Chapter 4 Temporary Roommates

Axel pushed his phone aside when he heard the doorbell; he left the bed to check who it was, and was surprised to see Olivia. His father allowed him stay in one of his condo unit since he promised to look for Asher, so he was convinced that Olivia might think it's Asher, but he thought against it, yet he still opened the door to know what she wants.

"Hi, Olivia." He said, smiling brightly.

She pushed him away from the entrance, and found her way in.

"That, that reaction. You are aware it's not Asher, so what do you want from me ?"

"Why did you impersonate Asher to confuse me?"

"Is that what you are here to ask ? Why I impersonated my brother, you came all the way here to ask that ? What if Someone sees you entering a man condo ?"

"Anyone expect us, will believe it's Asher."

"Ok, so what do you really want ?"

She went to sit and gesture to the kitchen for him to get her a drink. He let out a sigh, and went to serve her the drink.

"Wow, it's savoring, the drink. Asher hates the smell of strawberry. It gives him nausea."

"Yeah, so why are we discussing this ?" Axel asked confused.

"Why does he hate the smell?" She asked back.

"You were closer to him than I was, you should have asked him. Oh, sorry, I believe you aren't that close to him anymore." Axel said, with a silly smile on his lips.

"Have he always hate the smell ?" She asked, slipping from her drink.

"I don't know, but I believe so. No one at home like strawberry, so there is no way I would have noticed that."

"He refused to tell me his reasons, even when I asked."

"I believe it's just a mere allergy reaction."

"Being allergic to strawberry smell, this nice smell, is very rare."

"Of course, that's why besides him, I haven't seen anyone with same condition."

"You are right. Immediately i noticed that, I knew instantly that I was wrong, it wasn't him, he wasn't the guy I fancy in Sweden." She said, and looked at Axel in lust.

"Yeah, fancy, it was a mere fancy. So, I don't understand the reason behind this conversation."

"Why? Why did you have to appear again to confuse me ? Why did you have to remind me of the man I met in Sweden?" She shouted and threw the little drink left in her glass at him.

"Goodness, Olivia, I won't tolerate this. You can't come to my house to tell me these trash. I know you are missing Asher, but I can't tolerate this from you. It wasn't my fault that you couldn't differentiate between Asher and I, so I won't apologize for that." He said, and she surprised him with a kiss.

**

**

Asher couldn't sleep well all night, due to some reasons he felt insecure accommodating a stranger in his home. He couldn't ignore the strange girl when he saw her outside last night, obviously she has nowhere to go. So, he invited her in to spend the night, and her joy knows no hound, but he couldn't bring himself to sleep cause he keeps hearing voices. He couldn't be more thankful when the day break. He opened his door, and was startled to see the girl there.

"Gosh, you startled me." He shouted and she smiled - he glared at her, wondering what's funny.

"Good morning." She said brightly.

"Why are you here ? I was scared."

"You let me in last night , I didn't let myself in." She said, innocently.

"That's not what I meant, I mean why are you here ? By the door way, you startled me."

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to scare you, I just wanted to greet you "

"That's fine, and you shouldn't feel too relax to wander around like you own the building, you aren't an official residence here." He said, and she nodded.

"I'm sorry." She muttered, her voice barely audible.

"I will be out in a jiffy, so we can have breakfast and talk."

"Talk ?" She asked, with brightened eyes.

"Yes, aren't we going to discuss when you will leave and how I can support you, maybe with tee-fare or anything, or what did you think? Did you think I will let you stay here longer ?" He asked, and she nodded, making him laugh. "You must be kidding me, go and wait in the living room for me." He said, and closed the door behind him.

*

He went downstairs later and met her seated obediently waiting for him; he couldn't help but chuckle, making his presence known.

"I see you are waiting for me, do you care for some toast?" He asked, and she nodded, delightfully. He looked at her and chuckled, wondering what's so special in toast.

He served the table, and they both sat down to eat, within a blink, she already finished her own portion, and he looked at her awed.

"Do you care for more?" He asked, and she nodded.

He barely had any of the toast, as he watched her eat them all hungrily, and she looked at him, probably requesting for more.

