Rex sits in front of his laptop, headphones on, swaying and humming to the beat. Since it's spring and the city is currently above ground, the air inside the apartment has turned a bit muggy. Rex is working in a tank top, his muscular build on full display, paired with jersey shorts. Suddenly, "click," the apartment door opens. A girl enters, carrying a folder, a bag of food, and a school bag. She's beautiful—short blonde hair, a fit body, and piercing blue eyes. Her school uniform fits perfectly, hugging her curves in all the right places.
She sets her things down on the coffee table behind Rex. With a sly, silent smile, she creeps up behind him. Rex is still lost in his music, seemingly unaware she's even there. She raises both hands, ready to cover his eyes from behind, but just as she's about to strike, "snap," Rex catches both of her wrists. The girl gasps. Rex lets go and turns around, pulling off his headphones.
"Oh, Ruby? Why are you here already? Shouldn't you still be in class?" Rex asks.
"School was boring, so I just came here. You're no fun... I can never sneak up on you," Ruby answers, pouting with her arms crossed.
"Sorry, just reflex. Anyway, do you have the assignments?" Rex asks.
"Yeah... that's why I came by to drop them off," Ruby says, pointing to the coffee table.
"Oh, okay. I'll get on those later. Thanks," Rex replies with a smile.
"Sure... what are you doing?" Ruby asks, peering at his laptop.
"The usual, managing the web store," Rex answers.
"Let me see," Ruby says, pulling up a chair to sit right next to him.
"I actually have to head out for a bit in a minute," Rex says, looking at Ruby beside him.
"Where to?" Ruby asks.
"Convenience store... to buy some boxers. For some reason, mine keep disappearing. Probably because this place is such a mess," Rex answers.
"Oh... don't worry about it. Hold on," Ruby says, standing up abruptly.
She walks over to her bag and digs through it. She pulls out a brand-new pair of boxers, still sealed in plastic. Whistling cheerfully, she walks back and sits down, handing them to Rex.
"Huh... okay, the size is right. Thanks, you're surprisingly thoughtful," Rex says.
"Hehe... of course. I'm always by your side, so I know exactly what you need," Ruby replies, looking proud and bubbly.
***
Let's pause for a second. Before we go any further, let me introduce the friend I mentioned earlier. Her name is Ruby. She's been glued to me, hanging out at my place almost every day for two years... honestly, she practically lives here since she stays over so often. When I was brought to this city two years ago and enrolled in school, I happened to sit next to her. At first, she was cold—the type who didn't trust anyone. I was the same way, so I didn't bother talking to her either. But one day, the teacher gave us a joint assignment. We finally started talking, kept talking, and eventually, she just stuck.
Even so, I still can't accept her 100 percent. I get the feeling she's hiding something from me. Another weird thing: she's just like me. Even after two years, she looks exactly the same as the day I met her. Plus, she's actually already graduated but was told to go back to school because... well, she's stuck at sixteen. Same as me, even though I'm a year older. The academies in this city are weird, which is how I ended up in the same class as her.
I'm grateful because she's incredibly attentive and knows exactly what I need. I'm still waiting to see what the catch is, though. People that kind and caring usually have an angle, right? But after two years, she's still the same, so I just let it be. The only thing that bugs me is her habit of leaving her laundry at my place—bras, panties, you name it. It's weird. Or she'll leave leftover food and drinks and insist I finish them. But I guess that's typical friend stuff, so... no problem if it's just that. So, that's the gist of what I know about Ruby.
***
Half an hour later, "hoaaam," Ruby yawns and stretches her arms high above her head. She taps Rex on the shoulder, making him jump while he's concentrating.
"Oh right... I gotta head out. I have a job interview at the shopping district," Ruby says, checking her watch.
"I see. Well, are you coming back later?" Rex asks, turning to look at her.
"Hmm... we'll see. If I'm coming back, I'll call or text you," Ruby answers casually as she stands up.
"Okay then. Be safe out there. See ya," Rex says, waving a hand.
"Yep... I'll let you know. Oh, and I bought food for you. Don't forget to eat it," Ruby adds.
"Got it," Rex replies.
Ruby grabs her bag and walks casually out of Rex's apartment. She walks along the balcony and down the stairs. Once she's out of sight, Ruby stops and looks left and right. Seeing no one, she dashes to the side of the building. It turns out her own unit is on the first floor of the very same apartment complex Rex lives in. She quickly pulls her keys from her bag, unlocks the door, slips inside, and slams it shut.
"Hehehe," Ruby mutters with a wide grin.
She walks toward her bedroom and "click," flips on the light. At a glance, it's just a normal girl's room—two wardrobes, a pink bedspread with a cute bunny motif, bolsters, a desk, and neatly arranged books. She walks to one of the wardrobes and opens it. Her smile grows even wider. The wardrobe is actually a glass display case. The contents? Everything belonging to Rex—pens, coffee mugs, photos, shirts he once wore, and so much more. The glass case is like a museum dedicated to the handsome, messy-haired Rex.
Ruby walks to the side of her bed and sits facing the display. She reaches into her school bag and pulls something out. It's a pair of boxers—the ones Rex was just wearing, perhaps still warm. "Sniiif." She inhales deeply. "Aaaaah." She looks satisfied, her beautiful face flushing red, her eyes losing focus like someone who's drunk with pleasure.
"Hehehe... finally... fresh Rex boxers... I forgot to take them yesterday and only realized when I bought him a new pair... luckily I could slip away and come home for a bit... uuh... I love you, Rex... you're mine forever," Ruby says, hugging the boxers and sniffing them as she rolls onto the bed.
After a while, Ruby lies there in a daze, holding the boxers over her nose and mouth. Her eyes are closed as she remembers the first time she met Rex and the first time he spoke to her.
"Only you, Rex, have no hidden motives with me... besides, you're so mysterious, and for some reason, I feel like you're just like me... I really love you, and you smell so good... snifffff," Ruby mutters, hopelessly intoxicated as she sprawls on the bed.
Suddenly, "knock... knock," there's a rap at her apartment door. Ruby jumps, startled. Instinctively, she pulls a long dagger from beneath her skirt. She creeps slowly toward the door and peeks through the hole. She immediately hides the knife behind her back and opens the door.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Ruby? I have a package for you," the delivery man says.
"Oh, right. Thank you," Ruby replies.
"Please sign for the receipt, Ma'am," the delivery man says, handing her a clipboard.
"Sure, right here?" Ruby asks, taking the pen.
"That's right," the man answers.
Ruby signs it and hands it back. The man tears off the copy and hands her a cardboard box along with the receipt. Ruby closes the door and sits on the floor to open the package. Inside is a glass case equipped with a hanger. She stands up, grabs Rex's boxers, opens the new case, and hangs them inside.
"Perfect," Ruby says, admiring the glass case before hugging it with a wide grin. "I really love you, Rex. I never felt anything like this in my previous life.. sorry I took your boxers, I swapped them for new ones, and my bra was a bonus, wasn't it? Hehehe. Go ahead and sniff it, enjoy my scent as much as you want, hehehe," Ruby mutters in her heart while clutching the glass case.
Who exactly is Ruby, and why is she so obsessed with the Rex she's known for the past two years?