❛ can’t sleep? ❜
Growing up with a sister, whose quiet footsteps could make a ghost turn green with envy, Alexander should’ve expected that the slightest sound—no matter how far away or long ago he heard it— might be an indicator of someone sharing his presence. He could’ve sworn he heard a noise that was too human-like to be just the wind a few moments ago. Yet, he chose to believe it might’ve been a small animal. So when he heard the voice finally speak up, his shoulders flinched up in surprise and his heart accelerated to keep up with his brain’s fight or flight response. Alexander tried his best to calm it with a deep breath before he lifted his forearms off the bridge’s railing and turned to look at the origin of that voice.
“Just not tired yet.” Slowly, his lips curved into a small smile when he turned around and leaned his back against the banister once more. “What about you?” In the faint light of the moon, Alex could barely make out the stranger’s features, but he was sure he’d seen him somewhere before. A customer maybe? “Did you try to be quiet on purpose, or are your steps just naturally this quiet?” This time when he spoke up, an air of mischief nestled itself within his words. He wanted his question to seem like a lighthearted joke, despite his curiosity itching to hear the answer.