"It's finish, you finished all." He shouted, and she bowed her head to surrender . "Since you were enjoying your breakfast so well, we couldn't discuss at all. So now, let's move to the living room. Wait for me there, while I clear the table." He said and he intend to pack the dishes, and looked up to see her already in the living room. "Did she run, or disappeared there?" He thought, wondering why she didn't even make any sound.

He cleared the table and went to join her in the living room, there she sat obediently waiting for him.

"Ok, I would say there is no need for introductions, but after sharing a meal, I believe we should at least know each other's name, even if we might never meet again. I'm Asher, and you?" He asked and she looked at him, obviously lost. "I mean what is your name ?" He said and she looked down. "Don't you have a name ?" He asked, already irritated and she nodded. "Wait, what do you mean by that ?" He asked, anxiously.

"I don't know my name, I don't think I have one."

"What ?" He shouted, with wide eyes. "Wait, what about your family?" He asked, and she shakes her head negatively. "You don't have any ?" He asked, with wide eyes, and she nodded. "So, if you leave here now, where will you go ?"

"Nowhere, I have no where to go." She replied.

"You have nowhere to go?" He repeated, and she nodded.

He laughed sarcastically, blaming himself for trying to start a conversation with her when he could had just asked her to leave - now see where his philanthropist act led him. He should have just ignored her last night, and tighten the house security , but he allowed himself be deceived by how pitiful she looks, and now he is at lost.

"Wait, Miss, I want you to understand that you aren't welcome here, a bachelor and a strange lady living together will make a story, and I'm not just any bachelor, I have a reputation. But I won't brag about that." He said, but her head remained bowed, and he doubt if she heard what he has been saying. "So, you have to leave." He concluded.

"Please allow me stay, I have little time anyways." She said, getting his attention, with her last statement.

"What do you mean by that ?" He asked.

"Nothing really."

He let out a sigh. "If I may ask, how come you don't remember your name ?"

"I don't remember anything." She muttered innocently.

"What? Do you have an amnesia?" He shouted.

"Something like that I guess, but I really don't remember anything. I wish I could, at least before..."

"You wish you could? Have you ever tried ?"

"There was nothing to try."

"How long do you plan on staying, if I allow you stay?"

"I have barely three months for three years to complete."

"What do you plan to do when after three years?"

"I won't be able to do anything anymore."

His eyes widened as a thought came to his mind. "Are you terminally ill?" He asked, and she was awkwardly silent, and he believe he guessed right.

"Can you tell me how you lose your memories so I can know how to help you ?" He asked, and her face brightened.

"You are going to help me?" She asked, delighted.

"I didn't say I will help you, I can only answer that if I hear your story." He said, and she becomes down again.

"I don't know, I can't remember." She said, and he instantly got it, he was dumb to ask that in the first place, when she clearly told him that she has amnesia.

"So, how do you ended up here ?" He asked.

"I just woke up here, three years ago, that's all I could remember."

"What ?" He shouted , doubting her stories. "You can't be serious."

"That's the truth." She said, and bowed her head, something in him instantly believed her - he wondered why he pitied her.

"So, how can I help you now ?" He asked, and her face brighten again.

"Can you allow me stay here?" She asked, and he let out a sigh, thinking about her request.

"That's huge, when you don't even have a name." He said, and her face sadden. "So, let's begin with giving you a name." He said and her face brighten up in a beautiful smile. Something about her smile always makes him helpless.

He cleared his throat to concentrate. "So, what name do you like, Miss?" He asked.

"Any name you like, any name is ine." She said, excitedly.

"Ok, since I'm the name giver, what name is befitting for a pretty young girl like you ?" He said, thinking deeply. "Joy." He said.

"I like it ." She replied.

"No, it's too bland."

"Beatrice ?"

"I like it."

" No, that's not befitting for you, what of... yeah, Piper?"

"I like it."

"You don't seem to have a choice. But. I hope you don't mind, Piper is the name of my dog, I'm kinda fond of the dog."

"Wow, I love it." She said excitedly, "But I hate dogs." She said, pouting her lips.

"It's fine, you don't have to like dogs, it's not even here, but trust me, you will like it when you meet."

"It won't like me." She said, still pouting her lips, and he chuckled.

"Fine, since we will be temporary roommates, we have to set some rules, so have a seat." He said, and she sat down, her face brighten up in a smile.

"Why is she so cute?" He thought.

.