Episode 2: The Rules of Apartment 5B

Olivia Hart had a plan for everything.

Unfortunately, her plan had never included sharing an apartment with a complete stranger.

The morning sunlight streamed through the living room window as Olivia walked out of her bedroom.

She stopped.

And immediately regretted waking up.

A pizza box sat on the coffee table.

Three empty soda cans were on the floor.

A pair of socks hung from the lamp.

And somehow...

Somehow...

There was a coffee mug inside a flower pot.

Olivia stared at it.

For a very long time.

Then she took a deep breath.

"No."

Another breath.

"No, no, no."

This could not become normal.

Behind her, a door opened.

Ethan walked out of his room, stretching lazily.

"Morning."

Olivia slowly pointed at the flower pot.

"What is that?"

Ethan followed her finger.

"Oh."

A pause.

"I was wondering where my mug went."

Olivia looked at him.

"You put your coffee mug inside a plant."

"I didn't put it there intentionally."

"That doesn't make it better."

Ethan grinned.

For some reason, he always looked amused.

Even when Olivia was clearly suffering.

Especially when Olivia was clearly suffering.

He walked into the kitchen.

A second later, his voice echoed from inside.

"Do you want coffee?"

"No."

"Tea?"

"No."

"Therapy?"

Olivia groaned.

Five minutes later, she sat at the dining table with a notebook.

Ethan returned carrying two cups of coffee.

He placed one in front of her.

"I said no."

"You looked like you needed it."

Olivia hated the fact that he was right.

She opened her notebook.

"Okay."

Ethan immediately looked nervous.

"Why do I feel like I'm about to be arrested?"

"We need rules."

"Oh no."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

Ethan dramatically covered his face.

Olivia ignored him and began writing.

"Rule number one. Clean up after yourself."

"Reasonable."

"Rule number two. No loud music after ten o'clock."

"I can live with that."

"Rule number three. Don't take my food."

Ethan looked offended.

"I would never."

Olivia raised an eyebrow.

"The missing chocolate bar says otherwise."

A guilty expression flashed across his face.

"A misunderstanding."

"You ate it."

"A delicious misunderstanding."

Olivia wrote even faster.

"Rule number four. Respect personal space."

"Fine."

"Rule number five. No unexpected guests."

The moment she said that, the doorbell rang.

Both of them froze.

Olivia slowly looked at Ethan.

Ethan slowly looked at Olivia.

The doorbell rang again.

"Are you expecting someone?" she asked.

"No."

"Then who is that?"

"I have absolutely no idea."

Olivia walked toward the door and opened it.

A young woman stood outside holding a cake box.

She had long blonde hair and enough energy to power an entire city.

The second she saw Ethan, her eyes lit up.

"ETHAN!"

She rushed inside.

Then suddenly stopped.

Her eyes landed on Olivia.

Silence.

A very awkward silence.

"Oh."

The woman blinked.

Then smiled.

"You must be the girlfriend."

Olivia nearly dropped the notebook.

"What?!"

The woman pointed between them.

"You live together."

"We're roommates."

"Sure."

"ROOMMATES."

The woman looked unconvinced.

Behind them, Ethan was laughing so hard he had to sit down.

Olivia wanted to throw the notebook at him.

The woman extended her hand.

"I'm Emma."

Olivia shook it.

"Olivia."

Emma nodded.

Then pointed at Ethan.

"Unfortunately, I'm his cousin."

Olivia immediately understood why Emma seemed so comfortable around chaos.

It clearly ran in the family.

Emma placed the cake box on the table.

"I brought dessert."

Ethan's eyes widened.

"You're my favorite cousin."

"I'm your only cousin."

"Still counts."

Emma rolled her eyes.

Then she looked around the apartment.

Her gaze moved from Olivia's perfectly organized bookshelf...

To Ethan's pile of random boxes.

Then back to Olivia.

Then back to Ethan.

A slow smile appeared on her face.

"Oh, this is going to be fun."

Olivia didn't like that smile.

Not even a little.

An hour later, Emma was still there.

Somehow she had already learned Olivia's entire life story.

And somehow Ethan had already embarrassed himself six different times.

Emma leaned toward Olivia.

"Can I tell you a secret?"

Olivia hesitated.

"Okay."

Emma lowered her voice.

"When Ethan was twelve, he tried to microwave a spoon."

Olivia blinked.

"He what?"

"It exploded."

Ethan pointed at Emma.

"Traitor."

Emma ignored him.

"And when he was sixteen, he accidentally locked himself out of the house."

"Emma."

"He spent three hours climbing a tree."

"EMMA."

Olivia laughed.

For the first time since meeting Ethan.

A real laugh.

Ethan noticed.

And smiled.

Something about that smile made Olivia quickly look away.

Later that evening, Emma finally stood up.

"I should go."

"Please come again," Olivia said.

Ethan looked shocked.

"You like her more than me."

"Obviously."

"That's hurtful."

"You'll survive."

Emma laughed.

Before leaving, she glanced between them one last time.

Then said something strange.

"You two are going to change each other's lives."

Olivia frowned.

"What does that mean?"

Emma simply smiled.

"You'll see."

Then she walked out the door.

The apartment became quiet again.

For a moment, neither Olivia nor Ethan spoke.

Then Ethan pointed at the notebook.

"So..."

"What?"

"Any more rules?"

Olivia looked at him.

Then at the messy apartment.

Then back at him.

A small smile appeared.

"Probably."

Ethan groaned dramatically.

And for the first time...

Living together didn't seem completely impossible.

At least not yet.

Because neither of them knew that tomorrow would bring a problem much bigger than dirty dishes and stolen chocolate bars.

And that problem was already on its way.

To be continued...

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***