With a deep breath, you answer the door, yanking it open before you can change your mind. To your horror, it really is your apartment manager on the other side.
Oh, no.
Your heart drops.
That must mean she’s about to give you an eviction notice.
At least, that’s what you assume, until she says a little awkwardly, “Here’s your rent receipt. Sorry for the delay. I’m not used to getting that much in cash these days.”
“Cash?” You stare blankly at her.
What’s she talking about?
“Yeah. The money you left in the drop box last night.”
“I…did?”
“Wait, I got the right apartment, didn’t I?” She glances down at the receipt in her hands, then at your door number. “Nope,yeah, this is you.” Handing over your receipt, she asks, “You okay?”
“Yeah, yeah!” You take the receipt with an awkward laugh. “Oh yeah, just a little tired!”
What is going on?
“Alrighty then, you have a good day,” she says with a wave, heading back down the hall as you stare after her.
When you finally shut the door, you sink down against the wall inside.
He paid your rent. He must have—Ziros. It had to be him.
You can’t believe it.
It’s paid. It’s really paid.
And that means—
Standing up again, you peer around your tiny studio apartment.
“Ziros?” you ask hopefully, feeling a bit silly. “Are you here?”
There’s no response. Nothing but the steady hum of the fridge.
That’s when you happen to look at the counter and notice a pastry sitting there. A pastry that very much was not there when you went to sleep.
Suddenly, it all makes sense.
“So youwerehere, you amazing, sneaky demigod.” You pick up the pastry, admiring its artful drizzles of frosting before biting in. It’s delicious. Not just regular delicious, but melt-in-your-mouth heavenly delicious. “You paid my rent,” you say through mouthfuls of pastry, leaning back against the counter in relief. “My rent is paid, and you baked up a storm at the cafe, didn’t you? So why don’t you show yourself?”
Still, there’s no response.
He must have snuck in while you were asleep, and now he’s gone.
You sigh, shaking your head at the empty apartment as you finish the pastry.
“If you’re hiding here, you’re doing too good of a job. Come on, Ziros. Show yourself!”
Nothing.
Nothing but the humming of the fridge.
