Cristan woke up lazily with sleepy eyes. Last night, he came home at dawn because his help was needed by Professor Antonio. He had to check the reports from the professor's students and there were plenty of them. Moreover, the professor also had a health problem in his coroner and a ring has been put inside his heart to smooth his blood circulation. After her surgery, he is not allowed to be too tired of his work.
Cristan rubbed his face and yawned. He was just about to go back to sleep when he heard a strange noise from outside. Sounds like some furniture is being moved and other weird sounds.
With heavy steps, Cristan dragged himself and opened the door. In the next second, his eyes widened when he saw some housing employees redecorating the living room as well as others in the same uniform who are busy putting in and out some furniture inside Arissa's room while his housemate keeps her eyes on them and monitoring them. She also gave some instructions on how they should redecoration the whole area like a lady boss.
Seeing the whole situation, Cristan rubbed his face gently. He knows it would be impossible for him to cuddle in his comfy bed so he walked to the dining table, took a glass, and poured an instant cereal for himself.
Hearing his footsteps, Arissa's turned her head around and a pair of her blue eyes found out a man figure who is now sitting at the dining table. Watching her doing with a lazy look. Observing the busy scene around the room. In her jolly mood, Arissa walked closer to Cristan and stretched out her hand. Her face radiants with a smile.
"Thanks…"
She said it genuinely in a grateful tone.
"For allowing me to sleep on your couch this month. And, I also apologize for the fuse during the housing redecorating this morning. I would like to ask your permission first but after I checked your room, you were still in your deep slumber so…"
Arissa was trying to explain everything to her housemate politely. In an appropriate gesture. From her tone, it was clear that she just doing small talk as a perfect stranger.
Furthermore, after this, she won't distract him or use some of his stuff anymore.
"It's okay…"
He replied nonchalantly as usual. "To be honest, I'm the type of person with a good heart and gladly to help others… "
Cristan keeps praising himself adoringly. Showing his narcissism side and smile widely at her while he's welcomed her hand in a warm grip. At the same time, a pair of dimples on both his cheeks. Arissa was taken aback. Her inner goddess spontaneously gasped in awe. Stunned by his charm. Helplessly melts under the gaze of the angelic look in front of her.
Deg!
Her heart suddenly skipped a beat when she saw his intense gaze while he still holding her palm. Quickly, she pulled it and turned away. Hiding her blushing face like ripen tomatoes while her eyes returned of their old job. Supervising and monitoring housing workers who are still doing their tasks in front of her.
What? What's this??
She could hear her thumping heart pounding loudly inside of her rib cage. Stirred away by her own mixed emotion. She felt awkward about herself.
Wake up, Arissa…
Don't let his playful swirl inside your head…
Do you still remember Jose, right?
He's still out there. Waiting for you.
Don't get caught and fall under his wicked charm. This shameless alligator. A real jerk casanova. Okay, Arissa?
She keeps chanting those words again and again inside her head. Trying to get back at herself and while her heart keeps betraying her logic.
"So ... is this your new room ??"
His deep and husky voice jolted her so suddenly from behind. Made her heart almost popped out from her chest. All thanks to him. Damn it!
"Yes ... yes ..."
She replied hesitantly while tapping her own chest. Hoping her heartbeat will back to normal.
Cristan sipped his cereal and wandered his gaze amusedly. As if, he didn't realize that his spontaneous act before has made someone almost got a heart attack.
"May I have a look at your room?" He asked in an amusing tone as he starting to walk around while he brought the glass in his hand. Arissa nodded slightly. Giving him her permission.
Meanwhile, the workers almost finished their works while Arissa is busy checking their work once again. She also checks the arrangement of the furniture layout that she had bought carefully.
The new rooms are designed in a classic Nordic style and dominated by a mixing color of white blue and turquoise tone with a geometric three-dimensional chandelier painted in black. There is also a painting morning sunrise at the sea. Adding a sense of calmness and serenity to the room. The floor was tiled up with natural mahogany parquettes neatly. Whereas the blue-green sofa placed next to the bed, adding a relaxing complementary to the whole room. The tone that was chose made it look fresh, warm, and tranquil at the same time. Gives you a sense of peace in light and bright colors. The pine aromatic that is used as the air freshener also made you feel relaxed in no minutes.
"You seemed real to have a good taste, huh?" Cristan whistled lightly while his eyes keep observing the interior of Arissa's room which doesn't look girly at all but it still feels cozy and comfortable. At first, he thought that Arissa would choose feminine colors which are more girly, like soft or cream tones but things turned out, he was apparently wrong.
"Oh .. I don't like girlish colors like pink, fuchsia and et cetera ..." Arissa replied confusedly.
"Why?" Cristan asked curiously.
"It's okay ... I just don't like it," Arissa replied shortly in surprise. It was unlikely unusual for her housemate to be this nosy but seeing his sloppy behavior, she thought she might able to tolerate it a bit.
"Miss Arissa, please put your signature in this column ..."
One of the housing workers gave her a pen and showed which column where she should sign it to after they finished all the works and cleaning up afterward.
"Oh, ok ..."
She replied briefly as she signed the receipt while Cristan was still amazed and admiring the decoration of her new bedroom while drinking his cereal.
Shortly after, there were some knocks heard from the door. A deep frown appears on her forehead when she decided to open the door. Then, right in front of her, there was a young tall man wearing sunglasses who smiled widely at her and carrying a hand bouquet of lilies and a bottle of wine in both hands.
"Surpriseeeeee…." said Jojo happily as he spread his arms widely and pulled Arissa in his embrace.
Seeing her best friend's arrival, a smile beamed widely on Arissa's face and she hugged him back shortly.
"Oh my ... Do you really come, Jo? I thought you were just kidding… "
She said as she took the flowers and bottle then put those both on the dining table.
"Well, never mind. I'm also curious about your new living place…" replied Jojo shamelessly while he tailing her then wandering around inside the house amazedly.
"Wow! This place is great, hun! How can you find it? With these rooms as big and spacious as this. I wonder how much you must pay for the rental fees…"
"My apartment has only a half-space of yours but the rental fee has made me broke every month…"
Jojo said it with his pitiful eyes and a long deep sigh. Thinking about how much that he should be paid for living his high lifestyle.
Cristan's eyes narrowed when he saw the presence of a man who looks like a sissy-lady-boy-alike in a trendy pinky shirt and he seems very buoyant. Moreover, he looks so close to Arissa.
Who is he?
Jojo didn't realize if there was someone who observed his attitude thoroughly because he was being too excited talking and laughing cheerfully with Arissa. Until a stranger tapped his shoulder and greet him casually. A light curve formed on his face.
Jojo's head spontaneously turned around to the voice who greet him before and the next thing he saw was…
A weirdo with his messy hair, but undeniable attractive. His mustaches have grown to some length. From the way he dressed, it seemed that he hasn't changed his clothes since yesterday. A wide grin appears broadly on his sexy beautiful face while he stretched out his hand for a shake and introduced himself casually.
"Hi, how are you? My name is Cristan.."
Jojo's face immediately went blank as if he had just seen an alien before his eyes while he took his hand and shook it. His puzzled look immediately turned to Arissa, who seems embarrassed while stared at both of them.
"Arissa… this… is…? Who?" asked Jojo, confusedly. He didn't see this guy before. Wait… was he here just now?
Arissa cleared her throat and stutteredly, she explained.
"Jo, this is…. he is….my housemate. We are living in together… for now…"