The colony was built in a large C-shape, with a big circular intersection right at its center.
At the very heart of it stood an old fountain, gently flowing, as if time itself were dripping from it.
Around the fountain were three benches, which seemed to have soaked up the sun of long days and the weariness of the evenings.
This entire area was like the heart of the colony—
a place where people passed by, some stopping to rest, others simply casting a glance before moving on.
Buildings surrounded the colony on all sides—some new, some old,
and some that sparkled like distant memories, upon which time had already left its mark.
There were double-story buildings in some places, while elsewhere stood three-story homes,
each holding within them the sealed stories of different lives.
Beneath every home was a small corridor,
lined with bicycles and scooters,
and people leaning over their balconies,
as if trying to recognize a new face entering their world.
At one far corner of the colony stood a house unlike the others—
neither too old, nor too new, but undeniably different.
It was a single-story building, with a small open terrace above.
The house was currently vacant.
And just opposite that house stood a two-story building.
The flat on the upper corner of that building seemed to be writing a story of its own.
This was where the two girls lived—
a place from where the entire colony could be seen through their balcony.
From their window, one could view the fountain, the benches, and all the way to the main gate of the colony.
The guy kept walking behind the girl,
observing the surroundings with each step—
as if trying to absorb and understand this new world he had just stepped into.
The colony's entrance began at the main gate,
but as one moved deeper, it gradually opened into a wider space.
They stopped in front of a building where MoneyBro lived.
MoneyBro had a personality that stood out—
a colorful shirt, a gold chain around his neck, rings and bracelets adorning his hands,
and an attitude that radiated pure cool swagger.
The girl stepped up to him and said,
"MoneyBro, he's new here, looking to rent a flat.
He wants to see the one on the second floor."
MoneyBro lowered his black sunglasses slightly to get a better look at the man. Then, adjusting his gold chain with his fingers, he said,
"Sisterr, that flat was sold just this morning. Now we'll have to look for another option."
He immediately flashed a salesman-like smile and continued,
"There's one place... and it's an awesome spot! Full privacy, peaceful location, and the price is low too. Consider it the deal of the day!
So come on, let me show you."
MoneyBro started walking, and as he walked, he kept talking,
"This is a single-floor house located in the prime area of the colony. Someone used to live there before, but it's been vacant for quite a while now. It's cheap too, because most people prefer flats.
But bro, this place is a gem! If you take it, you'll really benefit."
The guy and the girl followed MoneyBro closely.
When they reached the house, MoneyBro unlocked a large padlock and pushed the gate open.
As soon as the gate opened, a cloud of dust rose from inside.
MoneyBro quickly covered his nose with his hand and started coughing.
"Buddy, the place has been empty for a long time, so it's gathered a bit of dust. But once you start living here, everything will settle!"
Switching to full-on sales mode, he said,
"Just look at it—what a fabulous spot! So quiet and perfect for someone who wants to live alone.
This small garden space, these airy rooms, and the best part—so affordable!
This is truly a jackpot deal."
The guy silently entered the house, looking around.
The condition of the room was in pretty bad shape—dust covering everything.
After checking the kitchen and a small hallway, the guy asked,
"Is there any other option?"
MoneyBro scratched his head, thinking for a moment, then said,
"That was the last flat available in the colony. This is it, bro—your final hope."
The girl glanced at the guy with a bit of hesitation in her eyes.
She was thinking,
I hadn't expected it to be like this. This house doesn't even seem livable.
The guy took another round of the house, scanning it from all angles.
After a brief pause, he said,
"Show me the room upstairs."
MoneyBro took him to the upstairs room.
This room was in relatively better condition.
After spending a little time there,
the guy handed MoneyBro the money.
MoneyBro was taken aback for a moment, but then flashed a wide grin.
"Woah buddy! Now that's something—deal done without any bargaining! This is what I call a real man. Here, take the keys... and welcome to your new home!"
He handed the guy the keys and added,
"From today, this house is yours."
With that, he started counting the money.
"Alright then! I'll take your leave now. If you need anything, just let me know. If it's within MoneyBro's reach, I'll get it done for you."
Then, straightening his collar and glancing at his watch, he walked off briskly.
Now, only the two of them were left standing there—the man, who was now the official tenant of this new house, and the girl, who had stayed behind, as if there was still something left to say.
She remained there quietly.
She peeked once into the house and, without any pause, started speaking,
"If you look at it... for now, it's not that bad.
I mean, yes, it's a bit old... kind of strange too... but just think—how peaceful it's going to be here!
No extra noise, no one to bother you, just you and your space...
Well, there's a bit of dust, but that can be cleaned up, right?"
There was a slight hesitation in her voice, as if she herself was trying to convince herself that this place was actually okay.
Maybe even she hadn't liked it all that much.
The guy glanced at her once but said nothing.
The girl sank further into her own monologue.
"And anyway, there are only a few student tenants living nearby, and they'll be leaving in a couple of months.
After that, you could easily shift into their place... you know, if by then you've grown bored of this one,
because honestly, the chances of getting bored here are pretty high!"
The guy still said nothing, silently absorbing every word she said, without a single reaction.
Then she looked at him and laughed.
"Anyway, you probably haven't even realized this yet, but you've officially put me to work!
I mean, talking to MoneyBro, showing you the flat, finalizing the rent... all of that, I did, didn't I?
So basically, you already owe me a favor!"
The guy finally took a small breath and replied quietly,
"Thanks... you've repaid your debt."
The girl's eyes widened slightly, as if she'd just heard something strange.
"What? How is that debt repaid?
Are you seriously thinking that just by showing you a flat, I've paid off my debt?
No, no, no—that's not how it works!"
She shook her head dramatically and said with a laugh,
"You know, repaying a debt takes some serious effort!
