I stared at stranger nervous and doesn't know what to do.

Suddenly, before the stranger could say a word, my phone buzzed loudly in my pocket, shattering the tense silence. I flinched, fumbling to pull it out, my eyes never leaving the shadowy figure. 

It was my dad. 

I hesitated before answering, my voice shaky. “H-Hello?” 

“Aiden,” my dad’s voice came through, calm and casual, as if nothing unusual was happening. “I forgot to mention earlier. My friend’s son will be staying with you for a while. He needed a place, and since the house is big enough, I figured it wouldn’t be a problem.” 

My mind raced as I glanced back at the guy standing in the middle of my living room. Friend’s son?

“Wait… what?” I blurted, my voice rising slightly. “You didn’t even tell me about this!” 

“I’m telling you now,” my dad replied matter-of-factly. “Be nice, okay? And....” 

But I wasn’t listening anymore. My eyes were locked on the stranger, my chest tightening. So this wasn’t some random intruder... but why did it feel like the air in the room had dropped ten degrees? 

A few minutes passed in heavy silence after my dad hung up, the phone call ending abruptly as I stood frozen, trying to piece everything together. My mind was still spinning, trying to make sense of everything that had just happened.

I swallowed hard, finally finding my voice again. “So… are you the son of my dad's friend??”

The stranger didn’t answer right away. He simply took a step forward, the light from the lamp above flickering on as he moved, illuminating his features.

As the shadows receded, I blinked, my mind racing to adjust to what I was seeing. The guy... this wasn’t the same intimidating figure I’d seen earlier. He was... different.

He had warm, inviting brown eyes, and the faintest trace of a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. His dark brown hair, slightly tousled, framed his face in a way that made him look effortlessly charming. The more I looked at him, the more I realized just how handsome he was... his strong jawline, high cheekbones, and a pair of deep dimples that appeared when he smiled made him look approachable, not threatening.

I stood there, still unsure of what to say, as the tension I had felt earlier slowly began to dissipate.

“My name is Jake Callister,” he said finally, his voice low and calm, almost as if he were trying to reassure me. He took another step closer, holding out his hand. “I guess I’m going to be living here for a while.”

I hesitated for a moment before slowly shaking his hand, still processing everything. The warmth in his handshake surprised me, making me wonder if I had been completely wrong in reading him. This guy didn’t look like someone who would sneak into someone’s house and make them feel uneasy.

“You’re… Dad’s friend’s son?” I asked, the words leaving my mouth almost automatically, trying to make sense of the situation.

He nodded, his smile never fading. “Yeah. I know it’s a bit sudden, but I’m here now. Looks like we’re housemates.”

Housemates. The word still felt strange in my mouth, and I was having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of suddenly sharing my space with a complete stranger. But there was something about Jake... his calm demeanor, his warm smile... that made me think maybe this wouldn’t be as bad as I initially feared.

I took a deep breath, still trying to collect my thoughts, and finally spoke. "I'm Aiden... Aiden Montiero," I said, my voice a little shaky, but I forced myself to sound calm. "I guess... welcome to my house." 

Jake nodded, still smiling warmly, but there was a slight hesitation in his gaze. He must’ve noticed the way I’d tensed up when I first saw him. 

“I’m really sorry about earlier,” Jake said, his voice apologetic. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I probably came off a little... too intense.” He chuckled lightly, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "I just didn’t expect to meet you like that. I should’ve introduced myself properly before I went all mysterious on you." 

His words surprised me. The way he spoke was so genuine, and the apology felt sincere. It made me relax a little, but I still wasn’t entirely sure what to make of the situation. 

“No, it’s okay,” I replied, forcing a smile. “I wasn’t expecting someone to just be in my house like that. But, uh, I guess we’ll get used to it.” I ran a hand through my hair, still feeling a little awkward. 

Jake smiled again, his dimples making an appearance, which made him look even more approachable. "Yeah, I get it. I’ll try not to freak you out next time." 

I chuckled softly, the tension in the room easing. "It's fine. Really." 

We both stood there for a moment, the awkwardness lingering for a few seconds, but there was a kind of understanding between us now. The situation had shifted from tense to... just strange. 

“So, where do I put my stuff?” Jake asked, his eyes scanning the living room as he looked around. "Do you mind if I just… set up in one of the spare rooms?" 

