It’s more like a staring contest between them until Cristan’s voice broke the silence first. He cleared his throat and asked.
“So, who will go first? Me or you?”
“Me…”
Soon, she snatched the ballpoint and start writing on the papers. It only took around five minutes and the empty blank papers have filled with some lines which written neatly and tidy like those were typed automatically by a typewriter. Cristan blows a small whistle when he has a look at it.
“What a wonderful handwriting, Miss Nova. Tell me, are you a teacher or something?” He chuckled but Arissa could hear a cynical tone inside his compliment. She would shoo a protest when he raised his hand in the mid-air. Stopped her to move further and stay still on the couch. Cristan reads every line and any details in the letter very thoroughly. He doesn’t want to miss anything for sure. But then, when his eyes hit the third and fourth clause, he looked at the woman who is sitting obediently in front of her.
“What does it mean? The second occupant is allowed for having space nearby her favorite window in the third clause?”
Calmly, Arissa pointed out at a specific direction of her window but unfortunately, now, fully stacks by a pile of containers and five storeys shoe racks which belong to Cristan.
“There…”
“I want a space for me there. Is that clear enough for you, Mr. Cristan Lewis..”
Cristan shrugged, cracked his head a bit and then, stood up to move some of his belongings. Not even take a minute, he had finished his first “assignment”. There is a space for Arissa now. Big enough for her if she willing to put her lazy chair next to the window and enjoy the view as much as she wishes. Then, he smiled at her.
“Mission accomplished…”
What the….ARGGHHHHH!!!!
OMG!!! Her eyes fluttered when the young man finished “his job” successfully. He just, literally, moved his racks aside and let everything just as same as before. Scattered. Messy. Untidy.
She’s freaking upset now but, still, she holds herself. Even though, inside her head, she had smashed him repeatedly with no mercy.
“Well..I also disagree with the fourth clause, Miss. What do you mean about no strangers allowed to enter our room? How if… that stranger is one of my family or my girlfriend? Or my best friend? This clause…. How do I say it? Ridiculous...”
Arissa sighed heavily. She thinks she has to pray now. Pray a lot so she would have an extra mile of patience. This young man is got her nerves for sure. He’s the first who could make her so disturbed till now. Slowly, Arissa smiled but behind her back, she already clenched her fist tightly.
“I think we have another definition of a stranger. How if you relearn how to read from the elementary book? I believe, we might have a similar perception of “strangers”..”
Arissa replied with a cynical tone in her voice.
“Nope… nope…” He shook his head and smile amusedly.
“My families are strangers for you. My girlfriends. My best buddies are strangers to you because you don’t know them before and you have no idea who they are. The same thing goes with you. Your family, let’s say… how if your mother or father visit you someday and you’re not at home? Will I open the door for them?”
“Of course not… isn’t it?”
Ok, Arissa got his point. Hmm.. maybe he’s not as idiotic and dumbass as she thought before.
Cristan crossed the clausal and add some lines under it.
“Both occupants are allowed to bring anyone into the apartment as long as they already had permission from one another. With some notes, the stranger is not disturbing any kind of privilege and privacy of one of both occupants. The occupant who giving him/ her permission also in charge for his/ her behavior while they’re inside and the safety as well.”
“Do you agree with this, Miss?”
Arissa nodded and replied. “Yes, fair enough for us..”
Cristan stretched both of his arms and grinned wide. Showing his jolly happy side.
“We have an agreement then. Good!”
“By the way, I would like to add one more clause..”
Cristan write some other lines on the paper and gave it directly to Arissa.
“Please read this…”
Arissa started reading it out loud. Her crisp voice sounds clear inside the room.
“Fifth clause. There is no personal relationship between the occupants and both of us are not allowed to interfere in any kind of a private matter of one another. The relationship of both occupant related on a business partnership of living the same roof only..”
“I agreed…” Arissa responded in a flat tone.
Well, she did some misperception about this guy. This man, even though he looks disheveled, but his mind stays clear and sharp in some areas. At least, he can think of some points that she hasn’t been thought of before.
“First clause. Both occupants agreed to split the rental fees fairly per month…”
“Second clause. The rooms will be arranged according to the needs and agreement of both parties...”
