All Chapters of Whispers Through the Wall: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Ethan was getting used to the rhythm of life in his new apartment. The late-night noises, the thin walls, and the intoxicating presence of his neighbor were becoming an undeniable part of his reality. He told himself he was adjusting. That was a lie. He wasn’t adjusting. He was obsessing.Every morning, he found himself lingering just a little too long in his doorway, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sienna as she came and went. She had a habit of leaving in the early evening, dressed in stunning outfits that made his pulse race, and returning late at night. Ethan told himself it was none of his business, but that did little to stop the gnawing curiosity eating away at him.One afternoon, he was gathering his mail from the rusted metal boxes in the lobby when the unmistakable scent of Sienna’s perfume wrapped around him like an invisible thread. A soft, sultry voice followed.“Well, well, if it isn’t my favorite bookworm.”Ethan turned, his breath catching as he met her playful gaze. She

Ethan was on his way back from the corner store, a small plastic bag swinging from his wrist, filled with nothing more than a cheap instant meal and a bottle of soda. But his mind wasn’t on dinner. It was still tangled in the events of last night—his time with Sienna. The way she had leaned in close, her breath warm against his skin. The way her lips had curved into that knowing smirk, as if she saw straight through him. Every second of it replayed in his head like an addictive melody, one he couldn’t silence no matter how hard he tried.For once, he had felt like he belonged in her world, even if just for a moment.But as he approached the entrance of his apartment building, a gravelly voice cut through his thoughts like a sharp blade.“Hey, kid.”Ethan looked up and saw Mr. Langley, his neighbor from two doors down, leaning against the rusted railing outside the complex. The older man was wrapped in his usual worn-out cardigan, his thinning gray hair sticking out in uneven tufts. A

Ethan lay awake long after the sounds had faded into silence. His mind replayed them like a broken record, each moan, each breathy gasp gnawing at his insides. He turned onto his side, pressing his face into the pillow, but it didn’t help. The heat of shame clung to his skin like a second layer, suffocating him.It’s none of your business, he told himself. She’s just your neighbor. Nothing more.And yet, the jealousy seething in his chest suggested otherwise. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to drown out the phantom echoes of Sienna with another man. His hands curled into fists at his sides. Stop it. Stop thinking about her like that.The next morning, Ethan moved around his apartment sluggishly, his eyes heavy with lack of sleep. He made himself a cup of coffee, standing by the kitchen window and staring absently at the city below. The world was moving as usual, indifferent to his turmoil. He took a deep breath and forced himself to think rationally.Sienna was a beautiful woman. Of

Ethan wasn’t used to surprises. His life followed a strict routine—work, study, occasional grocery runs, and long nights spent trying to ignore the woman living next door. His world was structured, predictable, and safe. Until now.A soft knock interrupted his morning coffee. He wasn’t expecting visitors. In fact, he never had visitors. His stomach tightened with an inexplicable sense of anticipation as he approached the door. A brief moment of hesitation—then he turned the knob.And there she was.Sienna leaned casually against the doorframe, her golden-brown hair damp, clinging to her skin as if she had just stepped out of a warm shower. She smelled like coconut and something sweet—an intoxicating mix that made his throat dry. She wore a cropped tank top, barely covering the curve of her waist, and ripped jeans that hugged her hips in a way that made it impossible for Ethan not to notice.“Morning, nerd boy,” she greeted, her lips curving into a smirk. “Busy?”Ethan gripped the edge

Ethan had always been the type to overthink things. Small details, tiny inconsistencies—things that most people wouldn’t even notice stuck in his mind like an unsolved puzzle. And lately, the puzzle of Sienna had begun to consume him.It wasn’t just her beauty or the way she teased him that kept his thoughts circling around her like a moth to a flame. It was the way she skillfully danced around personal questions, always steering conversations away when things got too close to home.He first noticed it a few nights after their coffee outing. They had run into each other again outside their apartments, and somehow, she had invited herself inside his place.“You live like a monk,” she teased, eyes sweeping over his small, barely decorated apartment. “No posters? No knickknacks? Not even a single piece of clutter?”Ethan, sitting on the edge of his worn-out couch, shrugged. “I like things neat.”Sienna perched herself on the armrest, stretching her legs out lazily. “You like control.”He