“What is the meaning of this!?” Lynx screamed in surprise as she
clenched the piece of paper in her hand even harder—if it was
possible. “Why does the
rent fee increase so much—and without prior notice!?”
The landlord who stood before her looked unfazed, even though his
ears were probably ringing.
“Well, that’s your prior notice.
The increase starts next month, not this month.”
“No, no, you must not understand it,” Lynx said.
“A prior notice is
four weeks before the increase, at least.
So I can prepare myself
mentally! Now how
should I find a place in just one week!?
This is already the last week of July, in case you forgot.”
“That’s not my problem.
I’ll just rent this room to someone else.”
“You’re mean.”
“No, I’m just doing my job.
Good luck anyway, if you’re planning on moving out.”
With that said, the landlord walked off to the next unit to give the
announcement and she swore she could hear screaming from the other
units as well.
“Oh my, how am I supposed to find a place in such a short time!?
I don’t want to be homeless!” Lynx said while picturing
herself sitting in an alley, leaning on a garbage can, and typing
away on her laptop.
What a sad image.
It was then, like a beacon in the darkness, a piece of paper
fluttered in front of her, carried by the wind from a nearby lamp
post. It was the
advertisement of available rooms.
She grabbed the paper as if it was dear life, and rushed inside to
grab her coat, before she dashed out off her apartment in search of
more.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Lynx walked into her
apartment unit with a wide smile and a bunch of papers in her hand,
after about two hours of hunting for advertisements.
She put the papers on the kitchen counter and was about to
reach for the phone when her eyes were suddenly covered.
Needless to say, she started screaming at the top of her lungs.
“Hey Lynx, it’s me!
Stop screaming!”
Lynx whirled around.
“Neil! I thought I
asked you not to scare me.
What if I got a heart attack?”
Neil shrugged. “I just
like seeing you all hysterical.”
“You told me to stop screaming.”
“Hypocrisy is my middle name.
Anyway, what happened?” Neil asked as he motioned at the
bunch of paper. “You’re
going job hunting again?”
“I never went job hunting.
I’m moving out of this place.”
“Why? This place is
nice.”
“The rent fee is not.”
“Point taken.”
Lynx sighed as she placed her elbow on the counter and leaned
slightly. “I’ve been
looking through advertisements on posts since I figured they’d be
cheaper. What do you
think?”
Neil looked through the papers, and Lynx drummed her fingers against
the marble counter as she waited, humming a nameless tune as she did
so.
“These are too far away from our campus,” Neil pointed out as he put
all of the papers in the trash can.
“Even if the rent is not expensive, your bus fares can match
up to it.”
Lynx sighed again and resisted the urge to bang her head on the
counter—to at least inflict some damage on the property before she’s
leaving.
“So what do you think I should do?”
“Try to ask your
friends for available rooms?”
“It’s only a week! I’m
not sure about this.”
“I would’ve offered you my place, but you know I don’t like sharing
rooms with people.”
“And your apartment is a studio room.”
“Right-o. I’m planning
to move out too, though.
I’ll help you look.”
“What’s wrong with your room?”
“I want someplace closer to campus.
Meanwhile, I’ll stll stay there.”
Lynx nodded. “Okay
then. Oh, by the way,
I’m meeting up with Jeremy, Yils, and Henry this weekend.
Are you coming?”
“What are they up to this time?
Going trick-or-treating?” Neil asked as he rolled his eyes.
Lynx giggled and quickly
covered her mouth with her hand.
“No, you’re being mean to them.
We’re just going to hang out at a park.
There is a barbeque for first year students.”
“We’re going to crash the event?
You know we’re no longer first years.”
“No, we’re going to freeload.”
“Oh no. Do count me
out.”
“Sure, I’ll tell them you’re not coming.
I’ll tell you if I find a place and you should do the same.”
“Yessir. I’ll be sure
to tell you if I find a nice place fit for your princess-like
needs.”
“It’s you who’s like a prince!
I’m the maid because I cook and clean.”
Neil laughed and ruffled Lynx’s hair.
“I’ll be off then.
I dropped off the fresh milk and cheese you asked me to pick
up yesterday. See you.”
“See you.”
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Lynx sat in her seat, staring blankly at her diary, particularly at
the numbers on the calendar that she had crossed out.
It was the last day of school and still she hadn’t found a
place to stay yet.
“Hey Lynx,” a blonde greeted as she sat beside Lynx, holding her cup
of coffee up to her lips and sipping slowly.
“Is something the matter?
You look so down and unfocused lately.
Even the professor can tell that your works are taking a
sadder voice.”
“Hm... is it that bad?”
“Yeah, so spill.”
“I have to move out in three days, and I don’t have a place to stay
yet.”
“Aw, shucks. Have you
tried asking the kids?”
“I did. No one has an
empty room available in such a short time.
My landlord came with the notice earlier this week.”
