Since I arrived here the time just before lunch services began was dedicated to my interrogation. I complain about Ocien being dramatic, but that's actually the feeling I get when I get the questions, even if it's just one or two in a lighthearted way each day.
The questions cover more than I'm comfortable answering, but they're asked so naturally that I can't keep my mouth shut.
"Single or married, which team are you on?"
"I live with my boyfriend."
"When are we going to meet him?"
"He won't have time off until next month."
"First boyfriend?"
" First."
"Have you set the date yet?"
- We haven't talked about making it official, we've only been together for a short time.
"Are you sure it exists?"
"Yes."
"Where's the ring? I'm not seeing."
"Bills are tight, we are saving."
"Is he cheating on you or are you cheating on him?"
"Neither, we are supporting each other."
"Do you really just sleep together every night?"
"Everyone has their problems, we are taking things slowly."
"Are you sure he likes the fruit?"
"From the way he looks at me, yes."
"You've been together for a month, hasn't anything happened yet?" – Roberta asked as she placed her hand on my shoulders.
She caught me by surprise, I was concentrating on peeling potatoes and she asked the question so close to me.
Unlike the other questions, this one seemed to have even more ulterior motives.
Another point that surprised me was that this question came from Roberta, she is one of the owners of the restaurant and also the head cook. She has been married for over twenty years and has a son attending school in the city.
That was the first question she asked me about Ocien, until then only my other colleagues asked questions about my relationship.
"We are letting life take its course." – I replied while turning red as an apple.
Roberta squeezed my shoulders as if she were going to massage them.
"If you let life take its course, nothing may ever happen and men are notoriously one-dimensional in their feelings." – she began to explain the reason for the question.
I swallowed the words dryly.
Ocien, more than others, suffers from anxiety and uncertainty. The only tasks he offers to do are the ones he knows need to be done.
On walks he always seeks my opinion about where to go, what to eat and where to sit. I only let him cook breakfast, because even though he survived until he was eighteen, I have my doubts about how.
Probably even the fact that he kisses my mouth is because I stole the kiss he would give me on the forehead.
"Some know what they want and ask for it, others, although rare, wait for it to be offered." – she continued to explain.
"If he likes you the way you describe, if he wakes you up with affection, doesn't forget to ask how your day was, kisses you goodbye and welcome every time you meet and his eyes don't leave you every time you get out of the shower in a towel. – she listed calmly while now really massaging my shoulders.
Before she could continue cooking she went into an uproar.
"He is a fantasy character." – Julia said, laughing as she stirred a pan.
"I still think he doesn't exist." – Livia replied as she cut the meat.
"If my husband had half as much patience as he did, I might have time to find someone better." – Carmela laughed, washing dishes.
There was so much buzz from then on that I could no longer identify what each person was saying, but it seemed like one message was clear.
I needed to take the step because Ocien would never take it.
"Calm down people. Calm down, I'm trying to explain something serious to Reina here." – Roberta asked in a serious tone.
The buzz died down until everyone went back to working in silence.
"As I was saying, if he is everything you said he is, the chance of him being the rare type is high and like every man his age he has a high libido, so every night when you go to sleep peacefully, It must be torture for him." – she explained with a final squeeze on my shoulders.
I had already understood from the others' statements, but only now did I understand how difficult it could be for him. He never asked for anything, nor did he cross the line. We are always dressed and his hands are very well behaved, but after the first week of adapting to our new life I couldn't help but notice how he started moving his hips away from me during our nightly conversations. And whenever he woke up he did the same to hide his morning wood.
He wanted to respect me, as he didn't know how to communicate his wants and needs.
"Think carefully about what we told you today on the way home, if it makes sense, take the first step. He's as inexperienced as you are, but he can hurt you more if he doesn't know what he's doing." – she completed.
I saw many heads nod in agreement with the last statement. They were all thinking for my good and the good of my relationship
"Now everyone is working and the customers are already arriving." – Roberta asked, making everyone fall in line.
Lunch went like every day, a lot of work and little time to think. As dinner time approached and the preparations were ready, I started receiving looks from the others again.
Suddenly I was hugged from behind, it was Amélia, the other owner of the restaurant.
"Have you decided when it will happen?" – she asked
My face turned completely red and I thought for a second I was going to faint from embarrassment. The conversation wasn't just restricted to the kitchen, the entire restaurant was aware of my situation.
"A moment like this is special, he was so patient, maybe he deserves a gift." – she continued.
Signs of approval appeared from everyone present, even Roberta.
"Why don't you take your pay for the week and go to the lingerie store? The night will be calm, no need to worry." – said Roberta excitedly.