Things were about to get steamy in here.

This time he was on top - he felt the weight of his chain as it gave in to gravity beneath him. And as he reached down...there was a long resounding yelp, like a wounded dog howling outside his window.

Wait, why would she be making a sound like that? This isn’t doggy style…

Again, from a far off place, the wailing continued to assault his ears, and when he looked down he realised he was looking up. At his ceiling. Dream over.

It took Kyle a moment to register this sad fact, the sombre reality that he had returned to.

Oh, I am going to end that bitch.

As he lay there, contemplating what to do to the pesky puppy when he found it, he began to make out words in the wailing. Puzzled, he went to his window to hear better.

It was still dark, but he could tell the sound was coming from nearby, somewhere just down the street but not within range of a street light. Then he caught the familiar flicker of a mobile phone screen, just one house away across the driveway.

Ok, different kind of bitch.

There didn’t appear to be any altercation or another party involved, so she probably forgot her keys or something. She probably should have tried calling before she started screaming like a crazy kitty.

And interrupting my fabulous dream…

Kyle trudged back to bed and attempted to cover his ears should there be another round of profanities from the damsel in distress before dawn. Then he realised he could only keep one ear pressed against his pillow at a time.

Oh bother. Maybe I should go close the window instead. Yeah, good idea - let’s do that.

As he rose, he heard hints of a sob in the silent serenity, and his heart jerked. Perhaps he should offer her assistance instead.

He trudged back to the window. The next thing he knew, there was a shadowy figure looking up at him from below.

Kyle’s heart skipped a beat and his mind went blank. Then he realised it was that screeching girl, and she was looking up at the gate that barred the way to the backyard, not in smoldering anger at the useless excuse of a meatbag that he felt like at this very moment.

After what felt like an eternity, Kyle called out to the shadowy girl.

Or...it could be a guy with a really high-pitched voice, a random thought wafted through his mind as soon as the sound had departed his larynx.

There was an immediate yelp, so he knew his somewhat hesitant call had reached her.

And the next thing he knew, there she was in his living room.

She didn’t look that old, probably still studying or back from college, but she definitely looked tired. Her hair was dry and tangled, and her eyes were...was she staring at him?

“Oh right, follow me,” Kyle turned to lead her upstairs.

He only heard his own footsteps, so he peeked back around to see her glancing sideways at the sofa in the living room.

“Um...I can just take this couch,” she offered and edged her way toward it reluctantly.

Kyle paused. Is she being coy? Or trying to be polite?

“Nah, don’t be silly. I’ve got a spare room you can use until tomorrow.”

She looked a little lost.

“Come on,” Kyle urged gently, although he felt a slight pang of impatience.

She grasped her luggage bag and shuffled toward him, all while maintaining zero eye contact.

“I’m Kyle, by the way.”

“Oh...um...I’m Ting,” came the slightly raspy response.

Poor thing, I should get her some water.

Kyle was so busy taking pity on her that he almost forgot to help her with her suitcase when they ascended the stairs. There was an awkward moment of him trying to wrestle the suitcase from her clutches. Kyle was worried for a second she might think he was robbing her and start screaming again. Fortunately she gave in without much fuss, although Kyle felt it was more from fatigue than anything.

The room had a bed, a cupboard along one wall, and a little desk opposite the bed. The blinds were pulled over the window, so the starry wallpaper only appeared when Kyle hit the light.

Ting shuffled in at a snail’s pace, taking it all in.

“Okay, make yourself at home,” Kyle mumbled and hastily spun to grab that water from the kitchen, when he heard a soft voice.

“Hey...um...thanks.”

“Uh...it’s ok. I’ll be back.”

Kyle darted down the stairs in record time, fumbling for a cup in the dark. Tap water should do fine, as long as he didn’t overfill it. He did something he didn’t usually do and wiped the side down so the cup wasn’t slippery. Suddenly his heart was thumping - he began wondering how he suddenly came to be having a stranger in his house, let alone a female guest.

