Eita's POV
Today was a special occasion. I have my beloved Sol in my house. I have to do everything to make sure she is having a much better stay here than the hotel she refused. The food has to be very delicious, the services should be the best and the room should be as clean as possible. She only deserves the best!
I delicately cut the vegetables into equal pieces. I heard the door from the bedroom opened. "Slept well?" "I did. The bath was nice, I immediately dozed off soon after," she walked towards the kitchen. "Dinner will be ready soon. Just you wait." I believe I was defrosting the chicken by the sink. "What will you cook?" "Chicken curry," I grinned. "Can I help?" She asked walking closer to me. "No, no, no! I can manage." She looked at me for a bit. "Alright," she then went to the bathroom. Was she angry? She immediately come back after, "where are my clothes?" I might have fapped in them, I'm sorry. I blushed, "I washed them." Her eyes widen, "Even my underwear?" I'm doomed. The knife on my hand cut my finger. "Ouch!" I looked away from her, licking the blood off my finger. "I just tossed everything in the washing machine." I did. I was surprised when I saw her in front of me, holding my hand. She look at my wound, "should disinfect that and put a bandage."
We sat by the counter as she helped me. I can't help but stare. The way she applies the medicine and gently blows on it to relieve the sting. I am elated right now, but I don't want to trouble her. "It is not that deep, so don't worry." She wrapped the bandages around my finger. "I know. Also, do you know how to make chicken curry?" I was planning to wing it. "Actually, no. I was planning to be guided by Siri." She sighed taking over, "let me do it. How long have you been cutting these carrots?" I fiddled my fingers, "...maybe an hour?" "An hour?" She raised an eyebrow. "Well, I want them to be in equal sizes and has smooth edges." "That doesn't matter in the curry. Also, you cut the vegetable last and put them in water to remain fresh. The chicken?," she put up her hair. "Defrosting," I was a bit embarrassed. Did I try too hard? I watch her cut the chicken, seasoning it with salt and pepper. "Can I help?" "You can heat the oil in a pot." The smell of sautéed onions was on the air.
"Eita?" She called, as I was too focused watching her. "Yes?" "Can you hand me the chicken," she asked. "Ah, yes," I gave it to her. "Also, I was fired." I was surprised, "What?" "I was forced to leave in the company I was working in, and they force me to return here. I didn't had any money, only the plane ticket," she casually says, as if it was a normal day at work. "My apartment, my computer, everything was taken away. I deactivated all of my account. I broke my phone. I was too ambitious. I shouldn't have left, right?" She looked at me with a painful smile.
I was frozen from the shock after she suddenly decided to drop the bombs without warning. I am barely processing everything. And why? Why would they do something cruel? I thought you were happy. I thought you were fine. I thought you loved it there. "You told me to trust you a little... I'm sorry, this is all that I can say for now." The curry broth boils. It smells delicious, yet my eyes teared up.
"Sol, thank you for trusting me. I..." I hold her waist, to make her turn but the soup from the ladle spilled on my arm. I yelped in pain and she panicked yelling "I'm sorry!" repeatedly. She immediately pulled my burnt right hand towards the sink and immerse it in the cool water from the tap. I rested my forehead on her shoulders while my other arm wrapped around her waist. I wish I was around at that time for her.
It was a quiet dinner. Well, maybe not. I had been sniffing for a while now, my tears just kept streaming. I was unsure if I was crying for her, or was it the from the burn. She had already treated it before eating. We used to always hang out together but it was a first time she told me something personal. I thought I know her like how I know the back of my hand. But come to think of it, I barely know anything about her personally. I only know her favorite colors, the things that made her happy. But I don't know about her childhood, the kind of family she was brought up in, or what makes her lay awake at night.
Sol's POV
It was a quiet dinner. Maybe not. Eita had been crying and sniffing for a while as we were eating. He had always been nice to me, well, I was surrounded by good friends and I love them. My family are very much supportive as well. They said they were proud of me. People always admired me for being level headed, capable and strong. I was praised for my looks, being kind and being the best in everything I do. I am proud to be called a part of this circle. But this time, I might failed every expectations they have on me. I lost everything. It is a shame when everything they thought I was, is a lie. I don't like depending on anyone. I am strong, aren't I? I am supposed to successfully make my way through this mess, by myself. Yet this time, I am a mess. I am stripped of my job, my home, and my dignity. If you take out all the things that people admire and respect in me, I would be left empty.
The junior that used to rely on me is now taking care of me. Look just how low I had sunk. "Eita, I promise I will move out as soon as I get a job." It might be hard, but... "No, stay." He wiped his tears and look at me so serious. "I mean it. Stay as long as you like. Stay as long as you need. You can't move out soon because there will be month deposits, the bill, your food, and other expenses on an apartment. I bet you will refuse to take my money even just to lend." I looked down on my food, "Is this out of pity?" "Whatever reason it is, if you need a place to stay... Either if your dog shit on your sheets or you are on a run as a murderer, I would let you stay. Not out of pity but out of lodmiration..." He cleared his throat. Admiration, huh? Will you still say that after knowing everything about me? I let out a smile that turned weak. He continues, "Just know that I will always support you and will always admire you. Bad things tend to happen but remember when I was all depressed back in college? Remember what you told me?"
How could I forget? You were always around that it feels lonely when you suddenly disappeared. You were the light in our party, although there wasn't much in it. That was a few weeks before I left. I was helping him out with a project and he suddenly stopped messaging me. He was not leaving his dorm for days, or answering our calls. We got worried and visited him. He had lived his life like a shadow of the Grand Family, an illegitimated son of the heir. He was forced to be taken from his mother when he was seven since she was diagnosed to be mentally ill. His mother was an orphan. He was often called a misfortune since he was told be born out of sin.
