The Apartment
It was late August that I found myself having to look for an apartment. I just graduated from college and living with my parents has been okay but leaves a lot to be desired. It's cryptic for sex life. There is nothing sexier than bringing your date home to your parents and showing off your old childhood bedroom. And yikes would be the word I use if someone would have told me that story—
I love being a bachelor. Wearing underwear all day, and sleeping on bed sheets that you never wash, only replacing them when a set disintegrates — leaving pizza boxes everywhere on the floor. It's excellent, not to mention dating. I am dating a different woman each day of the week, what could be better? After college, I didn't want to settle down and get married right away, after all the world is my oyster. I'm young, single, and have my whole life ahead of me, why ruin it?
Like I was saying earlier, it was late August that everything seemed to be going my way. I went to school for computer graphics design. It's making big signs that no one cares about, no kidding it's true, but it pays well if you can find work, and these days it's hard to come across. I interviewed with Al's Computer Arts Design. The one that interviewed me is David, I believe, but the important thing is that I got the job. I mean, I crushed it! They offered me the job right on the spot with a twenty-thousand-dollar signing bonus! I couldn't F-in believe it! I ran home and told my parents that I'm moving out and started apartment hunting. Everyone says they hate apartment hunting, but for me, I love it! I do. I love checking out all the options that are laid out for me. I for one, want an apartment that has a pool, girls, and a gym.
After a month of searching, I begin to understand why people hate apartment hunting. The fun ended a week ago, and I'm still looking. And on top of everything else, I started my new job. I love the new co-workers, and the job is super fun.
A woman asked me where I live, and I'm embarrassed to say that I still lived at home, which is the answer that I gave her.
"You shouldn't be embarrassed by that. Hell, it's been a while since I graduated college myself. Look, I know a place that is up your alley. Once you've settled in, maybe we could break into your new apartment?"
God! It's how she said it. To top it off, she wrote it on the palm of my hand. After she left the breakroom, I called the number that she gave me. I didn't recognize the name of the place, but I hope it's cheap. The phone rang, an old man answered it.
"Hello, how may I help you?" Said the old man
"Is this Royal Apartments?" I asked
"Is this Donald? The old man asked
"Y-yes it is, sorry, how did you know my name?
"Tina told me that you'd call. She's good for business. We rely on word of mouth. I can't afford much in advertising, you know," said the old man.
"Yeah, I can understand that, but how did she know that I'll call?"
The old man laughed over the phone. "You're not the only one who's said that. I guess she knows," said the old man
"Well, can I come over and see the place. I can come tomorrow if that's okay with you," I said
"Sure, sure, that's just fine. I think I have just the room for you. Tina picked it out. She told me that you'd love it. Her words not mine," said the old man.
The old man hung up, and that was it. I slowly put my cell phone in my pocket and walked back to my computer. Everything seemed so weird. Tina picked out the room and told the old man that I'll love it? I just met her. How would she know my taste and style?
The next morning I came at ten o'clock in the morning. We didn't set a specific time but thought ten would be a perfect time to show up. I walked into the visitor's office and saw an old man wearing a sweater. He's bald on top and wears thick plastic glasses. I walked into the office, and he looked right at me.
"Donald?" Said the old man
"Very impressive," I answered
"Don't be. Tina already told me. And I already know what you're going to say. It's best if we skip that part because I don't have an answer for you."
"Fair enough, let's look at what Tina picked out for me.
"Sure, let me grab the keys, and we'll be on our way. How does that sound to you?" Smiled the old man
"Sounds great!" I replied
When we reached the apartment, I burst out laughing. The door number is thirteen. Of course, it is. I thought to myself. The old man looked at me as if I was a little crazy. I thought he would have understood my reaction. A mysterious woman that I just met picks out an apartment for me, and the door number is thirteen? I got to hand it to her; I liked her style. When we walked into the room, I was amazed by the space it had. The bedroom has walk-in closets. It even had a washer and dryer. Now for the punch in the gut. It's going to be expensive, right? Well, of course, it has to be, I mean, look at this place.
"I know what you're going to ask me. And I can answer this for you. How's three-hundred -fifty dollars a month sound to you?" Asked the old man
"I'll take it!" I screamed.
The old man laughed and spoke under his breath. She's right again. I thought it was weird, but I didn't care. I have found a great apartment on ground level with incredible space, plus a washer and dryer to boot. While I am signing my life away, I decided to bring Tina up in conversation.
"When I came in here you told me that she told you that I'm Donald. I didn't see her." I asked
"She saw you just before you came in. She quickly pointed at you, and then she left. She does that a lot. It drives me crazy. She's never been the same after…" The old man stopped
"Are you okay?"
"Ah, it's nothing. Don't mind me, just an old man rambling on that's all."
I returned to work and bragged about my new apartment. I asked around about Tina. I wanted to thank her for the tip on the place. And she picked it out for me. Everyone looked at me as if I'm crazy. We don't have a Tina that works here. They all replied. Everyone chalked it up as I'm new, and maybe I forgot or missed hearing the name. Then I started to describe her to everyone.
"She's five-foot, mid-length black hair, red lipstick, and blue eyes," I said
Someone told me of a woman that fits that description but turned out to be a prostitute. It couldn't have been her. When work reached its end, I felt nervous about going home to my new apartment. Nothing seemed right about this place. Feelings of dread left me as I made it back home. I started to relax and unwind from work and the move altogether. I played it off being this is my first place since college, maybe I had a panic attack. I decided to watch tv, then the phone rang.
"Hello," I asked
"Hello, Donald, how do you like your new apartment? I picked it out for you. Was I right? Do you like it?"
"Who? Who are you?"
"Come now, Donald. It's me, Tina, remember me? We talked at my place of business. I wrote the number down on your palm, remember?"
"Y...yes? I do?"
"Good, Donald, very good. Now turn around. I'm in your apartment! Did you like the number thirteen? It's a very unlucky number for you, Donald. Just like how Donald was an unlucky name for me. You see, Donald. I used to be a hooker at the building you work at. A man named Donald took me to a hotel and stabbed me thirteen times in the chest. The older man that you spoke with was my father. He kept my ashes in an urn. Anyone with the name Donald is sent to this apartment. Sorry, Donald, I know you're not the one who killed me. But someday I'll get the right one. But, for now, it's time to break in the new apartment."
Donald heard the click of the phone. He turned to see the older man with a shiny knife in his hand.
"I told you that she was never the same since she was murdered. It's me that must carry out her revenge!" said the old man.
The last thing that Donald saw was Tina standing beside her father. Her father stabbed him thirteen times in the chest. Donald closed his eyes and died. A light flickered as screams filled the apartment, then faded away as it has always done before.
May 12, 2019
"Hi, my name is Donald. Tina sent me...