Apartment 304
2017 Words
Flying for seven hours and watching 2 Broke Girls for the majority of the flight is weirdly exhausting. I took a taxi, gave him the address to the student housing near the campus. I chose to stay off campus for many reasons and the most relevant out of all my reasons is that there is less strict rules and regulations off campus compared to the dorm.
The taxi stops in front of the building. I pick up my luggage box sitting with me at the back of the taxi. There was no need putting it in the trunk.
I walk into the building. It’s quite enormous and the interior is beautiful too. Whoever designed it did a nice job. I walk into the elevator and push the button that will stop me at the floor that leads to my apartment. 304.
I am standing in front of apartment 304. Frok. I don’t have the keys. I hit my forehead with my right palm. Atleast I have the landlord’s number saved in my phone. I was given the number after I completed my payment online while in New York. I search for my phone in my bag, finds it and dial the landlord’s number. It rings for a few seconds and he picks up.
“Hello Sir, this is Astrid, I don’t have the keys to my room. How can I get it?”
“Have you tried knocking on the door to know if any of your roommate is in the house?” It seems like he is eating because he is chewing and talking.
I knock on the door.
“Even if there is someone in the house, I would still be needing my own keys right?”
Someone opens the door.
She’s African, wearing a bonnet and what looks like a beauty mask, I’m guessing since its Saturday, it’s her self-care day. She’s almost same height as I am but I am a little bit taller. She’s also wearing a hello kitty shirt and what I think is her panties underneath.
“Someone is in the house. How do I get my keys?” I say into the phone after I am done taking my observation.
“I would bring it up to you before the day runs out.”
“Alright, see you then. Thank you.” I hang up.
“Hello my name is Astrid and I am meant to live.” I tell her while putting my phone back into my bag.
She gives me a confusing look. The ‘how do I know you are not a thief’ look.
“What’s the landlord’s name?” She asks, leaning on the door frame.
“Mr. Stonem?” She’s quiet. “Fredrick Stonem.” I repeat.
She moves her body off the door frame and opens the door wider for I and my luggage to come in.
“My name is Guinevere. You can call me Gwen. I’m a Business student, in my second year.” She explains as we enter the living room. “Welcome to the apartment. Ivy is not home yet. What’s your name again?”
She turns to me. She look scary with that substance on her face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t get it when you told me minutes ago.”
“Astrid.” I answer her.
“Okay Astrid. Your room is over there,” She points to a brown door with a sign that says ‘DON’T KNOCK IF IT’S NOT TEXTABLE’. “Where are you coming from?”
“New York.” I reply.
“When you have rested we can talk more. You must have had a tiring journey from New York to London.”
“Thank you.” I take my luggage to the room.
The room is exactly like I saw it online and worth the rent I paid.
I didn’t take a good look at the living room to be able to compare it to what I saw on the advert online. The room looks like someone recently moved out. It not very dusty as I assumed I would be doing alot of cleaning. I packed a bedsheet and pillowcase, which I bring out and spread on the tiny ten spring bed. I also put the pillow into the pillowcase. I hope there is no bedbug in this building, that’s my worst nightmare.
I remove my pants which is called trousers in London. I unhook my bra and also take off my shirt. I love sleeping with just my panties. Sometimes nothing on. The lesser the clothing, the more satisfying the sleep.
I lay on my bed and sleep.
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Looking at my watch, I slept for what looks like an hour. I hear little voices outside the door. I put on my shirt and pants and walk out of my room. There is another girl sitting with Gwen.
“Astrid”, she calls out my name, “you are up.” She’s eating cookies. “Want some?” She stretches the box towards me.
“Yes, thank you.” I walk to where she’s sitting and take three cookies.
“Astrid, this is Ivanna, your other roommate. Ivanna, Astrid.” She introduces us. “I am guessing you are hungry. Should I make you a sandwich?”
“I would love that.” I sit next to her.
“Okay”, Gwen stands and goes to the kitchen.
I raise my hands. “Hi.” I greet Ivanna.
“Hi.” She keeps scrolling on her phone.
I am not sure she looked up to see my face. That’s quite rude though. Normally, I would ignore her too and go stay with Gwen who is extra nice and warming but I am trying to make better choices, right?
“Should I make for you too Ivy?” Gwen asks from the tiny kitchen that’s not far from the living room.
“I’m okay. I already had dinner.” She answers Gwen.
