After Arissa and the young stranger got an agreement, the next step was the making of a contract between Mr. Evan as the owner and them as the tenants. Three of them have agreed to pay the fixed price for 1 year. Whereas other expenses like the electricity, water bill, et cetera will be paid regularly by the occupant.
After three of them signed the contract, Arissa transferred half of the sum as a downpayment and the rest of it will be paid after they both moved in and arranged their stuff inside. Around three days from now.
After the owner came home and handing the keys to the young man. Now there were only her and the weirdo young man who stay still inside the room.
The atmosphere getting more awkward between the two of them because they are completely a pair of a perfect stranger. Never met before and totally have no idea about one another at all. Then, starting tomorrow, they will officially share a house and living under the same roof.
After a long silence, Arissa cleared her throat and initially, introduced herself to the young man next to her.
"Arissa Nova…"
She said her name casually, stretched out her hand.
"Cristan Lewis ..."
The young man replied nonchalantly and took her hands in a firm grip. His day has been tough and rough today. Thank goodness he finally managed to find a play to stay this fast. Tonight will be his last day to live in his old apartment. Tomorrow, he got to leave. Well, even though he didn't expect to share a room with this strange girl, but it seemed that she was quite fair and square.
Arissa studied the sloppy male in front of her. Based on his appearance, it seemed that he is in his thirties. And looking at the way he dressed up, she thought that this young man probably a dropped-out or a jobless seeker. She keeps observing and staring intensely at his features thoroughly. His wavy long hair is tied up at the back while his shirt looks dirty and disheveled. His torn jeans are dull in colors. It seemed like it hasn't been washed for a while. But despite all that, he is gorgeous. He is blessed with tan hazelnut skin which slightly shows his muscular muscles behind his shirts. He looks attractive and masculine. His sharp gaze, a pair of thick eyebrows, and don't forget his symmetrical jawline. He is really a feast for your eyes. A type of male which every woman would throw themselves voluntarily under his knees and warm his bed every night.
Unfortunately, these circumstances didn't work for her. His beauty might be amazingly seductive for most women and able to make their hearts melts down in no minute but this won't apply the same with her.
"When will you start moving?"
She blurted out her question in a second.
"Tomorrow .."
The young man replied briefly without looking her eyes at all who still standing next to him.
A scowl appears on her face while her inner goddess stomping her feet angrily.
Rude!!
But Cristan just seemed fine while his fingers pressed few buttons on his phone. Then, he making a short call afterward and turning his back. Judging from his behavior, it seems he is on the phone with an expedition company for helping him to move out of his old apartment.
Arissa let out a deep sighed. Seems like this year is gonna be feels forever for her. Judging from his rude and snobbish behavior, her new housemate surely will give her much headache in the short future. Like a pain in her ass. Ugh !!
But she had to endure all these before she was able to collect some money and save enough to move to a better place for a while. She also needs to help out the orphanage as well. A place where she came from before.
Yes ... yes ... hold on, hold on.
Be patient, Arissa! You can do it!
"I would like to make another deal ..."
His voice suddenly startled her. Arissa turned her head. His face still looked arrogant and annoying with a cunning smile on his lips. But his intense gaze looked more serious at her now. Arissa frowned and raised her eyebrows.
"A deal between two of us. Do you mind? "
Arissa shook her head with a faint smile, "No, sure ..."
"Go ahead.."
"Ok, let's meet again tomorrow morning. Today I'm going to make a duplicate of the keys for you and start moving my stuff from my old apartment. Tomorrow, we are going to discuss the contents of our deal together and share the rooms fairly. How is it?"
He asked her for confirmation.
"Fair enough…"
"Alright, let's meet here tomorrow. "
Arissa replied shortly.
"When are you going to move?"
Cristan asked her again.
"This week, as soon as possible. I won't bring much stuff so you don't have to worry that my goods would be stuffed your place .. "Arissa replied indifferently, shrugging her shoulders.
"Our place, Miss Nova…"
Cristan corrected her words.
"Ok, then, see you tomorrow .." Cristan said casually with a gentle smile on his beautiful face, opened the door for them both, and locked it before they separated.
On the way home, Arissa was busy with her own thoughts. She is thinking about Cristan and his strangeness just now. Even though he was pretty annoying, he seemed quite friendly and open-minded. After a while, maybe they could become good friends. Perhaps…
...................
Young Generous Orphanage, Mori City
"So when will you move out?" asked the old lady who sat next to her.
Her old eyes teary when she was asking her the question. Her voice was hoarse because of a grief sadness. Arissa has been living in this orphanage for more than 15 years and the old lady has considered her as her own. Arissa has been a great helper for her and other kids in the orphanage, especially with those who share the same ill-fated with her. Being abandoned by their own parents or got physically abused and those misfortune kids finally decided to run away until then, they are ended up here. As a new member of their big family. Her presence also brings such a joyful aura to this place. She is beautiful, humble, diligent, and very competent in any task that she was assigned. Managing the orphanage and taking care of young kids under her taker. Mother Hua is unmarried, but she has lots of adoptive kids in her orphanage. And she also takes her niece, Anne, to help her run the place with Arissa. Losing her is such a great loss for this orphanage but Mother Hua also fully aware of her capabilities.
