I’m up early in the morning inspired by my happy experience working with Quim yesterday. I still have that inspiration and energy today so I plan on working even before the sun rises.
I can’t believe I’m this excited to work and I can’t wait to show my draft to Quim and hear his comments about it.
I stopped working after a couple of hours to prepare for our breakfast. I am even excited about my side job being his cook.
I cooked some quick breakfast and lunch for us and made sure I left the house even before he goes to the kitchen to get his food. I prefer that he doesn’t see me during the day. I’m afraid it’s the jinx that will end these happy and peaceful moments at work.
My first message in the office communicator comes from Bobby.
“I was surprised to see you online already. Why did you start early? Is he making you busy?” he asked on our video call.
“I’m working on the last of the two companies that he wanted me to research on. I wish he’d give me more,” I said.
“Wow! What changed? But whatever it is, I’m glad you are pumped up to work,” he said.
“Bobby, I have to go now,” I told him.
“Oh sure. Just ping me if you need anything. I’ll be waiting,” he said.
I still like Bobby but today, for some reason, I’m not interested talking or even flirting with him. I am starting to get better in my job.
Quim responded before lunch time and I couldn’t be more excited to hear some nice comments from him about my work.
“I think you’ve mastered doing it. I have no other questions,” he said in the office communicator.
I don’t know but I felt a little disappointed knowing his comment via communicator only. I loved it when he commented me over the phone yesterday.
“He hasn’t asked me to do anything and it’s already the middle of the afternoon,” I told Bobby who is still consistently checking on me.
“He hasn’t talked to me too. Maybe there’s no work to be done yet,” he said.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Well, everything is in full stop these days because of the pandemic. Our company isn’t an exception,” he said.
“We could lose our job?” I asked.
“Oh, don’t think of that. I’m sorry I made you panic. We're not closing but we are definitely slowing down,” he said.
The rest of the afternoon has been quiet once again. I checked Quim’s status on the communicator and it’s set to “do not disturb” status. He’s probably in a meeting without Bobby.
I went to the house to cook our dinner. His office door is closed but I’m not sure if it’s locked. I will try to bring him food after I cook because I am beginning to worry if he’s eaten or not like on the day he passed out because he skipped meals.
He used to appear from anywhere while I was cooking but this time he’s not yet here and I’m almost done cooking.
“Am I missing him? Oh no, no. I’m just not used to not seeing his presence. That’s the way to put it. Am I making sense?” I started talking to myself out loud.
I seem to be at war with myself for thinking that I’m missing someone just because I got praises and approval from him.
“That’ ridiculous,” I said to myself while trying to shake off the thought.
“What’s ridiculous?” Quim asked.
I startled because there he was again and he caught me talking out loud to myself in his kitchen.
“Oh, you know me. I always talk to myself,” I answered in a loud voice trying to cover my embarrassment.
“Someone’s in your house?” the lady on the video call asked.
“Quim,” I gestured to him that someone’s waiting for him on the video call. He was surprised when he realized that he’s not hung up yet.
“It’s just my cook. She’s cooking dinner right now,” he told the lady on the call.
“Your cook? I thought you said you’re alone in the house and you don’t allow others except for Leila to stay in the compound,” the lady said.
“It’s pandemic. She couldn’t leave,” Quim said.
“But you told me you were alone," the lady repeated herself.
"She just arrived," he said.
"Just arrived? Today? Don't get me wrong but the pandemic cases are rising, make sure she is quarantined first before she goes anywhere inside the house," the lady said.
"Oh no, I think she's here earlier than today," he still tried to cover up.
"Let me see talk to her,” the lady asked.
I don’t know what to do. I’m asking myself if I did something wrong that would upset Quim again.
“Joaquim, now. Show her to me,” the lady commanded.
I could read Quim’s lips saying he’s sorry. He placed the phone towards my direction.
“Good evening, Ma’am,” I told the lady who seems to be the older female version of Quim.
“Hi there. What’s your name, young lady?” she asked me.
I told her my name.
“Something tells me you are not a cook,” she told me.
“That’s enough, Mom,” Quim told his mother.
“It’s nice to meet you, Audrey. Are you cooking now?” she asked me.
“Yes, Ma’am. I’m cooking for dinner,” I answered.
“What’s for dinner?” she asked. She’s uncontrollable.
“Only those that are in the pantry, Ma’am,” I said.
“Ah, stop calling me ‘ma’am’. Just call me ‘auntie’,” she said.
Quim covered his face with his other hand. No matter how smart and successful he has become, he still can’t win over his mother.
“Alright, we are going to eat now. Bye, Mom. Talk to you soon!” Quim said before turning off his phone.