As he made his way back up the stairs, he made sure to compose himself and appear nonchalant. He found the girl flat on the covers, eyes shut and softly breathing. On the covers, not under them.

Is she...seriously asleep already?

Kyle pondered what to do next. He could wake her up and give her the water, or leave it on the desk opposite her. Should he put a blanket on her in case she gets cold? Such a dilemma.

He wasn’t sure how long he had been standing in the doorway, but he noticed eventually that she was gazing suspiciously at him. Great, now she thinks I’m some creep staring at her. Well, at least she’s awake, Kyle thought dryly to himself.

Slightly relieved, he gestured at the cup and set it down on the desk. She muttered a barely audible thanks as Kyle made his exit.

Kyle wondered if he would be able to get back to sleep, but he had barely finished the thought and landed on his bed when…

--

There was the sound of running water. Kyle wasn’t used to there being sounds around the house, at least apart from the usual creaks and groans. Certainly not gushing water that felt like it was coming from within the walls.

Then he recalled the bathroom was adjacent to his room, and obviously he wouldn’t hear it when he was using it. Then he remembered he had a guest.

Oh crap, what time is it?

Phone said 9:47am. Phone also said Teleconference at 10:00am.

There was only one word in Kyle’s brain and it was on repeat, as he bounded out of bed in search of his laptop. It wasn’t in his room, so it must be downstairs where he had been using it last night.

As he raced out of his room, he nearly bowled over a startled Ting, who had just emerged fresh from the bathroom. Kyle froze, for a moment stunned by the slightly shocked girl standing there in front of him, cheeks ablush and slightly damp.

After a stunned silence, she uttered: “I hope you don’t mind, I had to borrow the washroom.”

Kyle blinked. “Oh yeah, of course. Sorry...did you need a towel?” Kyle asked awkwardly.

Ting shook her head and held up the towel in her hand.

Wow, way to go Captain Observant, Kyle chastised himself. “Oh right, um...do you need anything else?” His brain was going a million miles, thinking if there was something he missed while also thinking of a reason to scuttle away.

“I’m ok, thanks.”

“Ok great, I will...I’ll be with you shortly,” Kyle managed as he darted downstairs. If he wasn’t looking like a buffoon, he certainly felt like one. However, he didn’t have time to beat himself up, at least not yet.

He paused. I should offer her something to eat.

Plan in his head and laptop in his hand, he raced back upstairs to the room Ting was occupying. He found her scowling at her phone, clearly trying to contact her brother or whoever to let her in. She quickly looked up as he entered.

“Hey, I have to attend a concall in a bit, but I can get you something for breakfast if you like,” Kyle gushed.

Ting blinked. “Um...no it’s alright, I...should be on my way,” she said, uncertainly. It appeared she still couldn’t get in touch. Her eyes wandered back down to her phone.

“Don’t worry, I mean - I don’t have anything fancy, but you’re more than welcome to help yourself to any food.”

Ting looked back up at him, with a look that made Kyle’s heart skip a beat. He wasn’t sure if it showed on his face, but he stifled a gulp. That look of gratitude mixed with a hint of hesitation and some inner conflict really had its way with Kyle.

“Thanks...but it’s ok. I’ll be alright,” Ting replied slowly, cautiously.

And then her stomach made the loudest gurgling noise Kyle had ever heard, he almost burst out laughing. It was as if someone had pulled the plug on a full bathtub.

Ting immediately wrapped her abdomen and turned away in embarrassment while Kyle couldn’t help but grin widely. He was thankful he didn’t actually laugh out loud.

When Ting turned back toward him, he had his hand over his mouth. Ting was red in the face, and her eyes now had a spark of rage in them. Kyle wasn’t sure who she was annoyed at, but surely she wouldn’t be blaming him for the unfortunate timing of her bowel movement.

“Come on,” Kyle beckoned gently.