It was already morning. The receptionist of the apartment, squinted at the number scribbled beside Mr. Albert Williams in her notepad. She had gotten it from a tenant record and double-checked it before dialling.

"This should be him," she murmured, pressing the call button and lifting the phone to her ear.

After two rings, a man answered.

"Good morning, Mr. Williams!" she greeted sweetly. "I'm Amanda, the receptionist at the apartment where your son resides."

A calm, professional voice replied, "This isn't Mr. Williams. You've reached Robert Clarke, his assistant."

"Oh! My apologies, Mr. Clarke. I thought this was Mr. Williams's direct number."

"Yes it is. But for official matters. All of Mr. Williams's calls go through me. What's this regarding?"

She cleared her throat. "Yes, of course. Actually, this is about the boy who shares the flat with Mr. Thomas Williams."

"The roommate?"

"Yes, sir. His name is Jayden Holmes. They're splitting the rent. But... he doesn't seem to come from a recognized background," she said carefully, choosing her words like poison-tipped needles.

"Go on."

"Yesterday, Jayden received a mail from Mr. Thomas Williams, a cheque for fifty dollars and a letter with, um, quite affectionate wording."

There was a short silence before Clarke spoke again. "Affectionate?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do you have evidence of this?"

"I took photos of the cheque and the letter. Shall I send them to this number?"

"Yes. Immediately."

"Of course, sir. I'll do that right away."

She ended the call, attached the photos, and hit send.

A wicked smile tugged at her lips as she leaned back in her chair.

"Jayden Holmes! Your little gold-digger act will end soon."

*******_____________*******

An hour later

Jayden starts getting ready to go to the park.

He strips his clothes, gets into the shower and turns it on.

The shower head bursts and all the tiles of the bathroom starts spraying water

"Oh shit! Oh no! The plumbing broke!" Jayden screams as he runs out of the bathroom and hurriedly ties a towel around his waist.

He rushes out of his flat and presses the lift button hurriedly.

"Uh.. hi Jay?!"

Jay turns back to see Adrien surprised by his half naked glory.

"My shower broke and all the tiles on my wall started spraying water lol"

Adrien bursts out laughing hysterically as the lift door opens and both get in.

"What're you gonna do now dude?"

"Inform the receptionist about this."

"Ahh, she's a bitch." Adrien says casually.

"Bro hesitate!" Jayden says, shocked by Adrien's remark.

"I don't care bro, she's annoying me a lot lately." Adrien rolls his eyes.

"Coming to think of that, she does glare at me a lot!"

Adrian sighs in annoyance and turns to look at Jay.

"You look hot."

"Uh... Thanks?"

"No. I really mean it... You look hot!" Adrien says and motions his hand as if trying to prove a point.

"Yeah yeah! I understand."

A few seconds of silence later Adrien speaks again.

"Wanna be my boyfriend?"

"Yeah.... WAIT WHAT?!" Jayden yells in a panicked tone as the lift door opens.

Jay stares at Adrien in disbelief as he walks out of the apartment casually after dropping the most unexpected question.

He shakes his head to remove the thoughts and rushes to the receptionist who's on her phone.

"Hey! The plumbing in my flat's bathroom is broken." Jay says.

The receptionist looks up to see him, only to get startled by his attire.

"Ahhh! My eyes! It hurts!" She says dramatically, holding her hand above her eyes.

"I'm sorry. But could you maybe call someone for fixing the issue? I think the water's gonna flood the flat too."

"I don't know..." She says, annoyed.

"It might be better if you stay somewhere else for sometime or days... So that we can fix the issue."

"Can you atleast call someone for checking now please?"

"Alright!" She rolls her eyes as she dials a number from her notepad in the landline and rings it.

Jayden settles on the couch in the waiting area and sighs.

"I shouldn't have come out in a towel... I SHOULD NOT have come out like this."

He decides to go to his flat and check the condition. If possible, put on some clothes.

After going to his flat, he hesitantly opens the door.

The floor was all wet. He entered inside and figured out that the carpet was a good water absorber.

The bathroom on the other hand, was flooding and draining the water.

"There was no way this happened in such a good building" He thinks.

All thanks to him rushing hurriedly outside and forgetting to close the bathroom door. Or the whole flat must've flooded.

He dresses up quickly and exits his flat, only to be met with the plumber who came to check the issue.

*******_____________*******

Amanda the receptionist dials Mr. Clarke's number on her phone.

"Hello Mr. Clarke. I've done just as you said. There's no way he's going to stay here after this." 

"Good job. Just make sure no one knows that you turned up the water pressure to his flat."

"Yes sir. And... If you won't mind, I'm in need of some.. um.. finance. So..."

"I'll pay you twice for the work you do. Hope you won't disappoint."

"Sure sir! Thank you!" She says and hangs up.

Earlier that morning, right after sending the pictures to Mr. Clarke, Amanda's phone rang.

"Mr. Clarke?" 

"Yes. Miss Amanda, do you know where the main water supply for the building is turned on and off?"

