Behind These Walls || Michael Jackson

“... I keep on waiting

Anticipating for that soft voice

To talk to me at night

For some tender arms

To hold me tight”

🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

Simone is currently listening to an angelic voice that is beaming her ears for a while now. The heavenly voice is coming from the other side of her bathroom wall. Whoever is singing behind the thin barrier is really an angel sent from above.

The warm shower is actually calming her nerves right now but it seems like, she is not enjoying her shower session or, it is more accurate to say, that her attention is not on the shower droplets.

Her attention and her very attentive ears are focusing on this very beautiful high-pitched voice. She is reluctant to listen at first to her neighbor’s private concert because in her mind, it is an invasion of privacy. Not that because it is in her intention to listen but because, she can just ignore it.

She can just simply ignore the very talented voice that she is hearing right now and just pursue her morning shower session but, Simone chose not to do that.

She listened.

Scratch that.

Simone is still listening and enjoying the free concert.

It’s not her fault that the walls are thin but she still chose to listen.

She is sure and confident to say that behind those walls is her neighbor’s bathroom too. That is because, she can literally hear the water running aside from the gifted touch of music to one’s throat and vocal cords.

Simone just moved to her newly rented apartment in the very busy streets of a famous city a few days ago. She is living in the same city for many years now and she decided to look for a new apartment space for the sake of her new job.

She just got hired to a private school as a pre-school teacher and her apartment is a few blocks away from the school. Plus, the place is neat and looks okay for its cheap price.

It’s a win-win.

Well, aside from the apartment’s thin walls.

She is not complaining about the thin walls though.

At least, not for now.

Simone wanted to believe that her neighbor is not really living in his own rented space because she never heard anything from the other side ever since she moved in.

She never met him. She doesn’t even know him.

She’s been living in her new apartment for a week now but she never heard anything from the other side.

Not until now.

She just knew that her neighbor is a man because by judging that voice she is hearing right now? He is a man. His voice is soft and pitchy but Simone already convinced herself that the owner of that voice is a man.

The familiar groovy music is also causing Simone to bang her own head with the beat. She can’t help herself anymore so she swayed her body with the rhythm and danced to ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’ by The Supremes.

The music is not really loud. It is only meant for her neighbor to hear but since the walls are thin, she can hear it clearly. However, the groovy music is not her concern right now.

Simone is letting herself to be lost at his magical voice. It sounded like his voice is taking her to a some kind of paradise and surely, it is making her panties wet. But she remembered, she is naked under the shower and she is already wet... with water. Her body is already wet with warm water.

A smile crept to her face as the thought of sharing her opinion that her neighbor’s version of the song is better than the original. It’s not her intention to slander the song but it is just her way of complimenting her neighbor. He has a golden voice and he deserved all the compliments in the world.

And Simone also placed all her bets that the dude next door has a huge crush on Diana Ross.

Like a huge one.

Just a wild guess.

The groovy music stopped and also the finger snaps, hiccups, and vocals of her neighbor. Simone scrunched her nose as the thought of not hearing the dude’s magical voice again is clouding her mind.

She wanted more.

She wanted to hear his voice a million times more.

Simone waited for a few more minutes but there is nothing. The water also stopped from running and even a slightest noise is not heard again from the other side.

“Maybe he’s done.” Simone shrugged to herself.

She got no other choice but to finish her shower session. Her best friend will arrive very soon to pick her up so they can both practice Adulting 101 by grabbing groceries. Also, she is planning to buy some school supplies that she will need in her teaching job.

Simone finished her little routine and she wore her favorite khaki shorts and black v-neck shirt. She put on a light, natural makeup before she plumped her kissable, pouty lips in front of her vanity mirror.

Satisfied with her look, she wore her sandals and she checked her belongings in her cute maroon sling bag while waiting for her best friend, Clem, to hit her up.

Yeah.

Clem as in Clementine.

Like, ‘Oh my darling, Clementine’.

Simone sighed again at that memory and even up to this day, she can’t bear to listen to the traditional version of that song. It gives her goosebumps.

In her mind, why do kids sing that song when in fact, Clementine died from drowning?

She licked her drying lips and shrugged her thoughts away. She fished her phone from her bag and just in time, she saw a text message from Clem.

Hey, Sims! You ready?

I’m here.

Even though Simone already checked her looks for numerous times, she stared again at the mirror to have a one last look. A toothless smile is seen from her face as satisfaction drowned her. She let her hair swayed from side to side too. Just a playful way of appreciating the wavy ends of her hair.

Okay. Give me a minute :)

Simone hit send and grabbed her bag from the couch. She walked towards the main door and when she is on her way to step outside her apartment, she heard her neighbor’s door creaks.

