Whispers Of the Heart : High School

Chapter 2 : Moving Day

Moving day finally arrived, and Selena led her friends into her new apartment. As they stepped inside, they were taken aback by the space and the overall ambiance of the place. "Wow, it's so amazing," they exclaimed in unison, marveling at every corner of the apartment.

The task of arranging everything was starting to wear them out. "It takes so long to just arrange it all," they sighed, feeling drained from the effort.

Grateful for their help, Selena thanked her friends and assured them that she could handle the rest. "This place is so huge, and the rent is only 800. It's so cheap," they commented.

Even the agent had mentioned that Selena was lucky to get such a large apartment at such a reasonable price. Her friends couldn't help but wonder if there was another reason behind the affordability. "Are you sure there's no other reason? In the middle of town, getting a big apartment for only 800, it is too good to be true," they inquired.

Selena responded, "I'm sure there was a good reason," though she tried to hide her unease. "Maybe the previous tenant got married or found a new job," she suggested, attempting to dismiss any suspicions.

However, Leon couldn't resist adding a bit of mischief, "Or maybe they moved out because of ghosts," he said, trying to spook Selena.

Her friends laughed at the playful remark, but Selena couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine. "Don't scare me like that," she said, half-jokingly.

As they continued to explore the apartment, they lost track of time. Eventually, the day wore on, and it was time for Leon and Mira to head home. Selena couldn't believe they were leaving already. "You're really going home?" she asked, slightly disappointed to see them go.

Leon reassured her, "Ignore what I said about ghosts. It was just a joke."

As her friends departed, Selena was left alone in her new home. Despite the lingering thoughts about the apartment's history, she was excited to start this new chapter in her life. 

As Selena talked to herself about the cold and went to fetch a heater, a sudden loud noise startled her. Panicking, she heard someone attempting to open her door. Believing it might be a robber, Selena grabbed a racket, ready to defend herself. As she swung the racket in defense, she heard a voice pleading for her to stop.

To her surprise, the intruder turned out to be Asher, the cool boy from school. They both looked at each other, utterly confused about why the other was there. Asher asked Selena why she was in his apartment, to which she responded with equal bewilderment, "Why? My lease starts today."

Selena contested, "What are you talking about? MY lease starts today. Are you sure you're in the right room?" He attempted to kick her out, convinced that she had mistakenly entered his place.

Selena, however, stood her ground, asserting, "You're the one who's mistaken; this is my apartment!"

The two began arguing, each one showing the other their keys as evidence. But much to their surprise, they were both at the right place. "I get it; you're in the wrong building," Selena declared, trying to make sense of the situation.

Asher insisted, "No, it's this one."

"Maybe the wrong floor?" Selena suggested.

Asher shook his head, "Nope, the third floor."

Before they could delve further into the confusion, the moving workers appeared, interrupting their debate. "Sorry to interrupt, I'll bring your things now," one of the workers said after opening the door.

Selena and Asher were in disbelief as they showed each other their identical leases and realized they had fallen victim to a scam. They immediately attempted to contact their agent, but no one answered the phone. Undeterred, they rushed to the office, only to find it closed.

Seeking answers, they turned to the landlord, who revealed the harsh truth. "It's a double contract, it's a scam," she declared, confirming their worst fears. Both Selena and Asher exclaimed "scam" in unison, feeling the weight of the deception.

The landlord explained that such scams usually involve taking joy money, but in this case, the scammers had gone a step further, pocketing various fees and vanishing without a trace. The prospect of recovering their money seemed unlikely.

Desperate to know who gets to live in the apartment, Selena inquired further. The old lady informed them that Asher had signed his lease first, but the person who could pay 1500 by the end of the month would have the right to live there.

As they left the place, Selena and Asher were overwhelmed with the reality of their situation. They both realized that coming up with such a significant amount of money alone would be extremely challenging. Deeply disappointed and feeling trapped, they couldn't help but wonder how they would navigate this unexpected and unfortunate turn of events.

As they headed back to the apartment, Asher noticed a white bag lying nearby and handed it to Selena. Excitedly, she opened it and found ramen inside, along with a note from Felix congratulating her on the move. She felt delighted that Felix had come by, and it brought a smile to her face. They entered the apartment, and the pleasant gesture lifted their spirits, even amidst the difficult situation they were facing.

Inside the apartment, Asher shared his concerns with Selena. "Whether we move or stay for 1500, we would need a lot of money. I used all my savings to move here," he confessed, a hint of sadness in his eyes.

Curious, Selena asked if he could seek help from his parents. However, Asher's expression turned somber, and he replied with a quiet "no." The implication was clear - he couldn't rely on his parents for financial support.

Feeling a sense of concern and empathy, Selena persisted, asking why he needed to live alone. Asher initially brushed her off, saying it was none of her business. But Selena, refusing to back down, asserted, "Yes, it is!" The two began to bicker back and forth, emotions running high as they grappled with their individual struggles and shared uncertainty.

As Selena and Asher continue to bicker about their reasons for wanting to live in the apartment, she asks him once more, "Don't you rely on your parents too?" Asher looks at her with the same sadness in his eyes and remains silent, unable to provide a clear answer.

As Selena contemplates the consequences of her parents finding out about the scam and potentially dragging her back to the country, she suggests an unconventional solution to their predicament - living together. Asher is taken aback by the proposition, clearly surprised that she would even suggest such an idea.

"There are two rooms, and we can split the rent, so it'll be cheaper," Selena reasons, trying to convince him of the practicality of their arrangement.

"This isn't a joke," Asher responds, still in disbelief at the suggestion.

Trying to lighten the mood and feigning tears, Selena playfully fake cries, hoping to get him to agree to the idea. After some hesitation, Asher eventually relents, agreeing to the arrangement but with the understanding that it's only a temporary solution until they can find a new place.

As the night grew deeper, Selena eventually found herself dozing off in her respective rooms 

In the quiet solitude of his room, Asher's gaze settled upon a framed photograph resting on a shelf. A warm smile graced his lips as he looked at the image, capturing a moment frozen in time. In the photo, two adults and two young children stood together, their faces radiating joy and a sense of togetherness. It was a snapshot of family, a fragment of a memory that held a special place in Asher's heart.

As he continued to gaze at the photograph, a mixture of emotions welled up within him. Fond memories, a longing for connection, and a yearning for simpler times all seemed to converge in that single image. The light in the room cast a gentle glow upon the photograph, lending it an almost ethereal quality.

With a sigh of contentment, Asher gently turned off the lights, allowing the room to be engulfed in a soothing darkness. He settled into his bed, the image of the photograph imprinted in his mind. As he closed his eyes, the smiles of the people in the photo lingered, offering a sense of comfort and tranquility.