He had an appointment with the landlord and the broker to sign the lease. Of course, the heavens decided to open up – pouring rain from morning till noon, streets flooded everywhere. Great, he thought, what a perfect day to move house!
The broker was already waiting. For days, from the little zalo avatar photo, he couldn’t tell if this person was male or female – so he’d been politely texting “Miss” all along. Then when they finally met…Wrong gender. He wished the ground would swallow him whole.
Anyway, luck was on his side this time. A few days earlier, he had gone house-hunting like a madman: one place wouldn’t rent to people with kids, another had broken windows, another faced the blazing noon sun like a frying pan… nothing worked. Just as he thought all hope was gone, he stumbled on this hidden gem – one that wasn’t even advertised because the owner had planned to sell. Fate? Maybe. He had lived in this very area before, so it felt like destiny. The moment he walked into the apartment – two windows, breezy, familiar, home – he knew it was the one.
It was not his first time renting, yet what came next left him utterly unprepared.
The landlord walked in. And he froze. Eyes wide. For a good few seconds, his brain just… stopped.
She was stunning. Impossibly stunning.
She apologizing softly for being a few minutes late, she slipped off her high heels before crossing the room. Life, he thought, seemed determined to place beautiful women in his path. She wore a knee-length dress, long-sleeved and discreet, yet on her figure it became the very image of elegance – hinting at strength, vitality, and irresistible curves.
As they exchanged words, he learned she was a photo model, a personal trainer at a fitness center, and, astonishingly, a track athlete who competed in professional races. Good heavens, beauty paired with talent! The toned muscles of her legs, the confident glow of her face -those alone told the whole story. Her wide eyes, accentuated yet still natural, her blush gently bold but harmonious, the silver grain-like earrings brushing her collarbone with every graceful turn of her head – they were mesmerizing. Her lips moved, speaking with that melodic Saigon accent… but honestly, he had no idea what she was saying. He was hypnotized. To him, she was singing poetry.
Meanwhile, the poor male broker next to him just kept nodding like a bobblehead.
She was professional, charming, cheerful, meticulous – dangerously easy to fall for.
After the signing, she even replaced his bedding with fresh sheets and told him warmly: “If you need anything else, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Oh, he thought, I’ll definitely find excuses to need something… Every. Single. Day.
Excerpt from “The Move” – TV Ha Kim
Mn, Saigon 15/9/2024
