John came back that afternoon, letting himself in again miraculously without Amy’s notice.
“Amy, how are you now?” John addressed his unsuspecting sister who was cooking with a saucepan.
“Oh gosh John. You startled me again. How did you get in this time? I told Tom off for allowing you to get inside here.”
“Ah, don’t worry Amy. I always have a way to get in. No fear as this place is as secure as ever before. Anyway, are you feeling better now? You looked so dreadful this morning. Look after yourself, darling.” John said in a reproachful tone.
“I feel much better now. Thanks my brother. I was dreadful because I was so drunk and tired last night. But don’t forget you woke me up in the middle of my slumber.”
“By the way,” continued Amy, getting back to her saucepan, “what was it you were talking about this morning? I wasn’t myself. I hardly knew what you had said. About the colleague of yours getting a new flatmate or something?”
“Oh, yes,” cried John. “That’s why I am here now. You remember Jane, don’t you? Here she is.”
As if it were on cue, a female figure suddenly appeared behind John’s back. Her move was so slight and unexpected, Amy almost dropped the wooden spoon she had been holding.
“Jane, this is Amy. Yes, the very Amy, your new flatmate as well as your landlady! Isn’t this so exciting? My sister becomes your landlady?” John sounded overexcited and even exaggerated.
“Erh, am I…, am I a flatmate? And a landlady too? We need…” Amy looked wide-eyed and incredulous but she was unable to finish her sentence.
“Jane, so sorry, I am such an idiot. You must be curious about your new flat. Let me show you around,” John interrupted and prevented his sister from speaking further. “I can take you to where your bedroom is. I know this place better than mine. Follow me, my friend.”
Arm in arm, the pair went on their journey which seemed, by the sound of it, to start from a kitchen. A fridge door was opened and closed. Cupboards and drawers were checked too, with the same motion of endless opening and closing. To outsiders, Amy thought to herself, they would pass for a newly-engaged couple who were earnestly looking for a place to start their new life together.
“My sister keeps all her food and drinks in this section of the cupboard, so the rest are all yours. If you need anything, literally anything, like fixing hooks or nails to hang items on the wall, just ask me. I’m more than happy to help around. And,…” John’s proud voice was heard from the other side of the flat.
Amy couldn’t recollect a moment when John was helping around at home, not to mention of doing any handyman’s job. She doubted her brother knew even how to nail on a wall.
Jane mentioned something to John. And they both giggled at what had just been said. But Jane’s voice wasn’t loud enough to reach Amy’ ears. It must be their shared joke.
They finally finished their tour of the house and returned to where they had started, rejuvenated and slightly excited.
“Amy, your flat is far much more fantastic than John has described to me. The kitchen, wow, it is the most beautiful piece I’ve ever seen in my life. This place is so perfect for me. I love every bit of it.”
Jane’s eyes are full of admiration.
“I can’t believe,” she continued, “I am going to live here. I won’t be able to thank you enough for having me as your flatmate. I have been so much worried about getting a new place to live, for ages. And I didn’t realize help was just round the corner. You see? It was literally round the corner, as I have been living just a few blocks away from your flat. I can practically walk back and forth a couple of times to move my belongings to this new house.”
Speechless, Amy didn’t respond to Jane and intended not to do so. Yet, John wouldn’t let her. He nudged her and whispered to her ear, loud enough for Jane to hear, “Don’t be so rude, love. Say something.”
“Em... I... am… er…” Amy cleared her throat and tried to speak, “I’m glad... har... you liked it.”
“John told me you had been so desperate to get someone to live with. I know living alone in this huge place is not ideal. Especially in this crazy city! Although your brother is just a phone call away, nothing is better than having company 24/7. We can shop together, cook together, drink together, and chat together all night whenever we please. Don’t you think it’s grand?”
“That… eh… that sounds lovely… to me,” Amy answered, unconvinced.