Like... like a good treat!
Or maybe... sharing a mind-blowing secret?
No, even that's not enough!
Maybe I have to do something for you someday.
Yes, that's when I'll say the debt is truly repaid!"
The guy was listening to her quietly now, as if he had already become familiar with her habit of talking non-stop.
Then, suddenly, the girl stopped and looked at him, as if she had just remembered something important.
"Oh wait, you never even told me your name! What's your name?"
The guy paused for a moment, as if he was deciding whether or not to reveal it.
After a brief silence, he finally said,
"Amie."
She stopped for a moment and looked at his face, as if she were confirming whether she had heard it right. Then, slightly surprised, she said,
"Amie? I've never heard that name before... it's kind of different... I mean, not weird, just unusual."
She quickly added, to correct her tone,
"But nice name! It actually suits your personality."
The girl gave her own introduction.
"By the way, my name is Kaira," she said with a small smile.
There was a subtle shift in Amie's expression. For the first time, he initiated something himself.
He extended his hand. His voice still held that same calmness, but now with a touch of change.
"Nice to meet you, Kaira."
There was a faint warmth in Amie's tone.
The girl—who was now Kaira—paused for a moment, and then extended her hand as well.
As soon as her fingers touched Amie's hand, a strange feeling passed through her.
Maybe it was just her imagination, or maybe it was something else.
She looked into Amie's eyes, which were still just as deep and serious.
There was a brief silence.
Then Kaira chuckled lightly and said,
"You even seem serious while shaking hands."
Amie didn't respond. He just withdrew his hand and looked away.
Kaira narrowed her eyes slightly, as if wondering why this guy always seemed so serious.
She looked at Amie's face for a moment, as if searching for something else to talk about.
Then suddenly, it was like her mind switched back, and she returned to her usual, chatty self.
"Alright then, first you settle in here," she said, waving her hand like she was officially granting him permission.
"If you need anything—or any little thing you forgot to bring—just let me know. I live nearby, right around the corner."
She pointed towards the far corner flat of the building across the street, with the same seriousness as if she were giving directions to an important landmark.
"I live there—see? That top corner one! I mean, if you look up from here directly, you might even spot me standing on the balcony someday!"
She laughed at her own words, entertained by the image that had just played out in her mind. Then she paused, but only for a second.
"Alright then, for now, I'll get going too," she said casually, but added an extra line like always.
"But hey, just remember—I'm always wandering around here and there, so you might bump into me anytime! I mean, of course we'll meet tomorrow, but it could be tomorrow morning, or at night, or in between... or maybe I'll just drop by unannounced, to check if you've settled in properly!"
She kept laughing at her own joke, as if making fun of herself had become her favorite hobby. Then, without any further formality, she abruptly turned around.
"So, alright then, Amie! See you tomorrow," she said, like she was already drifting into some other thought. And just like that, without stopping or looking back, she walked off through the colony paths, lost in her own rhythm.
Amie was now alone in the room.
The room was empty, except for an old chair in one corner, stained and worn with time.
He stood still for a moment, just glancing around. The walls looked pale and aged, like no one had cared for them in years.
In one corner, there was the faded mark of an old wardrobe that had probably been moved out with someone who once lived here.
His eyes moved toward a window nearby. It seemed jammed, like even it had forgotten how to move with time.
He walked over and tried to open it—first gently, then with more effort.
There was a creaking sound, and then, suddenly, a gust of air entered, bringing with it a faint trace of the dust of forgotten years.
He walked slowly to the window, placed his hand against the wall, and looked outside.
Directly across, he could see the balcony—exactly the one Kaira had pointed to as her home.
His gaze lingered there for a few moments, resting quietly, and then, without any visible emotion, he looked away.
His eyes fell on the nearby chair—covered in dust.
Without bothering to clean it, he decided to sit down, lowering himself onto it slowly, keeping his back straight.
He reached into his pocket and took out a cigarette.
With his other hand, he pulled out a lighter and lit it.
Before taking the first drag, he stared at the cigarette for a moment, as if it were an old friend.
Then he gently took a long inhale.
The smoke rose softly, spreading through the room.
With each drag, it felt like his heart was slowly becoming lighter.
His eyes began to dim, his breaths longer and slower.
There was an odd calm in the air, as if the cigarette was a part of his identity now—like every sound in the world had dissolved into that smoke.
The window remained open; the breeze continued to drift in.
But his thoughts... they had wandered somewhere far from this room.
He took another deep drag, pulling the smoke in as if it contained a kind of intoxication—something that could fill the emptiness inside him.
But as soon as the smoke entered, a strange sting awakened—an old pain, buried long ago, now coming back to life.
His hand slowly moved to his chest.
At first, just a light touch, as if he were trying to feel something within.
Then, gradually, his fingers began to press more firmly, as if the pain he had pushed down for so long was beginning to surface.
His expression shifted, his eyelids grew heavier, as if he could feel the hurt but could not speak of it.
Suddenly, his hand slipped down toward his ribs.
That's where the deeper ache resided.
He pressed his ribs firmly, as if something there had spiraled out of his control—as if there was a wound reopening with every breath.
For a moment, his breathing grew faster.
But slowly, it began to settle again.
His body loosened.
The cigarette was still between his fingers, the smoke still rising, but the sorrow inside had already drained his strength.
That old chair—once just a dusty object—was now bearing the weight of his burden.
His eyelids grew heavier, his face duller, his tightened fingers now relaxed.
And in that deep fatigue, after trying for a while to stay awake, he finally closed his eyes—without any resistance, without any realization.
The pain was still there.
But now, it had blended with his exhaustion.
And on that chair—without a bed, without comfort—the guy simply fell asleep.