Roommates

Chapter 1: Rules

There is no sensation to compare with this… This is the feeling of being abandoned. When you let someone to creep into your favor then the person just stands up and leaves…

As I glare at her fading smile, a keen pain grabs my heart. As I eye the chair how she pushes it slowly back… She places her fork next to the plate… abruptly she snatches up her purse and turns her back on me… I'm silently watching as her trembling footsteps become a steady march. The door opens then made a dull noise as she lets it closed by itself. I can still hear her stilettos` patter on the sidewalk… My ears are able to follow her trail for a while, and then the noise dies away with her silhouette. Sensing how our bodies are separating by the never ending distance makes my heart cry. My throat is getting dry by each moment… I glare at the remoteness and I sip my sour wine…

She melted away all of my icicles… so it is true… 'Amor vincit omnia'…

"So… how does she look like? "

"Don`t ask unreasonable questions! "

My friend. Probably my only friend. Like if I care for friends. I don't need any. But somehow he has been my so called 'friend' since we were toddlers. Hihara Kazuki. Yes, that is his name. He has light green shaggy styled hair and he is playing the trumpet. He is tall and handsome and totally different than me. Mirth surrounds his entire soul. He always has a healthy, joyful smile on his face. Why is he my only friend? The answer is really easy: Because he is the only one who doesn't complain much about my attitude. He accepted me without wanting to change me.

"Come on Len! Don't be cheap with your friend! Well, she will be your 6th roommate during 1 month. That`s a record, I hope you know. " He giggles. Of course he does. But for me this is not a funny fact.

"You are eating your roommates! You just scare everyone! " He keeps laughing with complete innocence.

"She will be my 6th roommate if she comes back. "

"Did you give her your… errr… iron-clad rule book? " He is covering his mouth to avoid more guffaws. He knows it annoys me to death.

"Yes I did. I didn't give to anyone before, maybe in this way we can spare time. "

"You are insane. She is not coming back. I'm 100% sure. " He states this sentence with so much pride in his voice. Probably he has right.

"Whatever… "

"I told you many times that we can have a bigger place with Ryo and live together. "

"Through my dead body! I will never live with that guy under one roof! "

"Then keep consuming roommates. "

I shrug my shoulders and try to think back how she behaved when she came to check on the room. Maybe I can figure out if she will accept to be my roommate or not.

"Hi, I'm Hino Kahoko! " Her lips curved up into a magnificent smile. I`ve never seen anything like that before. Neither Kazuki can produce such a smile. Her pure face was gleaming in the livid autumn sunrays.

"Tsukimori Len. Shall we go? " I heaved bluntly and led the way to my apartment.

"Wow, this is amazing! " That was all she said but her sparkling eyes revealed her enthusiasm. She really liked the place.

"Before you decide to move in, please read this out. " I handed over some papers which contained my rules. " I am a very strict and meticulous person. If you are unable to meet my requirements, don't waste time with each other. "

She painted her face with a serious look but her smile never faded away. She grasped the papers and put them into her handbag.

"I'll call you in three days. " These were the last words that she told me on that day.

"So she said that she will call you in 3 days? "

"Yes, she did. It is due today. "

"Well, it's 6 pm… she still has time to call you. What do you think, will she move in? "

"I really don't know. I tried to recall the memories when she was checking on the room but I don't have any idea. She looked normal and cheerful. "

"How old is she? "

"No idea. "

"More or less? "

"She must be a university student. She looks young and behaves a little bit childish. But I saw her handbag was packed with thick books. "

"I see. OK Len, I'm going now. See you tomorrow on class. "

"See you. "

7:30 pm… and I'm pacing up and down… checking my cell phone. Still nothing. She hasn't called me yet. It is not that important. It was my mother's idea to get a roommate. This girl is Japanese and it is really hard to find a good roommate in Vienna. Maybe she can cook…

Meanwhile, in a cozy hotel room

"So this is it. It is artless that everyone has its own rules. And that house belongs to him so it is really natural that he sets the rules. I'm lucky to find someone in this mess… Let's read out these papers…"

1. This is my house. These are my rules. If you are unable to obey them, trash these papers and don't call me. If you decide to continue reading, try to respect my rules!

2. I wake up at 6 am every morning. I use the bathroom then the kitchen. Try not to use these rooms at the same time.

3. I have classes until 4 pm then I head home. I practice my violin or I do my homework at the afternoon and I require silence!

