Bab 2. A Charming Man

My eyes caught a five-story apartment building that looked simple, but quite nice. If I observe, this building stands in the middle of a very strategic city, besides that it is also quite compared to other apartments.

"Everdeen's apartment! is that my family name, do any relatives have an apartment in London? I don't think so!" I thought, chewing on the apple Grandma Maria gave me.

I'm not sure that renting a one bedroom apartment would be cheap given the appearance of this apartment. At least, the monthly rental price must be 1000-2000 Poundsterling per month. However, this is the last apartment closest to the supermarket. If tomorrow I get an interview call, at least I don't have to pay for the bus or train fare.

"Excuse me!" I said to the apartment reception center. A bespectacled middle-aged man looked at me and smiled broadly.

"Yes, can I help you, Miss?"

"Is there an empty apartment?"

"For the one bedroom?"

"Ah yes, one bedroom!"

"Okay, I'll check it out. Please wait a moment!"

"Okay!"

"Sorry, Miss. Currently the one bedroom is full. Only one, three-bedroom apartment on the fifth floor remains!"

"Three bedrooms? how much does it cost?"

"The cost of rent per month is 6000 Pounds Sterling, complete with furniture. Can be occupied right away!"

"Very expensive! for one room, how much is it usually?"

"One room starts at 1200 Pound per month. There is one room that will be vacant in three months,"

"Three months? what did I wait that long for? okay, I'll excuse me!"

I walked limply towards the entrance. It felt like my body was tired from going to different places in three days. If I look for another apartment nearby, could it be any cheaper?

"Sorry, at this time all the rooms are full!"

"When are there rooms available?"

"There's a room with two bedrooms next month!"

"Next month? but, I need it now!"

"Now nothing is empty, I beg your pardon!"

It was the third apartment I went to and continued on to the next apartment. As I thought, there weren't any vacant rooms.

"There's an empty room for one person!"

"Really? wow ... thank Goodness!"

"How many months do you want to be rented?"

"Um ... may I see the room first?"

"Sure, please!"

The man took me to check the room I was going to rent. Although at first I was happy that there were empty rooms at a low price, it seems I never really got the luck I hoped for.

"We'll call the clerk to fix the toilet!" said the man, smiling awkwardly. I quite understand the meaning of that smile.

"How long? how do I pee and poop in a clogged toilet like that?"

"It will be fixed soon, Miss! for this month, we will give a discount of the rent to 700 Pounds. How?"

"How shall I? I'll check the other room first!" I said. The man looked panicked and that made me even more suspicious. I'm sure there's nothing worse than a clogged toilet.

"Cit ... cit ... cit ..."

"Kyaaa ... there are mice! there are three mice coming out of the kitchen cupboard!" I shouted in panic. Apart from being dirty, this place smells damp. I feel very uncomfortable. Even though I am not afraid of mice, it would still be bad if the mice bite my clothes.

"The rent will be reduced to 500 Pounds, Miss!"

"No!" I said as I stepped away from this terrible place.

"Miss, how about 400?"

"No way!"

"Miss, 300 Pounds? already very cheap, right? you will not find an apartment this cheap anywhere else!" he said as he continued to follow and persuade me.

"I said, no!"

"Miss ...!"

I was forced to walk briskly while tugging at my suitcase, which was as tired as my feet.

"Geez, why is my fate so unlucky? where should I go now?" I muttered.

I passed Eveerden's Apartment, where it seemed to me to be very quiet and comfortable. I imagined that I could live in that apartment, every morning I would swim on the first floor, after that I would make toast and go to work in a big company with a high salary.

Every payday, I will give new clothes, shoes and bags. After that, I would eat at fancy restaurants, go to salons and spas, send money to my mother and give Jimmy, Kelly and my two nephews an allowance. After that, I'll save up to buy a car and buy a luxury apartment. I want to live a life like that.

But, like everyone said, this person like me could never be a successful person. I will continue to be a burden to my family. is it true that it will always be like that? am I not going to be able to live a life like other women?

Without realizing it, I was standing in front of the entrance with all the beautiful lights in my head. The bespectacled man looked at me who came back, he smiled friendly.

"Have you found a nice apartment, Miss?"

"Ah ... it seems like a lot of people are renting apartments right now. So, it's full everywhere,"

"Is that so? maybe because there are many foreign students and workers from abroad who try their luck in London,"

"Yes, maybe so!"

"Sorry excuse me!" said a tall man standing behind me. Let me guess, it looks like he's also looking for an empty room. But soon, he will find out the truth.

"Can I help you, Sir?"

"Is there an empty one-bedroom apartment?" he asked. I glanced at him for a moment while holding back a smile.

This man was tall, probably about 6.2 feet, with a stocky build and muscular arms. "He's my type!" I thought. I can't help but smile realize that his face is very charming. His hair is dark brown, with hazel eyes, and his jaw is strong and firm. The look on his face was like that of an Italian or a French man, really handsome.

After observing his physical appearance, I moved on to his relaxed fashion style. He wears a white short-sleeved T-shirt with blue jeans and black sneakers. It smells like perfume, smells good.

"Hehe ... when else can I see this handsome man in person? just think of it as a bit of luck, behind the bad luck that I continue to face!" I thought.

"Apologies, Sir! there are currently no one-bedroom apartments available. Only three rooms left!"

"Is that so? I've been to other apartments, but there's nothing empty in the area!"

"This lady is also looking for a room and she has also searched other apartments, but nothing is empty,"

"Is that so? then, thank you very much!" he said as he walked away. He took the cellphone from his pocket and seemed to be calling someone.

"Even though I just wanted to see a handsome man, but he left. Well, it looks like I also have to go!" I said as I walked towards the entrance.

I was in utter despair, sitting for a moment on the entrance steps thinking of my next move. Do I have to find a hotel and go back to my parents tomorrow? or go back to look for another apartment that may be further from this place.

"What about the wallet that I stole? do I just return it to the police station and pretend to find it on the side of the road? or I keep it? but, I haven't opened the wallet and saw its contents. How much money is in it?"

"Hey, excuse me!"

"Ye ... yes? what's wrong?" I asked, awakening from my reverie when the man was standing in front of me.

"Sorry to interrupt!"

"Very handsome!" I said spontaneously. The man was surprised to hear my tacky words and it made me very embarrassed.

"May I ask you something?"

"Ah ... of course! what do you want to ask?"

"Have you found an apartment around here?"

"Actually, I found an empty apartment for a cheap price, but ..."

"But?"

"But the place is very unfit to live in. There are lots of rats and the toilet is clogged, you better not go to that place!"

"Is that so? looks like you've been to many places, right?"

"Not really, only five places, including this apartment! this apartment is by far the best!"

"Is that so? earlier, the man said there was an empty apartment with three bedrooms. If you don't mind, how about we share a room?"

"What? share a room? with you?"

***