Page 1 of The Roommate (One Night #1)

“Message in a bottle is all I can do Standing here, hoping it gets to you”

“Life is like a sea, little princess. Very unpredictable.”

My Daddy always says this. Now, I think I’ve finally started to understand it.

“Yes, even Tiana said she would never ever kiss a frog, yet she did, and who knew, she would have turned into a frog herself.”

I watch him in awe with the wonder he does with the ropes—tying knots in so many styles.

We’re currently sitting on the deck of Daddy’s great-grandfather’s ship. We never sail, but it’s a really cool place to hang out. He came back yesterday and we always make sure to make the best of the three days of holiday he gets every month.

This time, he finally agreed on teaching me the rope work of ships.

He laughs. “You still can’t get over that movie, can you?”

I giggle. His laughter is contagious.

The air whips my hair, and the ocean water roars. It is so peaceful and happy. I could live here forever with Daddy. The princess of the sea and her king in their castle—the ship—forever.

“We just watched the movie last night. And kissing a frog is gross. It’s green and ugly.”

My eyes suddenly drift towards the boy—who is so not a prince, nor a frog—as if some magical force pulling me towards him.

There is a whole ocean behind our houses—everything is divided by green and lush bushes.

Aiden is sitting in his backyard swing, headphones over his ears, and staring at the vast, endless ocean.

The wind has messed with his brown hair too, though they are a few shades darker than mine.

But it still looks soft like a fort of pillows.

They have grown quite longer than the first time I saw him a week ago.

I snicker imagining him in a tiny ponytail like I made with my Daddy’s hair.

I wonder why he is sitting there alone? What is going on in his cute head? He is the reason I wish for a mind-reading power.

As if the same magic is telling him about me, he turns towards me. The green in his eyes hits me like a tsunami, and I forget to breathe for a moment.

I quickly redirect my focus to Daddy instead.

I like Aiden Lennox. But he’s a meanie. He’ll probably just make fun of me if I tell him.

“Here I thought you liked green.” He raises an eyebrow, indicating that he saw our little eye-interaction. Oopsie.

“No, I like blue, Daddy.”

“Your eyes staring into a certain green ones says otherwise.”

“I wasn’t! And eyes don’t talk.” Then so quietly I continue, I don’t even think he heard. “But his green is different. Nothing like I’ve ever seen before.”

“Do you want to kiss him?”

“Him? Ew, no, Daddy! Besides, he hates me.” Realizing I sound disappointed, I add. “And I hate him too.”

“Good. Always remember what happened with Tiana.”

Then Daddy glares at Aiden. It makes me laugh for some reason.

“Now, watch and learn.”

Long, long minutes pass as we indulge ourselves in doing the basic, a bowline knot. For a hundredth time.

They aren’t as easy as they look, somehow.

“I brought snacks.”

Sounds of relief leave my mouth when Mommy joins us with foo…why is Aiden trailing behind her?

His gaze solely locked on mine.

I almost shiver. Almost .

“Hello, little Eda.” Another voice joins us.

“Lily!” I run to hug Lily when I see her coming here as well with one-year old baby in her arms. I swear she’s the cutest baby I have ever seen. “Can I please hold Aisley?”

I look at Lily with puppy eyes that always work with Daddy.

“No. You don’t even know how to hold a baby.” Aiden interrupts before she can reply.

“And you know how to hold a baby?”

“I’m her brother.”

“Then I’ll be her sister.”

I fold my arms and glare at him. His lips twitch, as if he wants to smile but is also hiding it.

“Kids! Let’s not fight.” Lily looks at me. “She’s sleeping right now. I will give her to you when she’s awake. Okay, sweetie?”

“Okay.” I smile and nod.

But Aiden. Jesus! He’s such a mood ruin-er. I like Aiden, no, I liked Aiden. If he’s bad to me, I can be bad too.

Before that, food is more important. As if on cue, my stomach growls.

“Can I try that?” He asks Daddy, pointing at the ropes.

“Of course, Aiden. Let me show you first.”

He looks keenly interested. Why does he even want to learn it? I wonder and watch him intently. He succeeds after several attempts but certainly fewer attempts than mine.

No way.

I forget snacks and my earlier exhaustion, and continue to make the knot as well.

“I did it!” But certainly, it isn’t as good as his. And it fills me with frustration. Especially when Aiden mockingly laughs.

Several hours pass.

With stuffed bellies and lots and lots of laughter. Lily had gone back home to feed Aisley.

“Mommy! Daddy! Look at that!” I scream and run towards the railing as the view of the sky—hues of orange and pink, melts together and reflects on the water. It’s nothing less than magic. It feels like I’m enchanted by the ocean.

I smile the widest because, isn’t it the prettiest sight one could ever see? My grin doesn’t even fade when I see Aiden in my peripheral standing beside me.

“Look, it’s so beautiful.”

“Yeah,” He speaks so low I almost don’t hear it.

I look at him and tilt my head in confusion. “You aren’t even watching the view.”

Because he’s watching me. Me .

And…is that a tiny smile on his face? Not of mockery but serene. Did I do that to him? Never mind my earlier thoughts, I don’t want to be bad to him. I still like him.

“Whatever.” He sighs, and stops smiling.

And I give up. He’s a broody and grumpy frog who can’t even enjoy a beautiful scenery. I won’t let him ruin mine though.

“There’s a myth about the ocean.” My Daddy says, standing behind us. “You write the name of the person you love on a piece of paper, keep it in a bottle and give it to the water. If your love finds it, then he or she is your true love.”

“Isn’t that impossible, Daddy?”

“That’s why it’s a myth, princess.”

“What is true love?” Aiden asks, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

Mommy answers instead, looking at Aiden, then Daddy with so much love.

“True love is something that goes beyond feelings. You are obsessed with the person so much that you would do anything for them. It is love that you feel not only in your heart, but also in your soul. Their happiness is your happiness. Their sadness is your sadness. It is when you can’t breathe or think if anything happens to them.

Your spirit is entwined with theirs. They are the only person you want to kiss.

And being in their vicinity gives you a peace that no one else can. ”

Her words fill me with awe.

“It sounds awful.”

Of course Aiden finds it awful. There is nothing that he can find nice and beautiful, can he?

But maybe…maybe I can teach him. I can show him true love. It can’t be that hard. A kiss is all it takes, right? Maybe then, he will like me too.

Wait— isn’t love a stronger word for like?

An idea forms in my head.

I run inside my house.

“Eda!” Someone shouts my name. But I ignore them.

I tear a small piece of the page from the back of my notebook and write his name.

I somewhat make a mess of our house while on my mission to find a bottle.

I’m breathing hard by the time I find a small, vial-like, medicine bottle.

It’s empty, and while I wonder why Mommy kept it, I am glad that she did.

I safely roll the paper inside the bottle, and then run back outside to the shoreline.

Slowly, I leave the bottle in the ocean letting it float. A thousand, millions of thoughts run in my mind. I have no idea how he will find it when we both live on this side of the water. But isn’t that the real test?

“I see, my daughter likes someone.”

I smile, waiting for some miracle to happen.

Possibly him .