New Roommate

Chapter 11: New Roommate.

The corridor remained quiet, the only sound being a distant hum of electricity. The young man in the sleek black T-shirt turned around as the door creaked open, his eyes widened in surprise at the sight of a familiar-looking girl standing there, as if sprung from his past. His heart skipped a beat looking at her.

Taking two steps back, he slightly tilted his head up to look at the flat number.

[A-410]

Confusion furrowed his brows. He was in the right place, but the person standing before him wasn't who he expected. Shouldn't his roommate be a guy?

Likewise, Isabella had the same question in her mind. Who was this guy? Her roommate was supposed to be another girl.

"Ahem. You are?" Isabella spoke first. It was better to ask instead of awkwardly standing in the corridor. The boy looked at her intently.

"Don't you know me?"

Isabella raised her eyebrows hearing this. Was she supposed to know him? Who was he? Bill gates? Elon Musk? A celebrity incognito?

"No. I don't know you. May I know who you are?" Isabella asked looking up at the young man. He was much taller than her and her head just reached his chest.

"Hahaha.. Princess. Don't you recognize me anymore?"

Isabella was stunned for few good seconds before her eyes widened in realisation.

"Oh my... Dylan.. Is that you?" Isabella exclaimed and Dylan pulled her into a tight hug, a spontaneous embrace that felt both nostalgic and comforting. He was surprised to see this stubborn girl here. But nevertheless, he was happy to meet her.

"Haha. Dylan. Why are you here? How did you know about this place?" Stella asked looking at his huge backpack. Dylan scratched his head and sheepishly looked at her.

"I'm moving in. Renting this place, actually."

Isabella blinked at his answer. Huh? So he was her roommate? Why? And how? Dylan let her mull over her thoughts and walked into the flat. Lucky for him that Isabella had cleaned up everything.

"Hey wait. How can we share this flat. This is just one room and bathroom. How can you stay here?"

Dylan put his bag down and looked around. "What's the problem? Didn't you want to share the flat? That's what the owner told me." Dylan replied innocently.

"Yes, I wanted to share the flat but not with a boy. I wanted a girl roommate." Isabella stressed. How can she be comfortable with a man roaming around?

Dylan simply shrugged in response. "You should have specified that to the owner earlier. I can complain about the same thing too."

Isabella pursed her lips and dialled the owner immediately. How can he approve Dylan's stay here without at least informing her before hand. She would have looked for some other place. Well, that was the exact reason why the owner didn't inform her.

This flat was too old for anyone to show interest. Since he got two customers who can only afford the rent if shared with someone else, he didn't hesitate before giving a thumbs up to both of them.

Isabella sighed after the owner hurriedly explained and cut the call. Turning around, she looked at Dylan who already had his clothes arranged in the wardrobe.

"Why are you moving in here?" Isabella asked out of genuine curiosity. He now had a home. Why was he in this old building?

Dylan's hand stopped arranging the clothes. He was adopted when he was nine years old and his family moved out to States later. He only visited the orphanage once after his adoption.

"Nothing much. Take it as my rebellious phase kicking in where I decide to move out of home and be independent."

Isabella narrowed her eyes hearing this. Something was fishy but knowing that it wasn't her business to poke her nose in, she kept quite and started arranging the kitchen.

"Alright. Since we are going to share this flat for at least next few months before one of us moves out, we need to follow some rules so that we both can be at peace. Let's establish some ground rules to avoid any major conflicts." Isabella took out a paper and pen before sitting on the floor. She signalled Dylan to take a seat opposite to her to draw out the rules.

After 2 hours ...

"Perfect. Done and Dusted. Let us stick it to the back of the door.... And there it .. goes.." Isabella beamed triumphantly, showing off the finished list of rules that was now hanging on the back of the door.

Dylan had an ugly face looking at that. What the hell was this?

.... Disciplinary Conducts ....

Party A: Isabella Campbell

Party B: Dylan Jordan

Silver Rules:

[1] Both parties must give a day's notice for any guest visits (except aliens, wizards, mythical creatures etc; we're cool with spontaneous abductions. Long-lost relatives; in that case, spontaneity is encouraged).

[2] All expenses considering the flat are to be split evenly—except for pizza delivery tips, which are sacred.

[3] Absolute ban on karaoke singing unless we're attempting to communicate with dolphins.

