MY ANNOYING ROOMMATE

Enemy to Lovers

INTRODUCTION

Finding the perfect apartment in Cebu City was supposed to be the hardest part of Mica Reyes' plan to start fresh after college. With a spot at a top architecture firm and dreams of designing spaces that felt like home, she'd carefully vetted every listing, checked every reference, and made one non-negotiable demand: a female roommate only.

So when she unlocks the door to Unit 3B on a humid June afternoon, lugging boxes labeled "Fragile - DO NOT STACK" and "MY STUFF - KEEP OUT," she's not prepared for what she finds.

A guy with unruly dark hair and faded band t-shirt is stretched out on the cream-colored couch she'd picked out herself, eating cornflakes straight from the box while scrolling through his phone. Empty beer bottles line the coffee table, a guitar case leans against the wall, and there's a suspicious stain on the rug she'd specifically asked the landlord to clean.

He looks up at the sound of the door, a lazy smile spreading across his face. "Oh, you must be Mica. I'm Liam Santos - your new roommate. Nice to finally meet the neat freak who's gonna try to tame this place."

Mica feels her jaw clench. "I specifically asked for a female roommate."

"Landlord said you'd be cool with it," he says, taking another bite of cereal. "Said you needed someone to split the rent, and I was willing to pay upfront. Plus, how bad could I be?"

She drops her box with a thud, sending a cloud of dust into the air. "Trust me, Santos. You have no idea."

What starts as a battle over dirty dishes, loud music, and personal space will slowly turn into something neither of them saw coming - because sometimes the person who drives you craziest is the one who makes you feel most at home.