JUST FOR YOU

《24》Starting Anew.

Monday came quickly. I called the agent for the apartment the previous evening to inform him that I was coming to check it out and pay for it if I liked it. I also texted the girl that was looking for a roommate so we could meet up and I would be able to assess her and know if I wanted to stay with her.

James had gone to the library to study for his exam, and I was left alone. I hurriedly took my bath, ate, and left. I got to the apartment by twelve o'clock. The girl and the agent were there already waiting for me.

"Hi, good afternoon. I'm Annabelle." She extended her hand to shake mine.

I gave her a handshake in return and smiled. "Hi, good afternoon. I'm Janette. Nice to meet you." I took off my sunglasses and used my handkerchief to wipe sweat off my face. The sun was hotter than normal.

"Likewise." She smiled.

"I am Wale." The agent started, briefly glancing at his wristwatch as if he had somewhere he would rather be. "We have two available flats, one on the ground floor and the other on the second floor. Both are one-bedroom apartments with a kitchen, bathroom, and a parlour." He concluded.

"Can we see both flats to determine the one suitable for us?" I asked.

He looked at me as if to say, 'Is that not why you are here?' "No problem. Come this way." He said instead and he led us into the ground-floor apartment. We checked it out and then headed to the one on the second floor. "So, which one do you guys prefer?" He asked impatiently.

"Second floor." We said in unison. I had the urge to scream 'jinx'. But I was an adult now, so I kept my jinx to myself.

"What about the power supply and water? What is it like?" She asked him.

"Well, when we have light, we always pump water, and our light is usually one day on, one day off, but sometimes we get light every day if nepa is in a good mood." He replied.

"So, what you're saying is that on the off days we won't have water?" I scoffed and shook my head.

"I don't suppose any of the other tenants or you would consume so much water in a day. But if there is no water, we have generators to pump water. The generator won't supply light to the flats, and also a little token would be contributed towards buying fuel for the generator." He spoke sharply.

"After all the money we are paying for rent, agent, commission and whatever rubbish you guys impose on us, we still have to contribute for fuel and still end up being in darkness!" Anabelle exclaimed.

"You can bring your own generators if you like." He replied rudely. Now I felt like bringing my hand upon his face in one hard motion.

Where would I get money to buy a generator? I barely had enough for myself.

This is what you get for looking for cheap things. Jenny mocked me.

I'm not looking for cheap things. I am looking for comfortable things. I answered her.

"Just give us five minutes. Let us discuss if we would take it." He lifted his chin and then excused us. "I don't like this place. And that guy is so rude." I complained to Anabelle.

"He is rude, but he is better than most agents I have come across." She said in his defence. "Why don't you like this place? This is actually one of the best apartments close to school."

"How do you know?" I narrowed my eyes on her.

"I have been to many apartments, and honestly, they don't match up to this. Most of them are in horrible conditions. The landlords collect rents that aren't worth the apartment and leave their apartments a complete eyesore. Don't waste your time going around looking for an apartment. Let us pay for this one." She looked into my eyes; her eyes were pleading and exhausted from days of futile searching. I just couldn't say no because I was lazy. I didn't want to go through the stress of looking for another apartment and having to stay at home after I had insulted my parents.