Frustrated by the uncooperative faucet, Hobe decided to seek assistance from his neighbor, Beckett Muller—a man known for his acerbic wit and penchant for mockery, but Hobe had little choice in the matter.
Knocking gently on Beckett's door, Hobe waited with a sense of apprehension. The door creaked open lazily, revealing Beckett's indifferent face bathed in the dim light of his apartment. "What?" he grumbled.
"Sorry to bother you, but the water in my room isn't working. Could I—"
Before Hobe could finish, Beckett erupted into hearty laughter, the sound reverberating in the hallway and catching Hobe off guard.
The laughter abruptly ceased, and Beckett's expression shifted from amusement to a deadpan stare.
"Of course, it's off. It's past five. The water intentionally gets cut off at that time," he explained matter-of-factly, leaving Hobe standing there, perplexed by the seemingly intentional inconvenience.
"Why?"