Duru Ulusoy
I paid the taxi fare and got out of the car. As I looked at the apartment building, I squinted and sighed because of the sunlight hitting my face. So this was it—the first day of my life without a homemate.
I went inside the building and pressed the elevator button. The whole place smelled strongly of detergent, like it had just been cleaned. While I was looking at the floor, my phone rang. I checked the caller and answered.
"Teresa?.. Yes, I just got here… Okay. I'll come over after I unpack… Alright, dear. See you."
I got into the elevator with my suitcase and pressed my floor number. The doors were about to close when a hand slipped in between them, forcing them back open.
I pulled my suitcase closer to my legs to make room. When I looked up, the young guy stepping inside smiled at me. I returned a polite smile and turned my eyes back to the closing doors.
When the elevator stopped on the third floor, we both tried to get out at the same time. He turned to me with a smile and gestured toward the door.
"After you."
"Thank you."
Dragging my suitcase along, I walked down the corridor toward my apartment. As I reached my door and was about to unlock it with the new keys Kerem had given me, the guy from the elevator came up behind me and stopped in front of the neighboring apartment.
I glanced at him briefly when I saw him trying to unlock the door with his key, then turned back to my own. He was probably a friend of whoever lived there.
"I guess you're the new neighbor."
I turned toward the voice without opening my door.
"Did you move into this apartment?"
He smiled and held out his hand.
"Yes. My name's Burak."
I shook his hand. "Nice to meet you. I'm Duru."
He pointed at my apartment with interest.
"So you just moved in, too?"
"No. I've been living here for a few months. I was staying with a friend while my place was being renovated."
After a short nod, he narrowed his eyes and studied my face.
"Have we met before, Duru?"
I tilted my head slightly and looked at him too. Tall, average build, fair skin, blue eyes, straight black hair cut just above his ears. I hadn't really paid attention to his looks before, but now that I did, he was noticeable.
I doubted I'd forget someone like that—unless we'd crossed paths when I was half-asleep.
"I'm not sure. Maybe at school. What department are you in?"
"Mining engineering."
I nodded with a smile.
"Then we've definitely seen each other. Same building."
Leaning casually against his door, he smiled.
"What year are you in, Duru?"
"Third. You?"
"Senior year. Are you taking any electives? We might even have a class together."
"Engineering ethics."
He raised his eyebrows with approval.
"Professor Ayşe, huh? So we're brave as well as beautiful."
I smiled shyly and tucked my hair behind my ear.
"More like lazy. I picked it because writing assignments felt easier than studying for exams. I kind of regret it now though…"
My phone rang, echoing through the hallway. I pulled it out and saw Kerem's name on the screen. I gave Burak an apologetic look.
"Sorry, I need to take this."
He nodded understandingly.
"Sure. I need to get ready and head out anyway. Since we're neighbors now, I'm sure we'll see each other often."
I smiled and answered the phone.
"Hello?"
Before Kerem could speak, Burak added with a grin,
"Nice meeting you, Duru."
His tone felt a bit strange, but I waved politely and turned back to my door. At the same moment, a tense voice came through the phone.
"And who was that who was so happy to meet you?"
Rolling my eyes as I opened the door, I replied irritably,
"My killer, Hotshot! Didn't you know? My biggest hobby is meeting people who want me dead."
I pushed my suitcase inside and shut the door.
"I really don't like you joking about that, Duru."
Since the tension in his voice didn't fade, I sighed, took off my shoes, and walked into the living room.
"Relax, Hotshot. I was just talking to my new neighbor."
As I spoke, I looked around, trying to figure out what changes had been made. Aside from the front door being replaced with a more secure one, nothing else looked noticeably different yet.
"Your new neighbor? What happened to Deniz?"
I frowned.
"Deniz? Who's that?"
"Are you serious? You don't even know your previous neighbor's name?"
"How do you know my neighbor?"
"I met him the night I was waiting for you to wake up. And don't you think it's stranger that you don't know your neighbor than that I do, Duru?"
I dropped onto the couch and replied tiredly.
"Meeting new people is exhausting. I stick with the ones I already have unless I have to. Why does your voice echo? Where are you?"
"You're so lazy I'm afraid one day you'll stop breathing out of sheer effort, Sunshine. I'm outside. I've got things to do."
"I might not stop breathing, but if you keep pushing my buttons, I definitely won't bother leaving the house tonight, Hotshot!"
He laughed.
"You're even grumpier than when you wake up from vacation naps. Have you checked the whole apartment?"
"No, I'm still in the living room."
That's when I noticed a massive plant in the corner and my eyebrows shot up. I stood and walked toward it, muttering angrily.
"As if the landlord's plants wasn't enough, you brought this into my life too, Hotshot! That thing's taller than me! Am I a botanist or what?"
"Don't touch it!"
His sudden warning made me jump back.
"What? Why? Is it poisonous?"
"No. There's a camera on it."
"Damn you, Kerem! You scared the hell out of me!"
His amused laughter only made me angrier.
"Have you lost your mind? What is a camera doing in the middle of my living room? Come take it right now or I'll put it outside myself, Hotshot! I'm serious!"
"Calm down, Duru. No one but me can see anything unless there's an emergency."
"Oh wow, that makes me feel so much better! Are you kidding me? How am I supposed to relax knowing I'm being watched in my own home?"
"There's nothing to be uncomfortable about. It's only for emergencies. And believe it or not, I have better things to do than watch a girl sleeping 24/7."
I snapped.
"Oh really? Look at you! Your excuse is worse than the crime! Forget about tonight's plan, Hotshot. My plans have officially changed. New plan: lying on my couch and sleeping for days. And if you're lucky, maybe I'll even be too lazy to breathe!"
I hung up angrily and tossed my phone onto the table. The sound of it hitting the wood snapped me back to my senses, and I hurriedly grabbed it, checking for damage. When I saw it was fine, I sighed in relief and went into the kitchen.