I hate morning rush hour. It doesn’t matter how late I stay up. The heavy traffic this early in the morning never failed to wake me up. It’s like an alarm clock I couldn’t control.

The apartment I live in is near a busy intersection near a highway. The noise just gets worse from the music school from the other side of the highway. It’s pretty far but I can easily hear someone play their trumpets this early in the morning. I don’t mind it because I’m already saving money. The apartment comes cheap so I just try to block off the noise. I’m in college so maximizing my allowance was my priority.

Since I woke up, I stayed lying down on the floor without moving . In the morning, I usually read something and then put on my headphones to listen to loud music. For the afternoon, I just browse the internet to distract myself till evening. Then at the end of the day I go straight to sleep waiting for the loud beasts to wake me up again. But I don’t have the leisure to do what I want now I have some other entity to deal with.

This devil is the noisiest thing in this apartment that an orchestra of trumpets or cars can never block out. Lucy, was lying down on the floor, laughing out loud as she reads my own books. This damn devil…

“Hey will you shut up!” I shout at her. “You’re too loud.”

“I’m not that loud.”

Annoyed from my complaint, she put down her book and looked down at me.

“You’re way more annoying than some stupid cars. So shut you devil.”

I gave an irritated look at her. Lucy stuck her tongue at me.

Lucy has only been here for a few days. My life so far is like as if nothing changed. My daily routine this time involves this devil. Even though I’m stuck with her, I try to make the best out of it. At first I thought it would not hurt to have someone to talk to at least. Then I realized how much worse of a roommate she can be compared to me.

I let her be. She can laugh and make all the noise she wants. I block the noise by raising the volume of my music. These headphones help me get through the mornings.

Lucy was tolerable at first but then she started to handle the leftovers of her food.

“If you’re going to live here, at least clean up after yourself.” I point to the pile of bags of junk food and takeout Chinese food boxes from what I ordered last night.

Since I’m too lazy to even leave the house, I’ve been relying on take out food. Although it won’t last me for long…

“That’s what I have you for.”

…

I left the pile of garbage to herself. If she’s going to act like a shut-in then she’s going to learn how to be one properly. But being a shut-in with someone else is a different story. It’s not easy trying to be independent when you can have someone else do everything for you.

I spent the rest of the morning and afternoon playing games on my computer, reading whatever was not violated by Lucy and just lying on the floor by the window just to survive the summer heat. We spent our summer days in a routinely manner. We wake up, order food and irresponsibly spend our leisure time to pass time. Time is all we have. After all it is summer.

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As the days pass by, we approach the hottest time of the summer.

Most of my time is spent on the computer. When I died, I missed a whole day’s worth of work on this MMORPG I’ve started playing recently. Ironically playing a game called HellsCraft Online got me to meet the devil.

Since I need to save up money for food, I can’t spend any on this game. Time is money. So money spent means time saved. Money not spent means I have to work for my stuff.

I’ve done a bunch of precautions to combat the heat. I stocked up on ice in my freezer and prepared my fan to work overtime. It’s going to be running all day and night with no break. I only have one electric fan and it is small enough to satisfy one person. You would think the devil would survive the heat on her own. I thought wrong.

“Ahh.”

Lucy sat in front of the fan. She exaggerated as she expressed her refreshment. I know she’s overreacting.

She’s purposely getting on my nerves.

By the way, don’t make lewd assumptions. Just because she has the appearance of some girl doesn’t take away the fact that she’s the devil. I don’t feel awkward that there’s some sweaty looking girl sleeping in the same room as me. I’m more afraid for my life than feeling awkward. And I already experienced death before.

So there is no temptation for me at all. Even if she were to pull off some devil tricks on me.

The way I see Lucy is no different than any other person. I don’t care for anyone else so I see no reason to not feel indifferent about her too.

“…”

“Hey.”

Lucy was lying down on my bed. With her book in hand, she had her head upside down at the edge of the bed.

“Hey David.”

“What do you want?”

I answer her without taking my hands off the keyboard.

“Get off the computer first.”

“No way.”

I was in the middle of having a conversation with my guildmate. I know it sounds a bit pathetic. Talking to someone online over a girl in person. But this isn’t any normal person. It’s the devil.

“It’s a serious question.”

I turned around and directly looked at Lucy.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Um… Uh… Nevermind.” She was and then turned away with her face buried in her book.

“Okay.” I turned back to my game.

If it’s not important then I shouldn’t mind it.

But deep down I know Lucy is staring behind me. No one reads a book that close to their face.

Leaving her alone will make this even more awkward. So I spoke out to her.

“What is it?”

“Oh. Uh. It’s nothing. Haha. I’m perfectly fine. Don’t worry about me. Mind your own business mortal!”

Lucy phased through different emotions all at once. She’s really bad at hiding her emotion. Unless she’s tricking me somehow.

I stared at her without saying a word.

Lucy tried to keep a straight face.

“What?!”

“Out with it.”

“…”

Lucy sat up at the edge of the bed and put her book down. Her head was down but she sat up straight.

“I was wondering. Do you really mind me staying here?”

She avoided any eye contact with me.

“Of course I mind. Now get out.” I say sarcastically.

“Wha- You- You can’t do that!.”

Lucy was flustered. She pointed her finger at me.

“Why is that?”

“I saved your life!”

“So?”

“You should be thankful you lowlife mortal!” Lucy jumped off the bed. “You should be thankful that I ask no more than to just stay at this place for a while.”

“Eh.” I was only joking at first…

“Hmph.” Lucy crossed her arms. I was only sitting down so it seemed like she was literally looking down at me from where she was standing.

“So hypothetically.” I asked. “If you never saved my life. Would I mind you staying here?” I pretended to think to myself. “I wouldn’t.”

“Wha-” Lucy was flustered again. “What’s that supposed to mean!”

I go back to playing my game while ignoring her. I turn up the music that I was listening to and tried to type even harder to annoy her. She ended up complaining to me for the rest of the day. 

Lucy could take advantage of me or use all my stuff. She would stay occupied doing whatever there is to do in this apartment. Talking with her just gives me headaches and she takes too much of my space and food.

Lucy is on par with the morning traffic or even the morning music practice across the highway.

She could even be the loudest thing in the morning. Not literally the loudest but just because she’s around. Her presence is very clear in this room.

But if there was something to get out of this.

Even if it was not that much.

Maybe it is not so bad to have some company.