4. I go to sleep at 10 pm. Don't make noise after curfew!

5. Make a list when will you take a shower or use the kitchen! I intend to avoid unpleasant situations!

6. If you can cook, I give you discount from the renting fee.

7. I dislike dirty environment. Always clean after yourself!

8. Don't bring up any of your friends without my permission!

9. If you arrive home after 10 pm, be really careful to not wake me up!

10. Don't come into my room unless I invite you in!

11. Don't waste my time with unreasonable questions! We are individuals! Respect each other and our spaces!

12. No pets!

13. Rent is paid on the 1st of the month with the divided utility bills.

"These are not so bad… I think I can handle his rules. As I can see, renting money is the least important for him. "

"She is still not calling me and it's 9:20 pm. I go to sleep at 10…. If she doesn't call me then I believe that she doesn't want to move in and I search for a new candidate. "

"Oh finally my phone is ringing…. It is Hino Kahoko. "

"Tsukimori Len. Good evening Hino! "

"Good evening Tsukimori-kun! I'd like to ask when I can move in. "

"Are you sure about this? I'm not going to be easy on you because you are a girl. "

Silence… she is thinking. Or rather, she is hesitating.

"I'll be fine, Tsukimori-kun. " I can see her glamorous face with that unique smile.

"OK then, I'll see you around tomorrow after 5 pm. "

"Perfect! Good night Tsukimori-kun! "

"So she did call you! That's great! Do you need any help with her moving? "

"No, it will be fine. "

"So, Tsukimori, eventually, you've found a roommate…again… " Tsuchiura Ryoutarou says with a teasing voice. He has just popped out of nowhere and with one sentence he makes me angry. I'm unable to comprehend why my mother likes him and plays the piano with this guy…

I flinch and ignore him.

"Yes he did. She is a young girl and she said yes to be his roommate after reading his rules. That is a miracle! " Kazuki is cheerful as ever and thank God, he tells the details to that pianist. He saved me this time again.

He irritates me with his mere presence. I just cannot explain what is so nerve-racking in Tsuchiura. I only know if he is not in a 10 miles radius I feel uneasy.

"I'm going home. She will arrive in 1 hour. See you tomorrow. "

I silently leave the two of them.

It is over 5 pm and she is not coming. Did she make a fool of me? Did she want to show me that nobody would accept my stupid rules? Am I a thickhead? Will I ever be able to live with someone in the far future or am I really lost in this case? Am I too strict? If there are no rules, everyone would get into boorish habits… I have to glue myself to the rules!

'Ding-dong' I hear the doorbell. "At last, she has arrived! " I open the door and there she is. She is soaked. Her clothes are wet, also her hair and her luggage. She only has one huge luggage.

"Come in!" I let her go into her room. "Do you have more stuff? "

"No, this is all. "

After all, that room is fully furnished. She doesn't need anything besides her personal belongings.

"There you go. This is the list when I will use the kitchen and the bathroom. I didn't include emergency. Hopefully, your toleration will be expanded when I have emergency…for example right now. May I use the bathroom? "

I'm staring at her with wide eyes… Maybe she was waiting for my courtesy, which doesn't exist. I should have asked her if she needed help with the moving. I didn't even realize that it is raining so heavily… She is really considerate of me, but not of herself. She will catch a cold if she doesn't get into the hot water as soon as possible.

"You may use it. There are towels in the closet. "

She's disappeared.

I'm sitting in the living room and reading a book when I hear that she has finished the shower and gone to the room. Should I go and… No, it is a bad idea. I let her have more privacy.

"Tsukimori-kun! " She is standing above me in a…. light pink short pant with a spaghetti strap top… same color. I gulp… I've never seen a girl with this kind of attire. It must have been a bad idea to get a female roommate.

"Tsukimori-kun! "

"Ah, sorry. Did you say something? "

"I'm done unpacking. What would you like to have for dinner? "

She does know how to cook. That is really reassuring and lucky.

"Anything… I'm not that picky. "

"OK. Oh, Tsukimori-kun. I'm happy to be your roommate! Let's enjoy our time together! " She festoons her face with a shy smile and reaches for my hand.

I timidly pull my hand to the direction of hers and we meet halfway. Her skin is so soft… it is like silk. I can feel that she is trembling a little… her temperature is so hot. But I accept the friendly handshake.

"OK… " I blurt out this simple word with a cold tune…. Maybe she will be a perfect roommate.

Million thanks for reading! Please review! :)

'Amor vincit omnia' - Love conquers all /Latin proverb