I take a good look at Ivy. I can tell she’s a rich kid. She looks very feminine with long blonde hair. She’s skinny like me too. With nice shaved legs. It’s either she is very good at grooming herself on a low budget or she’s rich.
“You have the most perfect eyebrows I have ever seen in my life.” I compliment her. One trick that works on many people including snubs is for you to compliment them.
She pause her scrolling, takes her eyes that is hooked on her phone, looks at me and says, “Thank you.” She continues her scrolling.
It worked. I got her attention. So she loves compliment. But no, I am not here to psychoanalyze her. She might be more than a pretty face, so I am going to give her a chance.
Gwen joins us with two plates of toasted sandwich which she hands to me.
I collect it from her. “Thank you.” I say. I take a bit and chew it. It tastes nice. “This is nice, thanks again.”
“I almost forgot. Soda?” She stands up.
“Yes please.” I reply with mouth full of crunchy bread.
She goes back to the fridge and comes back with two cans of Mountain Dew. She hands it to me, I collect and place beside the coffee table near me.
“She said my eyebrows are nice.” Ivanna tells Gwen. “What are you studying?” she asks.
I take a sip of my Mountain Dew. “Psychology.” I place my drink back on the coffee table.
“Freshman or transfer student?” she continues.
“Freshman.”
“I’m in my final year, computer science. I’m from London too.” She talks fast. “You are welcome to London Astrid.” She goes back to scrolling her phone.
“Why did you choose to study in London? America has nice unis and colleges too.” Gwen asks. She has finished her own sandwich.
“Well, I am from one of the major cities in the world, and London seems like a nice place to start life over.” My sandwich is getting cold. I take the last bite and gulp down my drink.
“You should follow me on i********:. I have fifty thousand organic followers. I share inspirational quotes and I am also an influencer. It’s Ivanna star with double R.”
“I don’t have an i********: account.” I lie. Well, not that much of a lie. I have not posted a thing on i********: for ages now.
Gwen laughs quietly. “Here we go again.” She covers her lips with the back of her palm.
I turn to her. Before I could get a word out of my mouth Ivanna starts.
“You are one of those mystery girls who take their life off social media and think you are better than anyone else.” She snorts but continues and makes an air quotation with her fingers. “The whole social media is toxic team.”
“I am very active on f*******: though”, I cut her calmly.
“f*******:?” she chuckles, “f*******: is for old, ugly and boring people. Don’t take it personal. How can you be eighteen and prefer f*******: to i********:?” The harshness in her tone reduces.
“Did you just conclude that she is eighteen Ivy?” Gwen asks Ivy.
“Yeah, isn’t she a freshman? And most freshmen are usually eighteen to twenty. She looks young too.”
They look at me, expecting me to say something.
“I’m twenty-four”. I tell them.
Ivy’s eyes are wide open. Gwen maintains a poker face. She isn’t as surprised as Ivanna.
“What are you doing in school at twenty-four?” She queries.
“I want to get a degree in psychology.” I smile at her.
“We are age mates.” Gwen gives me a soft punch on my arm. “I was born September fourth. What about you?”
“July eighteenth.”
“Is this your first time going to school?”
“No. I have a degree in biochemistry.”
“Wow, that’s nice. I went to a fashion school though. I came back to study Business Administration so I can further my fashion goals.
She stands up from the sofa picking up my plates and empty can together with hers and heads to the kitchen.
“Thank you for the sandwich. It was really nice.” I say to her.
“You say thank you a lot don’t you?”
“I do, it’s a habit.” I reply
“Well, it’s a ‘welcome to the apartment’ treat. I don’t make sandwich for people as a habit.” She giggles. “So don’t expect it to happen all the time. I don’t even like sharing my food with people. I am stingy with anything edible.”
I walk to the kitchen to join her. She’s manually washing the plates. She’s a neat person I guess.
“I would give you the handbook for the rules and regulation we have in the building, and the rules I, ivy and Kimberly drafted.”
“Who’s Kimberly? It said the apartment have three rooms and I assumed I have just two roommates.”
“She’s the girl who used to stay in your room but moved out two months ago.”
“Why did she move out?” I hope the answer won’t be a bad news.
“She got married to a rich guy and moved to her husband’s house.”
I watch as she puts the clean dishes back in the rack.
The kitchen has all the necessary equipment. I think I would love it here.
I have alot to do this week. Making a to-do list helps me finish things faster and I head to my room to make them and reflect on today.
“Goodnight Gwen.”
“Goodnight, sleep well and welcome to London.”
- Writer