Golden Rules:

[4] Cleaning duties on alternate days; If Party A cleans the room, then Party B cleans the washroom and vice versa. Failure to comply results in sharing bedtime ghost stories.

[5] Flush the toilet and close the lid properly after use or risk awakening the ancient toilet spirits(believed to be expert pranksters).

[6] Both the parties have to change their clothes in washroom if the other party is present in the room.

[7] Both the parties have to wash their clothes daily. They are not allowed to pile them up and let them stink in a corner.

[8] No alcohol, no smoking, and no swearing in the flat.

[9] Since both the parties are students, no one should have complaints if the light is on at night to study.

[10] Bed area of both the parties is a restricted area for the other. Territories are marked—cross into the designated sock war zone at your own risk.

Signature of Party A

Signature of Party B

----

Dylan didn't even know why he spent so much time on this stupid agreement. Sigh.. He gazed at the girl he met after so many years. Her honey brown hair was tied up into a messy bun and those green eyes peeked at him enquiringly.

He smiled remembering how this girl forced the administration to change her name into 'Isabella Campbell'.

"So Princess Isabella. Tell me how have you been." Dylan sat beside her. He returned to the country after many years and it was a relief to find someone he knew.

The day passed with both the old friends and now new roommates telling about their lives.

"My Mom passed away two years ago. I came here because this was her home." Dylan explained about his life with his adoptive parents.

"What about your father?"

"He is taking care of his business in States. I am going to study here." Isabella nodded. Seems like his relationship with his father wasn't good.

"What happened to you, huh? I wonder why no one adopted this cute little bunny?" Dylan playfully smirked leaning closer to her, making her frown.

"I am not a little bunny. I am a lion cub. And of course many were charmed but I already have parents. I cannot accept someone else when I know my parents are searching for me." Isabella said without any doubt or hesitation.

Dylan looked into her clear enigmatic green eyes and found nothing but confidence as she claimed.

Though her tales of magic and kingdoms always sounded like bogus for many, Dylan believed her. Hadn't he experienced something like that on that day along with her.

"Let us go somewhere and eat. The kitchen is not ready I guess." Dylan jerked his towards the kitchen counter and Isabella nodded. She was also tired and cooking was out of her to-do list.

Sitting in a cheap restaurant, Isabella and Dylan order Sunday roast with roast meat and Yorkshire pudding. The bill was on Isabella since it was her birthday treat to Dylan.

Dylan watched the girl accompanying him. She was just like how she was years ago. Taciturn tongue, confident, mild humour, straight forward and beautiful beyond words. Something rare to find.

"Isabella. Did you miss me?" Dylan asked out of no where while they were walking back to their flat. Isabella chuckled hearing this.

"I did. It wasn't the same without you, you know? You were always up for some rule-breaking adventure."

"Thanks for missing me then. Because I missed you a lot." Dylan smiled back at Isabella and walked a little ahead.

His left hand inside the pockets of his hoodie clutched onto a coin as his smile became more genuine and happy. He was glad he returned back.

***

"Dylan. WAIT." The nine year old Isabella ran to Dylan while he was just about to enter the car with his new parents.

Seeing Isabella running to him, his previous nervousness calmed down and he took a deep breathe before approaching her.

"Don't run like that. I won't be here anymore to be the princess's bodyguard." Dylan teased, his grin a mix of sentimentality and playfulness.

Isabella huffed, her hands on her hips. "Hmph.. I am more than enough to protect myself. And I have learnt a lot about this world. Don't worry about me. Here. I want to give this to you." Isabella took out a small cold coin from her pocket with a eagle like symbol engraved on it with few other markings and inscriptions.

"I, Isabella Campbell, as the crown princess of Mythiopia, bestow upon you, Dylan Jordan, this royal seal. Believe it or not, it'll guide you to your safe haven if you ever find yourself lost."

"I was told to always keep this coin with me. But I am going against my parents and giving this to you. Because you are the first person I cherish a lot in this world. You are special. So keep it safe. Or else be ready to see hell." Isabella warned but Dylan was too stunned to get intimidated by her. He was special to her? His eyes watered a little thinking how badly he was going to miss this crazy girl.

"Then I promise. This will be safe with me. I will cherish this."

*****

Dylan looked back at Isabella who was silently walking behind him, draped in a white hoodie. The coin really helped him. It brought him back to his safe haven.