“Well, I heard that Keith from the Electrical Engineering division
is renting a room in his apartment, but I suggest you don’t take
it.”
“Why not?”
“He’s a drunkard. I
fear for you if he one day comes home drunk and rapes you.”
“Uh... thank you for your concern.”
“Why don’t you ask Jeremy?
Aren’t you friends with him?”
“Well, yeah, but he’s staying in a studio room with Yils now.
There’s no space left.”
“Oh well, I have to go now, I have to go pick my baby sister up.
Best of luck in your search.”
“Okay, thank you and see you!”
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
“Yes, just a moment!” Lynx called as she placed the dish back in the
sink and quickly wiped her hands with the apron as she rushed to
answer the front door.
“Oh, hello Henry! I
thought we’re meeting at twelve?”
“Yeah, but we had nothing to do at home, and decided to gather at
eleven instead. Are you
ready yet?”
“That’s strange. I
thought Jeremy and Yils would never run out of things to do.”
“Are you implying something?”
“Aren’t they always playing something?
The last time I went to their room, they were busy playing
cards that they almost didn’t notice me coming.”
“They did? They didn’t
notice me that other time.”
“I guess I’m just luckier then.
Anyway, I’ll just finish washing up the dishes and then we
can go.”
“You need help drying them up?”
“No it’s okay, I’ll just probably do them with the laundry later.”
Henry nodded and made himself comfortable in the living room while
Lynx went back to the kitchen.
He looked around as he noticed a few things missing.
“Are you selling your miniatures?
I like the copper lion statuette.”
“No, I’m moving out. I
still keep all of them.”
“You’re moving out?
Where to?”
“I’m not sure yet. I
might move to my cousin’s place or something for the time being.”
“Male or female?”
“Male?”
“Ah, I’m jealous,” Henry said teasingly as he got up from the couch.
“Anyway, are you finished yet?”
Lynx nodded slowly, willing the blush that she was sure was there to
go away. “Yeah, we can
go now,” she said as she took her apron off and hung it on a hanger.
“Let’s go then. Those
two are waiting for us already.”
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
“Here you go,” Henry said as he handed a plateful of barbecued beef
to Lynx, then gave the other plate to Yils who was practically
beaming.
“Thank you,” Lynx said as she accepted the plate and started eating.
“Hey Lynx,” Jeremy called as he walked over, and dragged her off to
a more secluded place.
“I heard from Henry that you’re moving to your cousin’s place.”
“Yeah, I had to move out from my current apartment because I can’t
pay the rent.”
“Ah, that’s a pity. I
was thinking of offering you a place in our new unit.”
“What?”
“Yils and I are moving out to a bigger apartment unit with three
bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a living room.
So far, only the three of us—with Henry—are staying there,
and I was thinking of asking you and Neil.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Lynx asked as she was on the verge
of breaking down.
“Whoa there, calm down!” Jeremy panicked when he saw Lynx tearing
up. “I’m sorry, but I
was busy with the administration and all that jazz, so I didn’t have
time to contact you.
And I didn’t know you’re moving out soon.”
“Jeremy! What did you
do!?” Yils screeched in surprise when she saw Lynx crying and rushed
to hug her. “There,
there, Lynx, don’t cry.”
“How is it my fault now?” Jeremy asked with a sigh and Henry who had
just joined them could only give him a pat on the back.
“But then again, that means you have to share a room with
someone, because one room is for Neil.”
“I don’t mind sharing with her,” Yils said as she kept on hugging
Lynx.
“However I do mind sharing with him,” Jeremy said as he
motioned at Henry.
“People will think there’s something between us.”
“And won’t they think so if Lynx and Henry room together?”
“Well, yeah, but that’s still better.”
“So what do you say Lynx?” Yils asked as she looked at Lynx again.
“Do you want to room with him?
Or do you want to room with me?”
“I don’t mind rooming with anyone.”
“Aw, you’re too nice.
You have to stand up to what you want.”
“It’s really okay. I
don’t mind.”
“More like she wants to
room with him,” Jeremy muttered under his breath.
“What did you say?” Yils asked, looking at him suspiciously.
“Nothing at all. So I
guess it’s settled then.
Henry will help you move your things to our new place, and
you should tell Neil about it too.”
“Okay.”
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Lynx stood in front of the door to her old apartment unit, smiling
in satisfaction as she reread the message written on the piece of
paper pasted to it.
I’ve moved my stuffs
out of this room, and it’s ready for rent.
Thank you for the past year.
-- Lynx
“Ready to go?” Henry asked as he walked up behind her and smiled
when he read what she wrote.
She really was too nice.
In his hand was his car key, jingling as he moved the ring
from one finger to another.
“Yeah I am. Let’s go.”
Lynx stood beside Henry’s black sedan, looking at her old apartment
one last time before she got in, leaving the place, but keeping the
memories made within.