As a reflex to an unknown reason, she stepped back inside her apartment again and hid herself on the door. She didn’t close her door fully and she peeked at the hallway, hoping to have a cute glance of her singing neighbor.

She didn’t fail though.

Simone’s eyes twinkled at the sight of her neighbor. She didn’t expect that the dude behind the walls is a very fine man.

The man next door took his precious time by standing in front of his door. He checked everything from his pockets before he locked the door. He played with his keys while walking at the hallway until his presence is no longer in Simone’s sight.

In just a short minute of glancing, she already memorized the little details of his existence. She glanced at his long, black curly hair. It is fixed in a some sort of a bun with some messy curls that were left intentionally to mess with his face.

The first thing Simone notices in an individual is their eyes so she didn’t waste any time to look at the man’s expressive, brown doe eyes. His eyelashes are long too and it complements with his dreamy eyes.

She also loves his nose and she has this sudden urge to trace his nose bridge already. His perfectly arched brows are not exempted from her hawk eyes too.

Simone felt a twitch from her stomach when she studied his perfect jawline and his strong neck. Absent-mindedly, she watched how he brushed his large hand to his hair and how the keys rotated around his finger before he walked away from her sight.

She applauded his simple but iconic fashion too. Who would have thought that a white shirt and a blue button down shirt which are tucked in his tight black pants will make her drool?

Don’t even mention the white socks and his black loafers. He looks so damn good, she screamed in her mind.

That fitting black pants he is wearing is showcasing his incredible thick thighs. She also received a glimpse of his broad chest due to the thin fiber of his white shirt. Those features of him gave Simone a very dry throat.

The spotlight was also given to his kissable lips which sent Simone to cloud nine. She didn’t even bother to lie to herself that she stared at his perfect ass while he is walking away from her like he owns the freaking building.

Maybe it’s because of the weather? Her body’s temperature is rising and she wanted to blame the weather for it. Just like her neighbor himself. Hot and freaking sexy.

“Ouch!” She came back to earth and she even stubbed her pinky toe at the door due to her sudden movements. That scenario made her want to curse the door for existing.

Her thoughts were interrupted by her vibrating phone. She checked it and saw that she received another text message from Clem.

You owe me a lunch.

Where are you from? Mars?

Simone pursed her lips to suppress her laughs. The way she moved her lips caused her very shy dimples to show.

Instead of replying, she locked her door right away and marched her way downstairs as fast as possible. However, her long strides slowed down a little and she took each step of the stairs with so much safety.

Why?

Because her handsome and sexy singing neighbor is in the building lobby. He got this sweet, beautiful smile while he is chatting with an older man to which she assumed is also living in one of the apartments in the building.

She acted as normally as possible but she is still throwing secret glances at the man. Suddenly, his messy curls are Simone’s new favorite thing.

He is just there, talking casually but what she doesn’t know, he is aware of her secret glances and her presence. He even noticed the wavy ends of her hair.

Simone pursed her lips again as she brushed her hair with her hand before she removed her little sight from her neighbor. She walked casually in the lobby as if no one is existing at the same space as her until she exited the building to meet the Saturday sun.

“What took you so long?” Clem shouted playfully at Simone while she is chilling on the driver seat of her car.

“I’m sorry.” Simone apologized with a smile on her face as she marched her way towards the passenger side.

“You just made me wait. You and your bad intentions.” Clem chuckled, the grin is from ear to ear, and started to drive safely.

“I have no bad intentions, Clem. Something just happened.” Simone defended herself with arched eyebrows.

“Something or someone?” Clem smirked at her.

Simone’s eyes widened.

“What?!”

“You heard me.” Clem answered with teasing as the intention. “Heart eyes are practically oozing from your body.”

“Heart eyes?” Simone shook her head and smiled.

She thought to herself, what do heart eyes look like?

Simone can hear her neighbor’s voice again inside her head and even the absence of music in the car, she wanted to bang her head as the beat is practically stuck in her mind.

“That’s what I’m talking about. You have that smile!” Clem blurted as she took a glance at Simone before she switched her gaze again at the road.

“Clem...” Simone warned playfully. “I’m not even doing anything! I’m just sitting here!”

“We’re not best friends since college for nothing, Sims. I know you and your fantasies.” Clem chuckled hysterically.

“Fantasi—” Simone sighed at her defeat. “What are you talking about, Clementine? Fantasy? Really?” She continued to deny while looking at Clem.

She even called her friend Clementine because in Simone’s mind, her best friend is being unreasonably hilarious. Clem hated it when someone is calling her by her real name. It’s too feminine, she said.

