THE APARTMENT

"She’s changed... It’s not her, right?" "Yeah... Something’s definitely bothering her."

Iris Lee lived a quiet, comfortable life in London. As the daughter of a wealthy family, she had everything she needed—except a clear sense of what she wanted. Her striking brown eyes and silky hair often drew attention, but Iris was more than just her appearance. She could be the life of the party or the silent observer, depending on who she was with.

It was the end of 2021, just a day before her flight to university. Morning light spilled through the large windows of the Lee family home as the usual family routine unfolded.

“Good morning, Mom,” Iris said as she entered the kitchen, the smell of freshly brewed coffee lingering in the air.

Mrs. Lee glanced up from the counter, where she was organizing a small bag. “Good morning, dear. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, I did,” Iris replied, but her attention shifted to her mother’s outfit—a formal jacket and a scarf. “Wait... are you going somewhere?”

Mrs. Lee nodded. “Yes, your dad and I need to visit your grandmother. It’s an urgent matter.”

Iris frowned. “And what about me? I want to go too!”

Before she could continue, Mrs. Lee raised a hand, cutting her off with a playful smile. “Not this time, Iris. You need to stay here and prepare for your flight tomorrow. Your suitcase isn’t going to pack itself, is it?”

Iris sighed dramatically. “Ugh, fine. But at least take Eyan with you. He’s so annoying.”

"Nope,” Mrs. Lee said, laughing. “Your brother has school today. He can’t skip.”

Iris rolled her eyes as her mother called out, “Eyan! It’s almost 9:30!”

A door creaked open down the hallway, and Eyan appeared, already dressed in his school uniform. “I’m ready, Mom,” he said, surprising both women.

“Well, look at you!” Mrs. Lee teased. “Mister Eyan, all grown up and punctual. Now go eat your breakfast before you’re late.”Eyan slouched into the kitchen, grabbing a slice of bread and slathering it with jam. “Why can’t I go with you and Dad?” he asked, his voice tinged with disappointment.“Because you have school,” Mrs. Lee said firmly.

Eyan muttered under his breath but finished his breakfast quickly before heading out. Moments later, Mr. and Mrs. Lee were ready to leave. Iris stood by the door to say goodbye.

“Be good, Iris,” her father said as he hugged her. “And don’t forget to lock the doors.”

“I won’t,” Iris replied, watching them drive away. For the first time in a while, the house felt eerily quiet.                                                             ---

Iris spent the next few hours packing her suitcase. She neatly folded her clothes, organized her books, and double-checked her travel documents. By the time she finished, boredom had set in.

She considered going out to meet her friends but remembered her mother’s instructions to stay home. Instead, she grabbed her phone and called Leena, her childhood best friend.

“Leena, come over,” Iris said. “I’m bored out of my mind.”

“On my way,” Leena replied without hesitation.

Thirty minutes later, Leena arrived, her curly hair bouncing as she walked through the door. “It’s been ages, Iris!”

“I know!” Iris said, pulling her into a hug. “I’m so happy to see you.”

“Where’s everyone?” Leena asked, looking around.

“Mom and Dad went to Grandma’s, and Eyan’s at school,” Iris explained. “So it’s just me and my empty house.

”Leena grinned. “Well, lucky me. So, which apartment are you moving into in Paris?”

Iris hesitated. “Uh… I don’t actually know the name. I just know it’s near the university.”

Leena raised an eyebrow. “You don’t even know the name? Do you have any pictures?”

“No,” Iris admitted. “But maybe we can find something online. Let’s Google it.”

The two of them sat on the couch, searching for the apartment. Iris typed in vague keywords—something like “apartment near Paris Fashion University”—but nothing relevant came up.

“That’s weird,” Leena said, frowning. “Maybe it’s a new building? Or maybe it’s just not listed online yet.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Iris said, though a faint unease crept into her mind. Why wasn’t there any information about the place? She shrugged it off and closed her laptop.

The rest of the afternoon passed in laughter and gossip until Leena left. By evening, Iris’s parents returned, and the family shared a warm dinner together. They laughed, teased one another, and reminisced about old memories before giving Iris an emotional farewell.

As Iris lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts wandered to the mysterious apartment. Something about it nagged at her, but she couldn’t figure out why.

Little did she know, this would be the beginning of a story she’d never forget.