Short, Light, Free

I’m a fresh graduate.

After graduation, I found myself a design job in the next city.

The pay they offered during probation was very low, probably half of a month’s worth.

My parents weren’t rich so I’ve never felt comfortable asking them for money.

I have four thousand dollars in savings. It’s the money that I’ve scrimped and saved throughout my four years of university.

The city my company was located in was forty kilometers away from home.

It was impossible for me to travel back and forth every day. I didn’t even dare begin to contemplate the transportation costs.

As such, I have no choice but to rent an apartment.

Initially, my colleague suggested for us to share an accommodation but I’m used to living alone.

God never disappoints the good, though. I found this extremely cheap unit through the newspapers.

It was only a street away from my office. I was happy because this would allow me to sleep in a little more.

My landlady was a sixty-year-old aunty. She has a thick local accent.

She looked exactly like the stereotypical landlady as she greeted me with a circular fan in her hand, ushering me up to the second floor.

This was a worn down, unfinished building. Cracks have already appeared on the walls.

The aunty told me cordially, “Little fellow, don’t judge this house by its cover. It has everything you’ll need: air conditioning, water heater, and even a colored television.”

At that, she inserted the house key into the keyhole and opened the door. She was right.

The incomplete looking building contained a house that had been elaborately done up.

It had a room, a hall, a bathroom, and even a kitchen.

The house smelled brand new and had a wallpaper that was soft pink in color.

The kitchen contained all the necessary cooking equipment and even condiments.

I couldn’t help but ask, “Did you prepare this unit for your son or daughter, aunty? Are you renting it out to me because they’re working outside and you don’t wish to waste this space?”

The landlady looked at him in happy surprise. “Yeah, you’re right. My son is working elsewhere. Do you like it? 450 a month is cheap, isn’t it?”

I nodded hurriedly.

Compared to the market prices, this house was a steal.

After handing over the money, I lugged my bags inside and settled in.

However, all of this started seeming strange to me.

I even found women’s lingerie when I was packing my clothes into the wardrobe.

I couldn’t sleep that night.

Suddenly I heard it.

Clap clap clap.

Oh my god. Are the neighbors performing a live show?

I rested my ear against the wall.

This, this, this… is just great.

The next morning, I walked out of the house with messy hair and an oily face.

It was 9:30 and I was already half an hour late.

Gotta blame it on that couple…

Aye? A couple came out from the unit next door.

They broke into a smile upon seeing me.

I greeted, “Good morning. I’m your new neighbor.”

They looked at my unit number, and the guy nodded. “We moved in yesterday as well.”

The lady blushed and pursed her lips. “You look listless. Didn’t sleep well?”

“Yeah.” I smiled helplessly. How coincidental, we’re all new to this building.

Watching the couple’s fading silhouettes I figured they were aware that they had disrupted my sleep the night before.

I thought I was going to get a good sleep that night, but the sounds returned.

Oh god. I used the blanket to cover my face.

The wooden walls’ soundproofing was horrendous.

On the second night of my stay, I did not sleep properly as well.

What am I to do if this goes on?

Oh, my. When will her period come?

A week went by and nothing changed. Clapping sounds filled the nights.

I could no longer count the number of times I’d fallen asleep on my work desk.

I was just so, so sleepy.

One day, I fell asleep with my face on the keyboard.

When my boss woke me up, the keyboard was already drenched in my drool.

He told me off angrily, saying that the keyboard was from a brand called HHKB.

It cost him a few thousand yuan and he’d thought that his employees would find it more comfortable to type on it.

But because I used it as my pillow, I was fired.

He did not ask me to pay but my salary was definitely going down the drain.

At home, all I could think of was that couple.

The occupants on top and below were all students.

And the unit on the other side of mine was occupied by old people.

Only this couple… it had to be them.

I mustered the courage and knocked on their door.

Once, twice.

No one opened it.

I looked through the keyhole in hope to see something.

Pitch black.

Frustrated, I left.

I decided to treat myself to a good meal before searching for another job the next day.

I visited a high-class western restaurant nearby.

Hey, isn’t that the couple?

I walked up to them immediately.

“Do you guys still remember me?” I asked.

The man smiled foolishly. “Hey, neighbor, why didn’t you bring your girlfriend along? Where’s she?”

Surprised, I responded, “I’m a fresh graduate, what girlfriend?”

The guy questioned, face full of doubt, “No girlfriend? So you’ve been watching porn by yourself every day? So loud! Don’t you want us to sleep?”

I was struck dumb. “You guys are the noisy one. Why are you putting the blame on me?”

Red in the face, the lady answered, “The sounds are clearly coming from your room so how can it be us?”

Awkward. I thought back to the sounds at night.

They did seem too clear. If they’re not from coming from the other side of the wall… is it possible it came from the other side of my blanket?

And the lingerie in the wardrobe…

I broke out in cold sweat.