Chapter 5 - Finlands Smile (2/2)

Jean was in France and his current time zone was 7 hours behind Singapore. Finland didn't like to wake him up with the sound of a phone because she knew how important a good night's sleep was for her friend.

[Good news! I just got a job and the salary is decent. After I get my first paycheck next month I can hopefully move to my own place.]

[Congratulations! Great! Uh, but you don't need to rush to find a new place. I barely live there so you can stay in my apartment and save your money.]

Finland paused for a moment... Jean knows that Finland was saving money to one day travel to Finland to see the country for herself and hopefully understand why her mother named her after that country. It would be a very expensive journey and she needs to save every dollar and cent she could get.

[I don't want to trouble you further. When will you come home to Singapore?]

[Next week I will be in Singapore before continuing my trip to Korea. You don't need to get out of the apartment, I am only staying for one week. I can sleep on the couch. Ha ha.]

[Oops... Don't! I will sleep on the couch.]

[Don't be ridiculous. You're a girl.]

[I'm just a freeloader.]

[By the way, do you want anything from France? Pierre Herme Macarons as usual? Or Sephora make up? You are employed now so you need to start wearing makeup.]

[Hahaha.. Surprise me. OK, I won't bother you anymore. You must be super busy. Take care of your health. I miss you!]

[Bisous!]

Click!

Finland looked up when she heard the camera. Caspar stood in front of her, examining Finland's picture he just took.

”You were smiling, and you looked so beautiful. I couldn't help but take a picture. Sorry if you don't like being photographed.”

”Eh... Umm... that's not it. I didn't expect you to come here”.

”It's a coincidence. I am on my way to the next building,” Caspar said, pointing to a glass building on the right, ”and happened to see you here. What are you doing?”

”Oh... I was talking to Jean about my new job. He's very happy for me.”

”Who is Jean?”

”Jean is my best friend and I am currently staying in his apartment.”

”Oh... don't you want to find your own apartment that isn't as masculine? You would be able to design it to match your personality. Since you have a job, you will get a salary, right?”

Finland laughed a little, ”Ahaha... My salary is only minimum wage. I will probably be able to rent a room on the outskirts of the city. I won't have enough money to rent a full apartment. I am planning to find a rental room and move out of Jean's apartment. I'm not picky about the design as long as it is habitable. ”

Caspar was quiet for a while.

”Mmm… There is a nice empty room in my house that is decent enough for you. You can rent it for 500 dollars per month. Just come and see. Later you can decide for yourself.”

He took the polaroid picture he just took of Finland out and showed it to her, ”Look, your face started to show a smile here. If you come and see the room I offered, your smile will definitely be even wider.”

Finland blushed.

”Thank you. I'll think about it.”

”Don't think for too long. It might not be available later.”

Caspar continued his journey to the next building, leaving Finland dazed.