DAY 9
Patrick skipped work the following day. He was too tired to do it. To take care of the situation at work, he gave Susan a call.
In addition, he felt terrible about what he had said to Phina the night before. He was astonished, to be honest, that she stayed up for him. She was not used to waiting up for him. However, all he can do is try his best to keep her from getting her hopes up.
He was lying to himself, telling himself that the girl was unimportant. Everything about it was a ploy to get his mother to stop criticizing him for being unmarried. He was not prepared for a relationship of any kind.
He made himself some tea downstairs. He went into the kitchen, where Phina was cooking. She had on an oversized polo shirt and leggings. It surprised him to see her.
She didn't give him a second glance or say hello. He didn't hold it against her.
Phina discovered that Patrick was still at home and that he was still dressed for bed. But she remained silent and did not bother to make inquiries.
After opening the refrigerator, he took out a packet of cube sugar and a chocolate beverage with milk.
He grabbed a cup and headed to the hot water dispenser. And he added the sugar, chocolate, and milk to a cup and used a little spoon to whisk everything together.
"I recall having a maid. Why are you in the kitchen, anyway?" At last, he said.
With a shrug, Phina looked up at him.
"As evident, I'm in the kitchen. My father never taught me to be lazy and rely on others to complete my tasks."
"Are you implying something, Phina?" He enquired.
Phina gave him a furious glance.
"Are you concerned? Within the house, I am free to do as I choose. Recall that you advised me to remain in a dull house. And in the boring house, if I want to, I will cook. You don't have to eat breakfast because of me." She mumbled the final sentence. Still, Patrick heard it.
He refrained from saying anything more as he knew she was rebelling due to what he had told the previous night and most likely the night before. It is preferable to reply angrily or with an insult.
Phina let out a sigh. Although Patrick rarely treats others disrespectfully, she went too far last night. And it was becoming intolerable. He must understand that individuals such as her are not inherently evil, and he need not despise others who need his assistance.
He should be aware of how unpleasant his character is even though she didn't express it directly. Her statements do, at least, imply them.
To prevent the rice from burning, she proceeded to light it.
The air was heavy with food scents. Patrick sighed as he completed brewing his tea. Then he returned to his room carrying a pack of wafers and a cup of tea. He felt that he ought to have apologized more. But he can't do it because of his pride. The woman is now acting rebelliously.
Even still, he found it astounding that she continued to get up in the morning to assist Sara in cooking and cleaning the house when someone else could handle it. He had assumed she would take advantage of the occasion to laze around doing nothing but taking in everything.
However, that was untrue.
Despite his behavior toward her, she was still composed every time she spoke with him, even though she said bluntly, which he accepted as part of her personality. However, even if his remarks have harmed her, she hardly ever loses her patience with him.
Furthermore, unlike most women, she doesn't behave foolishly around him. She responds with assurance.
His mind returned to the supper she was preparing. The dinner smelled delicious and inviting. She is the first person to cook in his kitchen, followed by his mother, then Sara.
He hoped he could taste her meal since he was fascinated with the scent of it. However, he skips breakfast. When she stirred the food in the pot, he had to be tempted to have breakfast. He can't, though.
They didn't have much food when he was little, so he had to forgo breakfast instead of lunch. When he was a little older, he would assist his mother and grandma in selling Papa before heading to school because they didn't have enough time for breakfast before school lunch. He used to save the money he was meant to buy breakfast and eat lunch instead of buying it when he first started working. And over time, it developed into a habit.
He tried eating in the morning when things started to get better, but he would constantly have stomach issues all day. He, therefore, skipped breakfast in favor of an early lunch. That's how things have remained ever since.
After consuming all his tea, he lets go of the cup in the drawer beside his bed. He summoned Sara to get it later. He got up and walked to his library, two doors after his room, since he intended to leave early that day. After taking out the keys from a drawer in his room, he closed it. When he arrived in front of the library, he unlocked the door.
He objects to people going inside his library. He values every one of the books in them. Sara is not permitted to go there either. He cleans the library twice a month. And every Saturday, he fumigates it.
There were six bookshelves with a wide variety of ancient and new books. A semi-round desk with two leather chairs was in the middle of the space. On the desk were a laptop, many binders, documents, a media player, three different pens, and picture frames of his grandmother and mother. He hardly used the medium-sized television on the wall across the reading table.
The little bar he had erected is located at the right end of the space. Everything appears undamaged and organized. And he enjoys it that way.
He moved toward the bookcase rows. He ran his finger over a few of the volumes. He needed clarification about which of the many to read. He has to place an order for some new books. He had read every book on the shelves two or three times. He perused the novels just once.
He chose to read one of his all-time favorite novels. After going to the fourth row, he decided on the book he wanted to read.
The efficacy of optimistic thought.
It's a favorite of his. He examined it. He'd read it several times already. He then moved the book to the table and began to read.
He lost track of time as he read for hours in the library. He had even overlooked lunch. He had to form the habit when he was younger. He can forget the difficulties at home when they were younger by working and reading. He loses himself in his book and works to avoid thinking about his mother's unceasing unhappiness and the long hours she put in to provide for them.
He grinned and extended his hand and back when he had finished the book. Long periods of sitting still cause pain in certain places. He examined the small clock resting on the table. Twenty-eight was written on it.
His tummy rumbles. He still needed to get his lunch. He got up, gave the book back, and walked out of the library, shutting the door, suddenly craving Italian food. After getting dressed better in his room, he grabbed his car keys and headed downstairs. He'll be taking the wheel by himself. He wants to be by himself on his day off.
As he descended the steps, he heard a noise in the distance. It had a musical quality. When he looked inside the first living room, it was empty. He proceeded to the adjacent living room—his living room. And there was the source of the music.
He could have easily ignored whoever played the music and just left, but he wanted to see Phina.
A song was playing on Phina's phone. She dozed off on the long couch. He moved to her side so he could give her a look.
Her expression was serene. He saw the locks of hair covering her forehead. She was very hairy. Thus, even with the hair extension she secured, the hair continued to show in front of her head. Even so, the hair extension mixes in with her hair because it appears natural.
He took the phone up. Despite his disgusting glance, he placed it down and halted the music. Before leaving the house, he gave her one more glimpse.
At the club, he ran into Alan and Phil. They conversed extensively about their intended new business for a considerable time. After that, he went somewhere else and returned later that evening.