Chapter 19: New Dawn, Old Secrets
I woke to an unfamiliar softness beneath me, surrounded by warmth and pleasure. It was entirely different from the cold, thin mattress I had grown used to over time. For a brief moment, while I was both stunned and confused, I thought I had died. Perhaps that fall down the stairs was the last straw of my luck. But, I doubted that death was meant to feel this cozy.
Opening one eye, I discovered I was gazing at a dark ceiling, sleek and untouched by the water stains I had anticipated. I moved a bit, the softness of the bed enveloping me—a stark difference from the concrete-and-springs agony apparatus in my former apartment. As I turned my head, I noticed boxes organized neatly throughout the room, many marked with my name in large black lettering. My possessions. My recently arranged room.
As I sat up, a mild throb was felt at the back of my head, though it was tolerable. Looking to my right, I noticed an alarm clock sitting on a stylish nightstand, its red numbers glaring at me: 6:30 AM.
Wiping away the tiredness from my eyes, I kicked my legs over the edge of the bed and got up. The room was almost as large as my whole previous apartment—no exaggeration. A window dressed with heavy blackout curtains permitted just the slightest beams of early morning light to seep through, creating elongated shadows on the floor. Even with the strangeness, it felt... nice.
Curiosity tugged at me, so I made my way to the door. The handle was cool under my fingers as I turned it gently, stepping into the hallway.
A sudden, blinding light assaulted my vision, forcing me to squint until my eyes adjusted.
And when they did—
Wow.
The living room was like something out of a catalog. A large, comfortable-looking couch faced a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall, flanked by minimalist shelves lined with books and small decorative items. The kitchen was open-concept, spacious enough to actually walk through without having to turn sideways. Gleaming countertops reflected the morning light streaming through decently large windows that offered a view of the city skyline, golden hues of dawn painting the world outside.
If A-Rank apartments were like penthouses and C-Rank ones were average, this B-Rank apartment was the perfect in-between—luxurious without being overwhelming.
But what caught my attention next wasn't the view.