Inside Helen's room.
She glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. It's already 10:00 in the evening.
Helen closed the windows, turned off the light, and went to bed going to sleep.
She closed her eyes. Her mind was recalling the scary and gory scenes of the movie that they watched earlier. She hopes she won't be dreaming about those scary-looking genetically altered humans tonight, an experiment went wrong inside the laboratory located in the X Island... that was what the movie is all about.
Inside Peter's room.
He's not sleepy yet, normally during this hour he's already sleeping soundly after getting tired of working in the store all day long. For some reason, his mind is wide awake thinking about Helen.
His mind recalled their conversation earlier during dinner time.
When he prevented her from working in the massage parlor and the nightclub, he was expecting that she will not listen to him. He can't blame her though if she will work in that establishment because they offer much bigger salaries compared to the waitress job in the restaurant and bakery.
He was worried that if she will work there she will be molested and encounter unsavory types of men who will take advantage of her innocence.
He was greatly relieved that she listened to his reasons without arguing with him.
Honestly, he has no power over her because they are not in a relationship yet and she still holds full control over her decisions being a mature adult already.
It's a nice feeling that she's willing to listen to him.
And he's already getting used to her presence in his life... in his house... as if they've known each other for a long time.
Is this destiny?
Is she the one destined for him?
She comes crashing into his life when he least expected it. She was like a comet that falls into his world and brings sunshine into his boring life. She brought dazzling color to his life, a welcome distraction.
At first... he thought she will only make things complicated for him, he reacted badly towards her on her first day in his home. Was it only three days including today since she arrived at his house? And yet he's getting used already to her presence in his house.
He admitted to himself that he was physically attracted to her. She's so nice and gorgeous in so many ways! She's a perfect wife material in every angle. She got all the qualities of the woman that he wants to marry!
Too bad, he can't marry her yet. He can only keep her close by his side so as not to lose her to other men.
They have known each other for a short time but he already develops tender feelings towards her. He wondered if she feels the same way for him?
Sighing... he closed his eyes to sleep.
***
The following day.
Helen wakes up early, after boiling water in the electric kettle and sipping her coffee, she proceeds to the back of the house where the washing machine was located.
She put the water and the laundry powder inside the washing machine including her clothes and plugged the cord into the electric socket on the wall.
A few minutes later, she realized that the washing machine is not working the way it should be... "Huh? What's wrong with this machine?" she asked. "Oh, maybe it's defective!" she said. She pulled the plug and inserted it again hoping it will work this time, yet it's still not working!
Sighing, she looked at the defective washing machine in dismay.
Peter was watching her from the door inside the house. He exited the door and walked towards the washing machine. "I'm sorry babe... I forgot to tell you that the washing machine is defective. I forgot to call the repairman or buy a new one," he said apologetically.
Helen stared at the washing machine with disappointment in her eyes.
He noticed the disappointed look on her face. "What's wrong? You don't know how to do your laundry by using your hands?" he questioned her.
Helen looked at his face and smiled. "It's not that...of course I know how to do my laundry using my hands... I'm just trying to quicken the time," she said.
"Ah...I see... don't worry let me help you," he said and scooped the garments with his hands, including her bra and her lacy underwear. She was mortified. "Hey stopped touching my undergarments!" she scolded him.
Peter looked at her, smirking. Damn! She's shy...
He put the garments in the basin. "Don't be shy...it's just garments, it's not that I'm touching your private parts," he grinned naughtily.
"Pervert!" she glared at him. She slapped his arms hard with his right hand.
"Ouch!" he whined.
Helen sighed. "Stop teasing me! Go back inside the house, so that I can finish my laundry!" she shooed him away.
"Okay... fine..." Peter obeyed her command and took his leave, going back to the house.
He went to the kitchen and took a mug from the dish rack and made his favorite coffee mix. He exited the kitchen door going back to Helen's location - he brought his mug with him.
"Did you drink your coffee already?" he asked her.
"Done," she replied and continue her laundry.
He grabbed the chair nearby and lowered himself on it. He sipped his coffee while watching her doing her laundry. "So... where do you want to work? In the bakery or the seafood restaurant? Have you already made your decision yet?" he asked.
"Being a waitress in the seafood restaurant pays much higher compared to the bakery. So, I'm going to work in the restaurant if they will call me for an interview today," she replied.
"Good! Don't ever work in a massage parlor or nightclub, okay?" he said. "I care about your well-being and safety that's why I prohibited you from working in that kind of shady establishments."
Helen looked at her and smiled. "Thank you for looking after my welfare, Sir! Thanks for caring!" she said and resumed her laundry.
"My pleasure babe..." Peter said with a smile.
Helen ignored his teasing. Half an hour later, she finished washing her clothes and put them in the clothesline to dry.
Done in the laundry area, they entered the house through the kitchen door.
They went to the table, ate sliced bread with peanut butter, and drinks water afterward.
"We're poor right?" he asked her, grinning.
Helen smiled and agreed. "Yeah...we're poor."
"This will be temporary... five years from now, our condition will surely improve," he said, reassuring her.
"You mean...us?" she asked.
Peter was about to reply when Helen's phone beeps four times, alerting her of an incoming message.
She fished out her phone and checked her messages, a wide smile erupted on her face. She looked at him. "The four establishments want to hire me, they want me to report to their office today for an interview and job orientation," she raved.
"Congrats!" Peter said cheerfully.
"What to reply to the bakery, the parlor massage, and the nightclub?" she asked for his opinion.
Peter pondered for a moment on what is the proper words to reply. He rubbed his temple for a few seconds. "Hmm...just tell them that you won the multi-million jackpot lotto draw last night and you are no longer applying for a job right now because you are going to travel abroad for your dream holiday," he said with a grin.
Helen erupted into a fit of giggles. "You're nuts!" she said. "Come on, be serious! What to tell them? I need your suggestion..." she pressed him.
"Just tell them the truth that you already found the right job for you, just be honest with them," he said.
"Okay..." Helen began typing rapidly on her phone. After composing her message, she sent them to the three establishments.
A few minutes later, they all replied to her, telling her that just in case she changed her mind she can always re-apply later. She replied a thank you message to all of them.
"Done replying?" he asked.
Helen nods her head. "Yeah..."
"Good luck on your interview and orientation in the seafood restaurant later," he said. "I'm going upstairs to take a shower and get ready for work." He rose to his feet and left the kitchen heading to the staircase.
Helen returned the peanut butter jar inside the fridge and gathered the dirty dishes, then washed them in the sink.
After tidying the kitchen and sweeping the entire ground floor, she went upstairs to her room to take a shower and get ready to report to the restaurant.
One hour later.
She was already wearing black pants and a pink polo shirt and let her hair hang loose on her back. Satisfied with her appearance in the mirror, she picked up her shoulder bag and left the room.
Peter and Helen exited their bedrooms at the same time then they descended the staircase together.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
"Yeah..." she replied. "I may not be able to return early for lunch so don't wait for me. But don't worry... I'm going to do the grocery shopping after I get out from the restaurant," she said.
"Okay, Ma'am!" he said. "Anything else?"
Helen shook her head. "No more..."
They walked towards the door.
"How about my goodbye kiss before you go to work?" he teased her.
Helen looked at him for a moment and smiled. "I'll kiss you five years later..." she said, grinning.
"Smart girl!" Peter chuckled. Before he can pinch her nose - she was already out of the door.
He watched her walking hurriedly towards the gate, made an exit, waved at him, and gone from his vision.
He sighed.
The workers will be arriving anytime soon.
He proceeds to the backdoor of the store to begin his daily routine.