“Third clause. The second occupant is allowed of having her own private space nearby the window..”
“Fourth clause. Both occupants are allowed to bring anyone into the apartment as long as they already had permission from one another. With some notes, the stranger is not disturbing any kind of privilege and privacy of one of both occupants. The occupant who giving him/ her permission also in charge for his/ her behavior while they’re inside and the safety as well.”
“Fifth clause. There is no personal relationship between the occupants and both of us are not allowed to interfere in any kind of a private matter of one another. The relationship of both occupants related on a business partnership of living the same roof only...”
Cristan and Arissa read the letter once again inwardly for twice or three times. Both of them still feel discomfort and they are still being suspicious of one another.
Soon, both of them signed the letter. Cristan sign it first and followed by Arissa’s signature afterward. Then, they put the letter inside their bags. Daytime passed by and the sky has turned its color into shades of dark blue and purplish orange. The wind getting colder. The night will be fall soon. Arissa closed the windows properly while Cristan yawned and entered his room.
The last two days have been tiring for them both. Moving in and packing in speed mode. Now, after all, things have settled up, it’s time for them both to get some rest.
Arissa lying down on the couch with her puzzled expression. Yes, opposite of Cristan who has filled each spot in this place with his belongings and furniture, she has none for her room. No mattress, no wardrobe, no shelves. Like.. an empty shell.
So, she can’t sleep on the floor for tonight, right? Moreover, tomorrow she would start working. She can’t be late on her very first day in her new company.
“Well.. you can sleep on my couch for a while until you buy a new bed for your room later..” He said nonchalantly to her while he making himself a big mug of hot chocolate. But, then, his steps stopped before he reached the door’s handle.
“Or…if you want…”
“We can share my bed tonight. It is a bit cold; you know. How if we sle…”
Cristan hasn’t finished his words when suddenly, three cushions flew out directly towards him. Shocked, he opened the door and slammed it harshly.
BLAMM!!!
The cushions crashed the door and landed poorly on the floor while Arissa burying her face in another cushion and screamed out loud desperately that night.
O Lord, what did I do in the past so you punished me like this?
In this crumpled place…. with a jerk stranger and trapped in another miserable year of my life?
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
Arissa wakes up early in the morning for starting her routine. Exercising. Running and jogging. For her, the best moments in life always started in a fresh body. While she listening to her favorite song through her earphone, she jogs lightly around her neighborhood. She socialized and familiarize herself with the locals. Adjusting to her new environment. There’s a homemade bakery shop in the corner that always bakes their buns at dawn. The smelt of roasted buns made her stomach growled that morning. Made her stopped to buy few loaves of bread for her takeaway breakfast. Then, while she continues walking, she also found a flower shop, a traditional market, and a minimart around her areas. She also can smell a slight of the sea breeze from afar. She also sure, if she going a bit further, she probably will find a harbor later.
