Sylphie: The Third Part

The next day

By noon, I had bought the groceries and was ready to head over.

Following the address, I arrived at his rented apartment.

"How could it be this kind of apartment...?"

Standing at the entrance, I stared blankly at the building before me.

It was completely different from what I had imagined...

It stood in a somewhat remote alley. The exterior walls had faded from years of sun and wind, with quite a few cracks running across them. There was even moss growing in the corners.

The stair railings were rusty, and they gave a faint creak whenever someone walked up them.

The window glass was dirty. Through the dust, I could only vaguely make out the dim rooms inside.

"Though I knew it was in an old neighborhood when I looked for it..."

I murmured as I walked up to the door of his room.

It was an old iron door, with some of the paint peeling off and worn marks around the edges.

Why would he rent a place like this...? His family shouldn't be that short on money...

No, no, I shouldn't think so much about it!

After taking a deep breath, I gently knocked on the door.

[Knock knock]

There was no response from inside.

I knocked again.

[Knock knock]

Still no response...

It was already noon. Was he still not awake...?

Or had he not gotten up, or... could something have happened?

He had drunk so much last night. What if he went home, tried to take a shower, and fell in the bathroom or something?!

The moment that thought occurred to me, I immediately took out my phone and called him.

[Beep...]

Please... pick up...

But the first call went unanswered.

I immediately made a second call.

*If he doesn't answer after