Such a real beauty and talent like her can't be kept forever in the dark. She deserves to be a rise and shine in her way. That's why she would let her go because she knows this is what the best for her.
Arissa smiled sadly as she hugged her old body tightly in her embrace. Slowly, her tears rolled down on her cheeks. Her heart sank with grief sadness because of leaving this place. A place that she has called home for the last 15 years. But her recent job demands more energy and time of hers. Then, with the salary that she would get later, Arissa will be able to do more for this place.
"I will call you and definitely visit you here, Mother ..." She said softly to her foster mother that night. Tomorrow morning, she surely will leave this place.
"Is Jacob know that you were moving?"
The old lady asked her again curiously.
Arissa stared back at her foster mother, curved a faint smile on her pretty face, and nodded her head lightly. Jacob is her only child and apparently, he just has got a full scholarship in a dormitory school in Sierra City.
After she finished packed up all her stuff, Arissa accompanied the old lady for chatting that night until finally, her eyelids turned heavy, and then, Arissa brought her into her bedroom. Watching her foster mother slept peacefully on her bed, Arissa laid a good night kiss gently on her forehead and closed the door quietly.
.....................….
Mina City, new apartment
The driver unloaded 2 large suitcases from the trunk while Arissa stepped out from the car and carrying her backpack at her back. She didn't bring lots of things with her. Over time, she would buy other stuff one by one after she got her first salary from the company.
After the car left, Arissa called Cristan.
"Hello?"
"Oh .. it's you ..." He replied ignorantly.
"Can you come out? I've just ne ... "
"Come in. I didn't lock the door ..."
Cristan cut her off before she finished it. Holy cow!!! This brat!!!
It was still early in the morning, but her blood has boiled up with anger! If she didn't need a cell phone for her work, she would have slammed it down on the ground!!
Without any delay, Arissa growled in fury while her steps hurriedly enter the apartment with long strides. She must teach a lesson to this brat for sure!!!
As soon as she arrived on the 2nd floor, Arissa abruptly opened the door. Within a split second, his eyes widened in shock at the scene before her. Almost all the rooms are filled up with male's belongings in pop style and THEY WERE TOO MANY!!! Piles of books shattered around in the living room. The sofas, cupboards, bookshelves, classical guitars, shoe racks are dislocated and arranged messily. Stuffed each corner of the whole area without leaving any space for her belongings.
With the corner of her eye, Arissa even could see some large containers still piled up in the room.
While her roommate was sitting nicely on the couch while crossed his legs.
Relaxed and smile lightly at her. In front of him, on the coffee table, there were 2 sheets of paper and a pen.
"Mr Lewis…."
Arissa lowers her voice. Tried so hard to suppress the anger that emerged inside her chest. Like a volcano. She's ready to blast off and gone berserk in anytime now.
"What is this ?? !!!"
Arissa asked him back in surprise. She was fucking mad at him. He's really an annoyance! All of her fantasy about living in a peaceful harmony of two perfect strangers in the same roof was shattered and crumbled down at once under her feet.
She has no idea whether she should laugh or cry at this.
This ... THIS IS WAY TOO MUCH !!
"This is my style ... Do you like it?" Cristan asked her back with an innocent look without guilt at all.
In the next second, a shoe flew up and landed successfully on his face.
PAKKK !!!
"You jerk! How dare you do whatever you want without my consent!! We are going to live together!! BOTH!!" "Is your brain damaged or something? Huh? Now, where should I put my stuff in this crowded mess?? " Arissa snapped at him fiercely. She's really pissed off now.
While rubbing his nose which still hurt from her toss before, Cristan pointed to a room behind his back with his thumb finger.
........................…
"Oh ..."
Snorted shortly, Arissa immediately dragged her suitcases and entered the room. Contrary to the crowded mess outside, her room was completely clean and empty without a single piece of furniture. There is no mattress or wardrobe there. As plain as a sheet of white paper.
While closing the door with her back, Arissa put down all her suitcases and limply sat on the floor. Her energy drained out drastically because she just went berserk earlier. She felt dizzy while her head throbbing with pain. Soon, she regrets her naively stupid decision.
Being her roommate? A fair space division among them? Living together for a year? Could she able to do all these?
Even if she could endure living with this annoying creature for a week, it considerably a miracle!!
.........................
After she relaxed, Arissa stood up and walked out of her room. There, the weirdo is leaning on the window while he smoking out.
"Oh… I thought you were dead. What took you so long, my friend?"
He asked her rhetorically in a mocking tone while he grinned widely. Showing his perfect teeth.
Arissa rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. While she clenched her fists tightly and try to suppress her anger as best as she could be. Easy, girl…. Easy…
She kept murmuring to herself while her inner goddess still worked so hard to calm her down inside.
Don't let him make you blow your head today, Arissa. Okay?
"Come on.."
"Let's make a deal now ..."
She took a step forward and sat down on the couch. Right across him.
Cristan chuckled lightly and threw out his cigarette from the window.
"Alright then…"
.