The Grand funded for her hospital bills in exchange for her son. He will be registered as a Grand and the infidelity will be kept as secret. Therefore, he is no longer her son. His mother came out after she got well. It was just a year before. He kept messaging me telling me how happy he was. He really loved his mother. He sent me lots of pictures on places he would take his mom to eat. But still it turns out she wasn't stable enough. She jumped off a bridge.
It was a mess at that time, his dorm was trashed, yet I didn't mind. I waited until he opened up. I sit with him on the floor. Broken picture frames was scattered on the floor. I rubbed his back as he was out of air from crying so much.
He reached out for my hand. "Let me remind you, you told me,"Eita, listen. Bad things are bound to happen at one point or more in our lives. But you know what is more important that the bad things? It's you. And no matter what happens I am proud of you because you are here, right now, with me. And I could not wish for more." His kind eyes looked at me. He never changed, "Now, let me tell you the same. I am thankful for you, always. No matter what happens I am proud of you because you are here, right here, right now, with me. And I could not wish for more."
I smiled, placing my other hand on top of his, "then, I guess I have to stay a bit longer. I hope you won't mind?" "Not at all," his face flushed red, grinning from ear to ear. "Oh, and if you want... I think there is an opening for a junior architect at the firm I was working on. And you wouldn't believe it. Emma and Damien are there as well." He take his phone, which had been turned off all this time. As soon at it starts up, notifications blew up on his phone. It kept ringing. "But that is if you wanted to find a job immediately. You can also laze around here as long as you want."
"I think it would be good to start fresh," I decided. I can't sulk and be a burden.
Eita's POV
My phone ring, it was 'Emma.' Emma is one of Sol's closest friend. Although she said she is Sol's bestfriend. Also now, one of my coworkers. I hang up. I want to talk to Sol more and hold her hand and hug her and smell her. The closeness they had, even from before always makes me want to be Emma. She can go to the toilet together with Sol. They can sleep together on the same bed. They even share the same umbrella. Studying together at the library, eating together, holding hands. But Emma became my friend as well. She was a senior in the same course as me. The same person who noticed me and teases me everyday about Sol. It keeps ringing. "Aren't you going to pick up?" Sol asked. "No," I smiled. "Don't you think it is work related?" Sol drink her water. I wish I was the glass. "Work can wait." She stood up to pick up the plates. "It might be important. I'll wash the plates."
I sighed, walking towards the balcony. I answer the phone making sure it is far from my ear. I was glad I made the right decision. "Eita Daniel Grand, you lil shit! You dared to hang up on me! I'll fucking break your spine when I see you!" I can hear Damien at the back, "there. there. He lives, babe. Your child lives." So, she was worried,huh? "I can't believe you! You sent me a message that you would take a leave and tent at the airport without any explanation! You fuck didn't even told the office about your leave! Then, you dared to turn off your phone?! How dare you!!" I am still keeping my phone away from my ear. "Are you done?" I asked. "ThHeEEE aUUUuDDDdaaaacCitY!" There were more curses followed afterwards. "I had to work overtime for all the work you left for me today. Screw you, shithead!" Oh, right! "I forgot we had a deadline today. Ooopsies," I teased. "Come back tomorrow and I'll feed you my paperwork," Emma huffed. "I wonder if you are pregnant. Are you pregnant? You have been too stressed lately. Also, I think you gained some weight." Damien asked as well, "deep breaths. Are you pregnant?" "Shut up, babe. Are you insulting me?! I'm just frustrated at Sol. And you, too. Taking after her ghost steps. I am frustrated at you, too. I'm frustrated at the overtime. I'm frustrated at making a lie at the office for your sake."
"Listen here, Eita. You are a smart boy, but whenever it involves Sol, you loses all your braincells and always dive head first. You are not the only one worried about her, okay?" I smirked, "If you only knew. You wouldn't believe what I found..." I turned to look by the kitchen. "Stupid. Is it more important than our conversation right now? What did you find?" I shake my head and smiled. I am in no position to tell her yet, but maybe, she will tell it to you herself. "I just found some bottled water at the airport. Do you want some? I even bought keychain souvenirs~" "Go to work tomorrow. I mean it or break a bone," Emma hanged up. Sol came by the balcony, wiping her hands. "Was it Emma?" "Yes, it was." "She is loud when she is drunk, isn't she?" Sol giggled softly. "Indeed, she is." I turn her around and placed my hand on her back, gently pushing her, "let's go make your resume." I can't wait to show off Sol, in front of Emma.
She sat on the carpet while my laptop was on the coffee table. The files of her pictures are on a special hidden folder. I searched for my old phone, since I can't buy right now something for her. I had to edit a few things and transfer some files to my email. I wear my earphones, hearing the recording of her voice from the calls we had, although most are from group calls. Also, she might feel uncomfortable indebted again. I bought some pudding at the convenient store, and a sim card for her phone. She need one so the company can call her once she applied. She was busy typing when I come back. She looks serious wearing glasses.
"I got you a phone," she turned around, frowning a bit. "Don't worry. It is my old one. Here, check it." She looked at it and with some guilt tripping, she accepted it. "Also, I bought some pudding~" We eat the dessert together, reminiscing about college life and gossiping about the professors. Those were good times. I helped her submit her resume via email and got some printed. I was sitting behind her, watching her type. I rest me head on her shoulders, "tell me if it makes you uncomfortable." "Okay," she replied still typing. I wrapped my arms around her waist. She didn't said anything. "Can I ask, why did your phone broke?" Her hands stopped moving. I felt her shoulders rising as she took a deep breath. "I throw it at my boss." She replied briefly and continued typing again. "Oh, I see." Is that why she got fired?
Also, she smells nice.