That night after the restaurant closed its door to its last customer for the day, Helen was already yearning to see Peter. She missed him already!
She has many things to tell him, regarding the store manager's offer and what happened last night on her first day staying in the boarding house owned by the restaurant.
When she exited the gate, Peter was already waiting outside, she bolted towards him. "I miss you so much!" she blurted.
"I miss you more!" Peter said and reached for her hand.
They walked in the cemented pathway, holding hands.
"There's a mini-park nearby, would you like to go there?" he asked.
Helen nodded her head. "Yeah... but we can't stay long there because the curfew is at 10:00, once I arrived late, the guard will no longer allow me to enter the gate. The rule is made to prohibit the workers from staying outside for too long," she explained to him.
"Ah, okay...let's just stay there in the park for one hour then we'll be back at 9:30....how about that?" he suggested.
"Alright, let's go to the mini-park!" she said excitedly.
They arrived at the park fifteen minutes later and found a secluded corner that has a concrete bench on it. The couple sits beside each other - holding each other's hands.
Peter looked at her. "So - how's your first night in the boarding house? Did you sleep well?" he began interrogating her.
Helen sighed. "Not really... because the bed of the two rooms beside me were creaking the whole night," she answered.
Peter's brows furrowed in confusion. "Huh? Why does the bed create creaking sounds?"
"Because the couples on both rooms were having sex all night long," she answered.
Peter looked at her in disbelief. "Really-? Are you kidding me?"
Helen smiled a bit. "Yeah...I'm telling the truth," she said.
"Does the management of the restaurant allowed such thing-?" he asked.
Helen shook her head. "No, but that doesn't stop the ladies from allowing their boyfriends to spend the night in their rooms and I don't want to tell the management about it because they will get fired and they will hate me for exposing their nightly escapades," she said.
Peter smiled naughtily. "Ah, I see... can I sneak inside your room tonight? We can make our bed sounds the loudest!" he said, teasing her.
Helen shook her head. "No way! We might get caught in bed, besides the guard won't allow workers to bring outsiders inside and stay the night in the ladies' room," she protested.
"But the ladies allowed their boyfriends inside their rooms, why can't we do it? How can you explain that?" he insisted.
"But those men are not outsiders, they are an employee of the store!" she explained.
"Ah, okay, go it! Beware of entertaining men there inside the boarding house. I warn you, in advance! Because I'm a jealous guy!" he said. "I will skin your suitor alive if they will try to court you!" he said in a threatening voice.
Helen looked at him with eyes open wide. "Are you serious?" she asked.
Peter chuckled and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Nah, I'm just kidding, sweetie pie! I'm a harmless guy unless provoked to the edge of my sanity," he said.
Helen pinched his side playfully. "You're such a silly guy..." she said and rested her head on his shoulder.
They glanced at the other couples sitting on the bench, enjoying each other's company just like them.
Helen looked heavenward, thousands of stars are shining in the sky above but the mighty moon was nowhere to be seen. She was debating if she will inform Peter about the store manager's offer or not anymore. She decided to tell him anyway.
"Honey...the store manager called me to his office earlier and informed me that he was planning to transfer me to the restaurant's other branch located in the next city, which is a two hours drive from here. I'll have the same privileges - free board and lodging accommodation and free meals as well," she said.
Peter looked at her in the eyes. "And what did you reply to your store manager-?" he asked.
"I told him that I'm contented working in the restaurant and I'm not going anywhere," she answered.
"Good girl! Just say 'no' and end of discussion. He can't possibly force you if you don't want to be transferred to another branch far away from here," he said. He feels glad that Helen turned down the store manager's offer no matter how tempting it is.
He was observing her face. "So - tell me everything about this store manager. How old is he? Is he good-looking like me? Does he had a car?" he asked curiously, wanting to know the personality of the guy.
"His name is William, he is 27 years old, son of the owner of the restaurant. He is good looking... and yes he has a car," she replied.
Peter's face went sour after hearing that the store manager is young, good-looking and got a car...while he doesn't have a car, to begin with. "If he invites you for a joyride in his car, don't accept his invitation!" he said, warning her gravely.
"But why?" she asked. Although she had boarded William's car twice already, she won't dare tell Peter about it, he might get mad.
"I don't like men getting your attention! I'm a jealous type of guy. Period!" he said. "I hope you understand my feelings and point of view," he added.
Helen smiled sweetly. "Aww... you're indeed in love with me!" she said, giggling.
Peter looked at her tenderly and planted a kiss on her lips. "Of course, I love you!" he declared.
"I know..." Helen smiled sweetly, loving his jealousy and possessiveness.
"Remember, you only have to stay one month in that boarding house and after that, you have to come back to my house. Don't forget your promise!" he reminded her.
"Of course, I will honor my promise," she responded.
"Good!" he said and drew her closer to him.
The couple stayed in the mini-park for a few minutes more and before 9:30 comes, they left the park and went back to the boarding house.
"I'll go inside now," Helen said.
"Goodnight, sweet dreams," he said.
"You too, sweet dreams for tonight," Helen responded and entered the gate. She waved at Peter standing outside and entered the boarding house.
After Peter saw Helen disappeared inside the door of the building, he turned around and started walking, going back to the location of the compound.
A few minutes later, he finally arrived at his place, the guard opened the small gate and he went inside.
Outside the compound.
Across the street... the two mysterious men can be seen looking and observing the compound. The first one was staying outside a karaoke bar drinking light beer, while the other one was casually sipping coffee beside a convenience store looking at the compound from time to time.
Meanwhile...
Inside the boarding house.
Helen was preparing to go to sleep. She was hoping that tonight the ladies won't invite their boyfriends for another romping session or else she will never be able to get enough sleep two nights in a row.
She shut her eyes and went to sleep.
Hours went by, nothing out of the ordinary happened that night.
The next time Helen opened her eyes it was already morning - 6:30 am!
Wow! She managed to sleep the whole night without any interruption!
Life is good so far!