“OMG!!! SO THE RUMOR IS TRUE!! SHE’S PERFECT!! AMAZING!! GORGEOUS!!”Jojo and Arissa stunned and blinked their eyes several times in disbelief.“I think…. There’s a miss understanding here, Vika. Jo, would you mind explaining more about me to her?”Jojo cleared his throat and his mouth curved a wicked smile on his face.“Her name is Arissa Nova. And yes, she’s our new supermodel..”“JO!!!” Arissa shoots her protest and nudged her best friend harshly with her elbow. Jojo laughed out loud and raised both of his hands in the air.“Ok..ok, sorry. I screwed up. I’m just kidding, Arissa. Vika, this is our new photographer, and starting from today, she will be working with us..”After Vika heard it, both of her eyes widened once again. A huge grin appears on her chubby face.“That’s wonderful
“Jo!! What are you doing??!!”Arissa gasped loudly and her eyes widened in a great shock when she saw Jojo's suddenly bent his knees in front of her.She utterly confused and embarrassed in the same time. How if there someone who seeing them like this? She crouched down and asked him to get up as soon as soon as possible."What are you doing, Jo? This is… embarassing, you know! Get up now! How if someone passed by and look at us like this? "But, he’s unwavering. Arissa gasped shockedly when suddenly, Jojo took her arms tightly and looked at her face with a firm look."I will get up with one condition, Arissa…”A deep furrow appears on her face while a bad feeling crept onto her spine. Arissa squinted nervously.“Yes?” She answered him in doubt.“Help me, Sa ...pleasee… "“And what kind of help is that, Jo?”“I nee
Manuel is checking the pictures that he took before when suddenly he felt an urge to go to the restroom. After he finished and walked by, his eyes saw something. A coincidental scene that captivated his instinct as a professional photographer.There was a woman dressed beautifully in summer dress and she’s posed in front of his colleagues. From her gesture, Manuel knows that she’s not a professional model. But her look and appearance illuminate with some kind of whimsical charm. Her elegance radiant in every pose that she shown off. Her fair skin glows under the lights. Her platinum hair sleek fall to her back and shoulder. Her bright blue eyes are mesmerizing. Alluring. Hypnotizing. And the outfit that she wears was perfectly matched with the curves on her body. As if it was made just for her. She’s such a raw talent and genuine beauty.“Pure…”Manuel whispered to himself when he spontaneously grabbed his camera
Jojo’s apartment, at nightHis eyelids still heavy and he’s rubbing his eyes lazily when he heard his phone rang continuously next to his bed. Feeling annoyed. But, when he saw the name on the screen, he jolted up instantly and all his sleepiness fade away. It’s Robert!!! Wait…wait…wait… not that Robert, isn’t it?He looked at the clock and it shows 2 AM.It’s too late for a day and too early for a morning show. Damn! What the hell this bastard wants from him at this time? Such a bad habit of his!!Jojo cursed inwardly while he finally picked up his phone and answered “nicely”.“Yes?”“Hi, Jo. How are you? This is Robert…” “And…I hope I’m not disturbing your beautiful sleep? Did I?” Robert sat on his bed. Comforting himself and smiled wickedly.‘Yes, you just did, asshole!!&r
In a luxury hotel, Sierra CityA naked couple was lying on a king-size bed. Their body soaked by sweat when they were exploring one another mouth with their deep passionate kisses.“Ehmmmm….” She moaned softly while she riding her partner and smile seductively at him. Her round breast bouncing while they started moved harmoniously in the same rhythm. Pumping and kissing until both of them reached their orgasms and shouted their name.“Ohh…..Roberttt…….” She exhaled and whispered his name softly when her wet body fell helplessly over his body. Tired, satisfied and happy.Robert rubbed her back gently, smiled and lay a kiss on her forehead.“Will you stay over tonight, Wanda?”“No, no, no. I told Leo that I’ll be home tonight, Robert. I bet he has been waiting for me already now…”Wanda stood up and sway her hips while she walked into the bathroom f
Fashion Blast, backyard area“You’re f**cking crazy, Jo!!” Vika snapped out at her partner who is busy strokes his hair desperately now.“Vika!!! What do you expect me to do at her??!! Huh!!!” He shouted back at her.“She’s my best friend!! And I can’t sell her off because of some advantages!! Even though it was Robert who summons it!!”“You know how this world works, Jo. Love, friendship, loyalty… those kinds of shits are never existing in this business. They only care about how to be better and get more from others. Okay? So, clear out your mind and beg her to follow your wish…”Jojo chuckled cynically at her and replied her coldly.“If you are willing to do it, do it by yourself. Talk to her. Knock her door and beg her. Crawl by your bare hand and feet. Anything that you would do, go ahead. I’m done talking with you, Vika&he
Arissa arrived at the apartment that night exhaustedly. This was her first day at work and after she became a model, she was required to take part in a photo shoot and accompany the other models for fashion magazine fillers for 7 hours non-stop.Her bones felt utterly limp and powerless while her eyes were hard to compromise in keeping wide open. Arissa immediately threw herself on the sofa and fell asleep without having time to open her glasses again. Within seconds, his consciousness had turned to dreamland. Not even Jacob's ringing sound could wake her up.………………………………………………………………………………………Cristan arrived at the apartment when it was very late at night. After he opened the door, he felt a cold gust of wind blow over hi