Chapter 6: Uncouple Shirt

Today is Saturday, which means today is the third day that I’m putting on the clothes I have been wearing since Thursday.  I woke up early today to exercise and do other stuff to add more activities to my suddenly boring life but realizing this made me want to stay inside the guesthouse longer. 

I have already memorized everything there is to know about my life inside Quim’s compound.  There’s not much of it, actually.  So, to make sure he wouldn’t worry if I didn’t go out of the guesthouse, I texted him saying I would be staying in my room this morning and even sent him my temperature.  Of course, receiving a response from him for matters like this is never to be expected.

As I began to sulk in sadness, something told me, it wasn’t just me that needed to be checked.  What if something happened to Quim overnight and I didn’t know?

I immediately put on my office clothes and rushed to the big house.  It’s open so that means he’s up.  I went to the kitchen, which has become my go to place now and immediately saw some pieces of imported canned goods on the kitchen table.  I wonder if Quim put them there because he wanted me to cook them for breakfast?  Was he expecting me to cook for him this morning?

“My mother sent those canned goods last month,” Quim said. Again, it’s not impossible if he pops up anytime inside his own house.

“She must’ve have thought that these are not yet available here,” he added.

“These are the rare brands.  Only a few groceries here sell these kinds,” I said.

He seems to agree and we are left in a momentary awkward silence with no next words to say.

“Do you want them for lunch?” I asked.  It’s the only thing I could think of to get rid of that silence.

He did not answer.  Instead, he gestured that I should do it.

“Oh, by the way, the rest of the package is in the storage area.  You may check some of the clothes that my Mom put in there.  Not everything is new but if it’s no problem with you, you could get anything you want and....,” he could not complete what he had to say.

“Thank you, Quim. I appreciate it,” I interrupted him as I couldn’t contain the joy his unexpected kindness brought me.  Whether he intended it or not, I am so glad to receive anything as alternate to my office clothes.

He nodded before leaving me to do my business in the kitchen.

I brought the food to his office.  It’s no big deal to me.  I am rent-free tenant, small things like this don’t count.

“Have you finished eating?” he asked me.  He looks surprised that I brought the food to him.

“Not yet,” I said. “I hope you like the scrambled eggs.  I thought it would be good to have variation.  We had sunny side up yesterday,” I added.

I thought I saw a small smile on his face before he nodded.  I took that as a sign that he’s okay and that I should leave him now.

I started eating at the dining table.  I’m hurrying because I’m excited to see the clothes.

“Do you have more garlic rice?” Quim asked. He popped up again carrying the tray of food with him.

“Oh, certainly. There’s a lot in the pan.  I’ll get you a cup,” I said.

He placed the tray on the dining table.  When I returned with a cup of fried rice, I noticed that he’s already offloaded his plate and cup of coffee and placed both on the table ready to eat with me.

“Would you mind if I joined?” he asked.

“Not at all.  Do you want another round of coffee?” I said.

“What are you having?” he asked. He must very observant to notice that I am drinking something else.

“It’s hot chocolate.  I saw some cocoa in the closet,” I said.

He looked at me and I’m guessing he wants to try it.  He seems to have a problem telling others that he wants something.

I brought him his cup of hot chocolate.  I notice myself naturally serving him and I don’t feel awkward  doing it. After all, he looks so happy with the meal I prepared today.  I’m just so proud of myself.

“I learned this technique on how to cook fluffy scrambled eggs from a Japanese series.  At first, I thought it was not necessary to do it step by step but I enjoy it now and I love the result,” I said to him although it seemed that I was just talking to myself.

“It really pays to do something more and not in a hurry,” he said after a minute or so.  “In my job, I plan things carefully no matter how familiar I already am with the process. I don’t do shortcuts,” he said.

To be honest, I don’t have any idea of what he does or how he does his job. All I know is that he’s not just the CEO of the company but also the genius who creates the main product of the company.  He is more hands on and much busier than the other CEOs.

“Sorry.  It doesn’t make sense to you,” he said. He might’ve guessed it.  It probably showed on my face.

“Oh no.  I got what you meant,” I said.

He did not say anything after I said that.

“By the way, I’ll be checking the rest of the package after this.  Again, thank you in advance,” I said.

He just nodded.

After I put the dishes in the washer, I immediately went to the storage room.  Like the rest of the house, it’s so clean and organized.