I nodded, finally starting to feel more at ease. “Yeah, sure. There’s a room upstairs, second door on the left.” 

“Perfect,” Jake said, his smile widening again. "Thanks, Aiden. And again, sorry for the scare." 

“It's alright,” I said, feeling a bit more relaxed now. “I’m sure we’ll figure this out.” 

With that, Jake turned toward the stairs, carrying his bag, and I watched him disappear up the staircase, still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I now had a housemate... someone I hadn’t even known existed until a few minutes ago.

A few minutes later, I heard Jake’s footsteps coming back down the stairs. I was sprawled on the couch, flipping through channels and barely paying attention to whatever was on TV. I glanced up as he entered the living room, looking more relaxed now, his bag presumably unpacked.

“Settled in?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

“Yeah,” Jake said with a small smile. “The room’s nice. Thanks.”

I nodded, looking back at the TV. “Good to know. Anyway… you hungry? I was thinking we could just order something for dinner.”

Jake raised an eyebrow, leaning against the back of the couch. “Order something? You don’t cook?”

I laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of my neck. “Not really. My mom’s maid comes by once a week to clean up and put groceries in the fridge, but… I don’t really know what to do with them. So yeah, I just order out most of the time or grab takeout.”

Jake crossed his arms, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. “You’ve got a fridge full of ingredients and no idea what to do with them?”

I shrugged, trying to play it off. “Pretty much.”

“Well,” he said, straightening up, “you’re in luck. I know how to cook.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Wait, really?”

“Yeah,” Jake replied with a grin. “Why don’t I check what’s in the fridge, and I’ll whip something up? Better than wasting money on takeout.”

I hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. “If you’re sure. Knock yourself out.”

Jake chuckled and headed toward the kitchen. “Alright, let’s see what your maid stocked up on. Don’t blame me if I end up using some weird stuff, though.”

I watched him disappear into the kitchen, still processing the fact that my new housemate could actually cook. It was… unexpected, to say the least.

“Anything I can do to help?” I called out, more out of politeness than actual willingness to assist.

“Just sit tight,” Jake shouted back, the sound of the fridge opening echoing through the house. “I’ve got this covered.”

I leaned back on the couch, shaking my head with a small smile. Maybe having Jake around wouldn’t be so bad after all.

After a while, the aroma of something delicious began wafting through the living room. It smelled incredible... warm, savory, and nothing like the usual takeout I’d been living on. I found myself glancing toward the kitchen every now and then, my curiosity growing with each passing minute. 

Then Jake’s voice called out, breaking my train of thought. 

“Aiden! Dinner’s ready!” 

I sat up from the couch, a little surprised at how quickly he’d managed to pull something together. “Coming!” I called back, turning off the TV and making my way toward the kitchen. 

As I stepped inside, I stopped in my tracks, my eyes widening. The table was set with two plates of what looked like some kind of stir-fry... perfectly cooked vegetables, tender slices of chicken, and steaming rice. It looked like something straight out of a restaurant. 

“You… made this?” I asked, still staring at the plates in disbelief. 

Jake turned to me, wiping his hands on a dish towel, his dimples showing as he grinned. “What, you didn’t think I could actually cook?”

“I mean, I believed you,” I said, moving closer to the table, “but this looks… professional.” 

He shrugged, clearly trying to downplay it. “It’s just something simple. Nothing fancy.” 

I sat down, still eyeing the food as if it might disappear. “Simple? Dude, I’ve been living on takeout and instant noodles. This is a feast.” 

Jake laughed, sitting across from me. “Well, consider this my first contribution as your new housemate. Dig in before it gets cold.” 

I didn’t need to be told twice. Picking up my fork, I took my first bite, and the flavors immediately exploded in my mouth. It was warm, savory, and perfectly seasoned... so much better than anything I’d eaten in weeks. 

“Wow,” I mumbled through a mouthful, “this is amazing.” 

Jake chuckled, watching me with amusement. “Glad you like it. Guess I’m in charge of the cooking from now on.” 

I looked up at him, half-joking. “If you keep cooking like this, I won’t complain.” 

He grinned, his dimples deepening. “Deal.”

For the first time since he showed up, I felt a sense of ease. Maybe having Jake around really wouldn’t be so bad.