THE BAD BOY OF MANHATTAN
Chapter 39. First Night Elric.

"God! The goods are so many," complained Elric who began to feel tired of moving the boxes from the room he would occupy to near the kitchen. Fortunately, only a few more had to be moved.

While Emma who was stirring the black paint just chuckled at Elric who seemed not used to doing homework. Of course, he was used to living being served by a housekeeper.

"How does this thing work?" muttered Elric while checking Emma's vacuum cleaner machine. The machine seems to be a dozen years old, judging from the old model. The button is manual and the way to move it is to push it by hand. Unlike the vacuum cleaner machine with the latest technology that is more like a robot and can be run automatically and able to detect dust and dirt in the room to be cleaned.

"This is my mother's old model. I can't afford a new one yet. Lucky this machine still works." Emma fingered the back of the engine looking for the on off button to turn on the main power. Then Emma pressed the on button on the body of the machine.

Emma pushed the machine to and fro to clean up some pretty thick dust everywhere, especially in the corners of the room and the container where he stored his boxes before being moved near the kitchen by Elric.

"Let me, Em .. You take care of the paint." Elric snatched the engine thrust from Emma's hands.

Emma chipped, then continued to stir the paint. There are two cans of paint, one is black, the other is blue. Black and blue, Elric's chosen color for the walls of his room. Elric had even brought the items he needed to fill his new room. A thick floor mattress complete with a blanket, then a table to put the game console. The wardrobe has been in the room for a long time.

Elric noticed Emma looking beautiful with jeans overalls combined with short-sleeved white shirts. He watched Emma paint the walls seriously.

"El, come on, help me!" emma's orders that see Elric just standing in the middle of the room let him paint alone. "You're the blue part" he said.

"Sorry (sorry)" said Elric nervously. He immediately helped Emma paint the other part of the wall with the blue color that was already available.

It took an hour for both of them to finish the wall. Once done, they wait until the paint dries while eating snacks and soda drinks. After that, all the items that Elric brought were neatly arranged inside there.

Now, it is clearly visible a comfortable and simple room typical of boys' rooms, although fairly narrow. Elric smiled with satisfaction at the new room.

"How's it?" emma asked as she leaned her arm over Elric's shoulder.

"Not too bad, I like it (fun, I like it)," said Elric as he stroked his chin. "It's not as comfortable as my room in Greenwich but I don't mind" she said.

"Can't be compared." Emma shakes. Maybe Elric's bathroom in Greenwich is still wider than this room.

"Emma ... what can we do for my first night living in this apartment? You got any ideas?" ask Elric.

"Hm ...." Emma stroked her chin. He thought for a moment. "How about we find some ingredients to make dinner," he suggested.

"Good idea (good idea)," said Elric happy. Whatever it is going to do, as long as it's with Emma, everything feels good.

Towards dusk, the two got off the apartment building and walked to the supermarket not far from where they lived. "No, I don't like broccoli!" prevent Elric when he sees Emma taking two broccoli sprigs off the vegetable shelf.

"It feels weird. I don't really like vegetables."

"Don't be a child, El. You're not a kid who should be forced to eat vegetables" grumbled Emma as she looked around at what ingredients she needed for the dinner menu. "In addition, eating vegetables can reduce the cost of spending," he chuckled later.

Elric grimacing. "I know you're not a vegetarian."

"Vegetarian or not, I adjusted to my pocket," Emma chuckled. Then after it was felt that the materials needed were collected, he also completed the payment at the cashier. Of course Elric does not want Emma to spend a penny. Like a gentleman, he paid all his bills.

"It looks like from today my expenses will be less" said Emma happily. "Then my student loan will be finished quickly."

"Wouldn't that be a flatmate" Elric said, grabbing two bags of groceries from Emma's hand and taking her inside the apartment building.

Emma giggles as she follows Elric up the stairs to their apartment. He smiled looking at Elric who was walking in front of him. Inner Emma, this child has made a lot of progress. His attitude has undergone many changes. Elric who used to be annoying now can be sweet, especially on him.

Offering Elric an apartment-sharing partner was not a bad idea. Emma who is usually alone and often feels lonely, now there is Elric who can be invited to chat and share clean-up tasks. The main thing is, the monthly expenditure becomes less.

"I've already noted the rules or agreements that will be applied here." Finishing a simple dinner with boiled broccoli and steak, Emma thrusts her notebook at Elric. "If there's anything that doesn't fit you can express your opinion."

Elric read one by one the rules written by Emma. About the clean-up schedule, not disturbing each other's composure, and the like. But there is one deal that tickles his heart. "Don't mind if one of us is visited by a girlfriend?"

"yeah. Enter into the privacy agreement. Don't mind in a sense, there's someone else staying here or just visiting."

"Do you have a boyfriend?" ask Elric.

"No. I mean, not yet. But I will have a boyfriend someday or near future. Who knows (but I will have a girlfriend someday or soon. Who knows)."

Elric's face instantly turned sour. Emma must be referring to James. Apparently this girl still dreams of being the boyfriend of her godfather. "You still dreamt of being James Howards' girlfriend?" Elric couldn't bear to pass the question to Emma.

Emma rolled her eyes. Why did Elric accuse him of that? Although it is true, it is likely that in the near future, he will give an answer to James. "Why did you say his name? I didn't say I was going to date James Howards" Emma denied.

But, Elric was not a fool who was easily lied to. It's clear Emma made the deal in anticipation that she wouldn't bother James if one day the man came to this apartment.

Elric exhaled his coarse breath and got up from his seat. He then stepped into his room leaving Emma stupefied in the living room.

***