Simone and Clem met in their History class way back in college. Their personalities clicked right away and they became best friends since then. They are so close to the point that even the slightest movement and split ends, they knew the real meaning of it even without asking the other party.

At this case, Clem knew that someone is bothering her best friend’s mind. Not in a bad way though. The moment Simone walked out of her apartment building earlier, Clem noticed a familiar bloom in Simone’s aura.

“Just tell me. Come on... Don’t be shy.” Clem showed her giddy smile. “Tell me about him. Is he a co-teacher? Or maybe, a hot single dad who’s dropping and picking up his kid or his kids regularly in school?”

“Hot dad?” Simone laughed. Even that is a good and interesting idea to work on, Simone said no. She is too busy and Clem is really losing her mind. “Neither.”

Simone already spent three days in her new job but it is just to observe in classes so she can familiarize and adjust herself to the new environment first. She will start teaching on Monday.

And no. She is not searching for a hot single dad.

“Then who?”

“No one.” Simone tried to hide her sweet smile as she switched her sight at her window side. “Just my neighbor.” She murmured that almost the dogs can only hear her words.

“What? Neighbor?!” Clem yelled with a surprised look on her face. “As in neighbor neighbor? Your neighbor? Next door?”

“Yup!” Simone popped.

“Oh!” Clem beamed a huge smile. “So you already have his number? You’re dating? When can I meet him?”

“What? No!” Simone said. “I didn’t meet him officially. I just saw him in the hallway and in the lobby.”

“That’s why you were late.”

“That’s why I’m late.” Simone confessed and they both shared a knowing look. “I just saw him and that’s it. I don’t even know his name.”

“Then ask him! Knock on his door! Introduce yourself!” Clem suggested and she parked her car smoothly at the grocery’s lot.

Clem arched her eyebrows too at her best friend. She didn’t check the news but maybe, a full moon will show up later at night because Simone is definitely not having a secret crush on her neighbor right now.

That’s not very... Simone.

“Oh yeah. Why I didn’t think of that?” Simone rolled her eyes sarcastically before she unbuckled her seatbelt.

They both know that Simone will never do such thing. Not the first move or even show the slightest motive.

“So you’ll just give secret glances at him when he shows himself somewhere?” Clem threw Simone a questioning look before they both got off from the car.

“Yeah.” Simone answered with confidence. “I just heard him sing too. While he was taking a shower.” She closed her eyes for a second and pinched her nose bridge. “While I was taking a shower too.”

“You what?!” Clem asked with so much enthusiasm.

“The walls are pretty thin.” Simone explained with hand gestures.

“So did you...” Clem followed up with a mischievious grin.

“Oh my God? Clem?” Simone swatted her best friend’s arm.

“What? I’m not saying anything!”

“Your eyes are saying it all!” Simone exclaimed to her best friend.

“I’m just curious! He’s just singing or...”

“Singing! He’s just singing, Clem—”

“Or moaning or,”

“Stop it!” Simone laughed but the blushing of her cheeks couldn’t be denied.

“Aw. You’re blushing!” Clem pointed out and Simone just gave her an annoyed look. “You just moved in and now, you’re having a crush on your neighbor! How cute!”

Just the thought of... Simone can’t even say it to herself.

The thought of her neighbor doing something else, like literally doing something else that a man would do privately aside from singing and showering just like what Clem is implying, is freeing the butterflies in her stomach.

Just hearing his voice is already making her crazy what more when she saw him earlier that gave face to her imagination?

What makes her feelings worse right now is the unnecessary and slightly dirty thoughts Clem is implanting in her mind.

“Okay, whatever.” Clem rolled her eyes. “Just tell me right away if there’s something interesting. I know your boring self too well. You will not do something about it.” She added while giving Simone a knowing stare. “To that stupid crush of yours, I mean.”

“I’m not boring.” Simone answered. “But yeah. I would never do something about it.”

She is not exactly sure about that though. She can’t shut off her brain that is continuously bugging her about the things she could possibly do if ever she will meet her neighbor officially or if she will just see him again.

Simone just screamed to herself that these ideas are stupid and having a stupid crush to her neighbor is a very ridiculous thing.

While Simone is having fun at the grocery with Clem, the dude next door is still chilling at the building lobby to waste some time before he will go to the dance studio where he works as a choreographer and dance instructor.

He needs to work hard. It is a long time dream of him to have his own dance studio but for now, he needs to go to work since he has a dancing class at one in the afternoon. Surely, a bunch of kids are very excited to learn how to dance.

Michael, or more popularly known as Simone’s handsome and freaking sexy singing neighbor, is wondering to himself too.

Who is that pretty lady in khaki shorts he saw at the lobby earlier?