HEARTS

Maxwell had came up to Bella that night while she was cleaning the balcony. It wasn't his first time seeing her clean the balcony; as he would always spend his evening sitting by the window to watch her carry out tedious chores without breaking a sweat, he felt it was amazing how she could do them with so much calmness. He is the occupant of the apartment next to Bella's and has been living there for the past two years with his cousin Kingsley, who just moved out after getting a job with a printing company located downtown.

Bella on the other hand was a writer and a fashion illustrator that just moved into the apartment few months back, she had left her family house to a fashion academy which has always been her dream against her parents wish. They wanted her to pursue a medical course in a renowed college so as to keep up with the family's legacy. Bella grew up as a child who learnt to take in more and complain less, every steps and actions she's ever taken in her life were always approved after thorough scrutiny. These were among the reasons why the parents didn't throw much tantrum when she left home for the fashion academy, they felt it wasn't something their Bella could do if she wasn't really mad at them. Towards the end of her program at the academy, she met with a lady who needed a fashion illustration for a magazine, that was her first time visiting the town and she instantly fell in love with the environment. At graduation she had already gotten an apartment and moved in just after signing out of the academy. Even though they had been neighbors for close to five months, that was their first time speaking to each other; though it was brief and more like an introduction, it still felt nice.

Bella was at that point in her life trying to figure things out. She was working on what she called her life plan and felt a bigger circle might thwart her plans; so she was more like a loner and didn't reach out to make new friends since she moved into the neighborhood. She and Maxwell wasn't exactly an opposite of each other, they had few things in common. Just like her, Maxwell doesn't like making much friends, he believed it wasn't necessary since they end up leaving at some point in your life. He loves writing just like Bella, she found out he had written a couple of articles at some point in their discussions. Bella happened to be uptight while Maxwell is more open to life and willing to try out new things. Bella couldn't help but wonder at times how one person could be jovial, fun to be with, possess a good sense of humour, selfless and smart. She had judged from his qualities that he did make a good leader. She didn't know much about zodiac signs, but from the little she knew; she felt his personalities combines that of a Taurus and Sagittarius though his birthday falls in march. He however possesses same passion and enthusiasm of an Aries, thus, representing his zodiac sign.

Their series of meetings were more about getting to know each other and sharing ideas but never agreed they were friends, Maxwell will always say she's his neighbor and Bella always teases him non-stop anytime he introduced her to someone as a friend. Bella was a nature lover and enjoyed night view more than anything, looking at the sky with each star flickering as if they were just few miles away were among her hobbies; the balcony was her favorite place as she would always stand there at night to watch the moon and the trees being swayed by the wind.

In their first week of knowing each other, she introduced Maxwell to her normal lifestyle of night viewing . They always stood at the balcony enjoying the night view, whilst Maxwell points out couples taking a stroll or going on a date. There were days he did assume two friends or total strangers to be a couple and Bella was ever ready to argue that assumption with him, also days he did whine about not being able to spot couples. Those were his own fantasy, seeing two people in love and willing to stick to each other; he affirms being a strong supporter of sincere love and romance.

They went to and fro till they got so attached to each other without noticing and Maxwell couldn't stop talking about how much he enjoys Bella's company. Bella being herself never admitted enjoying his company but her actions the last time Maxwell was out of town spoke volumes, she never came out to enjoy the night view as she always do. She missed him so much, how they argued about petty things, talked about other neighbors in the neighborhood, how they pointed out different shapes and features of the beautiful night sky and would stay up late into the night arguing who is right or wrong between John David Washington and Zendaya in the movie "Malcolm and Marie", argued about the movie "Acrimony" and "Newness". She felt so lonely that she would stand close to his window wishing Maxwell could talk to her from inside as he always do.

She was so happy the day Maxwell came back but still couldn't say she missed him and felt lonely while he was away. She felt that would be handing over her feeling of wholeness to him. Maxwell thought he was getting too attached and might go against his word of being just her neighbor, so he brought a friend with him and reduced his interactions with Bella.

The friend left three days later after he had made friends with Bella, it was his first time in that town and he took liking at how much Bella appreciates nature. Unlike before, they barely talk as they keep avoiding each other afterwards, both pretending not to be affected though they needed each other badly. Last week Maxwell wanted to know if she's been in contact with his friend but wouldn't say his reasons when Bella asked.

You must be wondering who's writting and how I know so much; I'm the subconscious and I know they feel a lot more but would never admit it.