“Well, that’s crazy. We’ve been talking almost the entire afternoon and I thought she hang up already,” he said.
I realized that’s the reason why he was on “do-not-disturb” status almost the whole afternoon.
“That’s your mother?” I asked casually. It actually surprised me that I was able to pull the off.
“Yes, she is. And I’m really sorry,” he said.
“What are you sorry for?” I asked.
“I told her you were the cook. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being one but it’s not what you are,” he explained.
“Well, I’ve been cooking for us since I came here last week so that’s correct,” I said. “Besides, I told my niece you were the driver, remember?” I asked.
“Ah yes but I never drove for you even once,” he said.
“Oh, you’ve been driving me crazy,” I said from out of the blue. My natural playful and carefree self just came out naturally.
“What?” he asked although I knew he heard it clearly.
“I mean, I’m not always sure how to move around….sorry, sorry, it’s just my stupid, tactless self. Please don’t mind me. Please forget that I said that,” I said to him.
Quim smiled at me and it’s something that’s not easy to forget because he hardly does it.
“I understood what you were trying to say,” he said.
“You did? I’m going to need some crash course on manners, I guess,” I said.
“Stay right here, I’ll get something from my office,” he told me.
He came back a few minutes after. He handed me a white envelope.
“That’s your salary. Your first, I believe,” he said.
I got the biggest surprise of my life. It’s my first ever salary!
“But I worked only a few days here,” I said after I quickly realized that it’s still early to receive my salary.
“We paid everyone in advance to help them during these times, you included,” he said.
“I’m so thankful. It’s a milestone. But may I ask you something?” I said.
He looked at me.
“I’ve been following the news and I learned that a lot of companies already closed due to this situation. I wonder what our company status is,” I bravely asked.
I’m not sure if that’s okay to ask but I’m the closest to the boss right now and I have to opportunity to do it.
“We still have funds to last at least until the first quarter of next year. That’s why we don’t stop working. Even I talk to clients,” he said.
Suddenly, I can tell that I now have some admiration for Quim. Bobby’s right, he’s a busy man with so many things running on his head.
“Are you satisfied with my answer,” he asked.
“Oh, of course. It’s my first job and I still have no idea how things work and then this crisis came. I’m still very grateful though,” I said.
“So, there,” he said pointing to the envelope containing my very first salary.
“Do you know what they say about ‘first blood’?” I asked referring to the first salary.
“That you have to treat your friends with your first salary? Count me out. Keep your money,” he said.
“Well, if chips and softdrinks from your own fridge are fine….” I started to say.
“I’ll go for that,” he said abruptly.
“Really? Really?” I said repeatedly.
He smiled longer this time and it’s refreshing to see him this way. It’s like seeing a miracle unfolding before my eyes.
“Let’s eat at the pool then,” he invited me.
“Oh gosh, so this is what payday feels,” I said to myself.
The night is windy and humid, typical of a summer's night. It’s hard to believe that I’m spending some light moment by the pool with my boss/the company’s CEO/the owner of the property that I am currently staying during this unsettling time of pandemic.“Did you buy all these things?” I asked Quim as he brings out another table from the storage area near the pool. Contrary to what I assumed, he knew his way around his own property and do other things besides working on his computer. He only seemed to be delegating a lot to others because of his other priorities.Wait a minute. Did I just explain him and defend him from me?“Leila suggested that I add these things here,” he answered. I felt guilty that I made him bring up Leila unnecessarily.“This is a very cozy place. My niece couldn’t take her eyes off of the pool when I showed it to her,” I began saying. It’s unbelievable how suddenly I could say casual things to him.He smiled at me.“Oh, we have biscuits too. I didn’t know
The ray of the sun touched my face and woke me up. It’s still quiet but in the old normal, this is already the height of the rush hour. “Good morning,” Quim greeted me. I don’t know how long he’s been awake but he’s still laying sideward on the poolbed facing me. It’s a totally different him that I saw when I opened my eyes. I feel good seeing someone as soon as I woke up but knowing our situation, I also feel weird or awkward about it.“Good morning,” I greeted him back.“We didn’t notice the time,” he said.“Did you sleep long?” I asked.“I had a relaxing long sleep. I got envious when I saw you sleeping while I was talking and you looked so peaceful,” he said. Even the way he talks now makes me cringe probably because he was cold to me and I was rebelling against him just the other day. Now, we are like two lost souls that found each other in the dark. “We need coffee,” he said. “I agree. We need coffee,” I said. I think it’s the best to relieve myself of whatever weird el