"Yes, sir. It's right behind the maintenance room on the lower floor. Why do you ask?"

"Hmm... just a technical inquiry. We wouldn't want any inconveniences in the Williams flat, would we?" His tone was calm... too calm.

"Of course not, sir," she said, a slow smirk creeping across her face.

"Good," Clarke replied, the faintest trace of satisfaction in his voice before hanging up.

Amanda slipped her phone back into her pocket and rose from her chair, humming softly.

By the time she returned to her desk, the pressure valve for Jayden's flat had been adjusted.

*******_____________*******

"The plumbing was made to handle a normal amount of water pressure," the plumber said, inspecting the burst showerhead. He looked at Jayden, dead serious.

"But bro, this? This was high ass pressure. Like break even God's bathroom kinda pressure. This dope ass plumbing never stood a chance."

Jayden blinked in disbelief. "Dope ass plumbing? High ass water pressure? What the actual flip?!"

The plumber just shrugged. "Facts are facts, man. Someone really turned this bathroom into a pressure cooker."

"Also dude, I do feel bad for you. But I'm damn expensive. You guys in these fancy ass apartments with tongue twister names could afford me, right?"

Jayden asks. "Define expensive.'"

"Seventy bucks."

"Seventy?! For saying 'pressure cooker' and poking my showerhead with a wrench?!"

"Bro, this ain't charity. That's a professional diagnosis."

Jayden groaned. "Can we at least bargain? I only have fifty on me."

"Deal," the plumber said immediately, snatching the money with lightning speed.

"You didn't even try to negotiate!"

"Didn't have to. You just paid full price for emotional damage."

"I'm never showering again." He thinks to himself.

*******_____________*******

After the plumber leaves, he sits on the couch and calls Thomas to tell him about this.

"Why isn't he picking up?"

He tries a few more times and gives up.

Just then someone knocks on the door.

He gets up and opens the door to see Adrien standing.

"Is it gonna be fixed?" Adrien asks.

"I don't know. But that plumber guy said I should probably stay somewhere else for now."

"Uh.. have you found a place to stay?"

"Not yet. And I don't have money either. So, I guess I'll just vibe here in the flood zone."

"Wanna stay in my flat? If you don't mind..."

"Are you sure?" Jay raises his eyebrow.

"Yes. You could stay there until this gets fixed. I won't charge you."

"You're being too kind. But no thanks, I don't wanna bother you."

"I want you to stay there... I'll be so lonely if you move out... I want a friend to stay with me. Please!"

"Alright! Alright! I'll stay with you."

"Yayy! Come on! I'll help you move your things!"

"And Adri! What do mean by asking me to be your boyfriend?"

"I was just kidding! Don't tell me you took that seriously and fell in love with my beauty!?"

"Aw shut your front door, man!"

"I'm straight, dude! Don't fall for me!"

"So am I!" Jayden says.

*******_____________*******

Five days passed just like that. Jay and Adrien became good roommates and developed a closer friendship.

There was no progress in the plumbing work. A few workers came, chilled and left. 

The receptionist was burning with pure rage since Jay stayed with Adrien. 

Mel had returned, and the art fest ended 2 days ago.

Jay reached the park and saw Mel petting a puppy.

"Hey Mel!!"

"Hey Jay! Do you like puppies?" She asks enthusiastically.

"Yes! I love them!"

"Here! His name is Tony. He's cute, innit?"

"Aww! So cute!"

"Not as cute as the girl from the art fest, right?" Mel asks.

Jay pretends not to understand what she meant.

"Which girl? hah! There were a lot of girls around!"

"You have a squeaky voice when you lie."

Jay gasps in disbelief.

"I really don't know who you're talking about!"

"Yeah... I believe it" She gives him the 'I know' look.

"Don't you wanna know her name?"

"YES! I mean duh! whatever!"

"Jay, accepting you love someone doesn't make you less manlier."

"I know! But I don't love her! I'm just curious. Maybe like a friend or something."

"You want to get to know her right?"

"Yes"

"Hmm, how's song writing going?"

"Didn't start it yet"

"You know why you didn't start it yet?"

"Because the plumbing in my flat broke and I'm busy with other things."

"She's on your mind, right?"

He gasps again, even more dramatic.

"What do you mean?!"

"Don't blame it on the flat. She's been capturing your thoughts. That's why you can't focus on writing."

"No!"

"Look, don't lie to gramma, Jay. I notice how you look for her everyday in the park. You relax only when you see her."

He sighs in defeat. "Alright, I accept it! I don't know how it happened. I don't know her. She doesn't know me too. I just can't get her outta my mind!" 

Mel pats Jay's shoulder. "You're in love, boy. You might feel it's a very short time to fall in love. But, trust me. Even a second is enough for people to fall in love."

"I don't know, Mel. I'm new to this!"

"Son, she's a good girl. You're a wonderful young man. Try to approach her slowly. Talking to her might make you realise your feelings towards her."

"I'll try it. Thanks Mel."

"That's the spirit, son!"

- To Be Continued

YOU ARE READING: Heartstrings!