The door to my balcony was open as I enjoyed the southern breeze blowing across the sea and kissing my face.

I was chatting with Aleesha and Sehar as they showed me their shopping.

It was once again nightfall and the world was under covers of a dark blanket littered with twinkling stars.

Sehar declared that it was time for her sleep and retreated back to her room.

" Too bad it rained today. We'll go to the beach tomorrow. " Aleesha said as she started packing up her purchases back into the bags.

" Yeah we can go tomorrow. I'm glad it rained though. I love the peace and calm rain brings . " I say smiling while reminiscing about today's memories.

" You've always been a rain lover." Aleesha replies softly, smiling in my direction and hugging me good night before leaving and closing the door.

The air was still cool with the after effects of rain .

I dragged a chair to the balcony and turned on the small light fixture in the ceiling before sitting down with my new book propped open in my lap. 

Crickets and small animals chirped in the background while the waves crashed against the shore in the distance, creating a rhythmic pattern of music.

My gaze unwillingly wavered to the open window of that bungalow from yesterday night and I noticed that the window was now shut tight . But the curtain is only closed halfway with a small gap in the middle. There is no light tonight.

Maybe it was just petty thieves or some caretakers cleaning the house.

I shake my head trying to pacify my mind and push away any negative thoughts. It was all okay.

For the next few hours I am so immersed in reading the book that I completely forget about everything else. I was reading a particularly thrilling paragraph when suddenly a part of the wall on my balcony was illuminated in a soft glow of light.

My head whipped towards the opposite bungalow's weird window and sure enough the light was being reflected from there.

The curtains were now fully drawn back.

My heart started hammering very fast. The burglars had come back.

But there was no sign of anyone breaking in . Surely the multiple security guards roaming around the complex outside would have caught any intruder sneaking in right?

That means no one had sneaked in. Whoever turned on the lights had been inside all along.

My eyes widened when I noticed a shadow walk across the window.

It's only for a brief moment and then the room is once again engulfed by darkness .

I clamp the book in my hands shut and jump up from the chair I was sitting on. Swiftly turning off my balcony's light I go inside my room , shutting the sliding door to the balcony and drawing the curtain over it.

My room is completely dark save for the lamp beside my bed casting a small glow in the background.

After a few minutes of reciting some surahs my nerves calm down and I gain courage to look outside again.

I tiptoe towards the balcony and slightly draw back the curtain just enough so I can peek outside without being seen myself .

It takes a while for my eyes to adjust to the darkness but when it does I don't know whether to feel scared, surprised or intrigued.

Someone is standing on the balcony of that bungalow.

I squint my eyes to see better but it's not much help.

All I can make out is that it's a boy with dark messy hair falling over his forehead.

He's not near enough that I can figure out his eye color or other facial features clearly but judging by his silhouette I make a conclusion that he's quite tall and lean. I watch as he brushes his hand through his unruly hair and moves to lean against the sliding glass door .

His posture is relaxed as he stares off somewhere in the distance.

Why is he just standing there in the darkness? Maybe he's admiring the ocean .

Minutes go by but he doesn't move .

What if he's looking towards my room and can see me ?

I get startled at the sudden thought . Who knows what ghosts can do right?

I've never watched a single horror movie because I know my heart won't be able to take it and I'll lose my ability to sleep or function.

I contemplate trying to take a picture of him as proof so that my friends believe someone is living in that bungalow but I don't have the nerves to pull aside the curtain and take his picture. And what if he isn't visible through digital lens and I can only see him through my human pupils? That would definitely confirm my worst suspicions.

I don't even believe in ghosts. Sure, jinns are real but we can't see them .
I have no idea who it is on the other side of that curtain but it's safe to say if it's a ghost- he sure seems cute.

At least from here.  But sirens are cute too , until they lure you in and kill you.

Once again sleep evades me and I  stay awake , mentally listing all the possible scenarios of who might be living there.

It may be a ghost haunting the bungalow due to some grudge or just for fun because he likes the view.

Or a runaway criminal hiding from the law.

It might even be the owner themselves living secretly away from the public's eye of visions.

But if it was the owner, why wouldn't the salesperson and caretakers over here know about it.

Unless, they have something to hide.

☠️

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