There is a reality show where they lock people, mostly strangers to one another, inside a fully equipped house for a hundred days or so. One of the noticeable behaviors these people exhibit after living day in and day out even for the first few weeks is becoming naturally touchy towards the other person who is closest to them inside the house. They tend to cling to whoever is with them even if they’ve been together for only a short period of time and even with cameras all over the house and knowing they have viewers that include their own family and friends.Perhaps, this is the behavior I am manifesting right now. Since Quim and I are the only ones in this big property, I can interpret any kindness or gentleness that he showed me these past couple of days and until today as his way of wanting to be closer to me and because of that, I feel naturally wanting him too and now I’m afraid anything that displeases him will turn us back to our old ways soon.My tears have started falling
The table is ready and dinner is served. I feel like I’m acting like my mother preparing everything for us. I used to think that was so boring but now I realized that if I am doing this for someone I like, it’s not a chore.Wait. Did I say I like Quim now?I must admit that I do now. I discovered his nice side and it’s good enough to like him.Besides, what is there to be dramatic for? It’s not like I’m marrying him tomorrow. I am only here for another weekend and that’s it. I don't have even the slightest idea what will happen next after the whirlwind event in this compound.Tonight and the rest of the nights that I will be here will be spent enjoying each other’s company.I instantly giggle when I saw him wearing the pair of t-shirt and jogging pants that’s matching the pair I got from the box of presents his mother sent him. That pair, I must remember, was originally for Leila.“Why?” he asked.“Why? Why did you have to wear that?” I asked him back.“I have nothing to wear. B
I knew it was morning but I couldn’t tell which part of morning I woke up to. The last thing I saw last night was Quim’s face. I watched him sleep under the dim light of the lampshade like a baby. He slept soundly and calmly.He still looks the same this morning and as I was about to indulge myself in this view of his charming face that I appreciated only recently when I started to know him a little more, I remembered that I woke up because someone was calling me on the phone and it’s still calling me now.I got back to my senses when I saw Bobby's name in the caller ID.I checked the time and date. It’s past 9AM and it’s not even the weekend. Living here for the past two weeks made me lose my sense of time and day. I felt Quim’s hand on my arm.“What time is it?” he asked.“Quim, Bobby’s calling me. What should I say?” I asked.He looked at me. “Calm down. Just answer it,” he said.“Just audio, right?” I asked.He smiled.“Oh my gosh, he’s outside the gate,” I said. I’m be
I couldn’t wait for our brunch to end. It took only less than half an hour but it seemed like forever. “You almost didn’t touch your food. Was it bad?” Bobby asked.“Oh no. It’s delicious. I guess, I’m just overwhelmed that I’m leaving today,” I said. “I know, you’ve always wanted to leave,” Bobby said. He’s implying as if I hate to stay here, which I was two weeks ago and until the early days of this week.“You surely can’t wait to be reunited with your family,” Quim said. He’s implying my reason for leaving is to go home and be with my parents.Honestly, I didn’t know how I found myself in this situation. Is it too much to think that they will really fight over me? Can Bobby do that to his friend for me?“I’ll prepare some food for your lunch and dinner before I leave,” I told Quim.“They’re now allowing delivery before curfew. You may want to try that so you’ll have better food options in your diet,” Bobby interrupted.“You don’t have to but if that’s what you want then do
I know it’s Saturday. It’s the weekend. I am home. And I don’t like it.I should be feeling relaxed now but how could I if my heart is not with me and my mind cannot be contained.My parents are definitely up and about. The sound of my dad’s cracking voice in the videoke and my mom’s screaming like she's his no. 1 fan tell me that I am really back to our house. They have grown even much closer during this uncertain time and especially while I was away when they only had each other to lean on.Now, more than even, I can justify the feeling that I got while living with Quim. It was nothing but normal. Last night was my first call with Quim after leaving his property. We stayed talking until the wee hours of the morning. It was a conversation full of happy memories as well as regrets for not starting to be nice to each other earlier.“How are your parents?” he asked. I didn’t expect him to ask about them. I continue to discover more of his good side even now that we are away phys
I try to get used to living in what they call as the “new normal” adworking from home, staying away from another person, living with a curfew. If it’s in any consolation, I get to earn money and make my parents happy without me trying to get up early in the morning and do many other things, not to mention battling the traffic, even before I start my day at work. My first job turned out to be a dream job. I achieved two of the best things any girl could dream of – job and well, love. For sure, it’s not going to be smooth sailing for either job or love but I’m so thankful because I know many don’t have even one of the two especially these days. Unexpectedly this morning, I received an online message from Mimi, the receptionist in the office that I swear, I already forgot. “Girl, is it true that you stayed in Sir Joaquim’s house?” she asked very straightforwardly. I don’t know if I should answer her right away. It’s early for matters like this and we are not even close but I’ve a