid across the polished hallway floor.

“Oh my God,” I gasped, dropping to my knees. “This is so embarrassing. I, I swear I’m not usually this clumsy.”

He looked down at me, completely unreadable, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “Don’t worry about it.”

But his tone wasn’t reassuring, it was flat. Like he couldn’t wait to get away.

I scrambled with the dripping carton, my face burning. “Right. Okay. Yeah. Um… welcome to the building.”

He gave the faintest nod before disappearing into his apartment, leaving me kneeling in a puddle of milk, mortified, wondering why I even opened my mouth in the first place.

I had convinced myself I’d never see him again, or at least, not close enough to make a fool of myself. But of course, fate laughed at me again.

I was juggling a laundry basket in the hallway when his door opened. He stepped out, wearing that same black jacket, earbuds in his ears, and nearly walked straight into me.

“Oh!” I squeaked, nearly dropping the basket. A pair of socks dangled over the edge. “Sorry, I didn’t see you there.”

He tugged one earbud out. “It’s fine.”

I shifted the basket awkwardly, heat rising to my face. “Um… about the milk the other day. I really feel awful. I swear I’m not usually that clumsy.”

His gaze moved to the basket, then back to me. “You don’t have to apologize again.”

“Right. Of course. I just… wanted to make sure you knew I wasn’t some sort of hallway hazard.”

The corner of his mouth twitched, almost like he was holding back a smirk. Or maybe I imagined it. “Noted.”

And with that, he brushed past me toward the elevator.

I exhaled, realizing only then that a bra had somehow slipped over the side of my basket and landed on the floor behind me. Pink. Lacy. Of course.

He definitely saw it.

I nearly considered throwing myself down the laundry chute.

That wasn't all, but this sealed a permanent embarrassment.

I was unlocking my apartment one evening when his door swung open. He had a stack of envelopes in hand.

“Long day?” I asked, my voice cracking like a teenager’s.

He looked at me, one brow arched. “Something like that.”

“Yeah, I get it. Work, right? Or school?” My key slipped and clattered against the lock. Smooth.

He gave a short laugh. “Do I look like a student?”

“Not really,” I rushed out. “More like a spy. Or an undercover detective. Or, you know, a mysterious guy who hides bodies in his freezer.”

His eyes widened a fraction. “That’s… specific.”

My heart leaped. “Not that I think you actually hide bodies! You just…um…have that vibe. A cool vibe. Totally normal. Definitely not serial-killer normal.”

He shook his head, chuckling as he slid his key in. “Good to know what my neighbors think of me.”

I wanted to throw myself down the stairwell and end the humiliation.

But then he kept staring at me for a beat. My face went up in flames.

“I mean, I didn’t mean mysterious like creepy. More like… interesting mysterious. The kind people write about. In books. Which is, um…good.”

There was an awards silence and then…finally, he said, “You talk a lot, don’t you?”

I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole. “Only when I’m nervous. Which I’m… clearly not. Nervous, I mean. Why would I be nervous?”

He slipped his mail under his arm and opened his door. “Good night.”

“Good night,” I squeaked, fumbling with my own lock until the door finally swung open. I rushed inside and shut it behind me, leaning against it with a groan.

Three encounters. Three disasters. If there was a Hall of Fame for embarrassing neighbor stories, I would have already secured a permanent spot and my face would be plastered on the entrance wall.

And the worst part?

The universe had the nerve to pair me with him. My Match.

He is my Match.

Heat crawled up my neck, shame burning through me and I couldn’t take it anymore. This wasn't the time to search for Lisa. Lisa could wait but my dignity couldn’t.

I snatched my bags from the chair, my pulse racing louder in my ears, and stormed out of the garden, every step fueled by frustration.

Little did I know that I was being followed.

“Stop right there!"

The voice cut sharp and commanding, freezing me mid-step.

“Mira!"