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

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

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 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

My mind has been preoccupied with so many thoughts about me and Quim. I am probably still in awe on how things turned out and still turning out for us.I got up early today to start another long day working from home. I haven’t forgotten about Bobby’s request too. I’m guilty that I can’t make him a priority.“You said you wanted to talk to Bella, right?” my mother asked.“Yes but I haven’t had the time,” I said while looking at my computer.“Well, she’s here and she brought her specialty,” she said.“Which specialty?” I asked.“Her meat roll. I thought you enjoyed it too the other day,” she said.“Oh, she made that too?” I asked.“Yes. You should probably give her a quick hello,” she said.I went out to see Bella like my mother suggested. She’s my classmate from the culinary arts school I attended. It was one of the courses and the third one I took in college that I didn’t finish.“Bella?” I asked with a bit of hesitation.She smiled at me but even with that, I could feel the h