After washing the dishes, Rudy was in his room, doing homework. Since he already had the knowledge of everything and the high school education seemed a little too easy to him, it was a piece of cake for Rudy to do homework and he did it within ten minutes.

Rudy lay on his bed, the soft glow of the screen casting a dim light in the room. His mind buzzed with the information he had absorbed from the case studies videos, detailing the lingering threats of monsters that still roamed the world. The past apocalypse, though officially declared over, had left a lasting imprint on the planet, and Rudy couldn't shake off the worry for Elise and Eleanor.

'I have Eleanor's phone number, but I have never actually called her since there was no need. I can dial her number and confirm that Eleanor is okay, but what if she is not? Whatever our relationship was in the past worldline has nothing to do with this worldline. It hasn't happened in this worldline yet, and I will make sure it doesn't happen.'

Determined to gather more information, Rudy decided to reach out to Eleanor. The familiar sequence of numbers was punched into his phone, each digit echoing the uncertainty that lingered in his thoughts. As the phone rang, Rudy's heartbeat seemed to synchronize with the melodic chime, a subtle drumbeat of anticipation.

Ring after ring, the call echoed through the digital channels, but there was no answer. Rudy's brow furrowed, a frown etching across his face. He refused to jump to conclusions, reminding himself that people had lives, moments when they couldn't answer calls. Yet, the persistent worry gnawed at him.

Undeterred, Rudy redialed Eleanor's number, the determination in his gaze mirroring the repetitive action of his fingers on the phone's screen. Each ring carried a silent plea for a response, a reassurance that all was well.

Finally, after several attempts, the call connected. A mix of relief and curiosity washed over Rudy as he held the phone to his ear, eager for the sound of Eleanor's voice. But the anticipation was met with silence on the other end. No greetings, no familiar voice; just an empty void that heightened Rudy's concern.

He called again, hoping for a different outcome. The seconds stretched, the repeated rings creating a symphony of uncertainty. And then, a subtle shift—an answer.

Hello, who is this? Rudy couldn' recognize the voice and it had been years since he last heard her voice, so he wasn't sure if he was talking to Eleanor.

"Eleanor?

" Rudy asked.

No, I am her secretary. Miss Eleanor is busy in the meeting. May I ask who's calling?

'Eleanor doesn't have my number saved? And thank **, she is okay!'

"My name is Rudy.

"

Rudy who?

"Well, I know it sounds weird but I don't have a last name.

"

Is this some kind of prank—

"It is not. Eleanor knows me. Just tell her that it's Rudy.

"

Miss Eleanor is unavailable right now. I will hand the phone to her sister.

"...!

"

'Sister?! Eleanor has a sister?!'

A few seconds later, another voice spoke.

Who's this?

'Erika? Is that you?'

No, I am Selena. Who am I speaking with?

"Umm… this is Rudy speaking. I am Eric's friend. Can I talk to Eleanor?

"

Oh, I am well aware of who Rudy is. And no, you can't talk to sis. We are currently in the international tycoon summit and sis will be busy until next month.

"Oh, Okay.

"

'I only called her to make sure Eleanor was okay, and since I have confirmed her wellbeing, I don't have anything else to say to her even if they had let me talk with Eleanor.'

The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast a warm ambiance in Rudy's room as he hung up the phone, his mind buzzing with the revelations and mysteries of the day. The anticipation for what the morrow would unveil filled him with a strange mix of excitement and trepidation. With a yawn, Rudy decided it was time to surrender to the embrace of slumber.

As he eased himself into bed, the creaking of the mattress accompanied his movements, a familiar sound that added a touch of normalcy to the extraordinary circumstances surrounding him. The room, bathed in the dim glow, held an air of quiet contemplation.

Just as Rudy began to succumb to the lull of drowsiness, a distinct knock resonated through the silence. His eyes snapped open, the rhythmic beating of his heart momentarily drowning out the stillness of the night. A glance at the door revealed an unexpected detail – the lock was intact.

"Whoa. My door lock is not broken?

" Rudy mused aloud, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. Curiosity nudged him to his feet, and with a sense of caution, he approached the door.

Upon opening it, a scene unfolded before him. Jessica, his lively and seemingly carefree aunt, stood in the doorway with a purpose that intrigued and perplexed Rudy. The play of shadows accentuated the contours of her expression, leaving Rudy to wonder about the nature of her visit.

"Yes...?

" Rudy responded, his brows raised in a mixture of curiosity and a tinge of nervousness, uncertain about the reason behind Jessica's sudden appearance.

"Don't 'yes' me. You know why I am here,

" Jessica asserted, brushing past Rudy and making her way into the room. Rudy's thoughts raced, wondering if her project file had indeed suffered some corruption, leading to this unexpected encounter.

"I... don't know why you are here,

" Rudy admitted, his words tinged with a hint of confusion.

Jessica, undeterred, squinted her eyes mischievously and pointed towards the pillow she carried with her.

"I am here to sleep with you, obviously,

" she declared, settling onto the bed as if this were a routine occurrence.

The perplexity on Rudy's face deepened.

"Why?

" he questioned, a genuine confusion etched across his features.

"I mean, you can sleep with mom, right?

"

"I can, but sis always keeps nagging me to sleep. In your room, I can stay awake all night, and no one will stop me,

" Jessica explained, her cheerfulness shining through her words.

Caught off guard, Rudy suggested,

"If you want to stay awake all night... why not just crash on the couch in the living room?

"

Jessica squinted her eyes once more, a playful glint in them.

"Do you not want me to sleep in your room?

"

Caught between awkwardness and familial concern, Rudy found himself at a loss for words.

'What am I supposed to say?' Rudy asked himself. 'She is my aunt and although us sleeping in the same room is not an issue, I would still feel a little awkward. But judging by her reaction, it seems as though this is a regular occurrence.'

"Don't you have to go to the city tomorrow?

" Rudy inquired, attempting to shift the focus.

"Would you be able to wake up on time if you slept late?

"

"I have a free day tomorrow, and it's the weekend after that, so I am going to enjoy my freedom~

" Jessica replied, her carefree demeanor undeterred.

Rudy scratched his head, trying to process the unexpected turn of events. Jessica seemed determined to make herself at home in his room, and Rudy couldn't quite decipher her intentions. As the awkward silence lingered, Jessica patted the empty space beside her on the bed. RE𝒂d updated st𝒐ries at n

/𝒐vel

/bin(.)com

"Come on, Rudy. We can chat, play games, and have a good time. It's been ages since we hung out like this,

" Jessica said, a playful grin on her face.

Rudy sighed inwardly, realizing that arguing further might be futile. He shrugged, conceding to the peculiar arrangement.

"Alright, you can stay, but don't blame me if you end up sleeping through half of the day tomorrow.

"

Despite his reservations, Rudy decided to go along with it. After all, Jessica was family, and perhaps a night of bonding would help bridge the gap between the Rudy of this worldline and his eccentric aunt.

'Nothing can go wrong… right…?' Rudy thought to himself.