43 Chapter 3: Choosing An Apartment [1]

I spent the morning and afternoon with Elizabeth; upon accepting her confession, she became much more relaxed, and it wasn’t like I had lost anything. 𝑜𝗏𝐞𝗅xt.𝚌𝓞𝓂

If things didn’t work out, we needed the proper clauses in any contracts we signed together.

[You don’t mean that, though, that gentle look. Won’t you treat her like a princess?]

Hmmm… it’s unfair for you to use my past and feelings to make it sound so pathetic, and I know how to measure things.

My heart has a firm balance.

Mother > Aki / Eternia > Elizabeth/Flora

{Hmmm? What about me?}

You are a bit weird, and we don’t know each other well! Give me a few days, and I’ll add you to the list if you are worth it!

But somehow, she reminds me of my mother.

My hand held her tight as she ate ice cream with mind choc-chip flavour and enjoyed the movie with crescent eyes. At the current moment… I didn’t care about my issues or inferiorities. All I wanted was to see her smile like this for longer.

Not long passed as the strange romantic horror film ended, and Elizabeth cried like a baby, forcing me to use tissues to wipe her face.

“Are you better now? Look, your pretty eyes are puffy and red…” I whispered.

Somehow, her face seemed close or rather, how can I act like a natural playboy—Elizabeth’s long lashes fluttered while her beautiful blue eyes looked at me with strange emotion; their surface rippled like ocean waves.

She blinked once, and the spell broke as I kissed her lightly on the forehead, pulling away with a cheeky grin.

“Ahhh, sorry, you looked cute, and I just acted on impulse–” Before I could finish my sentence, as we sat on the small wooden bench in a park 10 minutes from the estate agents, she kissed me back, her tongue pushing into my mouth, her hot breath blowing from her nose and tickling my cheeks.

Her small body pushed against me; our lips mashed awkwardly; her small hands wrapped around my waist and hugged me tightly.

Our kiss was not perfect but messy, and before I could enjoy it, Elizabeth pulled away, her eyes averting mine and blushing scarlet.

“Sorry, I’m bad at kisses and didn’t know what to do. But you make me feel so…. relieved and at ease. Like I am a princess, saved from that horrible life.” She muttered.

I laughed, patting her head with a wide smile and pulled her into another hug. “If you need saving, shall I kidnap you like a villain?”

Elizabeth chuckled, pushing herself off my chest with her cute face and smiled. “Haha, that’s a bit weird, but if I ever get into a terrible situation again, please save me. I promise I’ll return your efforts tenfold.”

“Sure, you have my word. Now let’s go. I want to look at a decent apartment for myself and my We walked the streets; Elizabeth’s soft hands held mine as I checked the internet on my phone, 16:41

finding two possible apartments nearby.

mother before I go to work.” I whispered, pulling her by the hand.

We walked the streets; Elizabeth’s soft hands held mine as I checked the internet on my phone, finding two possible apartments nearby.

One was 400 meters from the estate agents’ location and another 600 meters. The world was so handy now; when I messaged using their online app, I could view both if I didn’t mind waiting 30 minutes.

“Will you wait with me, or must you go?” I asked her, not wanting to get her in bother; she was still a student and probably had lots of work to do for the business we would start.

Elizabeth shook her head, smiling brightly, “No, I’ll stay; it’s fine. Besides, I want to spend a little longer with you. That is… is that alright? Am I being too needy?”

Well, not like I knew what others might think, but imagine this… A guy who last dated a girl 6 years ago and felt like he was the ugliest man on the planet before last week suddenly got a pretty girlfriend. Would he feel it was too needy? Rather I want to be with her.

“And… tonight we’re meeting at a hotel, right?” She added.

“Yes, the one we stayed yesterday. I already booked, so come there whenever you can.” I replied, and Elizabeth nodded, her cheeks reddening at the mention.

The two apartments looked good; both had 2 rooms, a hall, kitchen, and bathroom and were modern with white walls and a similar layout.

One was priced at $2,900 or credits with bills included, and the other at $3,200 or the same in credits. Honestly, I might change to credits as they were the unified currency of the world, with Dollars being the last surviving old currency. “Did you like the small apartment?” I asked Elizabeth as she looked out the window with a happy smile because they both overlooked the small river.

“Hmmm, the cheaper one. It’s so beautiful. I always loved rivers as a kid, but that was till mom died.” Elizabeth muttered with a wry smile.

“Oh, sorry. I shouldn’t have brought up any sad memories.” I whispered, but she shook her head, looking up at me.

“Don’t worry, it’s been many years, and I’ve accepted what happened, and I want to make lots of new memories with you and the business, not to mention Aki… will she be mad if she knows?”

Shit…. how do I tell my girlfriend, “Oh, by the way, I’m sleeping with my sister!” damn…

[Busted!]

{Busted!}

“Uhmm, well, Aki’s complicated, and we have an understanding. She won’t mind, trust me.” I whispered, and Elizabeth nodded softly, not noticing my sweaty palms. Let’s take things one step at a time; her back leaned against my chest as my usual crime happened… I spoke my honest thoughts. “Would you move in with me?”

I meant to ask this even if we didn’t become lovers, but that added a bit of an awkward feeling… I just knew the negative part of her life was related to home… Just like me, Aki and Mother. Is it wrong of me to want to give her a little salvation so that she can focus on our business and work…

My heart was prepared for a rejection… beating faster as the two goddesses mocked me with strange whispers I couldn’t hear well!

“Do…. Do you mean it? Can I? We only met; what if I am a slob or… you… Mmmnnh!?” She was a little stupid, so I kissed her holding her body tightly in my arms. “Sorry, miss Estate Agent!” I whispered with a cheeky laugh and carried Elizabeth like a princess, kissing her as her feet dangled and lips parted.

Her body was light, her lips soft, and her breathing ragged. She was mine, and I was hers; I just hoped it was genuine affection. “Mnnh, I’m so happy when with you.” She muttered, her eyes glassy as we left the estate agent and walked outside.

“I’ll take both. Can you please tell me exactly what I must do, how much and where to pay it?” My words were rather cold, but the Estate agent just looked at me with a polite smile.

“All you need to do is pay the deposit for both, and if you would, the first 6 months rent upfront. Shall I calculate it now?”