The Apartment We Share

The bus rumbled through the city streets, a stark contrast to the quiet life Belinda had left behind. Towering buildings blurred into a concrete jungle as she peered out the window, a mix of excitement and apprehension bubbling in her chest. This was it – the city, her ticket to a better future, the place where her dreams, and her mother's, would hopefully come true.
Hours later, she stood before the apartment unit, exhausted but determined. Manang Susan, the kind landlady and her mother's friend, greeted her warmly, explaining the living arrangements. Belinda's hopeful smile faltered when the door opened, revealing her unexpected roommate. Her breath hitched. Standing before her, shirtless and holding a beer, was the last person she ever wanted to see: Troy. The city suddenly felt a lot smaller, and her carefully built walls threatened to crumble.