The box is big and still has a lot of canned goods and even chocolates inside it but my main business is finding clothes I could add to my wardrobe that right now is consist of only my office clothes and two robes I’ve been wearing one after the other since I got stuck here.

The clothes are for Quim. If I was correct, he’s 6 feet tall and his shirts are loose and long so these will do as housedresses for me.  I plan to get a couple of new clothes so I have to check which ones are new.  I’m in the middle of my search because most of the clothes are meant for cold weather when I saw this pack of clothes that seemed to shine when I found it.  I couldn’t be wrong, it’s for female.  And I was right, it’s label says it’s meant for Leila.  Quim said it clearly that I could get anything from here so this will be the first thing that I’m going to keep. It's mine!

“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this set of clothers.  Imagine, a pair of t-shirt and jogging pants and it’s girly!” I excitedly told Bobby. 

“I’m relieved that your stay in the house is getting more comfortable by the day,” he said.

“You want to see it?” I asked.

“Oh, you mean you in that pair of shirt and jogging pants?” he asked. 

“Of course, what were you thinking?” I asked jokingly.  I've become so comfortable with Bobby to the point of asking him if he wants to see me wearing the clothes so naturally.

We both laugh.  It’s a different feeling when I am doing this with someone now that I am no longer a student.  I am definitely an adult now and I am having crazy conversation with another adult who also happens to be my number 2 boss.

The doorbell rang once.

“Quim’s at your door? He could just call you on the intercom,” Billy said.

“Maybe he heard us laughing. I’ll call you back,” I joked.

“Let’s keep this video call.  I want to say hi to him too,” he said.

Quim stands outside my door.  He looks so surprised when he saw me and I wonder why.

“Yes, Quim?  Can I help you with anything?” I asked while holding the cellphone with Bobby on the video call.

He didn’t answer me but Bobby stated the obvious even before I realized it.

“Are you wearing identifcal shirts?” he asked.

None of us answered Bobby.

“Don’t tell me your pants are the same too” Bobby continued.

The set of clothes that was meant for Leila was the half of the couple shirts and pants that Quim is wearing.

“Please go to my office when you finished your call,” Quim said.  He left in a hurry with what seemed to be a laptop in his hand.

“Is he okay?” I asked Bobby.

“I think you should go see him now.  It must be important that he even had to come to you,” he said.

I changed to my office clothes before heading to see Quim in his office.  I’m surprised to see that he no longer wears that other half of the couple shirt and pants he was wearing earlier.  

“What was it, Quim?” I asked pretending nothing happened.

He doesn’t look happy.  He pointed to the laptop he was carrying earlier. “There, you can use it for work,” he said.

“Thank you,” I said.  I got the laptop and wait for his next instructions.

“Why are you still here?” he asked.

“Oh, so that’s it?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said plainly.

“Alright then. Umm…what do you want for dinner?” I asked.

“Just cook for yourself,” he said.

I wonder if I did anything wrong.  It could be that he didn’t want me wearing the clothes meant for Leila.  She didn’t keep it for a reason and now Quim doesn’t want to see it too.

“About the shirt….,” I started to talk about the incident.

“Just go back to your call with Bobby,” he said before turning his chair around.

I went back to the guesthouse feeling uncertain about my stay in the compound.

“What did he say?” Bobby asked.

“He spoke very little.  I couldn’t get anything except that he might be upset because I reminded him of Leila when I wore the clothes intended for her,” I said.

“I don’t think Quim is that kind of guy,” he said.

“What do you mean?  He’s not the kind of guy who gets upset by being reminded of a past love?” I asked.

“No. I meant he’s not the type that gets emotional over something that's not business related including love and romance. Quim’s all business.  I was actually surprised when I learned that he was dating Leila,” he said.

“Hmm…must be tough day. This pandemic naturally depresses us day by day,” I said.

I try to be calm amidst the uncertainty in the way Quim treats me.  I tell myself that this won't last forever.  Bobby’s working on my permit to travel and I will get it soon.

I still cooked dinner for two.  I prepared a grand breakfast feast made of bacon, spam, and corned beef but Quim didn't go to the kitchen to get food.

I feel bad for the little friendship I thought we already started.  I simply don’t know what I did wrong but tonight I can definitely say I don’t want to live in this house if he’s the only one I will be around with.